DC Fray
DC Fray operates adult social sports leagues across 20+ sports in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia metropolitan area, serving adults 21+ who want recreational sport and social connection, with registration through the commi.sh platform and a supporting Fraylife+ membership program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What DC Fray does
DC Fray (legal entity: United Social Sports Inc.) operates adult social sports leagues across 20+ sports — including kickball, softball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, flag football, cornhole, pickleball, bocce, bowling, dodgeball, hockey, tennis, ultimate frisbee, trivia, yoga, and axe throwing — for the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) metropolitan area. Founded in 2009 and headquartered at 951 V Street NE, Washington, DC, the company runs 120+ leagues per cycle spanning 23+ neighborhoods and partners with 40+ sponsor bars to anchor post-game social gatherings. The target customer is adults aged 21+ (predominantly 23-31, ~60% female) seeking low-pressure recreational sport and social connection, accessed via individual sign-ups, small friend groups, or full team registrations.
The underlying platform is the commi.sh web-based registration and league-management system, integrated with Stripe for payment processing and supported by a mobile app (available on Google Play). Core offering is seasonal league registration ($35-$99 per player per season), bundled with insurance, field permits, equipment, league shirts, playoffs, and social events. The company layers a recurring Fraylife+ membership (annual subscription) providing free entry to select leagues and 25% discounts on the rest, a Sub-Squad substitute-player network, corporate team packages, equipment rentals, and reversible-jersey merchandise. Distribution is self-serve online plus venue and sponsor bar networks; marketing is concentrated in organic social media, email newsletters, content via District Fray magazine, and SEO-optimized sport-specific pages. DC Fray is a member of the United Fray franchise network alongside sister brands in Jacksonville and Phoenix, and is a member of the Sports & Social Industry Association (SSIA).
DC Fray firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DC Fray
- Legal name
- United Social Sports Inc.
- Website
- https://dcfray.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DC Fray operates adult social sports leagues across 20+ sports in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia metropolitan area, serving adults 21+ who want recreational sport and social connection, with registration through the commi.sh platform and a supporting Fraylife+ membership program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DC Fray industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adult Recreational Social Sports Leagues
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional) (MPAKACAJ), Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAH), Community Sports & Recreation Festivals (Fun Runs, Local Games Days) (MPAGAEAN), Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where DC Fray is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DC Fray business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- League Registration Fees: Per-person seasonal registration fees for social sports leagues across 20+ sports. Fees vary by sport and location, ranging from $35-$99 per player per season. Covers insurance, field permits, equipment, league shirts, playoffs, and access to social events.
- Fraylife+ Membership: Premium membership program offering free entry to select leagues and 25% discount on remaining leagues. New members receive free reversible jersey; existing members get 50% off jersey.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bocce League - Individual Player Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bowling League - Individual Player Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Cornhole League - Individual Player Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dodgeball League - Individual Player Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Flag Football League - Individual Player Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Hockey League - Individual Player Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Kickball League - Individual Player Registration |
| Subscription | Annual | Fraylife+ Membership - Premium Annual Membership |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Corporate Team Packages |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
DC Fray product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DC Fray organizes and operates adult recreational social sports leagues across more than 20 sports in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia metropolitan area. Each season pairs scheduled on-field play with post-game social gatherings at a network of sponsor bars, combining athletic participation with a structured social experience for adult players. The company also extends into corporate team-building packages, a subscription membership (Fraylife+), merchandise, and event rentals.
Product overview
DC Fray operates a social sports league platform offering adult recreational sports across 20+ activities including basketball, soccer, volleyball, kickball, softball, flag football, cornhole, pickleball, and more. The core product is the social sports league (featuring flexible team formation, skill levels from social to competitive, and post-game social events at sponsor bars), supported by a premium Fraylife+ membership program offering free and discounted league access. Additional offerings include corporate team packages, a Sub-Squad substitution service, reversible jerseys, equipment rentals for events, and District Fray media/events covering DC-area activities. The company serves the DMV area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) with 120+ leagues across various locations and time slots.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adult Social Sports Leagues Seasonally organized adult recreational leagues in 20+ sports (e.g., kickball, softball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, dodgeball, basketball, and others) for players in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, combining on-field games with post-game social events at sponsor bars.
- Fraylife+ Membership
- Corporate Teams (Team Building) Group and corporate team-building packages that let employers and organizations register teams into DC Fray leagues or run private events for employees, used for engagement, onboarding, and social programming.
- Sub-Squad A free-agent player program that places solo registrants onto existing teams each season, enabling individuals without a full roster to participate in DC Fray leagues.
