Airport dining is getting a fresh look thanks to Athlete Playmakers Group. The fast-rising hospitality company builds restaurant, bar, and retail concepts led by professional athletes, and each space is shaped around the culture, energy, and identity of its home city. That model has fueled a wave of growth, and the brand has even more on the way.
More Openings Coming in 2026
The company has multiple new airport locations planned across the country in 2026. Each project comes together through partnerships with iconic athletes, airport operators, and leading local collaborators. Rather than building cookie-cutter concession spaces, the team designs every venue around the personal story, career, and tastes of the athlete it celebrates. The outcome feels rooted in the surrounding community and gives travelers a real sense of where they are.
“Today’s travelers expect more than convenience. They want experiences that are memorable, authentic, and exciting,” said Derek Missimo, Co-Founder of Athlete Playmakers Group. “We are creating hospitality concepts that capture the spirit of each city while delivering elevated food, beverage, and guest experiences that travelers genuinely connect with.”
Turning Terminals Into Destinations
The brand’s guiding idea is simple. Airport restaurants should pull travelers in rather than serve as filler between gates. Every concept layers premium hospitality with strong storytelling and the influence of a recognizable athlete. The food and beverage programs hold their own, and the design choices point back to the partner at the center of the space.
“We founded Athlete Playmakers Group on the belief that airport restaurants can become destinations in their own right,” added Simon Bozas, Co-Founder. “Every concept blends premium hospitality, compelling storytelling, and the influence of legendary athletes to create experiences that stand apart.”
A Growing Roster of Athlete-Led Concepts
The company’s first venue opened at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Terminal C-37 with NBA legend “Dirk Nowitzki / Nowitzki.” The launch introduced a bold new model for athlete-driven airport hospitality and laid the groundwork for the openings that followed.
Soon after, the brand expanded to Dallas Love Field with Dallas Stars icon “Marty Turco / Turco35,” giving North Texas travelers another athlete-led option from the same operator.
Earlier this year, Athlete Playmakers Group opened “Simone Biles / Taste of Gold” at George Bush Intercontinental Airport with the seven-time Olympic gold medalist. The venue honors the legacy, excellence, and global impact Biles has built as one of the most decorated athletes of all time.
The most recent debut landed at Norfolk International Airport, where the company opened a new restaurant concept with Pro Football Hall of Famer, Buffalo Bills legend, and NFL all-time sack leader “Bruce Smith / 200 Sack Club.” The space is built around Smith’s iconic football legacy and folds his career into the look and feel of every corner.
Built by an Industry-Tested Team
Athlete Playmakers Group leans on more than a century of combined aviation and hospitality leadership. The executive team includes Heather Peoples, Michael Uremovich, Ken Myers, Tom Fireoved, and Mark Brezinski. Together, they have built a high-performance operating platform that has earned the trust of airport authorities, concession partners, and travelers nationwide.
Looking Ahead
The company plans to keep moving into major airport markets across the country while pursuing new hospitality, entertainment, and brand partnerships that broaden the traveler experience. The 2026 openings reinforce the same approach that has carried the brand this far, which pairs a recognized athlete with a city-rooted concept and delivers something travelers want to spend time in.
