Fort Worth’s AP Ranch Scales Youth Sports Access Through $30M Expansion Plans

Key Takeaways

• 700-acre facility serves 1,200 kids weekly through largely free programming in Fort Worth
• Self-funded model relies on founder’s wealth rather than traditional revenue streams or government support
• $30M expansion includes Olympic-grade stadium, student housing, and performing arts center
• Elite athlete training grounds doubles as community youth development hub
• Founder actively resists over-monetization to preserve mission-driven focus

Mike Dry’s AP Ranch represents an unusual model in youth sports infrastructure. The 700-acre Fort Worth facility combines world-class athlete training with broad community access, serving approximately 1,200 kids weekly while maintaining financial independence through the founder’s aerospace and real estate wealth.

Business Model Built on Personal Investment

Dry purchased the property from country music legend Willie Nelson for $45 million in 2012, initially planning to develop 60 acres before committing to the full 700-acre site. The facility operates with 12 full-time employees and approximately 30 volunteer coaches, currently utilizing about 150 acres of the total property.

The financial structure differs significantly from typical youth sports operations. Programming remains free for kids receiving government aid, grants, or athletic scholarships, with only a $20 registration fee applying to select participants. “The hardest thing for these guys to do is try and sift through all the guys that are trying to fish with their bait that’s already out there now,” said Mike Riley, an adviser for AP Ranch, referring to investors seeking returns.

Revenue sources include occasional athlete donations ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, plus a $250,000 contribution from Dry’s son. A small-scale Nike partnership provides equipment funding, but the facility has never received government funds and operates primarily through Dry’s personal investment.

Infrastructure Designed for Dual Purpose

Current facilities include a 35,000-square-foot gym with two basketball courts, weight room, sleeping quarters, and custom showers and locker rooms. The property features a nine-lane Olympic-specification track surrounding football and soccer fields, plus spaces for golf and beach volleyball.

The converted barn now serves as a 19,000-square-foot center offering tutoring, counseling, and meeting spaces, demonstrating the facility’s commitment to comprehensive youth development beyond athletics.

Notable athletes who train at AP Ranch include Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, former NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, NBA players Kyrie Irving and Myles Turner, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Max Duggan, and former NBA player Jermaine O’Neal.

Expansion Plans Target Comprehensive Youth Services

Dry has outlined a $30 million expansion including a student union building, world-class field house, and Olympic-grade stadium beside the existing track. Additional planned facilities include 130-unit student housing, a fine arts and performance center, and a retail store set to open in January. Long-term vision includes a hotel, though most projects remain in conceptual stages.

The new track aims to accommodate more than 1,800 people and will enable the campus to host national-caliber meets. “My next passion play is just to complete the circle for kids, where they get everything and every base is touched,” Dry explained. “Maybe a kid doesn’t want to do sports. Well, they can come while the other kids are doing something else.”

Strategic Approach to Corporate Partnerships

While maintaining the mission-driven focus, AP Ranch seeks corporate sponsorship for future development. “We’re hoping maybe to garner a corporate sponsor that sees the vision, gets what we’re trying to do and understands the youth movement,” Dry said. “We have a complete footprint and we know we’re going to be successful. Maybe take the footprint to other cities and build an AP Ranch there.”

The organization handles sponsor searches internally and intentionally avoids business practices similar to IMG Academy. “AP Ranch is an extension of the kids and families. But if we decided to do an IMG-type scenario, you’re looking at just isolating a few kids, and that’s always been our biggest concern,” said Greg Sholars, a three-time national champion sprinter at TCU who works with the facility. “We don’t want to limit our reach, because the kid that needs us most just may not be in our school or can’t afford our school.”

Scaling Mission-Driven Infrastructure

AP Ranch’s approach demonstrates how personal wealth can create large-scale youth sports infrastructure without traditional revenue pressures. The model’s sustainability depends on Dry’s continued financial support and his other business ventures’ performance.

The facility’s combination of elite athlete training and community youth services offers a potential template for similar developments, though replication would require founders with comparable financial resources and philosophical commitment to access over profit.

As Dry acknowledges his age (over 60) and begins succession planning, the organization’s future will test whether mission-driven youth sports facilities can maintain their community focus while achieving financial sustainability. The planned expansion and potential multi-city growth represent ambitious next steps for a model that prioritizes reach over revenue generation.

via: AP Ranch / SBJ

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