There has been a controversy brewing within the sports industry, and it might be a few years away from being inescapable in mainstream conversations. Private equity has quietly but steadily been making its way through the sports industry, mainly through youth sports organizations.
While there were times when publicly owned sports teams for child and youth sports was the norm, increasingly, these teams were bought out. Additionally, sports fields, sports buildings, and stadiums haven’t been safe either.
The increased privatization of youth sports teams has led to ballooning expenses for athletes’ families. Already, many parents have reported being unable to take photos or videos of their child athletes in sports fields or stadiums that have been bought out by private equity. Or if pictures are allowed to be taken, they are either being shot by a third party to which parents will have to pay to get them, or recordings being hosted on a paid streaming service.
These mounting costs will price out athletes from low-income households. Athletes who come from rich backgrounds will be catered to, since they have the finances to properly fund their sports career and not have to rely on sponsorships.
If this were to keep going at its current pace, there will be a time where most athletes, especially in sports that require players to have and maintain specific gear, will be from a higher social class. Effectively, making the ability to play sports a luxury for the elite.
