30-06-2025
We tried Tampa's new indoor Nerf arena
The heat is unbearable in Tampa Bay and just about everywhere else. But summer's too short to spend at home, so I've been on the hunt for places to chill — pun intended.
That's how I discovered Laser Ops Xtreme Fun Center and its new indoor Nerf arena.
Flashback: Growing up, I spent countless summer nights running across manicured lawns and over concrete driveways with friends, firing foam darts at each other until we were out of breath and out of ammo.
So, the idea of picking up an oversized, plastic gun again with the added benefit of air conditioning seemed like a no-brainer.
State of play: Laser Ops offers a deal that includes arcade games, an hour of laser tag, and a half-hour at the Nerf arena for $37 a person.
I can only take so much nostalgia. So, I skipped the arcade games, which, aside from some VR options, gave off a Chuck E. Cheese vibe.
Zoom in: I ambled into the laser tag room and braced for a horde of children. Instead, I found a group of six adults. And for the next hour, we chased each other in a fluorescent room that soon felt like a sauna.
Just a note — having the hit sensor on the gun, as Laser Ops does, instead of the vest makes you an easier target and the game much less fun. Add weak A/C, and I was ready to leave halfway through.
I found the Nerf arena to be much more fun (and ventilated). The 30-minute free-for-all with unlimited foam darts made for a chaotic yet delightfully concise time.
