Hasbro Launches the NERF Brand's First-Ever Official Sport "NERFBALL" With Exhibition Game Featuring New Gear & Technology
September 28 2023 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
Fans can watch the NERFBALL – Battle in the
Bubble exhibition game on nerfball.hasbro.com and start training
for their own NERFBALL tournaments at the NERF Action Xperience at
Garden State Plaza mall in New Jersey starting in 2024
Download Photos from NERFBALL – Battle in the
Bubble HERE
Hasbro, Inc., a leading toy and game company, today launched
NERFBALL, the NERF brand’s first-ever official sport in its 50+
years of history, by releasing the full gameplay video of the
NERFBALL – Battle in the Bubble exhibition game.
Since 1969 when the iconic brand was first introduced to the world
with the original NERF ball, dozens of iterations of NERF have been
created across consumer products categories from sports items to
blasters and much more. What started with a simple NERF foam ball
more than 50 years ago comes full circle through the cutting-edge
competitive sport, NERFBALL.
Now, fans can watch NERFBALL’s exciting and heart-pounding
combination of paintball-style play with the speed and agility of
basketball, all combined with buzzer beating shots and unbelievable
highlight moments that took place at the first NERFBALL tournament
on September 22, 2023, at the IMG Academy in Florida. Donald
Driver, one of football’s all-time leading receivers, dance
competition champion and best-selling author, captained a stacked
team of talented athletes including Isaiah Elohim, Jada Williams,
Jessica Gardner, Kiyan Anthony, Sofia Chepenik and Trace Young. In
opposition, “Out of Darts” (AKA Luke Goodman) brought his love for
NERF and expertise on blaster fun to his advantage with his team of
athletes including Dontavious Hill, Hannah White, Lyric Swann, Maya
Brady, Meechie Johnson and Mitchell Pehlke.
The first official NERFBALL game comprised of four, 4-minute
quarters, where the two powerhouse teams engaged in a heated
competition in hopes of coming out on top. Athletes were each
assigned a position – Defender, Midfielder and Runner – and used an
official NERF PRO LEAGUE ball, NERF PRO STRYFE X blaster and NERF
PRO darts to score points in two ways; shoot the NERFBALL through
the net for six points or hit an opposing player with a dart for
one point. In 2024, NERF will roll out hit detection gear with
proprietary foam incorporating XO-Nano technology, giving players a
way to detect dart hits in real-time.
“In 2019, we set out as a team on a journey to invent the first
official sport of NERF and along the way created some of the most
break frame technology to enhance the playing experience. Our
vision for NERF continues to be to fuel the future of social active
play & the launch of NERFBALL is one incredible milestone as we
continue to build on that vision,” said Adam Kleinman, SVP &
GM, NERF, Hasbro. “Being able to answer the question, ‘Did I get
hit’ through industry leading innovation is certainly a dream come
true and something we are so excited to bring to consumers around
the world.”
Starting in 2024 you can play NERFBALL at NERF Action Xperience
(NERF AX) at Garden State Plaza mall in New Jersey, where fans can
experience the heart-pounding play as seen in NERFBALL – Battle in
the Bubble. The franchising of NERFBALL allows the new NERF Sports
segment to reach audiences everywhere. The expansion provides
businesses with numerous opportunities to reach consumers through
play, products, and experiences.
“For nearly 55 years, NERF has built its reputation across the
globe as the go-to social active play brand. NERF AX acts as an
extension of this lifestyle, inviting fans and families to join for
thrilling experiences, dynamic gaming and much more,” said Matt
Proulx, VP, Global Experiences, Partnerships and Music at Hasbro.
“We have big plans for NERF AX in 2024, with North American
locations set to open in New Jersey and Tennessee. To add to the
excitement, fans who visit NERF AX at New Jersey's Garden State
Plaza mall will be among the first to play NERFBALL. Keep an eye
out for updates so you can come by and put your skills to the
test!”
In addition to playing at NERF AX at Garden State Plaza mall,
fans can also look forward to playing in their own backyards. Soon,
Hasbro will announce additional details on how fans can play at
home with official NERFBALL gear. Sign up at
hasbropulse.com/nerfball to stay up to date.
With multiple levels of play – from pro-grade tournaments to
backyard sessions – NERFBALL is an inclusive and adaptable game
built by athletes for athletes, encouraging physical activity,
teamwork, friendly competition and of course, fun.
For regular updates on NERF, follow the official brand social
channels on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok. It’s NERF or
Nothin’!
About Hasbro
Hasbro is a leading toy and game company whose mission is to
entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of
storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers engaging
brand experiences for global audiences through toys, consumer
products, gaming and entertainment, with a portfolio of iconic
brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS,
Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well
as premier partner brands.
Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for
all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a
time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently
recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one
of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s
Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50
Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For
more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com.
HAS-CP
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Crystal Flynn, Hasbro, Inc. | crystal.flynn@hasbro.com |
617-849-2368
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