Gronk is back on a football field running drills and catching passes … but before fans get excited that he’s coming out of retirement already, the three-time Super Bowl champion is actually launching a new kind of sporting challenge.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Gronk Nation announced the launch of Stadium Blitz on Thursday morning, a unique obstacle course race inspired by grueling NFL training drills.
The race series kicks off on Oct. 12 at New Era Field in Buffalo, New York — home of the Buffalo Bills and the city where Gronk grew up. It will then proceed to the Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida on Oct. 26, with more cities to be announced soon.
“Our family breathes the camaraderie of team sports and Stadium Blitz is the perfect way for us to stay involved in fitness and inspire others to compete in a way to have fun and test every limit,” said older brother Dan Gronkowski, who played TE for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Patriots. “For the first time, families can spend an evening competing and cheering along with their kids and friends — everyone gets the feeling of accomplishment,” he added.
Participants will be tested to their limits with a series of challenges, such as bear crawling up stadium steps, leaping over hurdle walls, climbing up 20-foot nets, swinging from rings and throwing a football through five targets. Racers are awarded 2000 points for crossing the finish line in under 40 minutes, every second under 40 minutes earns extra points. Celebratory Gronk Spikes are definitely allowed if you nail them all.
Stadium Blitz is one of the only obstacle course races that allows participants to determine how hard they want to be tested on a gamified course that is connected with RFID timing and point tracking, so it is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Competitors can even invite their own cheering section to root them on from the stands.
There are three levels of obstacles (race, hustle and blitz) testing fitness, strength and agility each increasing in difficulty but intermixed throughout the course … the harder the obstacle, the bigger the point potential.
A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Gronk hails from a family of professional athletes. His brothers Dan, Chris and Glenn all played in the NFL, oldest brother Gordie Jr. was in the MLB, and dad, Gordy “Papa” Gronk played college football at Syracuse University. They’ve since dedicated their careers to the business and entertainment worlds through G&G Fitness Companies, Gronk Fitness, the Gronk Nation clothing line and Ice Shaker brand.
Having won three Super Bowl rings catching passes from Tom Brady, Gronk, 30, retired from the NFL in March after nine seasons with the Patriots. He was the highest ranked tight end in the NFL Top 100 Players five times and considered by many sports analysts and fellow players to be the greatest tight end ever.