August 1, 2025 • 8 mins
David Gutstadt is a Philadelphia-based hospitality and real estate executive with over two decades of experience spanning hotels, leisure, fitness, and real estate. He is the founder and CEO of Ballers, a hospitality-forward social sports brand launched in 2023. Ballers blends elevated sport experiences with design, dining, and community—bringing a new, modern vision to urban recreation.
Prior to Ballers, David founded Fitler Club, a first-of-its-kind private lifestyle club that opened in Philadelphia in 2019, seamlessly integrating world-class entertainment, wellness, social, and business offerings under one roof.
David’s career began at Goldman Sachs, where he spent ten years in advisory, finance, and private equity investment focused on hotels, gaming, and leisure. He later led Morgan Stanley’s hospitality advisory group and spent time at Lubert Adler Partners, overseeing hotel investment and asset management.
In 2012, he was recruited by Equinox Fitness and Related Companies to spearhead the development of Equinox Hotels. As Managing Director of Hospitality at Related and co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of the Equinox Hotels venture, David led every aspect of the brand’s creation—from writing the business plan and shaping the brand vision to securing development deals and leading programming, design, and operations across six ground-up hotels.
David graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in economics. He lives in Center City Philadelphia and is an avid triathlete, marathon runner, and former collegiate tennis player.
Prior to Ballers, David founded Fitler Club, a first-of-its-kind private lifestyle club that opened in Philadelphia in 2019, seamlessly integrating world-class entertainment, wellness, social, and business offerings under one roof.
David’s career began at Goldman Sachs, where he spent ten years in advisory, finance, and private equity investment focused on hotels, gaming, and leisure. He later led Morgan Stanley’s hospitality advisory group and spent time at Lubert Adler Partners, overseeing hotel investment and asset management.
In 2012, he was recruited by Equinox Fitness and Related Companies to spearhead the development of Equinox Hotels. As Managing Director of Hospitality at Related and co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of the Equinox Hotels venture, David led every aspect of the brand’s creation—from writing the business plan and shaping the brand vision to securing development deals and leading programming, design, and operations across six ground-up hotels.
David graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in economics. He lives in Center City Philadelphia and is an avid triathlete, marathon runner, and former collegiate tennis player.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
CEOs you Should Know, brought to you by Comcast Business.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
David Goodstat, founder and CEO of Ballers.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Well today on CEOs you Should Know, we are joined
by David Goodstat, a visionary hospitality and real estate executive
who's reshaping the way we think about urban recreation. As
founder and principle of Ballers, David is bringing a bold
new concept to life, a hospitality forwards social sports brand
that blends premium sports design, dining and community. With a
(00:29):
track record that includes founding the Fittler Club and helping
to launch Equinox Hotels, David's innovative approach is rooted in
two decades of global experience. He's also a proud Philadelphian,
a Princeton grad, and a triathlete who's just as passionate
about building a community as he is about breaking a sweat.
So thank you so much for joining us here today. So, David,
(00:51):
tell us, how would you describe Ballers and its mission?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Sure? Thank you for having me. Ballers is really born
from my love of sport and our passion to bring
people together around the shared love of sport. And when
you look at what we've done historically, everything we've done
has been around community and hospitality. So this is just
an extension of what I've done for the last close
to thirty years of my career, which is how do
you leverage the aspects of hospitality that we love most
(01:18):
bring people together around a shared love of something, and
in this instance it will be sport.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So tell us more specifically about what Ballers does.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Sure, So, Ballers is a social sports venue. There's a
club component to it, but anyone from the public can
come and experience what we have to offer. We'll have
pickleball courts padel, there's a turf playing field which will
be primarily used for soccer, but but can be used
for any type of event. On a field, We've got
two squash courts. We'll have golf simulators as well as
(01:47):
a short game practice area, and then we have an
extensive gym, locker room and recovery areas that will include
things like infrared saunas, cold plunges. And then on the
hospitality side, we've actually got two bars and a four restaurant.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
You've got a little bit of everything, don't you.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
It's a lot We like it.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Where are you located.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
We're located in Fishtown in a building called the Battery.
