Allegheny County, PA — This afternoon at 2:00PM EST, Economic Liberties Senior Legal Fellow Katherine Van Dyck will testify at a public field hearing hosted by Congressman Chris Deluzio and the Monopoly Busters Caucus, titled “Let Kids Play: Making Youth Sports Less of a Ripoff.” The hearing, held in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, will examine how private equity’s ownership and consolidation of youth sports is causing costs of participation to surge,  making it unaffordable for an increasing number of children and teens and their families to participate.

“A lot of you remember when youth sports was simple. We played rec league at the local park. The pizza shop sponsored our team. Coaches were volunteer parents. It didn’t cost much, and it was fun. Those days are largely over.” says Van Dyck in her written testimony. “Private equity is stealthily capturing youth sports, using the same playbook it has deployed in countless other industries, making it the next victim of a financialized economy.”

In conjunction with today’s hearing, Economic Liberties is also releasing a new factsheet, “Fair Play for Families: How Private Equity Is Pricing Western PA Kids Out of the Game,” which details how Wall Street has transformed youth sports in Western Pennsylvania and across the country from a beloved American pastime into an extractive, profit-driven industry that squeezes families and communities.

The factsheet outlines how private equity firms are using their typical consolidation playbook in youth sports: buying up local leagues and facilities, and vertically integrating across tournaments, equipment, and services, while gouging revenue at every level. As a result, families now spend thousands of dollars per year per child to participate, while costs have surged by 46 percent over the past five years, far outpacing inflation. 

It also underscores the human toll of this takeover. As costs rise, youth sports are becoming luxury goods, with many lower-income families priced out. At the same time, commercialization contributes to higher rates of injury and burnout among young athletes, while parents are often sold unrealistic promises about scholarships and recruitment opportunities.

“The kids of Western Pennsylvania and all over this country deserve more than a childhood for sale to the highest bidder,” Van Dyck adds. “They deserve a place where they can learn the importance of teamwork, fair play, and perseverance. And they deserve opportunities that are affordable.”

Congressman Deluzio’s hearing will feature testimony from parents, coaches, and policy experts, and is part of a broader effort by the Monopoly Busters Caucus to examine how concentrated corporate power is affecting and impacting everyday life.

Read the “Fair Play for Families” factsheet here.

Read Katherine Van Dyck’s full written testimony here.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.