Launch in Prince George’s County, MD was home to the 2020 Kids Fashion Week DMV Promo Video shoot recently and we could not be more excited to share the final teaser with you all! Did you know that KFWDMV is a non-profit 501c3 company that is FOR KIDS AND BY KIDS?! Launch is so happy to support this organization and we encourage you to check them out!
WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Kidd O’Shea stopped by Launch Trampoline Parkin Capitol Heights to help children put down those controllers and put their gaming skills to the test! The amusement center includes a laser tag arena, rock climbing wall, ropes courses, and signature trampoline courts dedicated to dodgeball and slam dunk basketball.
Robin Wojtanik|February 2019
Three local investors team up for $2M indoor family fun center
A trio of entrepreneurs is investing $2 million in a large indoor family fun center planned near Columbia Center mall in Kennewick.
Developers hope to make an announcement soon about the location for Washington state’s first Launch Trampoline Park and hope to open it by the end of summer 2019.
Franchisee and co-owner Will McKay is excited to bring a new entertainment option to town. “The Tri-Cities is a growing place. Not only do we have people who live here looking for new entertainment options, but we have so many sports activities and tournaments where people come to town and say, ‘What else are we going to do here?’ ”
Launch Trampoline Park was co-founded by a former New England Patriots football player Ty Law, who’s expected to attend the grand opening, along with Walla Walla native and NFL veteran Drew Bledsoe.
The site will be owned and operated by three longtime friends, including Will McKay, owner of W. McKay Construction, Jourdan Nicholls, a Kennewick podiatrist, and Jeff Morgan, a dentist and owner of Grandridge Dental.
The idea was dreamed up by McKay after visiting FLIPnOUT Xtreme in Las Vegas, an amusement park which offered more than just trampolines.
“We jumped for a while, then went and played laser tag. I have four kids, and there’s not much to do in the winter, so I wanted to bring something like that to the Tri-Cities,” McKay said. “And with my current business, I could do this a lot cheaper than a lot of other people.”
He recruited friends he’s known since high school as fellow investors, and started researching potential franchises.
“Launch was in the top five trampoline park franchises on six or seven blogs I looked at,” McKay said.
Entrepreneur magazine’s recent 40th annual ranking of the top 500 franchises lists Rhode Island-based Launch at No. 248.
Within weeks, McKay was on the East Coast for a “discovery day” to see how a park of this style is set up and operating.
The team is investing about a half-million dollars alone in the trampoline equipment, which will be connected to form one giant jumping surface with angled trampoline walls. In addition, there will be a laser tag arena, virtual reality, dodgeball court, climbing wall, bowling alley, indoor playground, ninja course, foam pit, arcade games and potentially a zip line that runs the length of the facility, which is expected to be about 30,000 square feet.
Initial admission is likely to include at least trampoline and laser tag use, with additional offerings at an added cost. McKay said that in some locations, guests visit Launch exclusively to bowl and not to access any other varied entertainment options.
With a current trampoline park already near the mall in Kennewick, McKay isn’t worried about saturating the market. He believes his business won’t be in direct competition with places like Chuck E. Cheese, which he helped build, or iPlay Experience, an indoor playground also opening near the mall.
McKay said his business model is more focused on attracting the older elementary kids, up to adults.
“It’s no secret that indoor trampoline parks have become a significant contender in the family-entertainment industry, but we’re more than just a trampoline park,” said Launch co-founder Rob Arnold. “Technology is changing at an astonishing pace, and with family entertainment you need to be right on top of things and evolve quickly in order to stay relevant and fun and cool.”
Launch will serve food, including make-your-own pizzas described by McKay as “killer,” which may be ordered inside the Krave restaurant, as well as make-your-own ice cream sundaes. The location will have the ability to hold birthday parties, team-building activities and other private events. It has not been decided if alcohol will be served in any portion of the entertainment center.
According to a news release, there are 20 Launch Trampoline Parks open throughout 13 states, with more than 30 additional parks in various stages of development throughout the U.S.
