The countdown is on for the 2025 FOX Sports 910-1310 “The Game” High School Media Days, proudly presented by The Orthopaedic Clinic. This two-day blitz of local high school football teams will take place July 29 and 30 at an exciting new location: First Baptist Church Opelika’s 316 Center, situated at the corner of Avenue C and South 8th Street in downtown Opelika. A total of 29 high school football teams will be represented at this year’s event, with each program bringing their head coach and three to four players. Attendees can expect a diverse lineup, including teams that play 8-man football, 11-man football and squads from both the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA). Leading off Tuesday’s lineup is AHSAA Assistant Director Caleb Ross, while Wednesday will feature AISA Athletic Director Roddy Beck and Big East official Dana Barker kicking off the day’s festivities. With a new schedule in place, Media Days will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday, giving fans and media a concentrated window to hear from the athletes and coaches shaping this upcoming football season. Coverage will be comprehensive and far-reaching. Fans can tune in via FOX Sports 910-1310 “The Game,” stream online at kickerfm.com, listen through the iHeartRadio app or watch the event live on WOTM-TV (Channel 80 on Charter). A strong media presence is expected, including television, print and digital outlets ready to showcase the stories and personalities behind each program. High School Media Days continues to grow as a premier preseason spotlight, and with The Orthopaedic Clinic’s continued partnership, the event is set to kick off the 2025 football season with style, energy and community pride. Opelika DBB Baseball World Series The spirit of competition and community pride will be on full display as the 2025 Junior (13u) DBB Baseball World Series arrives in Opelika, July 25 through 29. Hosted by the City of Opelika, the Parks and Recreation Department and Auburn-Opelika Tourism, this prestigious five-day double-elimination tournament will bring together 11 state champion teams, joined by Opelika, for an exciting week of baseball at West Ridge Park. Festivities begin Friday at 5 p.m. with opening ceremonies featuring local dignitaries, including the mayors of Opelika and Auburn. Fans won’t want to miss the keynote address from Auburn University head baseball coach Butch Thompson, who will be on hand to set the tone for a tournament that celebrates excellence on and off the field. Immediately following the ceremony, the games begin: Opelika vs. South Carolina will be on Harrelson Field (Field 1) at 6 p.m. Arkansas vs. Florida will be on Field 2 at 6 p.m. The action picks up again Saturday morning at 9 a.m., with games continuing daily through Tuesday night, culminating in the crowning of a champion.
D. Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State Director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.
28 student proposals from 12 Florida colleges and universities were submitted for the second annual Hockey Innovation Competition, representing over 100 students across 21 degree programs.
Only 38.3% of kids ages 6-12 played sports regularly in 2023, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and Aspen Institute’s State of Play 2024 report.
The NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund has invested more than $200 million since 2013 in programming and initiatives to grow hockey participation.
Six finalist teams will pitch at ESPN Wide World of Sports on January 22, 2026, competing for scholarship grants, VIP experiences and Stadium Series tickets.
A third competition focused on sustainable hockey infrastructure is scheduled for Ontario in Spring 2026.
Competition Returns With Florida Focus
The National Hockey League, National Hockey League Players’ Association, SAP and ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative have announced the second installment of the Hockey Innovation Competition. This year’s edition targets Florida’s growing hockey market, inviting undergraduate and graduate students from across the Sunshine State to develop solutions that make the sport more inclusive, accessible and enjoyable.
The competition is a product of the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, an entity established in 2013 to support initiatives that promote youth hockey development and long-term fan engagement. The IGF has dedicated more than $200 million to programming, events and education designed to bring hockey to communities across North America.
Florida represents a strategic choice for this year’s competition. The state has emerged as one of the NHL’s fastest-growing markets following back-to-back Stanley Cup victories by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021, and consecutive championships by the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025. These wins have driven record fan engagement and increased youth participation in the region.
Student Response and Academic Integration
The competition opened for entries on October 6 with a November 17 deadline. The response drew 28 proposals from 12 participating colleges and universities, engaging more than 100 students ranging from first-year undergraduates to MBA and Masters candidates.
