National Market Context
The U.S. Youth Sports Market
Youth and community sports are one of the fastest-growing, most underserved segments in sponsorship. Here is where the market stands.
$40B
Annual U.S. Family Spending on Youth Sports
Parents now spend more than $40 billion annually on their children's sports activities.
Aspen Institute Project Play parent survey, 2025
58%
Youth Participation Rate (2024)
58% of U.S. youth played organized sports in 2024 — a significant one-year increase, nearly back to its level a decade ago.
Jon Solomon, Aspen Institute Project Play, May 2026
$1,016
Average Annual Spend Per Child
Families are spending over $1,000 per child per year on their primary sport — a 46% increase since 2019.
Aspen Institute Project Play parent survey, 2025
Sponsorship Performance Data
What the Research Says About Community ROI
Independent research consistently shows that community sports sponsorships outperform traditional advertising channels on trust, recall, purchase intent, and duration of exposure.
Purchase Intent
67%
Of youth sports parents say they'd buy from the brand that sponsors their child's team.
Priority Partnerships / YouGov Sport, 2026
Parent Sentiment
84%
Of youth sports parents hold positive sentiment toward brands sponsoring youth sports. Only 3% hold negative views.
Priority Partnerships / YouGov Sport, 2026
Ready to Put These Numbers to Work?
Use our free Sponsorship Value Calculator to see exactly what these stats mean for your specific budget and audience — or contact Zubie Five to start finding the right partnership today.