Planning a corporate outing in the Chicago Loop works best when you skip the banquet hall and pick an activity that gets everyone moving. Ping pong has become one of the most reliable choices for team building because it needs no special skill, keeps large groups rotating through matches, and gives coworkers something to talk about besides the quarterly numbers. Pair the games with a private space, and you have the makings of an outing people actually remember.
Key Takeaways
- Low-barrier games like ping pong let every employee participate, regardless of athletic background.
- Rotating doubles and quick matches naturally mix up who talks to whom, which beats a seated dinner for cross-department networking.
- AceBounce offers private event space in the Loop with games, food, and drinks handled under one roof.
- Group packages scale from a small department outing to a company-wide gathering.
- Booking early matters. The venue asks groups of 13 or more to plan through its events team rather than walk in.
The Problem With Most Corporate Outings
Most corporate outings default to one of two formats: a restaurant reservation or a conference room with a hired speaker. Neither one does much for team building. A long table forces people to talk to whoever happens to sit next to them, and a speaker turns the room passive. If the goal is to get a team to actually interact, the format needs to force movement and rotation, not just proximity.
That’s the case for building the outing around a game. When AceBounce started hosting corporate groups in the Loop, the draw wasn’t complicated: give people something active to do together, and the conversation follows on its own.
Why Low-Barrier Games Make the Best Corporate Team Building
Not every sport works for a mixed group of coworkers. Basketball favors the athletic. Trivia favors the well-read. Ping pong sits in a different category. A systematic review of table tennis published through the National Institutes of Health notes that the sport requires no expensive equipment and can be adjusted in pace to let players of any skill level and ability compete on equal footing (see the NIH review of table tennis and physical activity). That matters for a corporate crowd, since most groups mix people who played varsity sports with people who haven’t picked up a racket since gym class.
A rally only takes a few seconds. That short burst-and-rest rhythm means a beginner can hang with a stronger player for a game or two without the mismatch turning embarrassing. Compare that to something like flag football, where a skill gap shows up on every play. The forgiving pace is exactly why activity-based venues have leaned into ping pong, beer pong, and shuffleboard as their core offering rather than harder sports.
It Also Solves the Networking Problem
Corporate planners often list “cross-team networking” as a goal, then hand out name tags and hope for the best. Games solve this more directly. A doubles bracket forces new pairings every round. Someone from finance ends up partnered with someone from sales, and the shared task of winning a point gives them an easy reason to talk that has nothing to do with either job.
Research on team-building programs backs up the value of shared, structured activity over generic mixers. A summary of workplace collaboration research from Dale Carnegie points out that well-designed team activities strengthen communication and trust in ways that casual social time alone doesn’t reliably deliver. The friendly competition angle does real work here. It gives a mixed group of strangers a shared, low-stakes goal within the first five minutes of the event.
Plan Your Event at AceBounce in the Chicago Loop
AceBounce sits at 230 N. Clark St., a block from the Clark/Lake CTA station and a short walk from the Riverwalk, making it an easy add-on for teams already downtown. The venue built its layout specifically around groups that want games, food, and drinks without juggling three separate vendors.
Private Venue Packages for Groups of Any Size
Smaller teams can book a table or two for a department happy hour, while larger groups can reserve a semi-private space like the Garage. Tucked behind the grand staircase, the Garage offers a more private and exclusive setting for groups, with room to accommodate 25+ guests and a layout that includes one ping pong table and one shuffleboard table. Groups of 13 or more work directly with the events team to lock in space, timing, and menu details ahead of the date, which avoids the day-of scramble that comes with walk-in bookings.
Games Hosts Keep the Competition Moving
AceBounce staffs its events with dedicated Games Hosts, who run the ping pong portion of a booking and keep every guest involved regardless of experience. That includes structuring brackets so nobody sits out for long and closing the event with an awards moment, which gives even a two-hour outing a clear arc instead of just open table time.
Craft Cocktails and Catering Built for Groups
The bar runs a full craft cocktail list alongside draft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options, so the drink menu doesn’t feel like an afterthought next to the games. Food packages are customizable and built to keep replenishing throughout the event, covering everything from shareable apps to sliders and pizza, which matters when a group is grazing between matches instead of sitting down to a plated meal.
Celebrate the Holidays at AceBounce
Make this year’s holiday party one the team actually looks forward to with interactive games, festive seasonal touches, and customizable food and drink packages. From intimate team celebrations to large company gatherings, AceBounce makes it easy to bring everyone together for a memorable holiday event.
If your team is planning ahead, it’s worth booking the same Loop venue for December that works for a summer outing. The earlier a holiday date gets locked in, the more flexibility your team has on space and package options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best team-building activity for a corporate outing in Chicago?
Low-barrier games like ping pong, beer pong, and shuffleboard tend to work best for mixed-ability corporate groups. They require no prior skill, keep the pace moving, and naturally rotate who plays with whom, which helps coworkers from different teams interact.
How much does it cost to book ping pong for a corporate group?
Standard ping pong tables run $10 per person for a 55-minute session, and the AI-tracked Ping Pong X games run $12 per person for the same length. Larger private events are quoted separately based on group size and package.
How many people can AceBounce host for a company outing?
Semi-private spaces like the Garage accommodate 25+ guests. Groups of 13 or more should contact the events team directly, since larger bookings are planned around available space and timing rather than standard walk-in reservations.
Do we need a reservation for a corporate group in the Loop?
Walk-ins are welcome for small groups, but availability isn’t guaranteed. Groups of up to 12 are encouraged to reserve ahead, and groups of 13 or more should plan through the events team before the date.
What food and drink options work for a corporate event?
Group menus are customizable and continuously replenished for the length of the event, ranging from shareable appetizers and sliders to pizza. The bar offers craft cocktails, draft and bottled beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options to fit a mixed group.
Is AceBounce easy to reach from other parts of downtown Chicago?
Yes. The venue is one block from the Clark/Lake CTA station, which serves the Blue, Pink, Brown, Orange, Green, and Purple lines, and it’s roughly a 15-minute walk from Union Station and the Ogilvie Transportation Center.
About This Guide
This guide was prepared by the AceBounce content team using current venue offerings, pricing, and booking policies as of publication. Author name, title, and bio URL to be added once schema fields are finalized on the client’s end.
Serving corporate groups throughout downtown Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, including teams based near the Riverwalk, River North, and the theatre district.
Ready to Book Your Corporate Outing?
A memorable outing doesn’t need a complicated plan. It needs a space built for groups, an activity that gets everyone playing, and food and drinks that keep pace with the event. AceBounce handles all three under one roof in the heart of the Loop.
Fill out AceBounce’s corporate event inquiry form to check dates and start building a package for your team.