Youth Sports Becoming More... "Complex"
Rochester, New York is jumping on the bandwagon. Sandusky, Ohio refuses to be left out. Rantoul, Illinois is making its own big statement. What do these communities have in common? They have all joined the growing trend across the U.S. of creating multimillion-dollar youth sports complexes that will serve expansive communities, attract major travel tournaments and teams, and bring in loads of cash for area businesses. It's official. Sandlot ball has gone Big Business. That won't be a revelation to any parent whose children have participated in youth sports at any level, especially the travel team level. Costs of equipment, trainers, team "tuitions" and travel expenses can easily reach well into the thousands each year for each child. These mega youth sports complexes are just the latest craze in this crazy, commercialized world of youth sports. We've come a long way since Joe Tomlin found an empty lot in Philadelphia to begin his Pop Warner youth football program