Scott and Gabriella Mosteller started Hoop Trailer after turning a homemade wedding project into a series of event rental businesses. Their first venture began in 2017 when Gabriella wanted a mobile bar for their wedding. Scott built one himself, and the project eventually became Hello Penny Bar, a service that brought portable bars to weddings and other private events around San Diego.
The couple spent several years running Hello Penny Bar before selling it in 2020 to focus on raising their three children. Their experience with the business gave them a working knowledge of the event rental industry, including the appeal of attractions that could be delivered to a venue and operated without a permanent location.
Scott came up with another mobile entertainment idea in December 2023. This time, he wanted to take the basketball shooting games commonly found in arcades and put them inside a trailer that could be rented for parties and events. He designed a custom trailer with four electronic basketball games mounted inside and large side panels that lift open to let people play from outside. The games keep score, allowing several people to compete at once.
The first trailer was completed in 2024, and the Mostellers began renting it around San Diego under the name Hoop San Diego. The trailer could be delivered to homes, schools, festivals and corporate events, with customers booking it for a set period rather than paying for individual games. Scott introduced the business through local media and began showing the custom-built trailer at events.
The couple soon began developing a second business around the design. Instead of operating every rental themselves, they could build trailers for other entrepreneurs who wanted to offer the same service in their own cities. They launched Hoop Trailer in March 2025, creating a licensing program that provided operators with a custom-built trailer, the Hoop branding and a local territory.
The arrangement allowed independent operators to run their own rental businesses while using the same equipment and brand. Each operator handled local bookings, marketing and events. The Mostellers supplied the trailer and provided guidance on setting up the business, drawing on their experience with Hoop San Diego and Hello Penny Bar.
The licensing model brought rapid expansion. By the summer of 2025, Hoop Trailer had grown to more than 20 locations across the United States. The network reached more than 50 locations by September, with operators offering rentals for school functions, festivals, private parties and corporate events. The business also expanded into Canada.
Hoop Trailer’s growth came largely through adding new local operators rather than opening company-run rental locations. By late 2025, Scott reported that the network had reached 64 locations. The Mostellers also began applying the same model to other sports, developing Touchdown Trailer, a mobile football arcade game business that used a similar approach to equipment and local licensing.
