SM turns malls into bigger sports playgrounds with ₱1B bet

SM Supermalls is investing ₱1 billion in multi-sport facilities nationwide, expanding its network of pickleball courts, bowling lanes and ice skating rinks.

SM Supermalls is putting ₱1 billion into sports facilities nationwide, expanding its footprint beyond the usual mall staples and into a growing market for active lifestyles.

The investment will fund multi-sport facilities and active social hubs designed for everything from recreational play to tournaments, giving communities more places to exercise, train and compete.

The scale is already substantial. SM Supermalls currently has 108 pickleball courts, 176 bowling lanes and three Olympic-sized ice skating rinks across the country, making it the country’s largest mall-based sports and active lifestyle network, according to the company.

SM Supermalls President Steven Tan said the company wants to make fitness and wellness accessible to Filipinos “whether you are just starting out or an advanced athlete.”

“Active and wellness is not new to SM Supermalls. For over 30 years, we have continuously organized events and created spaces for Filipinos to stay connected through sports,” Tan said.

The expansion could give sports communities more options beyond traditional gyms and dedicated sports clubs, while also giving SM another way to keep people spending time inside its malls.

The company said the new facilities will include tournament-grade venues designed to international standards, allowing them to serve both casual players and more experienced athletes.

Its latest investment takes that strategy to a much larger scale, turning malls into places where people can shop, eat and increasingly spend time playing sports.

READ: