There’s a new social sport on the block, and it’s sweeping the USA as people look for fresh ways to get together and connect.

Bocce ball is on the rise and the weekly league in the Chicago West Loop parking lot, out front of Stelios Bottles and Bites, provides some of the surest evidence of the sport’s growth.

Exuding a festival-like atmosphere in the lot beside Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, the league gathers 32 teams – of four players each – every Thursday night.

The league is one of eight summer leagues being run by American Bocce Co across multiple venues, with around 500 people competing – the highest number since American Bocce Co leagues began in 2016.

It doesn’t require quite the same degree of strength and athleticism as an NFL match, but even pro athletes like to branch out and unwind some days. What better way to do it than with a few hotly contested games of bocce ball? That’s exactly what the Baltimore Ravens did for a teambuilding event at Stratosphere Social earlier this month.

The bar and community event venue offers bocce ball using portable courts from Packaworld in its “indoor backyard” social space in Eldersburg, Maryland. The 24,000 square-foot venue has an arcade, bowling alley, cornhole, giant Jenga, restaurant, and a fully licensed bar.

“Stratosphere Social is one of a kind,” says Bryan Zuber, owner of the family entertainment center and event venue.

Bocce, beer and banter. That’s the intoxicating new blend putting smiles on people’s faces this winter at Hi-Wire Brewing’s RAD Beer Garden in Asheville, North Carolina.

The Asheville Bocce Club has launched a winter league at the brewery, with the help of two portable bocce ball courts from Packaworld.

Hi-Wire Brewing Co-Founder Chris Frosaker says the new inflatable courts are being used in the indoor area at Hi-Wire’s newest location, which functions as a distribution centre and features a large beer garden constructed from up-cycled shipping containers.

“While the beer garden is great in summer, the venue is also ideal for a winter indoor bocce league due to its sheer size – 28,000 square feet,” Chris says. “There is a lot of space to spread out and do something unique.”

Picture a luxury golf resort set amongst sweeping beaches, tidal rivers, and wetlands teeming with wildlife. The surrounds at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina might just be the most stunning setting for bocce ball anywhere in the United States.

The world-class resort is one of a select few that run bocce-themed team building events for corporates. Each event is played on portable Packabocce courts laid out on the resort’s Terrace Lawn, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Referees are on hand to explain the rules to participants, who compete in teams across multiple courts while enjoying delicious food and plenty of liquid refreshments.

“It’s a simple game to run but people have a great time,” says Jonathan Thompson, Recreation Program Manager at the resort.

It was always going to be a challenge bringing bocce ball to a place like Texas, where the sport is not widely known, admits local entrepreneur and restaurant owner John Dante.

But “jumping in heavy”, as he puts it, is the way Mr Dante likes to do things. He has recently purchased four portable Packabocce courts and has been holding bocce-themed events at his recently completed Bella on the Vine event centre in the city of Converse.

The 8,500-square-foot venue is right next door to Papa Dante’s Restaurant; an Italian-American eatery his family opened in 1979. The restaurant specialises in Italian comfort food like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagne, pizza and submarine sandwiches. John, brother Lanny and the entire Dante family are rightfully proud of its 40-year history.

New Zealand sports equipment provider Packaworld International provided Junior Football Packagoals for a community education programme and junior football tournament held for the children of south Auckland at Mangere East Primary School. 
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The Youth Forum included special training from former All White David Mulligan and New Zealand Football’s Fit4Football programme. It was held as was part of the New Zealand Communities Football Cup – an annual competition that aims to connect diverse communities through sport. 

​Developed by New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils in conjunction with New Zealand Police, this year’s event saw 16 11-a-side men’s teams, 10 women’s five-a-side teams and 10 youth five-a-side teams compete in three separate competitions.