Bostonians have a lot to say about the city’s lackluster nightlife scene. But there's one thing the city will no longer be lacking in its after-hours lineup: all-night ping-pong.
The New York-based startup PingPod is bringing its autonomous table tennis “pods” to Boston and Cambridge. The ping-pong games are already open at North Station — a grand opening is set for late August — and will arrive at Kendall Square in Cambridge in October.
PingPod describes its games as the first tech-enabled autonomous table tennis “pods.” No, that doesn’t mean players compete against robotic ping-pong masters.
Each pod consists of up to six tables. There are no PingPod employees onsite; people can rent a table in 30-minute increments through PingPod’s app. Because they don’t need to be staffed by people, the pods are open 24/7. Players only need to bring a friend to play against. Paddles and balls are provided.
PingPod launched in 2020 and has 13 locations across New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. The company said its tables have logged more than 175,000 hours of play over the last three years.
“PingPod has resonated with communities across NYC, NJ, and Philadelphia and we believe we have so much to offer the people of Boston. Just blocks from TD Garden and conveniently located near the subway line, we think PingPod will be a destination for Bostonians — both for serious table tennis players and for those seeking a fun activity to do with friends or family,” co-founder David Silberman said in a statement.
The company said the PingPod North Station setup at 111 Canal Street has four ping-pong tables in a 2,000 square foot street-level space.
The Kendall Square location is part of MIT’s redevelopment of that area. Silberman said, “MIT essentially sought out PingPod as a perfect ground floor tenant given our recreational/family-friendly brand. It's a great fit for PingPod given the cross section of students, faculty, professional, and lab that exists in the area.”
Boston is home to a growing number of tech-enabled sports chains. Chicago-based Puttshack, which bills itself as an “upscale tech-infused mini golf experience,” opened a Seaport location last year. Five Iron Golf also opened a downtown location last fall with 13 golf simulators that mimic more than 200 courses. The venue also offers a full-service bar, a food menu, TVs, shuffleboard courts and arcade games.
Sign up for The Beat, BostInno’s free daily innovation newsletter from BostInno reporter Hannah Green. See past examples here.
