A fast-rising, family-centered fitness concept inspired by the hit television series American Ninja Warrior is expanding into Brooklyn Park, where city officials have approved a major new training facility that reflects both surging demand and a broader shift in how young people engage with sports and movement.
The Brooklyn Park City Council has granted a conditional use permit for Ninjas United to operate a 24,500-square-foot indoor facility at 8400 Wyoming Avenue North. The decision clears the way for one of the largest dedicated “ninja sports” training spaces in the northwest metro and marks a pivotal moment for a program that has rapidly outgrown its original footprint.
From Niche Concept to Regional Demand
Founded by Chris and Jen Voigt, Ninjas United began in 2018 with a single location in Maple Grove, serving just 75 children. Within a few years, the program expanded to more than 600 active participants, with an additional 500 on a waitlist, a clear signal that demand had outpaced available space.
“It has exceeded any of my expectations,” Jen Voigt told council members during a March 23 meeting.
What began as a niche offering tied to a televised obstacle course format has evolved into a structured youth sport. Often grouped within the broader category of obstacle course racing and functional fitness, “ninja” training blends agility, grip strength, balance, and problem-solving into a disciplined progression system that appeals to both recreational participants and competitive athletes.
The Brooklyn Park expansion is designed to relieve the “bottleneck” at the Maple Grove site, where capacity constraints limited enrollment despite sustained demand.
A Strategic Site, Reimagined
The new facility will occupy part of a former distribution space previously used by United Parcel Service. The selection was intentional. Industrial buildings offer the high ceilings and open floor plans required for large-scale obstacle installations, including signature elements such as warped walls, rope climbs, and suspended grip challenges.
Because the site is zoned for industrial and office use, the project required a conditional use permit to transition toward an assembly and recreation model. City officials ultimately supported the proposal, citing both community benefit and the adaptive reuse of an underutilized commercial space.
Plans submitted to the city outline a carefully segmented interior designed to serve multiple user groups simultaneously:
Separate training gyms to accommodate beginners, youth classes, and competitive teams without overlap
Dedicated conditioning areas focused on functional strength and grip development
A children’s play zone tailored to younger participants
Party and event rooms aimed at capturing the growing birthday and group event market
The result is a hybrid facility that functions as both a training center and a community gathering space.
A Coached Model with Competitive Pathways
Unlike traditional fitness centers, Ninjas United operates on a coached, curriculum-based model. Participants progress through structured classes led by trained instructors, with opportunities to advance into competitive team training.
Programming at the Brooklyn Park site is expected to include:
After-school classes for youth and teens
Advanced team training for competitive athletes
Open gym sessions for independent practice
Weekend events, including private parties and community programming
This approach reflects a broader national trend toward experiential fitness environments that emphasize engagement, mentorship, and skill development over passive gym use.
Economic and Community Impact
Beyond recreation, the project represents a form of economic repositioning. By transforming a portion of a former industrial logistics site into a high-traffic recreational hub, Ninjas United introduces a complementary use pattern to the surrounding area.
The facility is expected to generate consistent evening and weekend activity, aligning with after-school programming and family schedules, while coexisting with daytime industrial operations nearby.
The expansion will also create local employment opportunities, particularly for coaches, trainers, and youth program staff, many of whom are drawn from athletic and fitness backgrounds.
During council discussions, the emphasis extended beyond business growth to community value: providing a structured, positive outlet for youth energy, particularly in a region where indoor recreational options are essential during long winter months.
Timeline and What Comes Next
Construction and interior modifications are expected to move quickly, with an anticipated opening in August 2026. The timing is strategic, aligning with the back-to-school season, when demand for extracurricular programming typically surges.
Planned operating hours reflect that focus:
Weekdays: 3:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Weekends: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For Chris Voigt, the expansion is as much about community as it is about scale.
“We’re very, very excited to operate in Brooklyn Park and bring what is a cool, family-oriented, community-oriented sport to the city,” he said.
In a region where youth sports have traditionally centered on team-based athletics, the rise of ninja training signals a shift. It is individual yet communal, competitive yet accessible, and increasingly, in demand.
With its Brooklyn Park debut, Ninjas United is not just opening a larger facility. It is helping define a new lane in Minnesota’s youth fitness landscape, one built on movement, challenge, and the quiet confidence that comes from learning how to climb, swing, and keep going.
MinneapoliMedia
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