THE YOUTH SPORTS INDUSTRY
Youth sports leagues serve 60 million children annually. Yet many kids are still left out or chased away because sports stop being fun. Your business can help fix that.
HOW LARGE IS THE INDUSTRY?
Youth sports is a huge business, with approximately 30 million youth athletes participating annually and generating nearly $40 billion in annual spending. It is expected to grow to nearly $60 billion by the year 2030. Families’ annual spending increased from roughly $700 per athlete in 2019 to about $1,000 per athlete in 2024 across registration fees, travel, and equipment.¹
The industry’s strong growth and evolution are fueled by rising demand for health and wellness, advances in technology and performance tracking, year-round participation, and the continued growth of girls’ sports. Together, these trends create a compelling opportunity to build a business in a market that helps kids develop skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of the game.
In addition, because parents view youth sports as a necessity rather than a luxury, our model has performed well in both challenging and healthy economic conditions. Because kids tend to come back year after year and play multiple sports, franchise owners have strong opportunities for recurring revenue.
¹ Global Youth Sports Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis; Baird, 2023
WHO IS OUR COMPETITION?
There may already be a lot of youth sports league offerings in your community: the local Parks and Recreation Department, the YMCA, competitive travel leagues, single-sport organizations, and maybe more.
So it’s natural to ask, “What sets i9 Sports® apart? How can I build a strong business against all that competition?”
The answer is simple. i9 Sports franchisees fill an important niche in the market by offering parents a more convenient option and a superior customer experience compared with park districts and travel leagues. We offer kids a mix of instruction, healthy competition, and fun. i9 Sports owners treat their customers with the care and attention they deserve, and that helps us stand out and grab market share.
Community youth sports league programs are often run by staffers who have little stake or interest in the experience provided. This can lead to disorganization, inconsistency from week to week, and a lack of timely communication.
Hypercompetitive teams and leagues play favorites and place kids on the bench. They schedule practices and games multiple times throughout the week, at different venues throughout town, making it difficult for parents to juggle their kids’ schedules or make travel arrangements.
| Local Rec Leagues | i9 Sports | Club Teams | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who Plays | Tryouts and drafts may be required; left up to coach | No tryouts or drafts; equal playing time; rotate positions | Tryouts and drafts; only the best get to play |
| Level of Competition | Varies | Healthy competition | Hyper-competitive |
| Culture | No cohesive culture | Focus on fun, instruction, and sportsmanship | High-pressure; focus on winning |
| Convenience | Inconvenient, multiple practices, shifting schedule | Highly convenient; once-a-week, same-day practice and play | Inconvenient, multiple practices and games in the same week |
| Safety | Safety protocols vary | National leader in youth sports safety | Score over safety |
| Fees and Fundraising | Low initial fee plus fundraising, uniform, and concession duty | One upfront fee; no fundraisers or concession duty | High initial fee plus fundraising and tournament fees |
YOUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A BETTER YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUE
Parents love the i9 Sports experience for the complete organization, clear communication, and overall convenience. There is only one practice per week right before the game, so participation in our programs fits easily within their family’s busy schedule. Plus, there are no fundraisers or mandatory volunteering.
Kids love the i9 Sports experience because the focus is on fun versus the pressure to perform. They get age-appropriate instruction in skills and good sportsmanship in a safe, supportive environment. No tryouts or drafts. Everyone gets to play regardless of skill level, and all kids are given equal playing time.
SEE IF YOUR TERRITORY IS AVAILABLE
While there’s an inexhaustible supply of customers to serve, the territories we have available are limited. We sell protected territories, meaning once all the territories are sold within a market, we do not sell more. We’re rapidly filling in the available territories across the country, so if you’re passionate about sports, love working with kids, and want to own a great business, now is the time to jump in.