Youth sports has evolved from a collection of community-based programs into a ~$40 billion industry encompassing clubs, tournaments, training academies, technology platforms and purpose-built facilities.

Institutional capital continues to accelerate that transformation. Investors are backing scaled operators, consolidating local organizations and funding integrated platforms designed to serve families across more of the athletes’ journey.

At the same time, leagues and governing bodies are actively working to expand participation and engagement at every level of the pyramid.

Those efforts are creating better experiences, more sophisticated programming and new pathways for entry and development. They are also raising the stakes in a space where costs are climbing, access remains uneven, and families increasingly expect greater value and convenience.

JohnWallStreet’s Youth Sports Summit will bring together key operators, stakeholders, and investors for a half-day of candid conversation, actionable intelligence and peer-to-peer networking. We’ll unpack the latest trends, examine emerging business models and talk through the structural shifts impacting participation, development and commercialization in a closed-door, off-record environment.

Five speakers are confirmed for JohnWallStreet Presents: 2026 Youth Sports Summit. 

Each will participate in an off-record, deep-dive fireside conversation before we open the floor to the audience for questions and discussion.

Date: Thursday, October 8
Time: 8:00 am-1:00 pm
Location: Private (NYC)

Below is a preview of the agenda. 

Building a Consumer Brand in Youth Sports

Youth Inc. Co-Founders Greg Olsen and Ryan Baise will join us to discuss building an enduring consumer brand for the millions of families navigating the fragmented youth sports complex. They'll explain how original content helps Youth Inc. to establish trust with parents, athletes, and coaches in a category that’s become increasingly transactional. We'll also explore how the company converts that trust into merchandise sales and brand partnerships, pain points that remain unresolved in youth sports, and where operators can build differentiated, defensible businesses.

Growing the Game from the Ground Up

MLB Chief Baseball Development Officer Tony Reagins will touch on the league’s efforts to make diamond sports more accessible, inclusive and appealing to the next generation. He’ll explain its youth strategy, which spans introductory participation, community-based access, talent identification and advanced development programs, and outline how MLB is working with clubs, foundations and grassroots organizations to extend the reach of those initiatives. We’ll also explore the financial and structural barriers that continue to push young athletes out of the sport and how converting more participants into lifelong fans supports baseball’s long-term growth objectives.

Finding Investable Businesses in Youth Sports

154 Partners Co-Founder and Managing Partner Isaac Harrouche will offer his perspective on the influx of institutional capital into youth sports. He will identify the characteristics investors look for in backable operators and what separates compelling opportunities from the rest of the market. We’ll also touch on the different categories of youth sports investments, including facilities, technology, clubs and infrastructure, and how their growth potential and operating models differ.

The Complete Youth Sports Experience

Unrivaled Sports COO Wade Martin will join us to detail how the company is building a platform that connects local tournament operators, regional complexes, and premium destination events, and how that integrated ecosystem creates a more cohesive customer journey for athletes and their families. We’ll also dive into the value of having greater control over the end-to-end experience in delivering stronger economics, the growing importance of serving the entire family, and Unrivaled’s ongoing effort to expand its model beyond diamond sports.

Those interested in attending can express interest here. Attendance is limited.

To discuss partnering with us on this unique event, reach out to Jacie Brandes at [email protected].

In the latest episode, The Sports Advisors talk local sports media production and distribution.

We explore how the NBA and NHL’s competing models are expected to affect team finances and reshape the buying and selling of local inventory, the role of emerging technology, and whether centralization is ultimately the inevitable end state across the NHL, NBA, and MLB.

As always, you can connect with a member of the JohnWallStreet Advisory team by sending a note to [email protected]. In fact, we encourage it!

📺 Watch the full video on JohnWallStreet’s YouTube page. 
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