Wall Street Is Paywalling Your Kids' Sports
4 hours ago
- #youth-sports
- #private-equity
- #monetization
- Private equity firms like Black Bear Sports Group are monetizing youth sports by banning parents from recording games and forcing them to use expensive streaming services.
- Black Bear's policies include confiscating recording devices and imposing $25-$50 monthly fees for their exclusive streaming service, Black Bear TV.
- Additional fees, such as a $50 'registration and insurance' charge per player, are making youth sports increasingly unaffordable, particularly in expensive sports like hockey.
- The commercialization of youth sports is pricing out lower-income families, with hockey averaging $2,583 per year per child.
- Private equity-backed companies are consolidating youth sports infrastructure, controlling venues, leagues, and streaming rights, leading to antitrust concerns and lawsuits.
- Black Bear's aggressive expansion includes owning 42 rinks across 11 states, managing hockey leagues, and launching its own streaming platform, further monopolizing the market.
- Legal actions and petitions highlight predatory pricing and anticompetitive practices, with critics arguing these firms prioritize profits over children's development.