It's actually the historic power plant of Philadelphia and it's
truly iconic structure.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You've launched some truly unique concepts in hospitality, Ballers being
a great example of that. What are some areas you're
frequently called on to advise or consult around?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Thank you, Yes, it's been We feel very fortunate to
have touched some pretty incredible hospitality concepts. Of The Equinox
Hotel in New York was obviously one where I did
as part of a larger company, but then when I
went off and did Fiddler Club and now Ballers, we've
been very fortunate, I would say, we're brought in to
help on projects often where there is this i'd say
(02:45):
a lot of questions around how do I build a club?
What does it mean to have a club? What is
a club? Even? Can you have a club that's based
around just sport or just work, or just wine or
just cars. And so we've seen a lot of that,
and there's a tremendous there's been a i'd say a
huge resurgence, if you will, in interest in the club world.
It was something that has existed for a long time,
(03:06):
and there was a wave of clubs built one hundred
and fifty plus or minus years ago, But in the
last five to ten years, you're seeing a huge interest
in people trying to build clubs and build community around something.
And we think what's been amazing is coming out of COVID,
it's been amplified, and you know, the need and desire
for physical interaction and building community has only been further
enhanced from coming out of the Yeah pandemic.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
You make a very interesting point, and that is that
during COVID, we were so isolated from one another and
we really weren't able to be with each other physically.
And at the same time, I'm sure there's a lot
of frustration about not being able to do the sport
that people were very used to doing, and then of
course creating that community. I think community sounds like it's
more important now than ever before. And I wonder if
(03:49):
you can talk a little more about the importance of
community and about connection and how sport can really enhance that.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
We love to talk about the way sport brings people
together at the highest levels. When you think about events
like the Olympics and things like the World Cup, in
major sports championships. I mean, these are things that literally
get people out of their homes, congregating by the hundreds
of thousands, in some instances millions to celebrate around a
sport or a team or an event. And so at
(04:18):
the highest level, sport has this incredible power of connection.
At our level, there's that which is people congregating to
celebrate and watch sport, whether it's on a television at
our bar or at a baller specifically to actually play
those sports and build community around the shared level of
very specific sports as well. And so what we believe
(04:38):
we're creating is an ecosystem where whether you're a player
an observer, so you could be a parent watching a kid,
or a spouse supporting your partner, everyone is welcome and
everyone can come together and find something they can connect with.
And there is a multitude of sports that we offer,
so we just see that it is a really amazing
way to get people together and obviously the side benefit
(04:58):
if you're actually playing the sport, it's healthy as well.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yes, that's a wonderful thing. What's something people might not
know about ballers that you'd love our audience to hear.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
To date, a lot of people perceive us as pickleball.
It's very popular. We have six courts, but we do
have a number of other sports. But I'd say the
one thing that I think people haven't fully appreciated is
the level of hospitality that's going into the project, and
so we will have a destination worthy restaurant. We've got
a phenomenal culinary team, We're going to have an incredible
bar program, and obviously with TVs all over the place,
(05:30):
we think we're going to become the place to watch
an Eagles or a sixers game, or a tennis tournament
or whatever your favorite sporting event is.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Well, I don't live too far from the Battery, and
I've been going by past many, many hundreds of times,
have been very fascinated by that building. The building is
really really unique, and I actually went in to take
a quick look and people are very nice about it.
It's a beautiful space.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Thank you. We think we will have full stop, the
nicest version of an inn or sports venue in the country.
I can't say the world, because I don't know every venue,
but I'm fairly confident to say that at least within
the US, we will have a one of a kind.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Where can listeners go to learn more about ballers in
any upcoming openings or events.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
We have a very active Instagram page which is Baller's
Social Sports, which is our handle, and then we've got
a website which is ballersdashus dot com.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And one bonus question, what makes Philadelphia such a special
place to live, work and innovate in.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I love Philadelphia. I spend a lot of time in
New York and moving to Philly was an amazing transition
for me. It's a city that's got all of the
best things of a city like New York or global city, culture, history, art,
an amazing culinarian hospitality scene with a lot less of
the intensity that is in some of these bigger cities.
