They say New York City is the world’s undisputed sports champion. There’s no shortage of venues to take in a game — and plenty of facilities where you can play one, too.
Renting out a basketball court or hockey rink is now as easy as booking a table at your favorite restaurant thanks to CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated.
The app, helmed by millennial entrepreneurs Maya and Jonathan Azouri, allows users to browse through a diverse portfolio of mom-and-pop facilities, community centers, NHL team practice facilities, schools and other institutions.
“Our platform enables residents to have access to different-sized facilities in their own neighborhoods. We’ve partnered with these spaces to showcase availability and provide a seamless booking experience for sports enthusiasts of all ages,” says co-founder and COO Maya Azouri.
With a stellar 4.8 rating on the Apple Store, this is the app’s first entry into the United States. Azouri says the sports tech startup launched back in 2019 in Toronto, Canada, before expanding into New York, New Jersey and Chicago this year.
In the Tri-State area, facilities are located as south as Metuchen, New Jersey, and all the way east in Bellport, New York.
Though winter may be over, those looking to book indoor ice time can find one-hour time slots available at Brewster Ice Arena in the Lower Hudson Valley or KB Hockey & Skating Facility all the way in Staten Island.
Elsewhere, those wanting to perfect their two-point layup can rent out a basketball court at Brooklyn’s Basketball Academy for a reasonable price. Another affordable option is Rossetti Basketball in Holbrook. It just so happens to also be a popular spot to play pickleball, now that skating season is over.
Looking to increase your bat speed? With baseball season in full swing, batting cages are sure to be booked and busy. Bellport’s 365 Athletics is now on the app, and users can book either a half or full field to work on their rusty swing.
“As CatchCorner continues to expand geographically, the goal remains for our platform to offer something for everyone,” Azouri says, adding that in the last year, monthly active users grew from 50,000 to 150,000.
For now, the company says 30 facilities are in the process of going live in the New York and New Jersey metro area. 365 Athletics in Bellport, Aviator Sports & Events Center in Brooklyn, and NJ Stallions Academy in Clifton are just a few facilities residents can take advantage of when they land on the app.
Bottom line, having an app like CatchCorner will allow the average New Yorker to gain instant access to facility rentals. Budding athletes, seasons pros and those looking to get back into recreational activity can see everything in one place, and find the perfect place to play their favorite sport.
According to CatchCorner’s website, other rentals for golf simulators, fitness and dance studios and even tennis courts are “coming soon.”
“We’re happy we can help people save time and effort on both the facility and customer sides,” Azouri says.
At the rate CatchCorner is growing, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the number of overall facilities double by the time summer rolls around.
