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Unrivaled Sports Announces DICK’S Sporting Goods as New Strategic Investor in Growing and Elevating Youth Sports Experiences |

DICK’S led the $120M round of investment, obtaining a minority stake alongside other new investors Dynasty Equity, LionTree, Miller Sports & Entertainment and existing investor The Chernin Group (TCG) NEW YORK, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Unrivaled Sports, the nation’s leader in youth sports experiences, today announced a strategic investment by DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: […]

Published

4 weeks ago

May 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW YORK, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Unrivaled Sports, the nation’s leader in youth sports experiences, today announced a strategic investment by DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), which led the company’s latest funding round. The strategic investment will help fuel Unrivaled Sports’ mission — to create unrivaled sport experiences for young athletes everywhere — by continuing to deliver and expand best-in-class experiences, programs and destinations for young athletes across the nation.

“DICK’S Sporting Goods has become the undisputed leader in serving young athletes as they gear up to play the sports they love. Their mission-driven approach to youth sports has been at the center of their ecosystem, from their early days as a small family business to their growth into the nation’s leading sporting goods retailer to the grants they provide to youth programs through the Sports Matter initiative, and now, their partnership with us at Unrivaled Sports,” said Unrivaled Sports Chairman & CEO Andy Campion. “We are thrilled to build the future of youth sports together with DICK’S Sporting Goods, and with the support of our other new strategic partners.”

Unrivaled Sports and DICK’S Sporting Goods coming together marks the powerful alignment of two organizations committed to creating experiences and environments that unlock the magic of youth sports and create lifelong memories for girls and boys of all ages and their families. The investment comes from DSG Ventures, the corporate venture capital fund of DICK’S.

“We’re incredibly excited to invest in and partner with Unrivaled Sports,” said Michael Stack, Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “They share our core belief that sports have the power to change lives, and the impact they’ve made in just one year has been incredibly impressive. We are fully aligned to their vision for transforming youth sports for the better by investing in the fields, spaces and events where memories are made, friendships are formed and life lessons are instilled. We look forward to working together to create more sports experiences that build fun, excitement and community in the moment, and that have lasting impact over a lifetime.”

Unrivaled Sports will leverage this new partnership and investments to:

Expand access to more young athletes and their families across the country by further acquiring, building and diversifying destinations and programming that deliver unrivaled experiences to girls and boys of all ages.
Elevate experiences by further investing in upgrading the fields of play, programming and athlete experiences from quality officiating to facilities and services that support the athlete and their fans.
Increase amenities across all Unrivaled Sports properties such as lodging, food and beverage, and retail to better serve guests and foster community.

Unrivaled Sports operates a growing portfolio of iconic youth sports destinations and programming — including Cooperstown All Star Village, Ripken Baseball Experiences, Rocker B Ranch, Diamond Nation, Unrivaled Flag, and Under the Lights Flag Football, among others.

Over the past year, Unrivaled Sports has invested significantly in growing and elevating its experiences including:

Building a national footprint across 30 states through acquisition, now hosting over 600,000 young athletes and nearly 2 million family members and fans.
Meaningfully enhancing capacity and experiences at owned properties, including:
- Expanding bunk lodging in the Players Village and upgrading fields at Cooperstown All Star Village to increase weekly team capacity, while also upgrading the design and amenities across the entire property. Cooperstown All Star Village will set another consecutive record high in annual attendance in 2025.
- Re-turfing and building new fields across flagship properties and regional facilities including Rocker B Ranch (TX), Diamond Nation (NJ), and more.
- Investing in a multi-million dollar renovation and enhancement of West Coast properties, Big League Dreams Las Vegas and Big League Dreams Manteca.
Growing flag football by significantly increasing participation — over 30% in the last year alone — for both girls and boys through the national flag football league Under the Lights. Unrivaled Sports also hosted the Youth Flag World Championship at Disney which featured 715 teams, including 220 girls’ teams and 100+ international teams. This summer, Unrivaled Sports will host two major national flag football events: the Unrivaled Flag High School Girls Nationals and the NFL Flag Championship at the Unrivaled Sports’ ForeverLawn Complex in Canton, Ohio.

Additionally, Unrivaled Sports is committed to continuing to grow sports participation and expand access for underserved young athletes. With much more to come, Unrivaled Sports is proud of the impact Ripken Baseball has made to-date, from hosting free clinics nationwide to providing scholarships and free tournament access to young athletes and teams in underserved communities across the country.

