ILM Invests 100 Million Baht in The Walk Ratchaphruek Sports Complex

Index Living Mall Plc (ILM) is accelerating business diversification by converting The Walk Ratchaphruek's parking area into "Talent Sport Academy," a comprehensive sports complex with an 80-100 million baht investment. The company aims to improve space utilization, generate new revenue, and drive traffic to the community mall, targeting 15 million baht in annual revenue with a seven-year payback period, while planning to expand the sports business by 1-2 branches per year on average to capture the Sport & Wellness trend and leverage the long-term rental space business.

On October 22, 2026, Ekalak Pattamasathit, Chief Executive Officer of Index Living Mall Plc (ILM), revealed that the company is pursuing a strategy to diversify risks and create new revenue streams by extending its business from furniture into rental space and sports businesses. The company leverages the strengths of each business to create synergies, enhancing growth opportunities and strengthening the business portfolio for the long term.

The development of Talent Sport Academy at The Walk Ratchaphruek marks another key step in asset management for added value. The company transformed an area previously used for parking into a comprehensive sports complex on over 7,000 square meters with an investment of approximately 80-100 million baht. The facility includes four tennis courts, two pickleball courts, and two basketball courts, complete with professional coaching services and an online court booking system.

Ekalak explained that the community mall business originated from the desire to add vibrancy to the furniture sales center, which had large space but inconsistent foot traffic. The company developed The Walk and Little Walk by bringing in restaurants, supermarkets, educational institutions, and various retail shops to fill the space, increasing visit frequency and generating rental income.

However, as competition in the community mall business intensified, creating differentiation became crucial. The company therefore extended from the educational tenant base of The Walk Ratchaphruek, which accounts for more than 30% of leased shops in the project, into the sports business. This aims to expand extracurricular learning options and cater to families that prioritize exercise and health.

"This investment is not solely about revenue from the sports facilities but about creating added value from existing space and using sports as a magnet to draw more customers into the project. When people come to use the sports facilities, they have continuous opportunities to visit restaurants, cafes, and other shops, generating income for tenants and enhancing the overall potential of the rental space," Ekalak said.

The company targets the Talent Sport Academy Ratchaphruek branch to generate approximately 15 million baht per year and expects to break even within seven years. It will serve as a model for expansion in high-potential locations, with plans to expand by an average of 1-2 branches per year within The Walk or Little Walk projects that have consistent traffic.

For 2027, the company plans to open two additional Little Walk branches: the Khlong Song branch near Safari World and the Phran Nok branch. It will consider incorporating the sports business into suitable locations to create differentiation and increase opportunities to attract new tenant groups, including lifestyle products, sports equipment, health-focused food and beverage, and related service businesses.

Ekalak stated that the company sees growth opportunities in the Sport & Wellness business in line with the trend toward preventive health care and emphasis on quality of life. The long-term strategy is to develop community malls into spaces that connect shopping, learning, exercise, and health services in one place, creating a sustainable ecosystem that generates continuous revenue for the company and tenants alike.