David Gutstadt Ballers, CEO Ballers

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.

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