What Home Run Dugout does

Home Run Dugout is a baseball-themed eatertainment company founded in 2015 in Austin, Texas, that combines proprietary indoor batting experiences with full-service dining, bars, and event hosting. Its core product is the patented 'Batting Bay' — an indoor bay featuring a ground-up soft-toss pitching machine (eliminating the need for helmets and fastballs) paired with computer-vision ball-tracking analytics and augmented reality gameplay that simulates hitting in MLB ballparks such as Minute Maid Park and McCovey Cove. The flagship is a 46,000-square-foot venue in Katy, Texas (Houston area), with 22 batting bays, a full-service restaurant, two bars, an outdoor Beer Garden Baseball field, a live-music stage, and event spaces accommodating up to 2,000 guests.

The company operates a dual business model. The direct-to-consumer arm generates revenue through batting bay reservations (~$50 per person at peak times), food and beverage sales (60+ beers, ballpark-inspired menu), private events (corporate buyouts, birthdays, graduations, bachelor/bachelorette parties, youth sports), and gift cards. The B2B licensing arm places patented HRD Batting Bays into third-party venues — current licensees include the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field, Round Rock Express' Dell Diamond, OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City, Cooperstown All-Star Village, Chasing Aces Golf in Louisiana, the College Baseball Hall of Fame, and Diamond Baseball Holdings' Wichita Wind Surge.

Distribution is primarily through company-owned venues and embedded licensing arrangements rather than franchising. The company raised a $22.5 million Series A led by Lagniappe Capital Partners in August 2024, bringing total disclosed funding to $24.5 million, and is investing these proceeds in new company-owned locations in San Antonio and Scottsdale, Arizona. The customer base spans consumers and social groups, corporate event buyers, youth sports teams, and venue operators, with Mookie Betts serving as founding athlete and investor, and Nolan Ryan's Ryan Sanders Baseball as a long-standing strategic partner.

Name

Home Run Dugout

Legal name

Home Run Dugout, LLC

Website

https://homerundugout.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Home Run Dugout operates baseball-themed eatertainment venues featuring patented indoor batting bays with real-time analytics and AR gameplay, paired with full-service restaurants, bars, and event spaces; it serves consumers, corporate event buyers, youth sports teams, and licenses its technology to stadiums, resorts, and entertainment centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers (MPAKAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)

Keywords

• Indoor batting experience
• Sports entertainment venues
• Eatertainment dining
• Corporate event hosting
• Batting bay licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Batting Bay Reservations: Guests pay per-session to reserve batting bays for 90-minute sessions. Single bay accommodates 1-12 players; groups of 13-24 can book two bays; large events handled by events team. Bookings available online up to 2 weeks in advance.
2. Food and Beverage Sales: Full-service restaurant and bar serving ballpark-inspired gourmet food, craft cocktails, and over 60 beers. Menu includes daytime, dinner, and happy hour offerings. Takeout available by phone.
3. Private Event Hosting: Revenue from corporate events, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, graduation parties, team-building events, field trips, and happy hours. Venues available: Robinson Room (65 seated), Houston Room (40), Beer Garden, and full buyout (2,000 capacity).
4. Licensing Fees: HRD licenses its patented Batting Bay technology to stadiums, hotels, casinos, resorts, and entertainment centers. Partners include Texas Rangers (Globe Life Field), OKANA Resort, Cooperstown All-Star Village, Round Rock Express, Chasing Aces Golf. Not currently franchising the Home Run Dugout concept.
5. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in various denominations for use across batting bays, food, and beverages at all HRD locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Home Run Dugout operates baseball-themed eatertainment venues featuring patented ground-up soft-toss pitching machines in indoor batting bays with real-time analytics (exit velocity, launch angle, distance) and augmented reality gameplay simulating MLB ballparks. The flagship Katy, TX location includes 22 batting bays, a full-service restaurant, bar, outdoor Beer Garden Baseball field, and event spaces. The company also licenses its patented Batting Bay technology to third-party venues including MLB stadiums, resorts, and entertainment centers.