David Blitzer and Josh Harris who co-founded and maintain majority ownership of Unrivaled Sports along with existing investor, TCG, welcome new minority investors DSG Ventures, Dynasty Equity, LionTree and Miller Sports & Entertainment — partners who believe in helping Unrivaled Sports deliver on its long-term vision for youth sports.

About Unrivaled Sports

Unrivaled Sports, the nation’s leader in youth sports experiences, delivers best-in-class experiences for young athletes, their families and communities through a diverse set of brands across youth sports venues, properties and programming. Unrivaled Sports has welcomed some of the most iconic names in youth sports into its growing family of brands including Cooperstown All Star Village, Ripken Baseball Experiences, Rocker B Ranch, Diamond Nation, Unrivaled Flag, We Are Camp action sports camp and more. From hosting destination tournaments to powering hometown leagues, Unrivaled Sports is committed to delivering formative, memory-making experiences to hundreds of thousands of young athletes and their families across the country. Learn more at unrivaledsports.com @unrivaled.sports.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods

DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, the leading omnichannel retailer serves athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in more than 850 DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone! stores, online, and through the DICK’S mobile app. DICK’S also owns and operates DICK’S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center, as well as GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping.

Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, DICK’S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK’S business, corporate giving and employment opportunities can be found on dicks.com, investors.dicks.com, sportsmatter.org, dickssportinggoods.jobs and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

About Dynasty Equity

Dynasty Equity is a global sports investment firm, co-founded and led by Jonathan M. Nelson and K. Don Cornwell, focused on strategic investments across the sports ecosystem in assets that are resilient, compelling, and differentiated. Dynasty’s founders have deep expertise in sector specific private equity and long histories in the business of sports, media, and entertainment. Integral to Dynasty’s investment approach is a commitment to enduring partnerships. For more information, visit www.DynastyEquity.com or follow the firm on LinkedIn.

About LionTree

LionTree is a global investment and merchant banking firm focused on the media, technology, telecom and consumer sectors. Founded in 2012, LionTree works across offices in New York, San Francisco, and London to serve our clients and community through strategic M&A, capital raising, and investments across the globe that capture opportunity and provide best-in-class execution. Since its formation, the Firm has advised on over $850 billion in transactions by bringing capital together with ideas, investing in and alongside our relationships to accelerate growth and innovation. LionTree invests minority, non-controlling capital in partnership with leading, long-term investors and provides additional value through our relationships, sector and thematic expertise and transaction capabilities. LionTree and its affiliates have active principal investments in early venture, growth, and mature companies across key sectors of the digital economy.

About TCG

The Chernin Group (TCG) is a preeminent growth equity firm investing in sports, media and passion-driven businesses. TCG partners with exceptional founders and management teams to grow and optimize market-leading brands in specific consumer categories with passionate followings. The firm leverages decades of operating experience and deep connectivity to the media, sports and technology ecosystems in service of its portfolio companies.

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SOURCE Unrivaled Sports

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OKC Thunder’s greatest strength is youth entering 2025 NBA Finals

Mark Daigneault thought he’d walk away unscathed, unbothered to deliver his signature platitudes on the biggest night of his young team’s lives. Wrong. As he spoke to ESPN’s Lisa Salters at midcourt, his reward for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder reach its first NBA Finals since 2012 on Wednesday, he was reminded of the nature […]

Published

34 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Mark Daigneault thought he’d walk away unscathed, unbothered to deliver his signature platitudes on the biggest night of his young team’s lives.

Wrong.

As he spoke to ESPN’s Lisa Salters at midcourt, his reward for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder reach its first NBA Finals since 2012 on Wednesday, he was reminded of the nature of the group he’s coaching. The Disney Channel vibes they emanate. These PG-13, bought-in 20-somethings whose defense is rated R.

“They’re professional,” Daigneault started, listing the reasons why their regular season success translated to June. “They’re high character …”

He paused. Sophomore guard Cason Wallace wrapped him in a towel like E.T. A hat spawned atop his head, too. Center Chet Holmgren’s hand reached to cock it sideways.

“They’re idiots,” he continued, smiling.

That idiocy is among the intangibles that got them here. The innocence of their youth has allowed them to enjoy each other’s company, unlike how many teams exist. That they play almost not to disappoint each other is palpable.

