This is Buying Sandlot — the only newsletter that focuses solely on the business of youth sports.
Let’s get to it.
In the email today:
⚾️ Another New Multi-Sport Operation
New York Empire Baseball and Shore Capital Partners have launched Relentlessly Inspiring Sports Experiences (RISE) Partners.
Shore is a Chicago-based private equity firm. NYEB has over 60 teams and 1K players participating annually in the Big Apple— it is known for its emphasis on culture and sports science-driven training methods. NYEB also operates The Arena, a two-story, high-tech indoor training facility in Manhattan.
NYEB CEO Jordan Baltimore will also serve as RISE’s CEO. He told Buying Sandlot the new platform plans to operate across 3-5 sports while also expanding the geographic footprint.
The growth strategy includes acquisitions and organic growth.
Baltimore said NYEB has been interested in expanding into other sports for some time, “but we always wanted to have the expertise to do it. We didn't just want to be a sports babysitting service. … We want to know the culture, the content, the coaching is shared across all sports.”
Baltimore and NYEB believe they have found the perfect partner to accomplish that in Shore.
“It was the first private equity company that came to us and said, ‘We want to invest in the culture and grow the culture of what you built,’ and didn’t look at the financial statements first,” he said.
“All of the current press is so focused on how private equity has the potential to ruin the industry, but our focus is how can you provide resources to something that is so special, but in need of resources.”
A trend is developing here between this deal and last week’s news with True Lacrosse and True Sports Group.
Established single-sport platform + unique development strategy + private capital = Launch new multi-sport venture
RISE and True Sports are not carbon copies of each other, but they share more similarities than differences. And proven philosophies — NYEB’s science-based methods, True Lacrosse’s emphasis on skill training — provide a blueprint of how to scale to new sports.
The critical factor for any single-sport platform that pursues multi-sport is going to be delivering the same experience and expertise. Baltimore’s point about “sports babysitting” is a good one — there likely is not much value in, say, an elite softball club renting gym space and rolling some basketballs out without providing the same benefits to families.
This trend could be an antidote for specialization, though, if done right — bringing an i9 Sports-esque ability to conveniently play several sports under the same umbrella to the club and travel world.
I’ll go even a step further than James— I think beyond seeing the rise of multi-sport youth super clubs (akin to Real Madrid expanding to basketball and women’s soccer), you’ll also see these clubs have tight affiliation with brand sponsors or even owners.
I talked about this concept of brand youth club ownership with Brent Wall, the co-founder and CEO of Student Athlete Score, an NIL platform, in the latest Buying Sandlot podcast, which you can see later in this email.
One more: This looks like it could be a potential franchise play similar to i9 or Youth Athletes United, but RISE is expanding through acquisition right now. As James mentioned, lots of investor interest in this club roll-up model— I spoke to graduating students at Wharton who are looking to do the same. You know a space is bubblish hot when people want to use that sweet Wharton MBA to… own a handful of U12 soccer and baseball clubs.
🧢 Million Coaches Challenge Reaches Goal
The initiative launched by the Susan Crown Exchange in 2021 along with over a dozen partner organizations has reached the finish line — 1M youth sports coaches nationwide have been trained in positive, evidence-based youth development practices.
MCC said only 33% of the country’s 6M youth coaches had received education when it launched the campaign. And 93% of participating coaches said they feel more confident in their ability to support youth athletes.
MCC also released a pair of new resources to mark the occasion: a playbook of 12 youth coaching strategies and an agenda for the future of youth sports.
Also: California completed its statewide 25×25 Coaches Challenge as part of the MCC.
🏟️ SFC Takes Helm At Massive California Complex
Courtesy of SFC
The Sports Facilities Companies is officially the new operating partner of the Ontario Sports Empire.
The 190-acre development will be the biggest multi-use sports complex west of the Rocky Mountains when it opens next fall.
20 long fields
14 youth diamonds
8 full-size diamonds
2 championship diamonds
4 football/rugby fields
SFC will work with ASM Global on food, beverage and sponsorship operations. The complex joins SFC's roster of 90-plus facilities under its management.
👨💻 PlayMetrics Divests Pro Sports Platform
The youth sports management software provider sold sports performance video analysis tool Steva to Cardinal Sports Capital.
The sale comes a few months after Stack Sports acquired PlayMetrics. That deal was announced as a merger with Genstar Capital as the majority owner of the combined company, but both brands are mentioned in the press release on the Steva sale.
The companies plan to "concentrate our resources where we can deliver the most value," PlayMetrics CEO Mike Doernberg said in the release.
🔉 New Podcast: The Massive Potential of Youth NIL
I (Kyle) am joined by Brent Wall, the co-founder and CEO of NIL platform Student Athlete Score. He discusses the evolution of NIL opportunities for student-athletes and how his platform aims to empower athletes by providing data-driven insights and connections with brands.
You can listen and subscribe to the Buying Sandlot podcast with the following links:
👀 A Stat That Caught Our Eye
From Little League International: Every $1 invested in youth sports translates to $3 saved in future medical costs and productivity losses, according to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.
Quick Take: We’ve written numerous times about the need for incentives, rebates and rewards around youth sports. Add another data point to the list.
🔗 Youth Sports Links
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Good game.