This is Buying Sandlot — the only newsletter that focuses solely on the business of youth sports.
A reminder: Kyle is on vacation, so James will be holding it down for the next week. Feel free to copy him on any press releases, story submissions or banter. [email protected].
Let’s get to it.
In the email today:
🗣️ Big Youth Sports District Proposal Strikes Out
An ambitious youth sports-centered development plan has fallen by the wayside.
The developer behind a proposed $150M, 20-acre mixed-used stadium and sports complex in Blue Ash, Ohio, has withdrawn the application.
The move came hours before the Summit and the Fieldhouse project was likely to lose a city council vote due to community opposition in the Cincinnati suburb.
The plan included:
5K-seat outdoor stadium
Indoor fieldhouse
Three hotels
Retail spaces
Restaurant and bar
Parking garage
Apartment building
The developer will reportedly pivot and build up to 1K residential units on the land while shopping the stadium project to other cities.
James’ take:
There is no indication anything other than neighborhood opposition derailed this project. The city planning commission had already recommended the proposal move forward and the developer still wants to build it elsewhere. All politics is local, after all.
That said: Kyle compared these youth sports-anchored district concepts to old Olympics stadiums a few weeks back. The idea being that we are reaching a tipping point where supply will outweigh demand. Especially as these projects are increasingly located in more rural areas.
The thing about Blue Ash: It would be a pretty good place to do this.
Right outside of Cincinnati. Home to over 2K businesses (and 30-40K workers).
Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Lexington and Louisville are all within a two-hour drive (or shorter). Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Nashville are all fourish hours away.
You would theoretically pull youth athletes and their families from a massive swath of the country AND have enough non-sports traffic to keep the lights on for the eateries, hotels and shops when there are not games being played.
But the residents said NIMBY and the developer and local officials did not have the desire to push it through regardless.
It makes you wonder if that tipping point is getting close. And if so, what does that mean for projects like the massive $250M proposal currently on the table in rural West Virginia? We could look back on this as an early sign the multi-use district approaching is beginning to fade a bit.
🤝 Stack Sports Acquires PlayMetrics
A major deal that was rumored in late April has come to fruition.
Stack and PlayMetrics have merged. The companies say the tie-up of major youth sports technology companies will create a “creating a best-in-class platform in the sports management technology ecosystem.”
Terms were not disclosed. Andrew Petcash had reported on LinkedIn the deal could be worth $400M a few weeks ago. Crossbar, PlayMetrics’ hockey-centric division, was also mentioned in the press release as part of the deal.
PE firm Genstar Capital, Stack’s parent company, will be the majority owner of the new venture. But PlayMetrics CEO Michael Doernberg will lead the combined company while Stack CEO Jeff Young “will transition to a strategic role as advisor to the board of directors.”
Stack has reported over 50M users nationwide; PlayMetrics said it provides services to almost 3K youth sports organizations. And considering Stack has been on an acquisition spree in recent years, that scale only figures to grow.
⚾️ MLB, Ripken Sr. Foundation Announce Nike RBI Partnership
The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and MLB’s Nike RBI program have launched a new partnership in conjunction with Play Ball Weekend.
The pact will support instructional baseball leagues for 30 organizations across 14 states.
Each site will get a cash grant, equipment and instructional materials and receive camp and clinic opportunities.
The Ripken Sr. Foundation is separate from the Ripken Baseball travel empire; it serves youth in underserved communities.
💰 Youth Baseball Umpire Wins Massive Judgment After Being Assaulted
A septuagenarian youth baseball umpire has scored a historic victory three years after a coach broke his jaw during a game in New Jersey.
James Neely was awarded $650K in damages following a two-day civil trial. He was 72 in 2022 when he was attacked during a 13U tournament sponsored by the U.S. Amateur Baseball League.
It is believed to be the largest verdict of its kind in state history.
Neely, now 75, ejected Jerry Otero, who is over 30 years younger than him. Otero then punched the umpire. Neely suffered a concussion, several facial fractures and had his jaw wired shut for six weeks.
Otero was convicted of aggravated assault and simple assault and sentenced to five years of probation and anger management counseling.
Neely filed his lawsuit against Otero, the USABL, the New York Prospects — Otero’s Staten Island-based travel team, its president and 10 unnamed Prospects parents.
🧢 Dick’s Sporting Goods’ ‘Sports Matter Day Of Play’
Dick’s Sporting Goods
The sporting good giant continued its youth sports push yesterday, hosting its inaugural Sports Matter Day of Play at a dozen-plus House of Sports locations nationwide.
This first-of-its-kind event was designed to give young athletes the chance to explore and experience new sports. From soccer drills in Boston to softball swings in Miami, each House of Sport became a vibrant, hands-on arena where kids could discover the joy of play. Designed to be inclusive and engaging, the activities encouraged curiosity and confidence in a variety of sports. For many, it was their very first time holding a lacrosse stick, swinging a golf club or rock climbing with encouragement from local coaches and mentors.
🏢 Youth Sports Facilities News
Midland, Michigan: A youth soccer club has begun a $10M capital campaign to build a 150K-square-foot indoor turf facility. Midland Soccer Club is spearheading the effort but the venue would be used for other sports and would create a projected $2.5M annual economic impact.
Olathe, Kansas: A proposed tourism district — it’s a theme! — that will include a 5.5K-seat arena that will emphasize youth sports has been delayed. An unspecified title issue is holding up construction. But the developers — which include Lamar Hunt Jr., the son of the late Kansas City Chiefs owner — say shovels will be in the ground once it is rectified.
Memphis, Tennessee: The city has approved a new hotel, restaurant, retail space and residential buildings in the Liberty Park area of town, which already includes the Memphis Sports and Events Center — the site of Nike’s EYBL and other major youth sports events.
🔗 More Youth Sports Links
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Good game.