“They’re special,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of his teammates. “The biggest thing is they make the NBA not feel like a job. And it can at times with all the travel and all the hard days, ups and downs — I know I sound spoiled being in the NBA and complaining about hard days, but these guys really make you feel like I’m a kid playing AAU basketball (at) 15 years old again.

“They make it seem like it’s just fun. And I think that’s what makes us really good, like we have so much fun being out there together. And I’m sure we all know that when you’re having fun with things, you give it your all, and you excel at it because you enjoy it.”

Look at the group. There are bubble babies, whose first taste of the league came then or afterward. The CBA babies, assembled with the picks garnered in awareness of this new deal. Unheralded players and second-rounders nearly across the board. A crew with similar struggles and chips on their shoulder in a place that vets players based on how those obstacles might shape them.

For most of them, all they know is each other. Perhaps the misstep was thinking their youth was their kryptonite instead of a weapon. These AAU NBAers have mostly been on the same timeline, chasing the feeling of this unit. Shaped by their lives almost being tethered.

Among those older or with different experiences is Alex Caruso, who experienced what a championship team looks like, and was tactically chosen as the voice that could communicate to these whippersnappers what they need. There’s Isaiah Hartenstein, also acquired by the Thunder last summer, who played with his share of superstars and knew what they needed. Out of a bruiser, out of a big man, out of a teammate.

That’s why general manager Sam Presti mostly left this core untouched. If the phrase “additive” was ever thrown around as it relates to acquisitions, it might’ve teetered more toward intangibles than basketball fit. Presti knows how to make basketball fit. He’s now seemingly mastered how to make the people fit. How to not taint what feels so uncommonly pure.

“Everybody in our locker room is grateful and humble, respectful, kind, professional, and it allows everybody to operate at full capacity,” Daigneault said. “And we don’t take that for granted. I don’t take that for granted.

“And you ask, why? I think it’s where they come from. It’s their families. It’s their circles. … who’s around them, who’s talking to them now, who was talking to them when they were 10 years old. It all fits together and makes sense. They’re great people first, you know?”

And idiots. Never leave that out.

Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joel? He can be reached at jlorenzi@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @joelxlorenzi. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Joel’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

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Sports: Youth baseball tournaments coming to Athens | Sports

The Athens Texas Baseball Association (ATBA) is proud to host the Diamond Youth Baseball (DYB) District 6 Tournament for the 7U and 8U Coach Pitch Divisions, taking place Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8 at Coleman Park in Athens, Texas. This exciting three-day event will feature young athletes from across East Texas competing for […]

Published

51 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This exciting three-day event will feature young athletes from across East Texas competing for a chance to advance to the DYB Texas South Regional Tournaments — scheduled for June 21–23 in Corsicana (8U) and Center (7U). Teams that win their regional tournaments will go on to face the Texas North Division champions in the Texas DYB World Series, held in Longview, Texas. From there, the ultimate prize awaits — a chance to compete in the Diamond Youth Baseball World Series in Dunn, North Carolina, where 8U and 7U teams from across the country gather to crown national champions.

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Youth Talent and Trade Skills Take Center Stage at 2nd Annual Youth Trades Day in Anniston

ANNISTON, AL – The second annual Youth Trades Day, hosted by Multiple Pathways 2 Success (MP2S) in collaboration with the West Anniston Foundation, will take place Thursday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at 229 S. Allen Avenue in Anniston. The event offers a platform for local youth to showcase their aspirations, skills, and potential career […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ANNISTON, AL – The second annual Youth Trades Day, hosted by Multiple Pathways 2 Success (MP2S) in collaboration with the West Anniston Foundation, will take place Thursday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at 229 S. Allen Avenue in Anniston.

The event offers a platform for local youth to showcase their aspirations, skills, and potential career paths in various trade and vocational fields. Organizers encourage students and young adults to present their future career plans, offering a chance to win prizes and receive recognition for their ambitions.

As part of the event’s commitment to equity and access, participants will receive a stipend to help cover the cost of presentation materials. This support ensures that all youth, regardless of background, have an opportunity to participate and shine.

Now in its second year, Youth Trades Day seeks to empower young people by promoting hands-on skills, fostering workforce readiness, and connecting them with mentors and career resources. The event reflects a broader effort to prepare youth for diverse career paths outside of traditional academic routes and to raise awareness about the value of skilled trades in the community.

For community members, educators, and families, the event is an opportunity to support local youth, engage with emerging talent, and learn about the evolving landscape of career development in Calhoun County.

2nd Annual Youth Trades Day

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Isiah Pacheco hosts youth camp in Springfield

Chiefs running back and Super Bowl champion Isiah Pacheco hosted a youth camp for hundreds of kids in the Ozarks today at Springfield Catholic. Pacheco talked with KY3 about why he loves to do the camps and being a role model, recently becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college, and why […]

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2 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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Atlanta Hawks’ grant launches Spalding County Instructional League | Sports

GRIFFIN — Spalding County Parks and Recreation received a grant from the Atlanta Hawks in March for youth sports. Kay Mobley, director of NBN Sports, teamed up with Warren East, director of Spalding United Youth Basketball (SUYB) to launch the Spalding County Instructional League. This program aims to provide essential basketball training to young athletes […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The league allows young athletes to learn basketball in a less competitive setting while gaining valuable in-game experience. Coach OJ Moore from Griffin High School selected some of his top players to serve as mentors, creating a unique opportunity for older athletes to share their knowledge with younger players, fostering community and unity.

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California track-and-field championships draw limited protest over trans student’s participation

CLOVIS, Calif. — California’s high school track-and-field state finals will award one extra medal Saturday in events where a transgender athlete places in the top three, a rule change that may be the first of its kind nationally by a high school sports governing body. The new California Interscholastic Federation policy was written in response […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The new California Interscholastic Federation policy was written in response to the success of high school junior AB Hernandez, a trans student who competes in the girls high jump, long jump and triple jump. She led in all three events after preliminaries Friday. The CIF said earlier this week it would let an additional student compete and medal in the events where Hernandez qualified.

The two-day championship kicked off in the sweltering heat at high school near Fresno. The atmosphere was relatively quiet Friday despite critics — including parents, conservative activists and President Donald Trump — calling for Hernandez to be barred from girls competition leading up to the meet.

There was some pushback Friday. A group of fewer than 10 people gathered outside the stadium ahead of the meet to protest Hernandez’s participation. Some of them wore “Save Girls’ Sports” T-shirts. At one point as Hernandez was attempting a high jump, someone in the stands yelled an insult. An aircraft circled above the stadium for more than an hour during the events, carrying a banner that read, “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!”

The rest of the night ran smoothly for Hernandez, who finished the triple jump with a mark close to 41 feet (13 meters), nearly 10 inches (25 centimeters) ahead of her closest competitor, San Francisco Bay Area junior Kira Gant Hatcher.

Hernandez also led in the long jump with a mark close to 20 feet (6 meters) to advance to the final. She advanced in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 5 inches (1.7 meters) with ease.

She did not address the press.

The CIF rule change reflects efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.

“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the group said in a statement after announcing its rule change.

A recent AP-NORC poll found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats.

The federation announced the rule change after Trump threatened this week to pull federal funding from California unless it bars trans female athletes from competing on girls teams. The CIF said it decided on the change before then.

The U.S. Department of Justice also said it would investigate the state federation and the district that includes Hernandez’s high school to determine whether they violated federal sex discrimination law by allowing trans girls to compete in girls sports.

Some California Republicans also weighed in, with several state lawmakers attending a news conference to criticize the federation for keeping Hernandez in the competition and a Republican gubernatorial candidate planning to attend Saturday’s finals.

California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

The federation said the rule would open the field to more “biological female” athletes. One expert said the change may itself be discriminatory because it creates an extra spot for “biological female” athletes but not for other trans athletes.

The federation did not specify how they define “biological female” or how they would verify whether a competitor meets that definition.

Hernandez told the publication Capital & Main earlier this month that she couldn’t worry about critics.

“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” she said.

California’s state championship stands out from that of other states because of the number of competitors athletes are up against to qualify. The state had the second-largest number of students participating in outdoor track and field in the nation during the 2023-2024 school year, behind Texas, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall previously set state championship records in the long jump in 1993 and 2017, respectively, both surpassing 22 feet (6.7 meters).

The boys 100-meter dash heats were also a highlight Friday. Junior Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle High School in Concord finished in 10.01 seconds, about .2 seconds faster than a meet record set in 2023. Jefferson’s time won’t count as a record unless he can replicate his results in the final.

___

Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna

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