What happened to playing sports for the love of the game!?

GoFundMe said “competition travel” was the top sports fundraising cause in 2025. Youth sports has been transformed over the past two decades, largely by private equity and venture capital that have created pay-to-play (for profit) models.

Low-cost grassroots programs are being replaced by a high-priced industry filled with club teams, specialized training and travel tournaments.

Families are spending an average of $1,016 per year per child just to participate. Other surveys put the costs for youth club sports at $3-5K per child, per year. Travel costs NOT included.

And the KICKERS! Parents sometimes are charged to attend games and are sometimes BANNED from live-streaming their own child’s matches because the game rights have been sold. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/general/the-soaring-price-of-youth-sports-50-to-try-out-3-000-to-play/ar-AA1TJN1r #Sports #YouthSports #PrivateEquity #Kids #ClubSports #GoFundMe #SportsTravel #PaytoPlay