The Business Of Youth Soccer In Massachussets
Each year, Youth Soccer Club programs generate in excess of $79,000,000 in dues and merchandise with families willing to pay an average of $2,700 to play on a team.
Since i released the Youth Sports Industrial Complex Study in December of 2024, it feels like the world has changed dramatically, and that is certainly the case in Youth Sports in the US and specifically the business of Youth Soccer here in Massachusetts.
As i write this, a battle for players and families is ongoing in multiple regions south of Metro Boston in the Soccer Club sector and for good reason. The stakes are high. Each year, Youth Soccer Club programs generate in excess of $79,000,000 in dues and merchandise with families willing to pay an average of $2,700 to play on a team. Staggering... were in not for the fact that these numbers continue to increase at double-digit % a year with no clear sign of abating.
In this report, i attempt to answer a few key questions:
- What is driving this irrational spending by families?
- Who is winning and losing?
- Can we see over the near horizon and spot trends or Black Swans?
- Whats missing? what are the opportunities?
- What are the set of outcomes for our children?
My fascination with Youth Sports in the US stems from my journey as a father of 3 active and competitive kids, and as the founder and director of a Youth soccer Program in Boston called City Sports Programs Inc.
Over the years, this fascination has taken on a healthy dose of negative predispositions to the absurdity of situations we all find ourselves in. This report along with past and future efforts (hockey is next!) is my selfish attempt to rationalize these behaviors all through the lens of a parental journey.
I’ve long held the view that as my children came in to this world they essentially checked in to Hotel Slater on an 18 year stay, after which they would never return. I wake up each morning with the simple goal of enjoying each and every moment of my wonderful little guests. Its a simple but effective calibration tool for me.
Some years ago now, the business of youth sports showed up in my hotel lobby and upended things overnight. Unfortunately mostly in a negative way. If you, like me have such guests on your property, take a breath.... its gonna be ok! Lets jump in and try and understand this unruly interloper. After all, that which we spend the time to get to know brings calm with its familiarity.
