Sportsco

What Sportsco does

Sportsco is a privately held, single-site leisure centre operating on a 4-acre site at South Lotts Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4 since 1979. It runs a multi-facility complex anchored by a six-lane 25-meter swimming pool, a fully equipped gym with functional training rig, a leisure suite (spa pool, sauna, steam room, heated loungers), three floodlit tennis courts, three squash courts, two padel courts, four five-a-side soccer pitches, a multi-purpose sports hall, fitness studios, and a 25-seater conference room. The technology layer is operational rather than AI-driven, centred on the Gladstone Go Cloud online booking platform for self-serve activity, class, and facility reservations, supported by standard leisure equipment (Technogym, Cybex Eagle Range, LifeFitness). Membership is the primary revenue engine with flexible monthly and annual tiers, supplemented by usage-based pay-per-play court/pitch fees, personal training, group fitness classes, sports coaching programs (tennis, padel, swimming, kids camps), conference hire, and revenue share from on-site partner operators (Druid Padel, Jamie Stafford Tennis Academy, The Leisure Experts, Urban Day Spa, MindFool Coffee, The Physio Guys, Eco-Kidz).

The customer base spans individual fitness enthusiasts, families with children, multiple long-tenured community sports clubs (ESB Badminton, Belvedere Squash, Aquanuts Swimming, Basketball, Volleyball), corporate conference clients, and rehabilitation/medical exercise users served via partners like Exwell Medical. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website, online booking, phone/email, and on-site reception; on-site partners act as embedded resellers adding specialized verticals. Sportsco has been led by Lorna Brady as CEO since 2017 and has held 35+ years of leadership continuity, alongside industry certifications including White Flag Excellence Gold Standard, Q-Mark (first stand-alone leisure centre in Ireland to receive it), and AIBF Business All-Star Leisure Centre of the Year in 2024 and 2025. There is no disclosed revenue, no external funding, and no parent company identified; the business is independently owned and operates from a single Dublin 4 location.

Name

Sportsco

Legal name

SPORTSCO

Website

https://sportsco.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sportsco is a privately held, single-site leisure centre in Ringsend, Dublin 4, operating since 1979 on a 4-acre site. It serves individual members, families, sports clubs, and corporate clients through a gym, 25m pool, tennis/padel/squash courts, soccer pitches, studios, and on-site partner-operated coaching, spa, and café services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leisure Centre / Fitness Facility

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAEAH

Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Venues & Facilities (Stadiums, Arenas, Tracks, Complexes)

SECONDARYMPAKABAF

Tennis & Racquet Sports Clubs (Tennis, Padel, Pickleball, Squash)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Professional Sports Teams & Clubs

SECONDARYMPAKAEAB

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Venues & Facilities (Stadiums, Arenas, Tracks, Complexes)

Keywords

• Leisure centre services
• Fitness memberships
• Swimming pool access
• Sports facility hire
• Personal training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Recurring membership fees with flexible monthly and annual payment options. Multiple membership tiers available with varying access levels to facilities and classes.
2. Facility Pay-per-Play: Per-hour court and pitch bookings for members including soccer pitches, tennis courts, squash courts, padel courts, badminton courts, and sports hall. Member rates and non-member rates available.
3. Personal Training Services: Individual personal training sessions with certified instructors (e.g., John Gray), 5-Step Fitness Plans, and specialized Cancer and Rehabilitation training programs.
4. Sports Coaching Programs: Revenue from coaching programs including tennis lessons (Jamie Stafford Tennis Academy), padel coaching, swimming lessons (The Leisure Experts), physiopilates courses, and other fitness classes.
5. Conference and Events Venue Hire: 25-seater conference room available to members and non-members at €50 per hour or €250 per day.
6. On-site Partner Revenue Share: Partners including MindFool Coffee, Urban Day Spa, Druid Padel, and The Physio Guys operate within SPORTSCO facilities, likely generating rental or revenue share arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sportsco operates a Dublin-based leisure centre providing a fully equipped gym, a six-lane 25m swimming pool, leisure suite (spa/sauna/steam), studios, tennis/padel/squash/badminton courts, five-a-side soccer pitches, a multi-purpose sports hall, a conference room, and a changing village. It sells tiered memberships and pay-per-use facility bookings, personal training, group fitness classes, sports coaching (tennis, padel, swimming), kids camps, and specialised programs such as cancer rehabilitation and PhysioPilates, alongside on-site partner services including a coffee shop, medi spa, physiotherapy clinic and tennis/padel academies.

Product overview

Sportsco is a leisure centre offering a unified platform of fitness and sports facilities, membership services, and partner-operated wellness offerings. The core product consists of extensive facilities including a gym, 25m swimming pool, leisure suite (spa, sauna, steam), studios, tennis/padel/squash courts, sports hall, and 5-a-side soccer pitches. These facilities are supported by membership plans with flexible payment options, group fitness classes, personal training, and the Sportsco Swim Academy for aquatic lessons. The product portfolio is enhanced by on-site partner brands including Mind Fool Coffee Co., Urban Day & Medi Spa, The Leisure Experts (swimming lessons), The Physio Guys (physiotherapy), and Jamie Stafford Tennis Academy/Druid Padel for racket sports coaching. Kids activities and conference/event hire round out the service offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPORTSCO Swim Academy: Swimming lesson programme operated in partnership with The Leisure Experts, offering lessons for children and adults.

