ABQ Bubble Play

We had ABQ Bubble Play at a recent Yelp event. Holy crap, this is fun!! I first saw this on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and wanted to play. Totly worth it!You play 3, 4 or 5 on a team and then it's standard soccer on a smaller field. Run around, knock people over and kick the ball into the goals. A 10 minute game can seriously test your endurance, but if you want to go easier, you can do that too. Make sure you knock people over. That's half the fun!Highly recommended!!

I created the biz page for this company and I think it's important to first note that they don't have a physical address; the address you see on Yelp is for North Domingo Baca Park, which is one of many open spaces where they literally roll. If you want to connect with this awesomeness, simply call or contact 'em via their website. The company is very new to ABQ and they're willing to meet you virtually anywhere, indoor or outdoor, as long as the space is relatively level, I'd say they need about 25 yards of length, 10 yards wide. That's it, people. They handle everything else. They're punctual, friendly, informative, incredibly fun and yeah, you will need to sign a waver because this game is not for the faint of heart and claustrophobes should probably sit it out. So what's it about?The pictures provide decent context, but as a participant, you'll begin by squeezing your torso into a giant plastic orb which straps you in by the shoulders, and you'll grip some handles. The view is exactly what you'd imagine, sort of mottled and trippy (you're staring through a couple layers of lining). After teams have been divvied the 10 minute game is on, and believe me, that's all you'll need for a workout that blends something reminiscent of Jackie Chan's Drunken Master with adolescent futbol, harmless Gladiator glee and an accidental goal or two. Prepare to breathe deeply and take a breather, and if you're a hot-blooded midwestern transplant like me, that cocoon will get sweat-soaked. It's cool, though. The vessels are cleaned between matches.A fantastic team-building exercise, this is perfect for corporate events, birthday parties, ex-lover angst expulsion or silly Yelp gatherings, you can't go wrong with this non-blood sport. And when the game is done, you're not done, yet. There's a "Last Man Standing" closer, wherein everybody slams everybody faux mosh pit style. Sounds like a party? It is. Hardcore. But bouncy.

I'd seen Boblefotball (or Bubble Soccer) played by pros on Sports Center. It was hilarious and I rewound the clip a few times to enjoy it repeatedly. Now, I've been that guy in the bubble and it's much easier to see why they looked like drunken clowns out there. It's an all ages blast!... but it's hard to actually "play soccer" as you have in the past. Watching the play, looking for teammates downfield, dribbling and shouting to other teammates: ALL GONE. You will be focused on trying to run with your arms at your chest, trying to find the play and move that way. You will want to run hard, be quick and nimble, but you will not. You will fall and try to think about getting up with no hands. The field will likely be tiny and you'll hear way too many whistles, see lots of balls or no balls and you'll make do. Less whistles, more space and experience will help. The rest is just part of the experience. Ten minutes is plenty. A two minute half-time would give the team a chance to talk, rally and get a game plan. Play without that and it's just a slapstick comedy. Plan on just having fun, sweating a lot in there and laughing at yourself.I look forward to doing it again in December or on an ice cap, where it will be cool in there. I also hope other sports and/or activities to emerge using these fun toys! Bubble-Skiing? Bubble-Boarding? Bubble-Putt-Putt? Bubble-MMA? Bubble-Hockey? Bubble-Gymnastics? Bubble-Weddings? Bubble-Marriage Counseling? The possibilities are endless, funny and thought provoking. PS: ATTN YELP HQ!! There should be a badge for this!

If your looking for some fun, then look no further! I had a blast trying to play bubble soccer. The biggest challenge is figuring out how to stand back up after you fall. I felt like a poor turtle that was stuck on its back. But it gets easier the more times you fall. The staff is great, they came to the park and set up the bubbles, they made sure to disinfect each bubble between games, and disassembled everything when the fun was done. It couldn't be easier for someone planning a party. I want to do this again when it's cooler outside. It's gets really hot in the bubble in the summertime. But for the amount of fun I had, was defiantly worth it!