Jul 1

Jul 1 These inflatable bubbles are bouncing their way into Rochester

Full contact sports are fun. The injuries that come with them — not so much.

That's where BubbleBall comes in.

A team of local entrepreneurs recently signed a deal to bring the popular inflatables to Rochester. The bubbles allow users to bounce around and smash into opponents while playing their favorite sports.

"It allows you to play full contact but not get hurt because you're protected by these spheres," said Tori Utley, who along with her friends AJ Montpetit and Zach Zurn will operate the franchise in Rochester.

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The decision to start the business was made after watching videos on YouTube from other cities. BubbleBall (the brand name — there are other businesses with similar concepts) has more than 50 franchises in the U.S. and Canada.

"I selfishly wanted to start a BubbleBall here in Rochester so I could play it," said Montpetit. This will be the first business of its kind in southeast Minnesota.

The group will begin taking reservations later this month for private parties, corporate events and fundraisers. By the fall, they plan to organize leagues and tournaments. Among the most popular sports suited for BubbleBall are soccer, kickball and sumo wrestling.

Rentals will only be available for adults to start, though the owners hope to expand to youth at some point in the future. Games can be set up in gymnasiums, sports fields and large backyards.

You can learn more about BubbleBall Rochester here.