Rob Gronkowski Is Back on the Football Field to Launch Stadium Blitz Obstacle Course Race Series

Gronk is back on a football field running drills and catching passes … but before fans get excited that he’s coming out of retirement already, the three-time Super Bowl champion is actually launching a new kind of sporting challenge.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Gronk Nation announced the launch of Stadium Blitz on Thursday morning, a unique obstacle course race inspired by grueling NFL training drills.

The race series kicks off on Oct. 12 at New Era Field in Buffalo, New York — home of the Buffalo Bills and the city where Gronk grew up. It will then proceed to the Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida on Oct. 26, with more cities to be announced soon.

Also Read: Watch Rob Gronkowski and Lindsey Vonn's Slime Showdown at Nickelodeon 'Kids' Choice Sports 2019' (Exclusive Video)

“Our family breathes the camaraderie of team sports and Stadium Blitz is the perfect way for us to stay involved in fitness and inspire others to compete in a way to have fun and test every limit,” said older brother Dan Gronkowski, who played TE for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Patriots. “For the first time, families can spend an evening competing and cheering along with their kids and friends — everyone gets the feeling of accomplishment,” he added.

Also Read: ESPYS 2019: 14 Things You Didn't See on TV, From Gronk's Dance-Off to Sports Star Karaoke

Participants will be tested to their limits with a series of challenges, such as bear crawling up stadium steps, leaping over hurdle walls, climbing up 20-foot nets, swinging from rings and throwing a football through five targets. Racers are awarded 2000 points for crossing the finish line in under 40 minutes, every second under 40 minutes earns extra points. Celebratory Gronk Spikes are definitely allowed if you nail them all.

Stadium Blitz is one of the only obstacle course races that allows participants to determine how hard they want to be tested on a gamified course that is connected with RFID timing and point tracking, so it is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Competitors can even invite their own cheering section to root them on from the stands.

There are three levels of obstacles (race, hustle and blitz) testing fitness, strength and agility each increasing in difficulty but intermixed throughout the course … the harder the obstacle, the bigger the point potential.

Also Read: Gronk Announces Retirement From NFL: 'Time to Move Forward'

Stadium Blitz

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Gronk hails from a family of professional athletes. His brothers Dan, Chris and Glenn all played in the NFL, oldest brother Gordie Jr. was in the MLB, and dad, Gordy “Papa” Gronk played college football at Syracuse University. They’ve since dedicated their careers to the business and entertainment worlds through G&G Fitness Companies, Gronk Fitness, the Gronk Nation clothing line and Ice Shaker brand.

Having won three Super Bowl rings catching passes from Tom Brady, Gronk, 30, retired from the NFL in March after nine seasons with the Patriots. He was the highest ranked tight end in the NFL Top 100 Players five times and considered by many sports analysts and fellow players to be the greatest tight end ever.

Rob Gronkowski, Snoop Dogg, Nikki Bella Fuel ESPYS Week Parties (Photos)

The Oscars of the sports world has expanded into a full week of ESPYS-related parties - with Rob Gronkowski seemingly making it to all of them.
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The former Patriots tight end went to head-to-head with Floyd Mayweather to tip off the week in the Monster Energy $50K Charity Challenge Celebrity Basketball Game at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.
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Team captain Gronk was joined by his biggest cheerleader/girlfriend, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model, Camille Kostek. Rob also recruited big brother Chris Gronkowski onto his team, but still went down fighting to Team Mayweather.
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Snoop Dogg acted as Team Gronk's coach for the celeb-filled game that raised money for Teen Cancer America.
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"Dancing With the Stars" pros Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy forgot to keep their eyes on the ball as the sat courtside.
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MVP of party-rocking and future NFL Hall of Famer Gronk hosted the ESPYS Official Pre-Party at Hotel Figueroa in downtown LA. the night before the 2019 awards.
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If you ever wonder where the three-time Super Bowl champion gets his dance moves from, look no further than Gordy "Papa Gronk" Gronkowski.
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Yep, the apple doesn't fall far from tree as Chris, Dan and Rob Gronkowski prepared to set the dance-floor on fire to tunes by DJ D-Nice.
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Jimmy V Award for Perseverance honoree Rob Mendez, a football coach born without arms or legs, joined in the dance-off with the Gronks, Paralympians and Afghanistan veteran Israel Del Toro.
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Cassidy Hubbarth, Katie Nolan and Dianna Russini walked the red carpet at the pre-ESPYS party before hosting ESPN's "Red Carpet Live" on Twitter the following day.
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2018 U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka proved that golfers can party too.
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Also on Tuesday night, the Players' Tribune founder Derek Jeter welcomed stars such as Cam Newton to the Players’ Night Out party in Hollywood.
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WNBA teammates Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird took advantage of the couch to give their feet a break at the Players’ Night Out party.
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Legends Award honoree Dwyane Wade walked the orange carpet with his kids at the Nickelodeon "Kids' Choice Sports" before getting drowned in gold slime ... (be sure to take that expensive watch off, Wade!)
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It's about to get messy between skateboarding phenomena Nyjah Huston and Gronk at Nickelodeon's "Kids' Choice Sports."
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Snowboarders Chloe Kim and Toby Miller prove they're the cutest couple in extreme sports.
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Cedars-Sinai and Sports Spectacular closed out the festivities with the 34th Annual Gala Celebration on Monday, once again held at Snoop Dogg's (with MMA ring announcer Bruce Buffer) compound in Inglewood.
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First-time attendee WWE Superstar Nikki Bella pledged her support to the Sports Spectacular Diabetes and Obesity Wellness and Research Center. "I am now in for life, I love when you can be at such an amazing event that raises awareness for such a good cause," she told TheWrap. "It is so important as athletes with our platforms to educate people."
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L.A. Rams running back Todd Gurley now has Sports Spectacular's NFL Player of the Year Award -- presented by none other than Snoop Dogg -- to add to his trophy cabinet.
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Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, who is now in the fighting business with Lights Out Extreme Fighting, swapped moves with former UFC champion Tyron Woodley at the Sports Spectacular gala.
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The most talented siblings in the WNBA, L.A. Sparks teammates Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike shared health tips at the Sports Spectacular gala before checking out the Beyond Meat-catered cuisine.
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LAFC teammates Walker Zimmerman and Tyler Miller were on hand when the MLS team, now in its second season, won the Community Spirit Award. "From the beginning, they made it a point to get involved with the community, being the first soccer team in downtown L.A.," Zimmerman (left) told TheWrap. "It is a testament to people in the front office but also our supporters, who get involved with every type of charity event."
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Currently out with an ACL injury that she suffered while playing in Europe, Seattle Storm WNBA star Stewart reminded Sports Spectacular guests that "Women Ball Too," before collecting the award for Female Athlete of the Year.
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