Participants represent 21 distinct academic programs, including Nursing, Political Science, Engineering, Finance, Juris Doctor, Marketing, Journalism, Business Administration and Sport Management. This cross-disciplinary approach reflects the competition’s design philosophy of bringing diverse perspectives to hockey’s growth challenges.
The inaugural competition in January 2025 attracted more than 250 students from 13 Ontario institutions and generated 63 submissions. That edition focused on technology experience, customer experience and program enhancement in education and mobile tour sectors. The University of Guelph took the top prize, with Humber Polytechnic earning runner-up honors. Both teams received scholarship funding and NHL experiences.
Following the first year’s success, post-secondary professors began developing courses aligned with competition objectives. This academic integration allows students to earn credits while gaining real-world business experience through their submissions.
Three Pillars Guiding Student Innovation
Students were asked to build their proposals around one of three innovation pillars designed to address foundational challenges in youth sports.
The first pillar focuses on supporting the people who power sport. Coaches, referees, trainers, parents and volunteers often operate over capacity with limited support or recognition. Students were challenged to develop solutions that improve training, support systems and appreciation for these essential contributors.
The second pillar addresses expanding spaces for play. Many communities lack affordable, safe or accessible venues for organized or pickup hockey. The competition asked students to consider how everyday Florida spaces, including schoolyards, gyms, church parking lots and parks, could be transformed into hockey-friendly environments.
The third pillar centers on putting fun back at the center of sport. This aligns directly with ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative, which launched earlier this year to combat declining youth sports participation. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and Aspen Institute’s State of Play 2024 report, only 38.3% of children ages 6-12 played sports regularly in 2023. Students were asked to design experiences that reduce pressure and emphasize creativity, friendship and enjoyment.
Selection Process and Final Pitch Day
A selection committee will review all 28 proposals in early December and narrow the field to 20 teams. Each advancing team will present their concept in a virtual setting before six finalists are chosen.
The final six teams will receive mentorship from industry professionals who will help refine pitches, provide business insights and offer network support. NHL on ESPN personality Arda Öcal will host Final Pitch Day at ESPN Wide World of Sports on January 22, 2026. A judging panel of industry leaders from all partner organizations will evaluate the presentations.
Finalists will compete for multiple awards including The Innovator Award and The Changemaker Award. Additional prizes include scholarship grants, VIP experiences, tickets to the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series and swag packages from event partners.
Partner Perspectives on Youth Sports Development
SAP brings a decade-long technology partnership with the NHL to this initiative. The collaboration has historically focused on solutions benefiting coaches, players, fans and League operations. The Hockey Innovation Competition extends this relationship through SAP’s University Alliances program, which helps educators bridge theory and practice while equipping students with in-demand skills. More than one million students from 2,700 educational institutions engage with SAP annually through the program.
“At SAP, we believe that innovation drives progress not only within our technology but also in the communities we serve,” said Amy Schulz, Senior Director of Global Sponsorships at SAP. “We are excited to see how the students’ innovative solutions will shape the future of hockey and inspire passion for the game.”
ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative provides additional context for the competition’s focus on accessibility and enjoyment. The initiative launched earlier this year with a mission to increase access to play for young athletes amid declining participation rates.
“We believe youth hockey thrives when young players and their communities are empowered,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “We’re excited to work with these students to explore new ways to expand access, boost participation and make the game even more enjoyable.”
Looking Ahead: Ontario Edition Scheduled for Spring 2026
A third Hockey Innovation Competition is already planned for Ontario beginning in Spring 2026. That edition will challenge students to reimagine hockey infrastructure with an emphasis on sustainability, multi-functionality and technological advancement while enhancing family and community experiences. Additional details will be announced in the new year.
The competition’s expansion from a single Ontario event to a multi-region annual program demonstrates the NHL and NHLPA’s commitment to engaging the next generation of sports business professionals. By pairing academic institutions with industry partners, the program creates a pipeline for fresh thinking on hockey’s growth challenges while providing students with tangible career development opportunities.
via: NHLPA
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About Youth Sports Business Report
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Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?
Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.
About Play Up Partners
Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.
Why Sponsor Youth Sports?
Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.
What Does Play Up Partners Do?
We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.