Products and services

• Membership Plans

Quantifiable outcome

• White Flag Excellence (Gold Standard) award winners for water quality and pool standards
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Druid PadelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish-owned, female-founded company operating padel courts at SPORTSCO. Offers coaching programs, leagues, and events. Players must be SPORTSCO members. Provides 4-week coaching courses, private lessons (1:1 or groups), and weekly Americanos social events.
• MindFool Coffee Co.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoffee shop located inside SPORTSCO offering specialty coffee from Silverskin Coffee Roastery, fresh food, smoothies, and snacks. Open daily from 9am (closed Thursdays). Cora & Mauricio operate the business.
• Urban Day & Medi SpacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service beauty salon and medi spa on first floor of SPORTSCO. Services include nails, waxing, facials, massages (Balinese, hot stone, pregnancy), laser IPL treatments, skin peels, and visiting aesthetic doctor for injectables. Open late Mon-Fri to 8:30pm, Sat to 5pm. Complementary parking and leisure suite access included.
• The Leisure ExpertscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDedicated swimming lesson provider delivering aquatic programmes for children and adults. As of February 2024, took over management of SPORTSCO Swim Academy. Provides lessons for all ages and abilities from beginner to intensive holiday camps.
• The Physio GuysminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent physiotherapy clinic based at SPORTSCO providing assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services. Team includes Leroy and Paddy offering hands-on therapy, exercise-based rehabilitation, and personalized treatment plans.
• Eco-KidzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreschool, after-school care, and holiday camps provider for children aged 2-5 and 4-12. Offers AIM teachers for additional needs, participates in NCS and ECCE schemes. Located in Dublin 2, 4, and 12 with sports and art activities.
• Jamie Stafford Tennis AcademycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExpert tennis coaching for children and adults of all ages and abilities. Programmes focus on developing core tennis skills, technique, movement, and confidence. Offers 1:1 or 2:1 coaching, 6-week courses, holiday camps, school partnerships, and club development services.
• John Gray (Personal Training)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPersonal trainer at SPORTSCO offering training to members for additional fee. Contact: 086 320 8433 or [email protected]
• The Leisure Experts (Easter/Summer Camps)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPowering SPORTSCO Easter Camp and Summer Camp with action-packed camps for children to stay active, make friends, and have fun.
• Water Safety Ireland (Sportsco)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSwimming and lifesaving classes for children and teens every Saturday evening from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Programs divided by age covering swimming (4-10), safety (10-12), and rescue skills (12-16). Cost: €8 per night.
• Exwell MedicalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClinical exercise programmes for people living with chronic illness. Operates in 16 counties with over 52 locations nationwide, supporting more than 7,500 members weekly. Requires referral letter from healthcare professional.
• Little KickersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFootball programme for children aged 18 months to 8 years. Focuses on developing fundamental movement skills, coordination, confidence, and basic football techniques in positive, non-competitive environment.
• RugbytotsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNon-contact rugby play sessions for children aged 2 to 6 years. 45-minute sessions designed to develop core physical and social skills. Free taster sessions available for new starters.
• ESB Badminton ClubminorOthersBadminton club running on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights from September to May. Summer club on Thursday nights only. Coaching available for improvers. Membership open to SPORTSCO members over 16.
• Belvedere Squash ClubminorOthersSquash club based at SPORTSCO catering to players from beginners to competitive league players. Regular social nights, internal leagues, coaching sessions, and local competitions.
• Aquanuts Swimming ClubminorOthersAdult swimming club meeting Monday and Wednesday 11am-12pm. Catering to all levels from lane swimming to nervous beginners. Started in 1992 at Sportsco with some original members still attending.
• SPORTSCO Golf SocietyminorOthersOffsite golf society set up in 1998 by SPORTSCO members. Handicap system designed for equal chances. Emphasis on friendly camaraderie. Contact Frank: [email protected]

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Better (GLL): UK-based leisure operator running multi-sport community leisure centres with pools, gyms, courts and classes under a membership model; comparable in operating breadth but primarily UK-focused.
• Aura Leisure Centres: Multi-site Irish leisure centre chain with pools, gyms and sports facilities across Ireland; comparable operating model but with regional diversification that Sportsco lacks.

Broad incumbents

• David Lloyd Leisure: Pan-European premium health, fitness and racquets club operator with multiple sites in Ireland/UK; competes for the same affluent family member base via gym, pool, tennis, squash and spa facilities.
• Planet Fitness: International high-value, low-price gym franchise with Irish presence; competes for entry-level and price-sensitive gym members who might otherwise join Sportsco's gym-only tier.

Direct peers

• West Wood Club: Premium Dublin-area leisure club operator with multiple sites offering gym, pool, tennis/squash courts, classes and family amenities — the closest large-format private multi-sport competitor to Sportsco within Greater Dublin.
• National Aquatic Centre: Large-scale Dublin aquatic and leisure facility offering 50m pool, fitness, classes and swim lessons; comparable premium Dublin aquatic and fitness proposition targeting similar individual and family segments.
• Nirvana Fitness & Wellness: Independent Dublin premium leisure and fitness club with pool, gym, classes and spa; targets the same Dublin 4 / south-side family member demographic as Sportsco.
• Castle Leisure Club: Independent Dublin leisure club offering gym, pool, fitness classes and family-focused facilities; directly comparable single-site membership sports & recreation club competing for the same Dublin catchment.

Emerging players

• Éireann Health & Fitness / Sweeney's Gym (Dublin): Independent Dublin fitness facilities offering gyms, classes and personal training in the same south Dublin catchment; partial overlap with Sportsco's individual fitness and PT services.
• Snap Fitness: 24/7 franchise gym model with presence in Ireland; competes for individual fitness-only members with convenient, app-led access rather than Sportsco's broad multi-sport proposition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SPORTSCORingsend
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sportsco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Sportsco