Admission costs and expected operating hours have not yet been determined, but McKay said Launch’s prices will “be competitive” with the region. Family bundles may be offered for multiple attractions. McKay expects to hire at least four to five people in management, but didn’t yet have an overall expectation of the total number of employees, which will eventually be determined in line with hours of operation.
Once a lease is signed for the location, McKay expected construction could get underway within six weeks to meet the targeted opening date of late summer. W. McKay Construction will be the general contractor for the project.
For more information visit, launchtrampolinepark.com.
The new class of honorees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced in Atlanta on Saturday night, just one day ahead of Super Bowl LIII. Among them is former New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law.
Law was with the Patriots for over a decade, starting in 1994. During that time, he won three Super Bowl rings. He was traded to the New York Jets in 2005.
Overall, he had 53 career interceptions and was known for making some of his biggest plays at the most pivotal moments.
The most memorable and, arguably, the biggest play of his career came in Super Bowl XXXVI when he intercepted a Kurt Warner pass and took it 47 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. He also intercepted Peyton Manning three times during the 2003 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Law’s induction was undoubtedly also influenced by a recommendation with high clout. Tom Brady wrote a letter to the Hall of Fame selection committee urging them to consider the cornerback, which was obtained and published by ESPN. In the letter, Brady reflects on Law’s success, determination and impact on the team.
“Looking back, I realize how lucky I was then to be challenged every day by one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the game,” Brady wrote. “It helped me work harder to become successful in this league and ultimately prepared me to become the player I am today.”
Family entertainment and action park signs agreements for first Pacific Northwest location
January 25, 2019 // Franchising.com // WARWICK, R.I. – Mixing sports and entertainment, Launch Trampoline Park, co-founded by former New England Patriots cornerback and three-time Super Bowl champion Ty Law, is bringing its year-round, family entertainment and action park to the Tri-Cities.
The location will be owned and operated by long-time friends Will McKay, Jourdan Nicholls and Jeff Morgan. Will works as a general contractor, Jourdan as a podiatrist and Jeff as a dentist – all owning their own practices.
“We can’t wait to introduce Launch to Washington,” McKay said. “We noticed a lack of family entertainment spaces for our own families, and when we found Launch, it was the perfect fit. There’s a focus on family entertainment, fitness, and safety. Launch makes it a really fun atmosphere for everybody.”
Founded in 2012, Launch provides kids and adults of all ages with endless fun. The 25,000-45,000-square-foot action parks include approximately 15,000 square feet of connected trampolines, forming one giant jumping surface with angled trampoline walls. There are also signature courts dedicated to dodgeball and slam dunk basketball with trampolines instead of a hard surface.
But trampolines aren’t the only feature that Launch is excited about bringing to the area.
Launch parks also feature ninja courses, laser tag arenas, climbing walls, an indoor playground, foam pits, stunt bags, as well as full arcades with over 30 video, prizing and redemption games. Krave, a restaurant where you can create your own pizza fresh to order, as well as ice cream sundaes, offers guests a delicious dining option.
“It’s no secret that indoor trampoline parks have become a significant contender in the family-entertainment industry, but we’re more than just a trampoline park,” said Co-Founder Rob Arnold. “Family entertainment is really interesting. It’s probably next in line to technology as far as the speed of evolution. Technology is changing at an astonishing pace, and with family entertainment you need to be right on top of things and evolve quickly in order to stay relevant and fun and cool.”
Launch’s primary target market is families with children ages 4-14, but also targets other audiences such as high school and college students and other adults. The parks are the perfect social gathering place for birthday parties, date night, family events, corporate events, fundraisers or just friendly get-togethers in a safe and enjoyable environment.
“Launch is truly a fun experience for everyone – both children and adults,” said Nicholls. “Everyone who walks through our doors can expect to have an unforgettable experience.”