Our Approach
Every partnership we build is rooted in authenticity and value creation. We don’t just broker deals. We craft youth sports marketing strategies that:
Deliver measurable ROI for brand partners
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We’re positioning youth sports as the most desirable and effective platform in sports marketing. Our mission is simple: MAKE YOUTH SPORTS BETTER for athletes, families, organizations, and brand partners.
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We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.
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Brandon Lee Rasmussen, age 43, was unexpectedly called to his eternal home on November 17th 2025, due to an unknown heart condition. He is the beloved father of Holdan Cruz and Sawyer Reid Rasmussen.
Brandon was known for his infectious smile and laugh to all who had the privilege of knowing him. His journey on this earth was one marked by love, loyalty and dedication to his family. His passing has left a void in the hearts of all whose lives were touched by him. Those we love don’t go away… he walks beside us everyday. Brandons life was a blessing to us all, his memory a treasure.
Brandon is survived by his loving parents, Vilas & Kay Rasmussen and Christine & Tim Pruetz as well as grandmother Beth Rasmussen. His brothers, Adam & Carla(Jameson, Lillian, RaeLynn and Lawson) Rasmussen, and Logan & Nicole Rasmussen along with Jerimah Pruetz & Breanna Pruetz. He will forever be treasured by the mother of his boys, Gina; and his best friend & girlfriend Mikelle.
Brandon is preceded in death by his grandparents Don & Rose Loppnow and his grandfather Ronald Rasmussen. He has been reunited with uncles, cousins and family friends along with pets Drake and Scout.
Oconomowoc was where Brandon was born, raised and resided. He took great pride in being a competitive athlete and outdoorsman. He wove talent and fun into every passion he had; football, baseball, track, volleyball, golf, snow skiing, clay shooting, archery, deer hunting, just to name a few… He then supported and cheered on his two boys as they also carried on his love for sports and nature. His greatest joy came from being a father and creating memories and experiences for his boys through youth sports, hunting, traveling and spending quality time at home.
His dedication to providing for his family led him through a few professions throughout his life. Brandon was always eager to take on new opportunities and challenges, and did everything with honesty and integrity. He had very strong values and was well liked by everyone with his positive and upbeat energy. He made many connections that became long lasting friendships and had co-workers that treated him more like family. Brandon brought smiles and laughter to those he worked with and loved feeling like part of the team.
Although Brandons physical presence may no longer grace our lives, his spirit will continue to warm our hearts. May our memories be celebrated and may we carry forth his legacy of love, loyalty and dedication to family, in all we do.
The Celebration of Life Service to honor Brandon will be held on Saturday, November 29th with visitation from 10am-2pm, a brief service at 12pm and light food to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family is also accepting donations to go towards the support of Holdan and Sawyers future. Donations will be accepted at the Service and a Link to donate will be provided shortly. Thank you to everyone for your love, support and prayers for the family.
NPR’s Juana Summers speaks with Luke Goldstein of The Lever, who wrote about the rise of private equity control of youth hockey facilities.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
If you have kids and they play sports, maybe you’ve been tempted to reach for that video camera in your pocket, which also makes phone calls, and maybe grab a little footage. About a year ago, a U.S. senator was warned about that.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
CHRIS MURPHY: I was just told this last weekend that if I livestream my child’s hockey game, my kid’s team will be penalized and lose a place in the standings. Why is that?
SUMMERS: According to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, this is because a private equity company had bought up a bunch of ice rinks, installed video cameras, and all of them charged subscription fees to access their footage and prohibited folks from filming their kids playing hockey. A new report from The Lever examines how restrictive streaming practices have become widespread in youth hockey and increasingly in many youth sports held at corporate-owned facilities. Luke Goldstein’s article is headlined, “Wall Street Is Paywalling Your Kids’ Sports,” and Luke Goldstein is here in the studio with me now. Hi.
LUKE GOLDSTEIN: Hey. Thanks for having me.
SUMMERS: Thanks for being here. So Luke, I just want to start by asking you this – what Senator Chris Murphy had to say. Is his description of this phenomenon accurate? How do these recording and streaming services work?
