The Ballpark Portside

Located in the Portside Wharf precinct of Hamilton, The Ballpark Portside is not your average sports bar — it’s an interactive entertainment playground built around America’s pastime. Its core draw? Multiple batting cages (three immersive simulators) where guests can swing real bats and hit balls into a virtual field, all while your performance is tracked (speed, distance, trajectory). But it doesn’t stop there. In addition to baseball, you’ll find pool tables, digital dart boards, and wall-to-wall screens streaming live sports — making it a hybrid of gaming lounge and classic sports bar. The venue occupies about 450 m² and can host up to ~200 people. During daytime hours, the space also integrates café elements — serving 7 Miles coffee, bagels via its Short Stop Café, and light café fare. As evening rolls in, the atmosphere becomes more dynamic: cocktails, tap beers, burgers, and more reach full tilt. In terms of vibe, The Ballpark strikes a balance between energetic and approachable. It’s designed for groups, parties, competitive friends, or someone just wanting to watch sport with options to do more than just drink. The décor leans modern sports lounge with open spaces to accommodate movement, screens, and gaming areas. They also cater to events and functions — you can book out parts of the venue, package food + drink + batting cage time, and host private parties.