Sports simulators to pickleball: New entertainment option coming to Rochester

A new Rochester business wants to bring the backyard indoors.

Chip Shots, the latest local venture being backed by former Minnesota Vikings return ace and John Marshall High School grad Marcus Sherels, is set to open in late winter inside the former Shopko North complex.

The nearly 15,000-square-foot entertainment facility will feature six multi-sports simulators, along with non-virtual games like cornhole and pickleball. There are also plans for a full kitchen and sports bar.

The goal, says Ryan Utterback, one of the partners in the business, is to create a place where people — particularly families — can stay active indoors. While sports simulators are most often used for golf, he notes they can also be used for baseball, soccer, dodgeball, cricket, and more.

“I see a lot of kids playing sports, and then in the offseason not having an opportunity to keep going,” said Utterback, adding that the technology can be used for fun, but also for sports training.

A sports simulator from About Golf, one of the brands that will be used at the Rochester Chip Shots / Image courtesy About Golf

On what they are calling the “sweating side” of the facility, there will be three full-size pickleball courts. (Did you know pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country?) There will also be a den area with synthetic grass that could be used for ping pong and cornhole matches.

Nick McLaughlin, also a partner in the business, said there are plans to host regular tournaments at Chip Shots. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in simulated car races and golf competitions.

“Because of the amount of space we have, this opens up the opportunity for big cornhole tournaments, pickleball tournaments,” said McLaughlin. He adds, “Think how much fun it would be to play a PGA Tour golf course while watching that same tournament play on the TV.”

Other partners on the project include Dave Kinneberg and brothers Nick and Nate Vreeman. They say the concept for Chip Shots came together in recent months over a series of serendipitous bump-ins — resulting in what could have been competing ideas turning into a collaboration.

Their goal is to have Chip Shots open by early March. The space is located at 3708 US Hwy 63, next to Active PT, Fit My Feet, and ETS Performance.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.