(06:53):
And it's obviously it's a much more affordable place. And
it's a place where you can raise a family and
not have to and it traverse too far to do
all the things that you want to do, whether it's
travel or you get to the airport or a train
station or a great restaurant or visit a friend in
the suburbs. It's all very manageable. So love the city
and love and this was a little bit of our
(07:13):
rally and cry when we did Fidler Club as well.
And now Ballers is. It's amazing, and I think it's
important for Philadelphians to get world class concepts here first.
And I think there is this notion that Philly gets
stuff later, and I want to bring first and best
to Philly and then export it.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
David Goodstead as founder and principle of Ballers, David is
bringing a bold new concept to life, a hospitality forwards
social sports brand that blends premium sports, design, dining and community.
Thank you so much. Thank you, Comcast Business powering the
engine of modern business, powering possibilities
CEOs you Should Know, brought to you by Comcast Business.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
David Goodstat, founder and CEO of Ballers.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Well today on CEOs you Should Know, we are joined
by David Goodstat, a visionary hospitality and real estate executive
who's reshaping the way we think about urban recreation. As
founder and principle of Ballers, David is bringing a bold
new concept to life, a hospitality forwards social sports brand
that blends premium sports design, dining and community. With a
(00:29):
track record that includes founding the Fittler Club and helping
to launch Equinox Hotels, David's innovative approach is rooted in
two decades of global experience. He's also a proud Philadelphian,
a Princeton grad, and a triathlete who's just as passionate
about building a community as he is about breaking a sweat.
So thank you so much for joining us here today. So, David,
(00:51):
tell us, how would you describe Ballers and its mission?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Sure? Thank you for having me. Ballers is really born
from my love of sport and our passion to bring
people together around the shared love of sport. And when
you look at what we've done historically, everything we've done
has been around community and hospitality. So this is just
an extension of what I've done for the last close
to thirty years of my career, which is how do
you leverage the aspects of hospitality that we love most
(01:18):
bring people together around a shared love of something, and
in this instance it will be sport.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So tell us more specifically about what Ballers does.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Sure, So, Ballers is a social sports venue. There's a
club component to it, but anyone from the public can
come and experience what we have to offer. We'll have
pickleball courts padel, there's a turf playing field which will
be primarily used for soccer, but but can be used
for any type of event. On a field, We've got
two squash courts. We'll have golf simulators as well as
(01:47):
a short game practice area, and then we have an
extensive gym, locker room and recovery areas that will include
things like infrared saunas, cold plunges. And then on the
hospitality side, we've actually got two bars and a four restaurant.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
You've got a little bit of everything, don't you.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
It's a lot We like it.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Where are you located.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
We're located in Fishtown in a building called the Battery.
It's actually the historic power plant of Philadelphia and it's
truly iconic structure.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You've launched some truly unique concepts in hospitality, Ballers being
a great example of that. What are some areas you're
frequently called on to advise or consult around?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Thank you, Yes, it's been We feel very fortunate to
have touched some pretty incredible hospitality concepts. Of The Equinox
Hotel in New York was obviously one where I did
as part of a larger company, but then when I
went off and did Fiddler Club and now Ballers, we've
been very fortunate, I would say, we're brought in to
help on projects often where there is this i'd say
(02:45):
a lot of questions around how do I build a club?
What does it mean to have a club? What is
a club? Even? Can you have a club that's based
around just sport or just work, or just wine or
just cars. And so we've seen a lot of that,
and there's a tremendous there's been a i'd say a
huge resurgence, if you will, in interest in the club world.
It was something that has existed for a long time,
(03:06):
and there was a wave of clubs built one hundred
and fifty plus or minus years ago, But in the
last five to ten years, you're seeing a huge interest
in people trying to build clubs and build community around something.
