Bringing Business to the Ballpark

Tag: Blog • Community Candids

It’s almost that time again. Following our quintessential Arizona summer heat wave and a few monsoons, we get to turn the corner and welcome back our 2^nd annual Kicks! The Downtown League season. Local Tempe business professionals go head to head each week to vie for the league title, among other fun bragging rights like league MVP and Home Run Derby awards. With four teams returning, we’re also welcoming four more fresh faces to the field, along with several supporters who make this program possible + bring community through competition in #DowntownTempe.

Novel Rio is one of our supporters who is helping teams kick the season off right by providing a poolside pre-season social at their property. Novel Rio’s unique location neighbors Downtown Tempe and is just moments from Tempe Beach Park, per Amy Voss, Senior Business Manager at Novel Rio.

“Novel Rio offers several amenity areas catered to your specific needs,” Voss said. Our exterior gaming courtyards offer a central location to entertain, while our rooftop terrace caters to a more relaxing crowd. Our lifestyle-centric pool area is a great common ground to relax poolside and interact with fellow neighbors.”

At the exclusive social, players will get to meet, mix, and mingle with their opponents – the main focus of many businesses who participate in the league. Zach Gilker, team captain of the Tempe Turbo Tortoises (Tempe Young Professionals), is one of the returning league leaders who is looking forward to the social.

“I think it will allow all the teams to get to know each other a better before the heat of competition starts,” Gilker said.

His squad is made up of young professionals who are movers and shakers and actively look for ways to impact Tempe for the better. Kicks! The Downtown League helps to facilitate that goal.

“There are so many good teams with connections to our Tempe community,” Gilker said. “Most people live and work in the Downtown Tempe area, so it is a good way to meet these other like-minded professionals in a fun atmosphere.”