GOLDSTEIN: Yeah. So what I kind of found from my reporting is that this is not just happening in youth hockey. This is really across the board for youth sports in general, which has become a booming industry. It generates about $40 billion…
SUMMERS: Yeah.
GOLDSTEIN: …In revenue each year, according to an Aspen Institute study from earlier this year. And, you know, those kind of eye-popping numbers have attracted the interest of Wall Street firms and, in particular, private equity. And, you know, they’ve been buying up and, you know, rolling up a lot of these youth sports, you know, facilities, the leagues, tournaments. And, you know, that’s leading to some pretty significant changes across the board. You know, one of the most dramatic changes is what’s happened with the streaming services now. You’re not allowed, at numerous, you know, rinks and other kinds of sports facilities, to record your own kids’…
SUMMERS: OK.
GOLDSTEIN: …Games, and you’re offered this package that you can pay. And sometimes that will cost more than the streaming costs for professional sports like ESPN.
SUMMERS: Luke, your article focuses largely on this one company that’s called Black Bear Sports Group. And we reached out to them for comment, and a spokesperson told us, and I’m quoting here, “parents are always welcome to record videos.” They said that the only restrictions were on livestreaming or broadcasting, citing safety and consent concerns. Does that square with what you heard in your reporting?
GOLDSTEIN: So before publishing the story, I had reached out to Black Bear Sports Group. And they had sent me, you know, a series of written responses, and prior to the publication of this article, did not dispute that parents were not allowed to record…
SUMMERS: OK.
GOLDSTEIN: …And livestream and broadcast. After the publication of this article, they’ve put out a statement that the only policy is against live streaming the games, you know, online on social media or other platforms. If you go to thelevernews.com and read the updated version of the story, I’ve actually obtained a contract between Black Bear’s streaming service, Black Bear TV, and one of its affiliated rinks. And you’ll see in the contract terms, in plain language, that it is not just banning the livestreaming of games. It actually has language that prohibits recording devices. And it says…
SUMMERS: Which could mean…
GOLDSTEIN: …Very clear…
SUMMERS: …Like, your cell phone, then, I’m guessing.
GOLDSTEIN: It actually does say your phone as well. It says iPad. It has a long list of all kinds of equipment. But there is a clear stipulation in these contracts that the terms have to be enforced by rink owners.
SUMMERS: In the statement that we got from Black Bear, they also said that their player participation rate of growth – it’s more than double the national average. They point out that they have saved dozens of struggling ice rinks. And they also maintain that they’re not owned by a private equity firm. What do you make of those remarks based on what you’ve learned?
GOLDSTEIN: My understanding is Black Bear Sports Group is a subsidiary of Blackstreet Capital, which is a private equity firm. And I think you can see, also, some parallels, you know, between the practices by both entities. Blackstreet is well-known for buying up small-, medium-sized companies that, you know, are distressed and have difficulties. They, you know, try to kind of make them a little bit leaner and then, you know, sell them off eventually. It’s a very expensive business now to run an ice rink. Many of them have struggled and are on the verge of bankruptcy or closing up. So I think there’s a much kind of longer story to tell of how Black Bear became the self-described largest ice hockey rink owner in the country.
It’s not just Black Bear. This is really a sea change that you’re seeing across youth sports in general. Overall, what you’re seeing here, because the costs of participating in youth sports across the board have gone up so dramatically, it is starting to cater to, frankly, just a wealthier customer base that’s willing to pay top dollar for, you know, a higher-quality streaming, you know, service that’s being offered.
SUMMERS: Luke Goldstein is an investigative journalist with The Lever news. Luke, thanks for your reporting.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
A day after Ohio became the 45th state to allow high school athletes to strike name, image and likeness deals, a Republican state lawmaker said he’s working on a bill to ban that practice.
The members of the Ohio High School Athletic Association voted to allow NIL deals Monday. The bill Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) is hoping to introduce would prohibit NIL payments to high school athletes.
“When you see the impact that NIL has had on college sports, it’s not been to the benefit of of what college sports should be all about,” Bird said in an interview. “And I think that that we are very much in danger of going down a similar path that is not good for high school students in Ohio by allowing this to go forward.”