And we think what's been amazing is coming out of COVID,
it's been amplified, and you know, the need and desire
for physical interaction and building community has only been further
enhanced from coming out of the Yeah pandemic.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
You make a very interesting point, and that is that
during COVID, we were so isolated from one another and
we really weren't able to be with each other physically.
And at the same time, I'm sure there's a lot
of frustration about not being able to do the sport
that people were very used to doing, and then of
course creating that community. I think community sounds like it's
more important now than ever before. And I wonder if
(03:49):
you can talk a little more about the importance of
community and about connection and how sport can really enhance that.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
We love to talk about the way sport brings people
together at the highest levels. When you think about events
like the Olympics and things like the World Cup, in
major sports championships. I mean, these are things that literally
get people out of their homes, congregating by the hundreds
of thousands, in some instances millions to celebrate around a
sport or a team or an event. And so at
(04:18):
the highest level, sport has this incredible power of connection.
At our level, there's that which is people congregating to
celebrate and watch sport, whether it's on a television at
our bar or at a baller specifically to actually play
those sports and build community around the shared level of
very specific sports as well. And so what we believe
(04:38):
we're creating is an ecosystem where whether you're a player
an observer, so you could be a parent watching a kid,
or a spouse supporting your partner, everyone is welcome and
everyone can come together and find something they can connect with.
And there is a multitude of sports that we offer,
so we just see that it is a really amazing
way to get people together and obviously the side benefit
(04:58):
if you're actually playing the sport, it's healthy as well.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yes, that's a wonderful thing. What's something people might not
know about ballers that you'd love our audience to hear.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
To date, a lot of people perceive us as pickleball.
It's very popular. We have six courts, but we do
have a number of other sports. But I'd say the
one thing that I think people haven't fully appreciated is
the level of hospitality that's going into the project, and
so we will have a destination worthy restaurant. We've got
a phenomenal culinary team, We're going to have an incredible
bar program, and obviously with TVs all over the place,
(05:30):
we think we're going to become the place to watch
an Eagles or a sixers game, or a tennis tournament
or whatever your favorite sporting event is.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Well, I don't live too far from the Battery, and
I've been going by past many, many hundreds of times,
have been very fascinated by that building. The building is
really really unique, and I actually went in to take
a quick look and people are very nice about it.
It's a beautiful space.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Thank you. We think we will have full stop, the
nicest version of an inn or sports venue in the country.
I can't say the world, because I don't know every venue,
but I'm fairly confident to say that at least within
the US, we will have a one of a kind.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Where can listeners go to learn more about ballers in
any upcoming openings or events.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
We have a very active Instagram page which is Baller's
Social Sports, which is our handle, and then we've got
a website which is ballersdashus dot com.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And one bonus question, what makes Philadelphia such a special
place to live, work and innovate in.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I love Philadelphia. I spend a lot of time in
New York and moving to Philly was an amazing transition
for me. It's a city that's got all of the
best things of a city like New York or global city, culture, history, art,
an amazing culinarian hospitality scene with a lot less of
the intensity that is in some of these bigger cities.
(06:53):
And it's obviously it's a much more affordable place. And
it's a place where you can raise a family and
not have to and it traverse too far to do
all the things that you want to do, whether it's
travel or you get to the airport or a train
station or a great restaurant or visit a friend in
the suburbs. It's all very manageable. So love the city
and love and this was a little bit of our
(07:13):
rally and cry when we did Fidler Club as well.
And now Ballers is. It's amazing, and I think it's
important for Philadelphians to get world class concepts here first.
And I think there is this notion that Philly gets
stuff later, and I want to bring first and best
to Philly and then export it.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
David Goodstead as founder and principle of Ballers, David is
bringing a bold new concept to life, a hospitality forwards
social sports brand that blends premium sports, design, dining and community.
Thank you so much. Thank you, Comcast Business powering the
engine of modern business, powering possibilities
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