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and summer programs that are marketed
as activity-based childcare. "We run about
130 kids a day on both of those. They don't
get that anywhere else–rotating through the
sports rather than sitting in a classroom–so
our kids tend to get in shape. We're proud of
our programs. They're not the cheapest, but
they're high-quality."
The facilities' biggest revenue stream is
birthday parties. They host 30 to 50 parties
a week, offering many activities–trampolines,
roller skating, inflatables, ice skating. Parents
can throw their children a turn-key party that
is priced at or below competitors' yet offers a
much better product. With so many choices,
children of all ages can have a birthday party
at Plex.
Although Mike loved coaching soccer and did
it for longer than he intended, his passion
for soccer did not entirely fuel his desire to
open an indoor sports facility. He wanted a
successful business, which meant eventually
replacing soccer with a more popular, more
profitable activity. He knew from the beginning
he wanted flexible programming. If something
wasn't working, he would replace it, or perhaps
even leave the space empty until he figured out
what to do with it. As the evolution continues,
Plex Indoor Sports, which once resembled an
indoor soccer center, is beginning to look a lot
like a family entertainment center.
