New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees expects his Surge Adventure Park to open in Jacksonville any day now, although he won’t be able to visit for several months, seeing as how he has a full-time job.
Probably in the offseason, the 39-year-old NFL veteran can check out the family-friendly activities center that awaits final city permits at the Regency Court Shopping Center at 9292 Arlington Expressway.
“It’s a great market. We felt like there was a need for one there,” Brees said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Brees said Regency Court was transforming into a family-entertainment complex. He said he and his business partner considered it a good location for the Surge Adventure Park brand they are building.
“We are a fast-growing indoor activity park brand to create the best family experience we can for families and kids of all ages,” said the father of four.
Jacksonville will be the sixth Surge park. The first five are in New Orleans; Fort Walton; Birmingham, Alabama; Opelika, Alabama, near Auburn; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
One will open soon in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and two others are planned for Richmond, Virginia, and Columbia, South Carolina.
He also is targeting more markets in Louisiana.
Jacksonville fit the strategy. Surge Adventure Park is leasing a 46,596-square-foot space that formerly was the Sports Authority.
“It’s our newest one today and will include some first-time features,” Brees said.
There will be a zip line course, a competitive climbing wall, a ninja obstacle course, foam pits, trampolines, a “huge” birthday party entertainment area and a parents’ lounge where adults can watch their children, work or keep up with what’s on TV, like NFL games.
Brees said Surge also will be a birthday party center for children. That’s how he became involved. At a party, he met the founder.
“He wanted to expand nationwide and I had a bunch of ideas for him to grow the brand and make it better,” Brees said, explaining that he wants to create family experiences.
It also offers team-building and corporate experiences.
Brees declined to provide an investment cost in creating the park, but said it is expensive. The parks are built with safety in mind and the latest technology.
The Surge brand began as a trampoline park. “When I got involved I felt like we should be gearing more toward some of the other adventure-type activities,” he said, such as the competitive elements like the ninja course.
He also added elements attractive to children and teenagers, including a trapeze and a zip line over a foam pit.
“We want families to be able to come there and have activities for all ages, all sizes and all abilities,” he said.
A promotional flyer for Surge Adventure Park shows jump passes from $14.95 for one hour to $28.95 for three hours. There are “jump and save rates” for younger children and for families.
Party price ranges from $199 for 10 jumpers to $469 for 25.
Brees, in his 18th NFL season, said business partner Darren Balsamo runs the day-to-day Surge operations. Brees joined the Saints in 2009 after six seasons with the San Diego Chargers.
At 201 yards short of passing Brett Favre and Peyton Manning to become the NFL’s all-time passing leader, Brees could close in on that record Monday when the Saints play the Washington Redskins at the Superdome.
Brees visited Jacksonville when the Saints came to town for the Aug. 9 preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Saints won 24-20, although Brees didn’t play.
Brees said he hoped the park would have been ready to open then. While it wasn’t, he was able to try out the climbing wall.
“This is something I care about, something I am passionate about,” Brees said, “trying to create the best family experience that we can.”