The local expansion plans come at a time when Launch continues to rapidly expand its national footprint. Today, there are 20 parks open and operating in 13 states, with more than 30 additional parks under various stages of development throughout California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia.
For more information about Launch, visit www.launchtrampolinepark.com.
About Launch Trampoline Park
Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Rob Arnold and former NFL star and three-time Super Bowl champion Ty Law, Launch Trampoline Park is an innovative leader in the family entertainment industry. A year-round action park featuring giant jumping surfaces, dodge ball courts, ninja courses, laser tag arenas, and more, Launch is an ideal place for kids and adults alike to let loose while also providing a great environment for families to spend time together. Currently, there are 20 parks open and operating in 13 states, with numerous others in various stages of development across the country. For more information, visit www.launchtrampolinepark.com.
Media Contact:
Hannah Sordyl
Franchise Elevator PR
(847) 239-8171
hsordyl@franchiseelevator.com
SOURCE Launch Trampoline Park
January 11, 2019 // Franchising.com // WARWICK, RI – Launch Trampoline Park – a year-round, family entertainment and action park – has secured the No. 248 spot in Entrepreneur magazine’s 40th annual Franchise 500® ranking. Up 91 spots from last year’s ranking (No. 339), Launch was also ranked No. 3 in the Trampoline Parks category.
“Jumping nearly 100 spots since last year’s ranking is exciting, but we’re just getting warmed up,” said Launch CEO Rob Arnold, who co-founded the business in 2012 with three-time Super Bowl champion Ty Law. “I’m immensely proud of the work our corporate office and franchise owners have done to warrant this ranking. We can’t wait to rise up the ranks in next year’s list as we continue to grow and improve the Launch franchise system in 2019.”
Known as the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking, the Franchise 500® ranking recognized Launch for its exceptional performance in areas including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Entrepreneur received more than 1,000 applications this year, making it one of the magazine’s most competitive rankings ever.
“As we celebrate 40 years of producing the Franchise 500, it’s a good opportunity to step back and look at how much has changed since that first ranking in 1980,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “While the franchise business model has changed little, the strongest franchise brands are constantly evolving and innovating to keep up with changing trends and technology.”
Mixing sports and entertainment, Launch is a year-round, family entertainment and action park featuring giant jumping surfaces, dodgeball courts, slam dunk basketball, foam pits, and kid’s courts, as well as a full arcade with over 30 video, prizing and redemption games. More recent features include ninja courses, laser tag arenas, virtual reality rooms, and ropes courses just to name a few.
“Our spectrum of activities is part of what separates us from other trampoline parks, which feature little more than trampolines. No food. No video games. Just trampolines,” said Arnold. “That’s not going to cut it anymore. Our job as a franchisor is to continue to innovate.”
Today, Launch’s national footprint has rapidly grown to include more than 20 parks in 13 states, more than half of which have opened since the beginning of 2017 alone.
According to Arnold, 2019 is set to be the franchise’s most successful year yet. An additional 10 parks are already under construction and set to open in the coming months. In addition, commitments for more than 30 parks have already been signed throughout California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia.
Including a $50,000 franchise fee, the total initial investment necessary to open a single location ranges from $1,113,285 to $2,828,080. Each park typically occupies between 25,000 and 45,000 square feet of space and employs 50-75 mostly part-time people.
To view Launch in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in Entrepreneur’s January/February 2019 issue.
About Launch Trampoline Park
Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Rob Arnold and former NFL star and three-time Super Bowl champion Ty Law, Launch Trampoline Park is an innovative leader in the family entertainment industry. A year-round action park featuring giant jumping surfaces, dodge ball courts, ninja courses, laser tag arenas, and more, Launch is an ideal place for kids and adults alike to let loose and “fly” while also providing a great environment for families to spend time together. Currently, there are more than 20 parks open and operating in 13 states, with numerous others in various stages of development across the country. For more information, visit www.launchtrampolinepark.com.
SOURCE Launch Trampoline Park
