Youth sports has become a big-league playing field for investors.

The numbers are compelling. The Aspen Institute put out a report in 2022 saying the average American family spends around $880 per child per sport every year between fees, equipment, travel and instruction. It pegged the youth sports market — participated in by kids 5 to 15 years of age — at $30 billion to $40 billion.

In the United States alone, there are more than 60 million young athletes. Globally, the youth sports cohort has been called the largest pool of athletes on earth, with about 500 million participants.

Little surprise that private equity players want a piece of the action. KKR took a stake in PlayOn! Sports, and Waud Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in TeamSnap, a youth sports management platform. Other PE firms that have gotten involved in youth sports are Susquehanna Private Capital and Roark Capital, among others.

The Sports Business Journal reported