SportsEngine Presents 2025 Summit; Arthur M. Blank Honored with Impact Award
ATLANTA (November 18, 2025) – Against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding $40B global travel and youth sports marketplace, LakePoint Sports hosted the Fifth Annual National Youth Sports Summit, presented by SportsEngine, convening the industry’s most influential leaders, brands, investors, and innovators. The Summit solidified the LakePoint Sports campus as the preeminent destination where the future of youth sports is being built—through data, technology, investment, and purpose-driven collaboration.
“The travel and youth sports industry is experiencing unprecedented momentum—not just in scale and participation, but in its cultural and economic impact,” said Mark M. O’Brien, President & CEO of LakePoint Sports. “As this industry transforms, LakePoint is proud to lead the conversations and partnerships that elevate the experience for every athlete, fan, family, and community.”
Youth Sports Industry on the Brink of Major Transformation
The Summit opened with a data-driven look at the industry’s explosive growth. Todd Smith, President & CEO of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), revealed national participation trends:
- 32+ million U.S. kids played team sports in 2024, the highest number on record
- The average youth athlete now plays two sports, signaling a more engaged and multi-sport generation
- A “decade of mega-events,” culminating in the 2034 Winter Olympics, is expected to accelerate participation, visibility, and investment across all levels
Building on the national data, O’Brien declared the industry to be “white-hot and on the precipice of a youth sports transformation,” pointing to a scalable, consolidated model that integrates owned and operated events, elite venues, national brands, and purpose-aligned nonprofits—aimed at expanding access, lowering barriers and costs, and modernizing the travel and youth sports experience.
Record Investment Activity Fuels Innovation Across the Sector
Industry investment continues at a historic pace, signaling the maturation of the travel and youth sports sector as a major economic force. Reports cited during the Summit included:
- 47.7% increase in M&A activity and 68% growth in deal volume through Q2 2025
- $52B raised across 503 sports-related deals this year
- $1B+ in new and renovated U.S. youth sports facilities opening in 2025 alone
Amid the surge of activity transforming the travel and youth sports landscape, Smith and O’Brien closed their opening segment by discussing how AI stands to rapidly accelerate the industry’s pace and progress, driving new levels of connection, efficiency, and growth across all sectors of the ecosystem.
Arthur M. Blank Honored with 2025 Impact Award
A highlight of the Summit was the presentation of the 2025 Impact Award, presented by LakePoint Sports and Coca-Cola UNITED Bottling Company, to Arthur M. Blank, Owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, and AMB Group. Accepting on his behalf was Rich McKay, CEO of AMBSE and the Atlanta Falcons.
Blank’s philanthropic leadership—including over $1 billion donated through The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation—has transformed communities nationwide, shaping youth sports, education, social justice, and environmental progress.
“Arthur Blank’s legacy is a masterclass in values-driven leadership and meaningful impact,” said O’Brien. “His influence will shape the trajectory of society through sports nationally and locally for generations.”
Summit Highlights: Leaders Converge to Shape What’s Next
The Summit featured a dynamic series of conversations spotlighting the cultural, economic, and technological forces propelling youth sports forward.
Key themes included:
Technology & Fan Engagement
Matt Hong, President of Sports at Versant, explored how content, digital platforms, and streaming are changing the way families experience youth sports.
Culture, Community & Scale
Bill Seely (Varsity Spirit) and Rosie Spaulding (LOVB) examined the rise of community-driven youth sports and the importance of belonging in athlete development.
Storytelling, Nostalgia & Influence
Leaders including Darren Rovell, Steve Ziff, and Natalie Setton highlighted how storytelling, collectibles, and tradition are shaping the next generation of fans and athletes.
Media, Data & Growth
In a discussion moderated by Cameron Korab, Founder of the Youth Sports Business Report, SportsEngine’s Nick Busto and PlayOn! Sports CEO David Rudolph explored how emerging data and video technologies are transforming visibility and opportunity for today’s youth athletes.
Global Growth & The World’s Game
Dave Smith, Executive Director of NASA-TopHat, Bria Garner, Director of Integrated Marketing for the FIFA World Cup at Coca-Cola, and Shari Summers, Chief Growth Officer at U.S. Soccer, joined together for a forward-looking discussion on the global surge in soccer. The trio explored how the momentum of the FIFA World Cup and other major international events will accelerate the sport’s growth in the United States—expanding its footprint, deepening youth engagement, and inspiring the next wave of young athletes entering the game.
For the first time, the Summit was live-streamed globally via SportsEngine platform, expanding its reach to international audiences.
About LakePoint Sports
LakePoint Sports, the premier travel and youth sports destination in the country, encompasses a sprawling 1,300-acre campus featuring five premium venues: the Champions Center Indoor Pavilion, the Baseball Village, Publix Fields, the Beach Pavilion, and Terminus Wake Park. Focused on delivering excellence in the guest experience and fostering world-class partnerships, LakePoint annually hosts millions of guests from across the globe and attracts athletes to compete against the nation’s best. Leveraging influential media platforms and pioneering innovative technology, LakePoint Sports is dedicated to setting the standard in travel and youth sports. To learn more, visit LakePointSports.com.