Product overview

Home Run Dugout is a baseball-themed eatertainment company offering a unified experience combining interactive batting bays with full-service dining and event hosting. The core product is the Simulated Batting Bays experience, featuring 22 proprietary batting bays with ground-up soft-toss pitching machines and real-time analytics (exit velocity, launch angle, distance). This is complemented by the Beer Garden Baseball Field for outdoor wiffleball, a full-service restaurant with ballpark-inspired cuisine, and a fully-stocked bar with 60+ craft beers and specialty cocktails. The company also operates a Venue Licensing Program, enabling hotels, casinos, resorts, and sports venues to install patented HRD Batting Bays. Event hosting capabilities include corporate events, birthday parties, team building, field trips, graduation parties, and end-of-season celebrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beer Garden Baseball: A trademarked outdoor baseball field experience where guests can play wiffleball, kickball, or other sports, featuring the company's beer garden atmosphere.
• Dinger Derby
• Batting Bay Experience

Products and services

• Simulated Batting Bays HRD's signature indoor batting experience featuring state-of-the-art simulated batting bays with proprietary ground-up soft-toss pitching machines. Guests compete in fun, social games tailored to all skill levels (ages 6+), tracking real-time exit velocity, launch angle, and distance on immersive screens with AR gameplay simulating professional MLB ballparks.
• Beer Garden Baseball Field Outdoor wiffleball, kickball, and sports activities field with beer garden atmosphere. Available for reservations and walk-in play, accommodating all ages.
• Restaurant & Dining Full-service restaurant offering ballpark-inspired gourmet food including Smoked Chicken Wings, All American Burger, Bases Loaded Nachos, and kids' meals. Serves daytime menu, happy hour, and dinner service with takeout available.
• Bar & Cocktails

Quantifiable outcome

• Exit velocities tracked up to 105 MPH in Cooperstown sessions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, strategic and core.

