PORTAGE, MI — Newly opened Zap Zone XL in Portage closed early on Saturday, Feb. 21, after police responded to a “large group” fight.
The entertainment center at 6780 S. Westnedge Ave. has since implemented a new rule requiring children under 18 to be accompanied by an adult at all times, said Kasen Gavalis, Zap Zone XL assistant general manager. The Lansing-based entertainment center opened on Monday, Feb. 16.
Portage Public Safety assisted in removing 500 patrons from inside the business after the fight broke out at 11:22 p.m. in Zap Zone XL’s roller rink, PPS Lt. Michael Collier said. Zap Zone XL closed at 12:30 a.m., Gavalis said, ahead of the scheduled 1 a.m. closing time.
“There was an incident between a couple different school groups,” Gavalis said.
Before the group fight, officers responded to Zap Zone XL at 7:10 p.m. after two high school-aged males started fighting, Collier said. The fight had broken up by the time officers arrived.
Gavalis couldn’t confirm which schools in the Kalamazoo area were involved. Employees helped separate students after the group fight, Gavalis said. Public safety officers waited with unaccompanied minors for parents to pick them up, Collier said.
“We have seen issues related to unsupervised juveniles at family entertainment centers like this in the past and strongly urge parents to accompany children,” Collier said.
Zap Zone XL did have security on Saturday but since has decided to hire a third-party security company, Gavalis said. Zap Zone management also met with Portage Public Safety’s community engagement team on Tuesday, Feb. 24, Gavalis said.
“With the policies we put in place, this will be a fully safe environment for your family and friends,” Gavalis said.