After watching their three sons play basketball at their home and invite friends to spend time on the court, Jeremy and Jen Gomez heard about Shoot 360 and wanted to create a unique playing space in Eastern Iowa. The two began the franchising process in November 2021. The new location opens on Feb. 17 at […]
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Click here to purchase a paywall bypass linkAfter watching their three sons play basketball at their home and invite friends to spend time on the court, Jeremy and Jen Gomez heard about Shoot 360 and wanted to create a unique playing space in Eastern Iowa.
The two began the franchising process in November 2021. The new location opens on Feb. 17 at 1790 Robins Road in Hiawatha, Iowa. It is Shoot 360’s first Iowa location.
“This isn’t something you can compare to anything else,” Mrs. Gomez said. “No one from this area has seen what we’re bringing and been able to experience it before. It’s great to have that buy in from people saying they believe in what we’re doing and that’s what we’ve hoped for since we started this adventure.”
Mr. Gomez, who co-owns the business with his wife, knew Iowa needed a Shoot 360 franchise after taking a vacation to Indianapolis and spending time at the nearest facility.
“It’s one of those things you have to see for yourself and kind of feel it,” he said. “It’s the most advanced basketball training facility in the world and it’s a place people can come in and get better whether you’re in fourth grade just learning the game or a high school athlete who has goals to play in college or just someone who wants to have a place to come in and shoot and work on their game.”
Shoot 360, an immersive basketball training experience, combines in-person skill development with digital gamification according to the company’s website.
With 27 locations across nearly 20 states, Shoot 360 is looking to expand and plans to open 17 additional locations soon, including the Gomezs’ Cedar Rapids franchise. The company currently has four locations open in the Midwest, but plans to open six more locations in the region. There are opportunities for both in-person and virtual competition across franchise locations.
The new location will have six shooting stations, six skill courts, and a half court for personal training and clinics.
A variety of memberships will be offered once the gym opens, but costs for them have not been set yet, Mr. Gomez said. There will be a discounted legacy membership for the first 100 members who sign up at the location. Mrs. Gomez suggests registering for a free workout on the franchise’s website before becoming a member to test the space and equipment. The business’s operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon until 7 p.m. The company’s mission is to integrate technology and innovation into the world of basketball. General Manager of the Cedar Rapids location Carson Parker said the new facility allows people of all ages and skill levels to train with the same technology the best players in the world do. “Members have access to a feedback tool that is used by WNBA and NBA players, and only they have access to this and Shoot 360 locations have access to this,” he said. “The tool shows the perfect shot, and the science behind what a perfect shot looks like. Our athletes get to see, after every time they shoot, where their numbers match up with the perfect shots. They are going to get better at a faster rate by using this technology with the quality and quantity of shooting reps.” Mr. Gomez and Mr. Parker will be attending Shoot 360’s annual conference in San Francisco, where they will see the Golden State Warriors’ Facility that uses Shoot 360 technology. The conference takes place during the second week of February. Mr. Gomez said the company has provided support as he and Mrs. Gomez open the new locations. As the two prepare for opening day, Mr. Gomez said members of the Shoot 360 company are coming out to check on the technology and ensure everything is working properly. “Corporate comes out and they teach the Floor Coaches about the technology, drills, and different competitions and games as well as the whole point of sale portion,” he said. “It’s a lot of data and feedback and corporate wants to make sure the Floor Coaches understand it all. They’re really good about listening to franchise owners and helping throughout the process.” Information gathered during workouts, Mr. Gomez said, goes directly into the Shoot 360 app to keep members informed on their progress. As the gym prepares to open its doors, Mrs. Gomez said Corridor residents will have to visit to understand the opportunities afforded at Shoot 360 for both kids and adults. “As a parent, a perspective that sold me was thinking about how my kids play team sports and they have two practices a week for an hour and a half,” she said. “Outside of that, they’re on their own. This facility offers individual skill development and training. We offer that to kids who wouldn’t have any other option other than going to the Y and working alone or hiring a personal trainer. We brought this to the community so everyone has the opportunity to use this facility and accomplish their goals and see the rewards.”
