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:
🧢 Youth Sports Camp Consolidation
FlexWork Sports — which specializes in operating camps led by pro athletes — has acquired rival ProCamps, according to SBJ. It was reportedly an “eight-figure” deal.
FlexWork doubled its offerings to about 1K annual events with the move, founder and CEO Forrest West told the publication. Headcount will also double to about 70; all of ProCamps’ employees will be retained.
The deal also included ProCamps’ G3 Marketing. West said the agency’s support will allow FlexWork — which was acquired by Otro Capital last year — to expand into new verticals, such as activations and meet-and-greets.
FlexWork also operates a series of affordable youth development camps with Perfect Game.
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👓 Perfect Game Partners With Virtual Reality Firm
The baseball and softball developmental giant has named WIN Reality its VR training partner.
The tech “allows athletes to "face thousands of realistic pitches, sharpen pitch recognition, improve swing decisions and develop timing in a game-speed environment, anytime and anywhere."
The partnership will also include performance data and athlete development initiatives, event integrations and educational content.
PG will also incorporate WIN’s Blast Motion sensor tech at select showcase events, which will "provide athletes with deeper performance insights and data-driven development opportunities during key evaluation moments."
⚾️ Ripken Nationals Begin In Cooperstown
Teams will check in today ahead of the start of competition tomorrow at Unrivaled Sports’ All-Star Village.
The inaugural event runs through Saturday, July 4 and is being presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, a strategic investor in Unrivaled.
16-team 12U championship bracket
On-site play-in bracket play for final four spots
All bracket games on GameChanger; select games on CBS Sports Network
Live broadcast of championship game on CBSSN
Commercial spot honoring first Unrivaled Athlete
Miracle League game prior to title game on GameChanger
Under Armour — which is the official apparel partner for the event — will collaborate with Dick’s on an athletes lounge. Both companies are also scheduled to sponsor digital content.
A reminder: This is separate from the Cal Ripken events under Babe Ruth League’s banner— the Hall of Famer has a relationship with the organization independent of Ripken Baseball and Unrivaled.
When the event was announced back in October, we suggested it was Unrivaled’s initial foray toward building a Little League World Series competitor, both on the field and in terms of a media property.
This press release note only reinforces that possibility:
Based on the interest and success of the 2026 Ripken National Championships, the 2027 tournament will be broadened to include both 11U teams at Rocker B Ranch and 12U teams at Cooperstown All Star Village. Qualifiers start in September 2026.
That expansion means Unrivaled is now offering opportunities across the traditional LLWS ages — and positioning itself to quickly capitalize on any excitement and interest generated this week.
📰 Youth Sports Media Pieces Of Note
ESPN published a stunning expose on Argentina’s youth soccer developmental system. The report alleges widespread abuse. exploitation and neglect. The investigation focused on club teams in the country, but the system falls under the jurisdiction of the the country’s governing body for soccer — which refused to speak to ESPN.
The Wall Street Journal reported on the wild tale of a dad who went all-out to turn his son’s Orlando-area high school football team into a powerhouse with disastrous results. The kicker to the story is incredible, too.
NBC Nightly News had a two-minute report on the rising cost of youth sports last week. It was the same as every other broadcast news report. Local team? Check. Project Play stats? Check. Tom Farrey interview? Check. Private equity reference? Check. Let Kids Play Act? Check.
✍️ California Called Out Over Youth Sports Funding
We’ve mentioned the Golden State’s Youth Sports for All Act a few times in recent weeks.
The bill — already signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom — created a commission to study whether the state needs an entity to regulate and support youth sports.
But bill is also the latest example of an often-overlooked issue in access and affordability debates — local, state and federal lawmakers identify problems, but provide no funding to address them.
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Derek Fisher — who was one of the bill’s biggest supporters — wrote an op-ed calling on Newsom and state leaders to fund the bill.
And a guest column published by Calo News also took aim at the lack of funding
[The bill] recognizes that youth sports are not just about producing future college athletes or Olympians. They are about producing healthier kids and more connected communities.
But recognition without funding is where this gets off track.
The need is documented. The state has agreed the problem is real. Yet the work still needs funding to move forward. This is the public policy version of telling your kid, “Great news, we support dinner,” then handing them an empty plate.
Quick Take: The lack of government funding is going to become a bigger talking point as politicians become more involved in the industry. What remains to be seen is whether lawmakers will move to change this or instead continue to point at external factors.
🏒 Facilities Arms Race: More Ice In The Sun
Another hockey-focused indoor venue appears headed to Florida.
Manatee County is moving toward providing some support for a privately-built ice complex at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
The venue has a projected price tag of $70-80M; the county would facilitate a long-term land lease deal and reimburse up to $5M from tourism tax revenues to support infrastructure.
4 ice sheets; 1 with 2.5K in seating
Concessions, retail space
Medical offices
Attached paid parking garage
PSC is an outdoor complex with 22 mixed-use fields and sits about 30 minutes from IMG Academy in Bradenton.
The venue’s focus would be hockey, skating and curling. But it would also be able to host other sports like basketball, volleyball and cheer/dance competitions and have the ability to serve as an events center and potential emergency shelter.
🏈 NFL Team Launches Participation Initiative
The Denver Broncos Foundation has partnered with Every Kid Sports and Good Sports to kick off the All In, All Covered program, which is an extension of the team’s helmet distribution initiative in the state of Colorado.
The program will "aim to reduce financial barriers to play by providing financial support and essential equipment" for flag and tackle competition.
Registration fee funding through EKS
Access to individual, team equipment through GS
Aim to serve over 17K kids
The Broncos are committing to the initiative for five years, through 2030.
🧱 More Youth Sports Facilities News
Concord, North Carolina: Former NBA star Kemba Walker has opened his own indoor complex. The 54K-square-foot venue will support basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and pickleball with four hoops courts/eight volleyball courts and a strength and conditioning center.
Midland, Texas: The 115K-square-foot Diamondback Energy Athletic Complex has opened. The facility has six basketball courts that convert to 12 volleyball courts; it can also hold 5-on-5 soccer. The venue was privately funded and is expected to host tournaments.
Williamsburg, Virginia: The $80M Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center opened last week. The KemperSports-managed, 200K-square-foot facility is being funded by a regional sales tax; James City and York Counties are responsible for the build and the operation. The complex has 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts and 36 pickleball courts; it also boasts the nation’s biggest contractable turf field and can fit a full-sized football field and three indoor soccer fields.
🤦♂️ Parents Behaving Badly
A man and a woman in Kentucky — both members of their county board of education! — are accused of embezzling from a local youth soccer league.
The duo allegedly stole over $70K; the exact figure has not yet been provided by police. The ill-gotten funds are said to have paid for a slew of purchases and subscriptions, as well as cash withdrawals at ATMs.
The woman allegedly admitted to the purchases during a league meeting and said she would pay them back.
🔗 Youth Sports Links
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