With purchase of new brand, youth sports franchisor has a total of 264 units
Youth Athletes United, a major youth sports and enrichment brand, is acquiring TGA Premier Sports, a golf and tennis franchisor with 59 units in 23 states. Youth Athletes United now has 264 units made up of Soccer Stars, Amazing Athletes and – now – TGA. Under the Youth Athletes United umbrella, TGA Premier Sports franchisees will benefit from access to cutting-edge technology, flexible schedules, no required brick-and-mortar site, and a menu of services with after-school and on-the-course, and on-the-court instruction, according to a Youth Athletes United news release.
TGA Premier Sports works with 6- to 14-year-old athletes, helping them with the basics and recreational participation in golf and tennis programs via programs at schools, local parks and recreation departments, golf courses and tennis courts. The market for the company’s services appears loaded with opportunity: Sports & Fitness Industry Association has reported that participation in tennis and golf increased about 22% and 13% respectively during the past 12 months. The U.S. youth sports market totals about $19 billion in annual spending each year and about $693 per participant in each youth sport.
John Erlandson, president and co-founder of Youth Athletes United, said, “TGA Premier Sports is the perfect complement to Amazing Athletes and Soccer Stars. Where most of our current programs focus on early childhood development and the fundamentals of sports, TGA provides a clear curriculum-based pathway for our older players to continue to learn sport-specific skills within our family of brands.”
Adam Geisler, CEO and co-founder of Youth Athletes United, has indicated his company may make additional acquisitions in the future. “We are on a mission to become the largest and most encompassing youth sports organization in the country, with the goal of positively impacting over 1 million kids each year,” he said in a news release announcing the TGA deal. “With the acquisition of TGA Premier Sports, we have taken another step forward with not only the addition of 40 franchise owners, but also an extended curriculum that impacts children of all ages.”
Laura Sappington, senior director of operations for TGA Premier Sports, praised her brand’s corporate team and its franchisees for possessing a “shared passion of making sports accessible for kids and the desire to make a positive impact on people and in communities.”
Joshua Jacobs, founder and board advisor at TGA Premier Sports, said, “Eighteen years ago, TGA Premier Sports was founded with a vision that sports can change lives and a mission to create a pathway for our kids in communities nationwide to be introduced to the lifelong sports of golf and tennis. Under Youth Athletes United, TGA franchisees, and current and future TGA athletes have a greater platform and more resources to continue growing both of these sports for the future.”
In addition to golf and tennis, TGA Premier Sports is known for team sports programs in cheerleading, flag football, floor hockey, lacrosse and volleyball. TGA already has franchises in 23 states plus Washington, D.C., and in Canada. Entrepreneur Media, through its magazine and website, has named TGA Premier Sports a Top Low-Cost Franchise, a Top 10 Franchise Value and also listed TGA in its Franchise 500.