• Chasing Aces GolfminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 16 June 2025Chasing Aces Golf is a $25 million, 27-acre golf and entertainment complex in Bossier City, Louisiana. HRD Batting Bays were installed as part of the grand opening in June 2025, complementing radar-tracked driving bays, a Par-3 course, putting zone, and sports bar. CEO John Dudley and COO Mike Mitton lead the venue.
• Texas RangersstrategicOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 24 March 2025Texas Rangers partnered with Home Run Dugout to install Batting Bays in the concourse along the first base line at Globe Life Field. Bays are open to the public during all Rangers home games and available for private events. Rangers executive Mike Healy called it 'a perfect fit' for enhancing the fan experience.
• Mookie BettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop and future Hall of Famer, is a multi-year investor and ambassador for Home Run Dugout. He is the founding athlete and chair of the company's new athlete advisory board. Described as a 'Home Run Dugout Superfan,' his involvement brings MLB star credibility to the brand.
• ARCO MurraycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerARCO Murray is a design-build firm with 27+ years of experience and 4,000+ completed projects. They serve as the construction partner for Home Run Dugout builds, with a 75% repeat customer rate. They have built entertainment venues for TopGolf, iFly, Spin, Andretti, Chicken N Pickle, Puttshack, and Home Run Dugout.
• Ryan Sanders Baseball / RS3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRyan Sanders Sports Services (RS3), owned by Nolan Ryan, is a key strategic partner. RS3 owns multiple minor league baseball teams and hospitality/food service companies. They were instrumental in HRD's first location at Dell Diamond (Round Rock) and have helped achieve the Home Run Dugout expansion dream.
• William Morris Endeavor (WME)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerWME is one of the world's most influential talent and brand firms, recognized as a leader in sports entertainment. Recently acquired by Silver Lake, which also owns Diamond Baseball Holdings and their interest in 40+ minor league baseball teams. WME brings talent, brand, and entertainment industry connections.
• WarsticminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWarstic is the official provider of bats and batting gloves at Home Run Dugout. Founded in 2011, Warstic creates premium baseball equipment and apparel that inspires athletes to attack the ball and life with a warrior mindset.
• Round Rock Express / Dell DiamondstrategicOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHRD's first venue opened at Dell Diamond in Round Rock in 2019 in partnership with Nolan Ryan and Ryan Sanders Baseball. Bullpen Bar and Home Run Dugout batting bays are open to guests by reservation and during Round Rock Express games.
• Cooperstown All-Star VillagestrategicOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHome Run Dugout is bringing two batting bays to Cooperstown All-Star Village for the 2026 summer tournament season (May 30 – Aug 27). Teams can book 90-minute sessions during pool play days. Walk-up batting available on check-in, tournament, and championship days.
• OKANA Resort & Indoor WaterparkminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCurveball Kitchen at OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City features 7 HRD Batting Bays. The resort has 100,000 sq ft indoor waterpark, 11 pools, 12 dining outlets, and 400+ rooms. Open to all guests — no waterpark pass or hotel stay required.
• Diamond Baseball HoldingsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) is bringing HRD Batting Bays to Equity Bank Park, home of the Wichita Wind Surge. DBH owns or operates multiple minor league baseball teams and is backed by Silver Lake/WME. This partnership extends HRD's presence in minor league baseball venues.
• College Baseball Hall of FameminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerThe College Baseball Hall of Fame at the Museum at Prairiefire will feature HRD Batting Bays with patented soft-toss pitching machines, projection screens, and immersive AR gameplay. Collaboration with the College Baseball Foundation brings HRD technology to college baseball history.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Topgolf: Topgolf is the closest direct peer and the category-creator of tech-enabled eatertainment venues. HRD is repeatedly described as 'Topgolf for baseball,' combining a similar physical venue, food and beverage, event hosting, and game technology — but applied to baseball rather than golf.
• Puttshack: Puttshack operates indoor tech-enabled mini-golf eatertainment venues with full bars and restaurants. Comparable venue format (indoor bays/courses with tech-enabled gameplay), target customer (groups, corporate events, birthdays), and revenue model (per-visit usage + F&B) make it a direct adjacent peer.
• Chicken N Pickle: Chicken N Pickle operates indoor/outdoor eatertainment complexes combining pickleball courts with restaurants and bars. Comparable multi-activity venue format, group/corporate event focus, and Mid-South/Heartland geographic overlap with HRD's Texas footprint make it a relevant peer.
• Five Iron Golf: Five Iron Golf combines indoor golf simulators with full-service bars and event hosting. The tech-enabled bays-with-F&B venue model, group/corporate event focus, and expansion strategy are highly analogous to HRD's batting bay format.
• Swingers: Swingers operates indoor crazy-golf eatertainment venues with cocktails and street food. Comparable social-sports eatertainment positioning, urban venue strategy, and group event revenue model align with HRD's experiential entertainment offering.
• Drive Shack: Drive Shack operates tech-enabled golf entertainment venues (Puttery, Topgolf-style venues). Closely comparable technology-driven indoor sports entertainment concept with food, beverage, and event hosting revenue mix.

Broad incumbents

• Dave & Buster's: Dave & Buster's is the largest publicly-traded eatertainment operator with arcade games, sports viewing, and F&B. While it does not offer sports simulation like HRD, it competes for the same group-outing and corporate-event customer spend with broader entertainment appeal.
• Main Event Entertainment: Main Event operates family entertainment centers combining bowling, laser tag, billiards, and F&B. It competes for the same birthday party, corporate event, and family outing occasions as HRD but with broader entertainment rather than baseball focus.
• Bowlero: Bowlero is the largest operator of bowling centers globally with F&B and event hosting. It overlaps with HRD in group entertainment, leagues, and corporate events but is anchored on bowling rather than baseball-themed experiences.

Emerging players

• Andretti Indoor Karting & Games: Andretti Indoor Karting & Games operates multi-activity indoor entertainment venues with karting, bowling, laser tag, and F&B. Comparable full-service entertainment venue format targeting groups, families, and corporate events with similar unit economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/homerundugout
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVvpTg-qce73q-yfhtqarDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/homerundugout
• Instagraminstagram.com/homerundugout

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Home Run Dugout