- Reversible Jerseys Two-sided DC Fray-branded jerseys sold to players that can be flipped and reused across multiple sports and seasons, reducing the need to buy new kits each season.
- Event Rentals Rental of DC Fray's fields, equipment, and event infrastructure for private parties, tournaments, and group events not tied to a regular season.
- District Fray Magazine and Events A DC-focused media and events property under the DC Fray umbrella, covering local social, nightlife, and sports content and hosting related events for the community.
Companies that use DC Fray
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DC Fray technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DC Fray partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- United Fray (JAX, PHX)coreDC Fray is part of the United Fray franchise network operating social sports leagues in multiple cities including Jacksonville (JAX) and Phoenix (PHX). Members can participate in leagues across franchise locations.
- SSIA (Sports & Social Industry Association)minorDC Fray is a proud member of the Sports & Social Industry Association, indicating industry recognition and adherence to industry standards.
- Sponsor Bars (40+ venues)coreExtensive network of 40+ partner bars and restaurants including Across The Pond, As You Are, Astro Beer Hall, Blackfinn, Bowlero, Dacha, and many others. These venues host leagues and serve as post-game social gathering locations.
- Commish (Registration Platform)coreDC Fray uses commi.sh platform for online league registration, roster management, payment processing, and member communications.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DC Fray competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ZogSports: ZogSports runs adult social sports leagues across multiple U.S. cities with a near-identical model (21+ recreational leagues, post-game social, individual or team registration). It is the most direct national comparable to DC Fray's offering and community positioning.
- Volo Sports: Volo Sports organizes adult social sports leagues with an emphasis on community and volunteer-driven participation across several U.S. metros. Overlaps directly with DC Fray on target demographic, league structure, and community-led brand.
- ClubWAKA: ClubWAKA runs adult social kickball and other recreational leagues in multiple cities with the same social-first, post-game bar culture as DC Fray, making it a close functional peer.
- JAX Fray (United Fray): Sister brand within the United Fray franchise network operating the same DC Fray model in Jacksonville. Directly comparable in operating model, technology (commi.sh), and pricing structure.
- PHX Fray (United Fray): Sister brand within the United Fray franchise network operating the same DC Fray model in Phoenix. Closely comparable in product mix, social-bar strategy, and registration technology.
Others
- Sport & Social Industry Association (SSIA): The industry body of which DC Fray is a member; useful as a peer reference for category-level benchmarks and signals about the broader social-sports league ecosystem rather than as a direct competitor.
Regional players
- Brooklyn Boulders (social leagues): While primarily a climbing gym operator, Brooklyn Boulders hosts recreational leagues and social programming that compete for similar urban adult participants, though in a more facility-anchored format.
Emerging players
- Stonewall Sports: Stonewall Sports operates LGBTQ+ inclusive adult recreational leagues across several U.S. cities with a strong community-led social model, partially overlapping DC Fray's participant base and league structure.
Broad incumbents
- United Sports Brands (parent operators): A broader multi-brand operator in the recreational sports and active lifestyle category. Not a direct league competitor to DC Fray, but a larger incumbent whose portfolio adjacency informs comparable benchmarks at scale.
- Midtown Athletic Clubs: A multi-club operator offering adult recreational leagues, social programming, and fitness amenities. Compares as a broader incumbent whose league offerings partially overlap DC Fray's adult social-sports positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DC Fray social profiles
Digital presenceDC Fray financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DC Fray leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
DC Fray funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DC Fray M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DC Fray
What does DC Fray do?
DC Fray organizes and operates adult recreational social sports leagues across more than 20 sports in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia metropolitan area. Each season pairs scheduled on-field play with post-game social gatherings at a network of sponsor bars, combining athletic participation with a structured social experience for adult players. The company also extends into corporate team-building packages, a subscription membership (Fraylife+), merchandise, and event rentals.
Is DC Fray a public or private company?
DC Fray is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DC Fray founded?
DC Fray was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DC Fray based?
DC Fray is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does DC Fray make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. League Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are fraylife+ Membership.
Who are DC Fray's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ZogSports, Volo Sports, ClubWAKA, JAX Fray (United Fray) and PHX Fray (United Fray). Sport & Social Industry Association (SSIA) is listed as an others. Brooklyn Boulders (social leagues) is listed as a regional player. Stonewall Sports is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are United Sports Brands (parent operators) and Midtown Athletic Clubs.
Does DC Fray have an API?
No public API is recorded for DC Fray.
What industry is DC Fray in?
DC Fray's product category is Adult Recreational Social Sports Leagues. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAE, Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAKACAJ, Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional). Its NAICS code is 71394 and its SIC code is 7900.