Youth Sports Streaming Giant LiveBarn Scopes Out Potential Sale
Sports streaming service LiveBarn, specializing in youth sports, hires a financial institution for potential acquisition exploration.
Hear ye, hear ye! LiveBarn, a leading player in the youth sports streaming arena, is tugging at the idea of selling their ol' streaming service. That's right, bucko! This bad boy's been bringing us live and on-demand action from over 1,900 facilities across the good ol' US of A and our neighbor to the north, Canada.
The firepower behind this streaming juggernaut comes from hefty backers, like private equity titans Susquehanna and Ares. You might've seen Ares splash the cash on LiveBarn way back in 2023, with Raymond James serving as advisor—a familiar face, since they helped Ares get their feet wet with the investment.
But what's all this chatter about selling? LiveBarn's chief financial officer, Benjamin Beauvais, confirmed the rumors with an email, refusing to divulge too many juicy details. A representative from Raymond James clammed up tighter than a clam at low tide when asked for comment.
Now, what makes 'em racketeers worth selling? LiveBarn has been in this game since 2015, offering a streaming smorgasbord that includes live video streams, replays, and downloadable clips. Primarily focused on hockey, they've made a name for themselves in the frozen water athletics scene, but they dabble in other sports, too. Playingnice with more than 1,900 facilities, LiveBarn's reach spans 49 US states and 10 Canadian provinces. This has made them the go-to streaming service for those who can't hit the ice but still crave the action.
LiveBarn's not just a one-trick pony. They've got their fingers in other pies, too. GameOnStream, an Ontario platform, merged with LiveBarn in 2023. BeTheBeast, which specializes in basketball and volleyball, came on board for $17 million in 2021, and MNHockey.TV completes the branded quartet, catering to Minnesota's love for hockey.
With massive investments flowing into the youth sports streaming market, it's a red-hot space ripe for the picking. The M&A boom's in full swing, with investors spotting dollar signs in all the scratch parents are willing to throw at their little champions' pursuits. The total addressable market for youth sports streaming's off the charts, dwarfing even the pro and college sports scenes.
Unrivaled, a youth sports platform launched by David Blitzer and Josh Harris, snagged a cool $120 million from investors, led by Dick's Sporting Goods. Soccer Shots, another sports streaming platform, is raking in over $100 million per year, according to Sportico, making it a profitable player in the market.
Investors from yesteryear, like Rho Canada Partners, Lune Rouge, and Seven7 (co-founded by some dapper ex-NHL players), have already staked their claim on LiveBarn. Susquehanna Growth Equity jumped aboard in 2021, with four Susquehanna employees taking up positions on LiveBarn's board to keep an eye on things. Ares hopped on board two years later, ready to swing some investment capital.
If things heat up, strap in, because the youth sports streaming market might just get lively—with mergers, acquisitions, and maybe even a good ol'-fashioned turf war on the horizon. This sale talk could be the canvas stroke that sets the whole thing a-kick!
- In the realm of business and finance, private equity giants such as Susquehanna and Ares have been heavily investing in the booming youth sports streaming market, spurring excitement for potential mergers and acquisitions within the industry.
- The potential sale of LiveBarn, a leading youth sports streaming platform, has been causing a stir in the finance world, with experts predicting that such a move could ignite a wave of mergers and acquisitions in the market, pioneered by investors like Rho Canada Partners, Lune Rouge, Seven7, and more recent additions like Susquehanna Growth Equity and Ares.
- With an extensive reach across North America and a diverse portfolio that includes hockey, basketball, volleyball, and other sports, the sports streaming sector presents a lucrative opportunity for investors seeking to capitalize on the massive growth potential in the commerce and entertainment industry, with platforms like LiveBarn leading the charge.
