CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FIGHT TO PASS RYAN’S “LET KIDS PLAY ACT” TO KICK PRIVATE EQUITY OUT OF YOUTH SPORTS AMID MASSIVE RIPOFFS OF HUDSON VALLEY FAMILIES

Congressman Pat Ryan and Community Advocates Fight to Pass Ryan’s “Let Kids Play Act” to Kick Private Equity Out of Youth Sports Amid Massive Ripoffs of Hudson Valley Families

Congressman Ryan joined Hudson Valley parents, coaches, sports organizations, and school representatives at the Middletown YMCA to discuss the rising cost of youth sports on hardworking families

Youth sports has become a $40 billion industry, with participation costs rising by 46% in just the last few years

Ryan’s “Let Kids Play Act” will ban private equity from turning youth sports into a cash grab that screws over families to line investors’ pockets and requires vulture investors to provide full refunds to families and wipe out any outstanding debts 

MIDDLETOWN, NY  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan joined Hudson Valley parents, coaches, sports organizations, and school representatives at the Middletown YMCA to discuss the rising cost of participating in youth sports for hardworking families. 

Over the last decade, youth sports have become prohibitively expensive. What was once an affordable, community-based tradition to give kids a chance to have fun and challenge themselves, has morphed into a $40 billion industry dominated by private equity, with the singular goal of extracting as much profit as possible from families. 

Ryan and the youth advocates gathered at the Middletown YMCA discussed the importance of passing Ryan’s Let Kids Play Act – landmark legislation to stop Wall Street from pricing kids out of sports by banning private equity firms from youth sports, shut down the vulture practices they use to jack up costs, and get money back to the families who have been ripped off.

“Team sports are supposed to be the first place our kids learn teamwork, discipline, and community. Instead, it’s become a cash grab for Wall Street investors to make another buck while our kids miss out on this fundamental part of American childhood,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “It’s outrageous. Parents are already getting crushed by costs everywhere they turn, and now corporate investors are coming after one of the most important parts of childhood, too. Enough. The Let Kids Play Act cracks down on these abusive practices, lowers costs for families, forces the bad actors to pay them back, and puts the focus back where it belongs: on kids getting the chance to play. I’m grateful to have such exceptional community partners in the Hudson Valley, including here at the YMCA, who I know won’t back down in the fight for our kids and families.”

“It was an honor to welcome Congressman Pat Ryan, City of Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano, Joan Day from Assemblymember Paula Kay’s team, and so many dedicated community partners such as the Boys & Girls Club and City of Middletown Parks and Recreation to the YMCA of Middletown as we came together to discuss the Orange County Youth Sports Initiative,” said Ross Miceli, CEO, YMCA of Middletown. “Every child deserves access to affordable, safe, and meaningful sports opportunities that build confidence, character, and a sense of belonging. When we work together to remove barriers and invest in our young people, we are not just strengthening youth sports, we are building a healthier, stronger future for our entire community.”

“The cost and accessibility of sports programs is a huge problem that directly affects our Boys & Girls Club members the most. Everyone knows the important role youth sports play in youth development,” said Daniel Whalen, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Ulster County. “The skills obtained through sports translate to success in the classroom and throughout their adult lives. When these resources are inaccessible or unaffordable, we are hurting the development of our next generation, especially those who need it the most. Sports should be about raising our kids not financial gain. This has been a growing problem across our country for a long time. I want to personally thank Congressman Ryan and his office for giving attention to a problem that has flown under the radar for far too long. I look forward to continuing to be a part of the conversation and working toward a more equitable solution.”

“Congressman Ryan addressing the growing lack of affordability in youth sports demonstrates once again how attuned he is to the basic issues facing young families. I appreciate this issue on two fronts: as the father of 2 boys aged 9 and 7, and as the co-owner of a small business in the City of Newburgh,” said Paul Hayaklo, parent and owner of Newburgh Brewing Company. “Youth sports are an important part of the fabric of any community, particularly communities like Newburgh.  Keeping them affordable and accessible means that all kids can play and learn vital life skills like sportsmanship, teamwork, and the importance of exercise.  For-profit club programs, often fueled by private equity, threaten to box out kids who can't afford the high costs.  And many of those kids are the ones who need sports the most.”

