State of Play Hospitality, the operator of Flight Club and other eatertainment concepts, has raised $10 million to fuel expansion in North America. The funding will be used to open four more U.S. locations of Flight Club, a darts and dining concept, in the coming months.
The new locations will bring the total domestic footprint to 15. The funding came from existing investors, who previously invested $45 million in 2022, including $10 million from Red Engine, the creator and franchisor of Flight Club.
Expansion Plans
The latest infusion follows a year of impressive same-store sales growth for Flight Club. Same-store sales rose 8.3% year over year in State of Play’s fiscal 2026, which ended March 29. CEO Toby Harris said the momentum has continued into the first half of the current fiscal year.
They credited demand for corporate events, celebrations, and social occasions for driving traffic to their venues, where customers can play interactive Social Darts while eating and drinking in a reserved gaming area. Flight Club accounts for the vast majority of their revenue — 80% last fiscal year.
State of Play operates AceBounce, a ping-pong concept, and Hijingo, a bingo concept in the U.K., in addition to Flight Club. However, Flight Club is the main focus for now, with 11 U.S. locations currently and the next four slated for New York City, Dallas, Minneapolis, and Nashville.
Financial Performance
Revenue across all of its concepts was $72 million for the year, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose 45%, to $7.7 million. Companywide same-store sales increased by 4.2%.
Related: Cava sales rise 9% in second quarter
In comparison to similar concepts, the growth of Flight Club is notable, as some food-and-games concepts have struggled. The ability of Flight Club to thrive may be due to its unique offering and strong management team.
According to the report, the entire State of Play team deserves credit for the company’s success. Over the last three years, they have managed to buck the wider industry trends and build a strong and scalable U.S. operating platform led by a first-class senior team, said CEO Toby Harris.
Industry Trends
The growth of Flight Club occurs in a mixed environment for food-and-games concepts. Some, like Flight Club and Ron Shaich-backed Level99, are thriving, while others, such as Dave & Buster’s, Pinstripes, and the recently shuttered Dueling Axes, have struggled.
As it continues to expand, Flight Club will perform in new markets. With its unique concept and strong financial performance, Flight Club is well-positioned for continued growth.
Toby Harris leads the company.