Bird hasn’t introduced a bill yet but is talking to other lawmakers about it.
Bird cited a study of college athletes that showed rates of death by suicide doubled over a 20-year period, and is now the second-leading cause of death in that population.
“There’s a lot of pressure for young people today and I think when you start giving them money because of their talent you’re adding to the pressure,” Bird said. “We should not be creating a system that has more pressure on these kids. They should be enjoying and learning and growing in a holistic way because of the experience that we give them in team sports and this is not going down the right path.”
Bird added that public dollars spent on high school sports is intended to help all students: “All of the investment that we make in these facilities and to make these things happen it’s not so that the student can make money. That’s not what it’s about. That’s not why we do sports in Ohio.”
And Bird said it’s his impression most schools don’t want their students to enter into NIL deals. Of the 815 members of the OHSAA, 55% voted for the bylaw change to allow NIL contracts. The rest voted against it or didn’t vote.
“The Ohio High School Athletic Association didn’t really want to do this,” Bird said. “This has all been generated because a temporary restraining order from a single Franklin County judge…has forced OHSAA to go down a path that it didn’t want to go.”
A vote on NIL deals was likely to happen in May, but a lawsuit filed by star wide receiver Jamier Brown of Wayne High School in Dayton pushed it up. Last month Franklin County Judge Jaiza Page had ordered a 45-day pause on the OHSAA ban on NIL deals and set a hearing for December. Brown’s lawyer said the family is dropping the lawsuit.
“I think the majority of our schools are not crazy about the idea of NIL at the high school level,” said Tim Stried with the OHSAA. “Neither is the OHSAA, but as we all know, the courts have spoken many times. We cannot prevent a person from earning money on their name, image and likeness.”
Stired said the OHSAA had expected to be sued by a different athlete earlier this summer, so the organization was ready for the vote. And he said when college athletes were allowed to do NIL deals starting in 2019, that set the stage for what’s happening now.
“A student can get paid for a lot of things that they do well. But athletics was not one of those, and now it is,” Stried said.
In the face of budget cuts, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is reducing its East Los Angeles youth orchestra program championed by outgoing star conductor Gustavo Dudamel by cutting staff and daily operations.
Last week, in an email to the students’ parents, the nonprofit organization announced that it would need to “significantly modify” the programming at the Esteban E. Torres High School site “due to unanticipated financial and funding challenges for the organization.”
The Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) has offered a free musical education to students ages 5 through 18 since 2007. Run by the L.A. Phil, students get access to free instruments and get the firsthand experience of being in a musical ensemble. YOLA currently operates out of Inglewood, East L.A., Rampart District and Westlake/MacArthur Park. The only location subject to cuts has been the Torres site in East L.A., which serves 165 students.
Under these changes, practices for students will be halved, moving from four days of instruction to two days of rehearsal. All the teaching artists at the site were laid off, leaving two conductors to lead what remains of the program. These modifications will only apply to the higher-level students, as programming for the younger pupils (known as the Sprouts and the Explorers) will be gutted, with the option of moving to another YOLA site.
Spearheaded by Dudamel, the program is modeled after El Sistema, the publicly funded program where he first learned music in Venezuela. The conductor, who has been with the L.A. Phil since 2009, will be leaving the orchestra in June 2026.
Jules Levy, one of the 12 laid-off teaching artists, says that with these adjustments, about 80% of the students’ learning will be reduced.
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel rehearses with young musicians from around the country participating in the L.A. Phil’s annual YOLA National Program at Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2023.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
“There wouldn’t be any music theory, music history and no singing. They’re going to come in and play in an orchestra, and won’t have any coaches to teach them,” said Levy, who has been a YOLA instructor since 2019. “No more studio classes, no private lessons, no master classes, and no sectionals.”
At Torres, Levy worked as a double bass coach and taught students across all age groups. He is also an alumnus of the program’s first iteration, saying it’s “the reason I am a successful musician today, but I also think about how many kids we just took that possibility away from.” When he had to explain the situation to his students, he says he was greeted with a lot of confusion and many teary eyes — as the community undergoes another unprecedented change.
