Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/654213
A p r i l 2 0 1 6 / S C T 35 As interest in action sports explodes — loosely defined as nontraditional sports perceived to be physically riskier than traditional ones — the manage- ment of Kids That Rip Family Action eFoRe The Kids ThAT Rip Family Action sports Center opened in Chandler, Ariz., last fall, Jen- nifer Felker would drop her preteen boys off at the local public skate park after school — only to get a call from them less than an hour later. "We're bored," or "it's really hot — come pick us up now!" For Felker, therefore, this new 60,000-square-foot athletics center was perfection. "it's a one-stop shop for all their sporting interests," Felker said. Now her boys are racing BMX bikes around a cycling track one minute, and maybe doing flips on a trampoline the next — and there are no more frantic complaint phone calls. At $99 per month for an unlimited pass, furthermore, "they are there more days than not," the happy mother said. sports Center are making plans to take the model beyond the southwest. The concept is the creation of Geoff ea- ton, owner-operator of desert devils, a nationally known gymnastics train- ing facility in Mesa, Ariz. Ten years ago eaton's two young sons were showing more interest in skateboards than in springboards, so he, an amateur skater himself, converted a part of his gym into a 1,000-square-foot skating ramp where his sons could hone their skills. The parents of other young skateboard enthusiasts took note, and seeking a safe, instructional outlet for their own children, they asked if they, too, could use the facility. sensing opportunity, eaton expanded the section, creating a 25,000-square-foot dedicated space in- side the desert devils Gym, the very first Kids That Rip facility, as it was initially B A cure for boredom kids thAt rip Aims to keep fAmilies coming bAck By Rebecca Meiser r e T a i l i n g T o d a y