Cedar Rapids Sport & Social Club expands, offers social opportunities for adults

When Brian Irlmeier, 31, started the Cedar Rapids Sport & Social Club last year, he didn't expect it to take off like it has. But now, in just a year, the sport and social club has more than 2000 people registered on their website and 4000 likes on Facebook, Irlmeier said.

Before creating CR Sport & Social Club, Irlmeier had been running a kickball league for Everplay Sport and Social Club, which no longer operates in Cedar Rapids. When the kickball league ended, Irlmeier saw a void, and decided he'd fill it with his own company. 'Everyone had a blast (with the kickball league),” Irlmeier said. 'There wasn't a club like this for people to socialize, play sports and meet new people.”

And so, in January of 2015, Cedar Rapids Sport & Social Club was born and has since helped hundreds of adults in the corridor connect.

'I met way more people starting a social club in the past year than I have in the five or six years I've lived here,” Irlmeier said.

In addition to creating social opportunities for those new to the area or those wanting to 'branch out,” Irlmeier said the club has even started romantic relationships - like 'online dating but a lot easier,” he said with a laugh.

'I hear from people all the time the different connections they've made through the club and friends they've created,” he continued. 'Once you've done more than one sport you get to know a lot of other team members and you can socialize and get food or drinks after the game.”

Anyone over the age of 21 are welcome to participate, regardless of athletic ability. You can sign up online as a group or individual for any of the club's leagues, which currently include dodgeball, bowling, human foosball, ultimate Frisbee and bags. The club also has offered kickball and volleyball in the past and Irlmeier said he is 'always looking into different sports and activities.”

And not all activities are competitive, he added, using social events such as trivia, bar crawls and lawn games as an example.

Leagues typically run from six to eight weeks and are usually on weeknights or Sunday evenings. The cost depends on the league, but is generally between $20 and $45 per person, which also includes a T-shirt and the cost of referees when needed. The club also frequently offers drink and food specials at participating venues, giveaways, contests and prizes for its members, Irlmeier added.

'It gets you out in the winter,” said Jesse Runquist during the club's bowling league on Sunday, Feb. 26.

'It's something to do on a Sunday instead of doing laundry,” added her teammate Brett Smith.

'It gets me out of the house,” chimed in another teammate, Ashley Dawson-Jensen. 'We have a great time together. There's a lot of laughter.”

'It's just a fun way to get out and be active,” he said. 'It's a different way to branch out and make new connections in a very easy way.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8364; elizabeth.zabel@thegazette.com