“This is a community where we have students from East L.A. Some of these students have had their parents, their cousins and other family members abducted by ICE recently. This is one of L.A.’s most vulnerable communities,” Levy said.
These revisions were also announced days before the teaching artists voted to unionize, under the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.
In a statement to The Times, the L.A. Phil said they are “doing everything possible to support impacted students and staff, including placement at other YOLA sites and providing transportation when possible.”
“Our mission has always been to bring people together through the power of music and live performance, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to the families, musicians and employees who create our YOLA community,” wrote an L.A. Phil spokesperson.
YOLA institute students perform on stage during a Gracias Gustavo Community Block Party at the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center in October.
(Etienne Laurent/For The Times)
When Karla Juarez, a parent of two students at YOLA Torres, found out about these cuts, her first instinct was to rally people together. She created an Instagram page, under the name @saveyolatorres and has been sharing messages from the community, trying to revive the program.
“We cannot give up. We, as parents, will stay committed and united. We’re going to do whatever it takes to continue the program,” said Juarez. “Our main focus is to fight for our kids and their futures.”
She has two children in the program, her 8-year-old son who was a Sprouts percussionist, and her 13-year-old daughter, Romina Sanchez, a cellist in the symphony orchestra. Juarez says her daughter has always had an interest in music, but YOLA helped bring out a new sense of confidence within her.
“I was honestly so devastated [about the cuts] because I love music. YOLA is like our home away from home,” said Sanchez. “I’m also very devastated, because I have to turn in my instrument. I’ve been with my cello for three years now.”
The 13-year-old musician says she is coming up with a plan to save up for a new cello or to figure out where she can rent one. Juarez works two jobs in order to support her family and she says they still “can’t afford private music lessons.” To her, the fight is about holding onto this kind of access for her children.
“We understand it’s a free program. We are grateful for that. But they cannot use our kids if they don’t follow [through with] their mission,” said Juarez. “Unfortunately, they are tarnishing Gustavo Dudamel’s legacy. They fed the [kids] a dream of learning to grow in music, and now they’re snatching that dream away.”
The YOLA Torres site will continue to operate as usual until Dec. 12, when the cuts will go into effect.
TUCSON, Ariz. (Nov. 25, 2025) — Banner – University Medicine Tucson organized a 10-rider team for this year’s El Tour de Tucson on Saturday, Nov. 22, and partnered with El Grupo Youth Cycling to support youth sports.
As part of the partnership, Banner supplied El Grupo’s riders with functional cycling jerseys, which replaced the T-shirts youth athletes had previously worn on race day. The jerseys were modeled after the Banner University Medicine Tucson team design and inspired by the spotted pattern of the Gila monster.
Riders also received special treatment and shared a dedicated space with the Banner riders before and after the event to warm up, rest and enjoy post-ride pizza and refreshments.
“Our riders were excited to represent Banner – University Medicine with the custom jerseys, and they loved spending time at the Banner tent before and after the race,” said Jeff Cheever, programs and operations manager for El Grupo.
The El Grupo team included the 70 youth and coach riders who trained for three months and collectively rode more than 3,000 miles on Saturday.
This partnership aligns closely with Banner’s focus on healthy lifestyles and marked a meaningful collaboration between two local mission-driven, non-profit organizations dedicated to strengthening the community.
“El Tour de Tucson brought our community together around wellness, resilience and fun,” said Alison Flynn Gaffney, chief executive officer of Banner – University Medicine Tucson. “We are incredibly proud of our riders and El Grupo’s inspiring junior cyclists. We want our community to feel supported and encouraged to stay active for life.”
Banner Sports Medicine also supported riders along the course. Athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians, emergency medicine physicians and paramedics were stationed throughout the route to address race-day needs and ensure safe participation.
Banner University Medicine Tucson looks forward to continuing this partnership and supporting healthy lives in our community.
About Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and South
Banner – University Medical Center Tucsonand Banner – University Medical Center South are part of Banner – University Medicine, a premier academic medical network. These institutions are academic medical centers for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Included on the two campuses are Diamond Children’s Medical Center and many specialty clinics. The two academic medical centers are part of Arizona-based Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/universitytucson or bannerhealth.com/universitysouth.
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