FundraiseAug 11, 2026, 14:34 UTC

State of Play raises $10M to fuel Flight Club's US push after 19% revenue jump

What's the deal? State of Play Hospitality has raised $10 million in growth capital from existing investors to expand its social entertainment venues across North America. The Chicago-based operator runs three concepts in the US and UK: Flight Club, AceBounce, and Hijingo.

By the numbers: Group revenue rose 19% to $72 million in fiscal 2026, which ended March 29, 2026. Venue EBITDA climbed 28% to $18 million, and group EBITDA jumped 45% to $7.7 million.

Where it's expanding: The new capital will primarily fund Flight Club openings in New York, Dallas, Minneapolis, and Nashville. That would grow the premium Social Darts portfolio to 15 US venues in fiscal 2027, up from 11 today after openings in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Seattle last year.

Why now? Flight Club USA is the company's main growth engine, posting 8.3% same-store sales growth against 4.2% across the wider portfolio. US operations now account for over 80% of group revenue, up from 72% in fiscal 2025.

What they're saying: "The completion of our latest growth capital raise is further endorsement of Flight Club as a concept and our team's ability to continue to scale our North American business efficiently," said Toby Harris, president and chief executive officer.

The signal: The $10 million round sits in the lower tier for size, but the backing from existing investors signals confidence in a business that says it has bucked wider industry trends. As experiential venues compete for consumer spend, State of Play is betting that tech-enabled gameplay and upscale food and beverage can keep filling rooms.