Richmond singles ditch apps for speed dating and beer pong

By the numbers: Eventbrite has seen Richmond-area speed dating events skyrocket more than 200% between October 2024 to this past September, compared to the same stretch in the years prior.

• Attendance is up 135% in that time frame, per data exclusively shared with Axios.

One upcoming event at Veil Brewing is a beer pong tournament.

• Beer Pong Speed Dating was started by University of Richmond grad Jeff Hunt, who tells Axios that participants say it's been the least awkward way to meet people.
• "Only about a quarter of people actually have a romantic match at the end," Hunt says. "But that's kind of what real life is, right?"

Zoom in: Then there's Pitch-a-Friend, a nationwide phenomenon where people present decks on stage about why you should date their friends.

• Rebecca Phillips, who brought the trend to Richmond, says nearly every event has a waitlist and even if you don't end up meeting someone, "it's just a big love fest."

Another speed dating series at Second Bottle in Church Hill has themed nights, such as ones for queer people or singles over 40.

• Owner Erin Keene says people have told her that the five-minute rounds cover more ground than days of texting.

The intrigue: The push for more dating events even led Sam Lydard, founder of Trying to Adult RVA, to launch Trying to Date.

• Her events mix traditional speed dating with musical chairs, range from arcade nights to coffee meetups, and bake in compliment cards.
• Lydard's goal: Making sure people leave feeling good about themselves.

The bottom line: The way to believe in love again in Richmond might just be logging off and showing up.

What's next:

• Oct. 3: Musical chairs speed dating at Hogshead Cafe.
• Oct. 8: Pitch-a-Friend at Brambly Park.
• Oct. 9: Speed dating and dancing at Juan's Rooftop.
• Oct. 12: "Boos and Brews" speed dating at Vasen.
• Oct. 19: Beer Pong Speed Dating at Veil Brewing.