Chris Harris didn’t start with a business plan — he started with a feeling. Years ago, after long days at work, he would unwind at a now-closed driving range in Canandaigua. It wasn’t about perfecting his swing or getting better at golf. It was about clearing his head. And when that range shut down, something stuck with him: Communities need a place where people can go, be active, and reset.
That inspiration, years later, became Practice Time Sports — a growing indoor recreation facility in Canandaigua that blends structured training with laid-back family fun. Though it’s not located on the old driving range property that first sparked the vision, Harris credits those early evenings there with shaping what his business would become.
“I’d drive by that empty field and think, man, that would be the perfect spot for a family sports complex — go-karts, putt-putt, batting cages, all of it,” Harris said. “But I eventually realized I could still bring that idea to life at a smaller scale.”
And he did. Since opening, Practice Time Sports has become a versatile destination for young athletes, local teams, birthday parties, and families looking for something different to do — especially when the weather turns.
“It was exciting and terrifying. We had a ton of people come in to kind of try things out and just kind of see the space, and… there’s a lot of positive feedback,” Harris said. “This is a need that other people have saw as well.”
Opening day brought a steady stream of community members eager to explore the batting cages, turf space, and activity zones. Since then, the business has expanded its offerings — and its impact.
Practice Time specializes in indoor batting cages equipped with HitTrax technology, offering metrics and virtual games that turn practice into play. But the facility also caters to recreation: families can play dodgeball, cornhole, Gaga ball, or simply let kids run around and burn energy in an open, weatherproof space.
“There’s something special about giving kids the freedom to just play,” Harris said. “Not every activity has to be structured or competitive.”
That philosophy is central to what Harris calls a “third place” — a concept gaining traction across the country, referring to destinations outside home or work where people gather and connect. In a world increasingly tethered to screens, Practice Time Sports aims to be that unplugged zone where families can move, laugh, and compete together.
“I grew up with sandlot baseball, pickup basketball,” he said. “Now, that kind of spontaneous play is rare. We want to give kids a place where that’s possible again.”
Local sports leagues have taken notice, too. The Canandaigua Area Soccer League and various travel baseball teams regularly use the space for off-season training. But Harris says it’s not just about the athletes — it’s about balance.
“Right now, we’re about 80 percent athletes training and 20 percent families just having fun,” he said. “And those birthday parties? They’ve been incredible — kids don’t want to leave.”
To expand that reach, Harris is launching summer sports camps that begin in late June. The goal: Introduce kids to as many different sports as possible. From lacrosse and volleyball to flag football and pickleball, the camps are built to let kids explore, learn new skills, and maybe fall in love with something unexpected.
“We want a kid to remember trying volleyball at summer camp and then go out for the team in middle school,” he said. “That kind of exposure helps schools, helps kids, and helps the community grow.”
Booking time at Practice Time is as easy as the experience itself. Through the facility’s website, families can view availability in real time and reserve space in seconds. Harris said building that functionality was essential.
“People’s lives are busy,” he said. “If you have a free window from four to six and want to do something active, we want it to be simple.”
For Harris, it all comes back to the original vision: creating a space where people come together — not for performance, not for perfection, but for connection.
“You’re only a kid for a few years,” he said. “The rest of life is jobs and responsibilities. If we can give kids a space to just be kids — and let families enjoy that too — then that’s a win.”
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