WhirlyBall growing with plans for Naperville expansion
Q: What is WhirlyBall?
A: Our namesake activity, open to all skill levels, can be described as a combination of lacrosse and bumper cars where two teams of five use hand-held scoops to pass a whiffle ball to each other - and ultimately at a scoring target. Each WhirlyBall location presents a food and beverage program, spacious dining areas and private and semiprivate event spaces to accommodate groups of any size. From kids' birthday parties and family outings to team building events and company holiday parties, we have you covered.
Q: Tell us a bit about your brand - where it all started and how it has grown?
A: Our story began with a pivotal question - where in the world are a bunch of people in need of fun, but unable to go outside several months a year? The answer: Lombard, Illinois. In 1993, Sam Elias, our founder, moved from Florida to Chicago to bring the people what they always wanted: 4,000 square feet to bump cars, score points and have fun. The desire for an indoor entertainment facility, aside from the traditional bowling option, was even greater than Sam expected. More than 25 years later, WhirlyBall has expanded to include two Chicago-area locations (Vernon Hills and Bucktown) and two out-of-state locations (Colorado Springs, Colorado and Brookfield, Wisconsin). We're thrilled to continue expansion in Illinois with our Naperville location this fall.
Q. What can guests expect at WhirlyBall Naperville?
A: Located at 3103 Odyssey Court, WhirlyBall Naperville's two-story, 41,000 square foot entertainment mecca will feature two famed WhirlyBall courts, eight bowling lanes with lane-side service, a four-lane VIP Bowling Suite, HyperBowling and a multilevel LaserTag arena. In addition to indoor activities, WhirlyBall will offer an outdoor patio and terrace plus spacious private and semiprivate event spaces. WhirlyBall Naperville will be home to The Pivot Room, our full-service restaurant and bar, which will offer modern American fare and an expansive craft beer selection.
Q: Tell us more about The Pivot Room and WhirlyBall's catering options.
A: Situated on the ground floor, The Pivot Room will complement WhirlyBall's energetic atmosphere with a spacious 75-seat dining room. The menu, created by chef Larry Donahue, will feature a variety of inventive dishes including shareable snacks, creative burgers, fresh salads, larger format entrees and tasty sides. The craft beer program will pair perfectly with the food offerings with a wide selection of over 24 rotating drafts. At our Naperville location, guests can expect brews from hometown favorites including Solemn Oath Brewery, Two Brothers Brewing and Goose Island Brewing.
We're dedicated to offering our elevated, high-quality fare throughout the venue. Guests can order from The Pivot Room menu while partaking in activities and groups can enjoy our chef-driven food through a variety of private event packages catered by The Pivot Room.
Q. How can people book parties at WhirlyBall Naperville?
A: We are already accepting reservations and encourage those interested in hosting holiday parties to book as soon as possible. Guests can inquire online at whirlyball.com/location-pickup/.