“Youth sports are among the most unifying settings in our communities. Kids from all backgrounds should have the opportunity to access, participate in, and compete in leagues around their communities, but unfortunately, each season, that is getting harder. These conversations are important to fostering a more well-rounded community where every kid has the opportunity to find their passions and scratch their competitive itch,” said Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay. “The Let the Kids Play Act is an important step in making youth sports more equitable and affordable for all families throughout our country, and I commend Congressman Ryan for taking on this fight in Congress.”

The Let Kids Play Act stops Wall Street from pricing our kids out of sports by banning both private equity vulture investors and the vulture practices they use, and establishes strong enforcement tools to hold private equity accountable for the damage they cause by requiring:

• Mandatory exit from youth sports: Private equity firms are automatically designated as vulture investors and banned from youth sports -- leagues, facilities, tournaments, and player platforms -- unless they prove they have never used vulture practices. Banned investors must sell their ownership stakes and management rights in youth sports within two years.
• Refunds to families: This bill requires vulture investors to provide full refunds for any junk fees collected through vulture practices, cancels any predatory contracts, and wipes out any outstanding debts, interest, or late fees that were imposed by the private equity firms.
• Liability for debts and safety violations: Private equity vulture investors are held personally and financially responsible for any debts, legal judgments, or law violations, including child safety and labor infractions, that occur while they are in charge.
• Creation of Youth Sports Fund: Any penalties paid or money taken from these private equity firms is placed into a dedicated fund to provide scholarships, reduce costs for families, and keep local fields open for free community use.
• Rights for communities and families be respected: This bill gives states and parents legal standing to sue private equity firms in youth sports, stop their vulture practices, and receive compensation for any financial losses or harm they have caused.

The bill is endorsed by the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Groundwork Action, Sports Fans Coalition, Open Markets Institute, and the Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF).

Katie Van Dyck, Senior Legal Fellow, American Economic Liberties Project, said “Private equity has transformed youth sports from a public good into a profit center, with children and families paying the price. The Let Kids Play Act goes after their vulture practices with conviction — banning the consolidation, debt loading, and asset stripping that have hollowed out local clubs; eliminating the liability shields that protect the worst actors while leaving communities in the dust; and giving public and private enforcers the tools to hold them accountable. Kids and families deserve to enjoy sports without emptying their bank accounts. This bill makes that possible.”

Lina Khan, former FTC chair, said “No kid should have to quit a sport because private equity has made it too expensive. It’s great to see this bill take on the vulture investors preying on families.”

Alex Jacquez, Chief of Policy and Advocacy, Groundwork Action, said “For years, private equity firms have been buying up youth sports leagues and turning one of the most important parts of childhood into a cash extraction scheme. Firms are piling on junk fees, locking families into predatory contracts, and mandating expensive travel programs, all so Wall Street investors can squeeze more profits out of kids and parents. The result is that millions of children are being priced out of sports that used to be a basic part of growing up. The Let Kids Play Act would ban these vulture tactics outright and kick private equity out of youth sports, putting families, kids, and communities back at the center of the game.” 

Brian Hess, Executive Director of Sports Fans Coalition, said “There's no bigger fan than a parent. Watching your kid compete is the purest experience sports has to offer. But private equity is exploiting that love. Buying up local leagues, forcing families into pay-to-play schemes, preventing kids from playing in other tournaments, and harvesting children's biometric data for profit doesn't just drain working families' bank accounts — it sucks the soul out of youth sports. The Let Kids Play Act attacks this problem at the root by banning these predatory practices and forcing vulture investors out of youth sports for good. Sports Fans Coalition proudly endorses this legislation and commends Sen. Murphy and Rep. Deluzio for standing up for the most passionate fans in America — the parents on those sidelines.”

Audrey Stienon of the Open Markets Institute said “Private equity firms have shown, again and again, what happens when short-term investors move into community institutions: costs go up, quality and access go down, and families are left paying the price. This bill recognizes that youth sports should be about kids and communities, not financial extraction, and it could help establish a broader standard for identifying and pushing out the kinds of investors whose business model depends on harming the people they’re supposed to serve.”

David Kass, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness, said “For decades, private equity firms have used tax loopholes like carried interest to avoid paying billions in taxes, while using money taken from taxpayers to buy up companies and raise prices for millions of Americans already struggling in an unaffordable economy. The Let Kids Play Act would ensure that private equity firms already taking from taxpayers cannot price kids out of their communities’ sports programs. These programs are essential to our children’s and community development. No kid should be shut out.”

A one-pager of the bill is available here. Full bill text is available here.

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