One day I was walking through our local mall and I kept noticing how much empty space there was that wasn’t really being used. I started thinking, what if we turned some of that space into something people would actually want to come to the mall for?

Basketball has always been a big part of my life, and I’m also the founder of an app called Sportsverse, so that’s where the idea came from.

I don’t want this to just be a regular basketball court thrown in the middle of the mall. I want it to feel like an actual basketball experience where you can come with your friends, make a squad, run 3v3 games, compete, and keep coming back.

The court could have things like a next-up area, screens showing who’s playing, win streaks, scores, tournaments, events, and other stuff that makes it feel different from just going to a normal park.

Sportsverse would connect directly with the court too.

Through the Sportsverse app, people could see when games and events are happening, find upcoming tournaments, see special events, and know when there’s something going on at the court. As Sportsverse grows, there could be even more ways for the app and the actual court to work together.

I feel like malls need more things that actually give people a reason to stay there instead of just walking around or shopping and leaving. A basketball court like this could bring in teenagers, college students, families, basketball players, and even people who just want to watch.

We could host 3v3 tournaments, school competitions, community events, challenges, pickup games, and other events throughout the year.

It would also give local basketball players another place to play, especially when it’s cold outside or the outdoor courts aren’t available.

I’m not saying we need to completely rebuild the mall either. There’s already space that isn’t being used. The idea is to take one of those areas and turn it into something that brings energy back into the mall.

I want Sportsverse Basketball to become somewhere people say:

“Yo, you trying to go to the mall and run?”

Instead of the mall only being somewhere you go to shop, it could also become somewhere you go to compete, hang out, meet people, and have fun.

If enough people show that they would actually want something like this, I believe we could show mall management that this isn’t just one person’s idea—there’s a real community that would support it.

Sign this petition if you would play, watch, attend events, or support a Sportsverse basketball court being added to our local mall.

Let’s turn some of that empty space into something people actually want to come back for.