# Adult Play Areas The Ball Pit by SoulPancake is a Comfortable Space to Meet People By Harris Jay Rosenberg Alterman | Published 2012-03-11 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ball-pit-by-soulpancake References: [holykaw.alltop](http://holykaw.alltop.com/how-to-make-friends-with-strangers-video) & [youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKrSG64J_Bo) The Ball Pit by SoulPancake is a public place where strangers can [make new friends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buddy-bench1). Early on in life, it's easier to bond with people, but as one gets older friend-making can become difficult. This inspired SoulPancake to create a space where people could get back to their childhood roots and make friends. People were a little confused when they saw a ball pit sitting on a street corner, but some were open to the idea and hopped right in. Once two people were in the ball pit, some of the spheres had topics such as, "Who inspires you?" and "What's on your bucket list?" to [spark conversation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toku). Once people got talking they began bonding and two people even found out that they both had fake teeth. The Ball Pit by SoulPancake gave people the proper space to not feel awkward about talking to new people. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 69% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Life](https://www.trendhunter.com/life) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Adult Play Areas:** Adult play areas provide a comfortable place to meet new people and form connections. - **Play-based Networking:** Play-based networking creates a fun and relaxed environment for people to network and connect. - **Childhood Revisited:** Childhood revisited experiences tap into nostalgia and offer an escape from the daily grind. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Hospitality:** Hospitality brands can create unique experiences like adult play areas to attract customers and differentiate themselves from competitors. - **Event Planning:** Event planners can add value to corporate events by incorporating play-based networking experiences to help attendees connect and build relationships. - **Marketing:** Brands can leverage childhood revisited experiences in their marketing campaigns to create emotional connections with consumers and stand out in a crowded market. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Friend-Finding Virtual Hangouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strangely.md) - [Social Connection Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/is-this-seat-taken-campaign.md) - [Nostalgia-Inspired Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bubble-planet.md) - [Conversation-Encouraging Retail Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/madhappy.md) - [Hybrid Indoor Play Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indoor-play-space.md) - [Immersive Balloon Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balloon-story-popup.md) - [First-Of-Its-Kind Playspace Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cloudbound.md) - [Social Sports Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ballers-sports-venue.md) - [Explorative Artwork Playground Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cuddly-playground.md)