A BUSINESS MODEL DEVOTED TO YOUTH SPORTS EVOLVES
SportNgin to be Re-branded “SportsEngine”
Big business stepping into youth sports … The youth sports market never sleeps and just like New York City, is always on the move. The most recent and exciting change in a landscape marked by companies realizing the youth sports is a big business is NBC Sports deciding to dive into the youth sports market with the acquisition of Sport Ngin, an industry leading sports technology platform. This opportunity reflects the natural extension of media powerhouses reaching into grab a share of the highly valuable youth market.
The best news may be that the company will now be rebranded — using full English words — as SportsEngine instead of the vowel swallowing SportNgin.
The Minneapolis start-up SportNgin reports a customer base of more than five million active users and offers youth and amateur sports organizations online software to management of their day-to-day operations. Along with top of the line websites, SportNgin offers registration software and other services for clubs, leagues and national sports organizations. One of their biggest clients in the soccer market is US Club. Known for a fun, community-focused work environment, SportNgin now has more access to capital and all important exposure to the market through the big name of NBC Sports.
SportsEngine’s — using their new name — competitors include Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated Play and Affinity Sports — both platforms offering market leading advantages including live game scoring from a cell phone on the field, real time notification told and comprehensive game scheduling and player data management. Affinity Sports takes technology on the soccer field one step further with their market leading Digital Player Cards offered to their 1.2 million youth soccer players.
“We have long recognized the importance and benefits of youth participation in sports and are excited to impact customers through this new technology platform,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “We believe that by combining SportsEngine’s leading platform with our breadth of national and local multi-platform assets that reach millions of sports fans and participants every day, we can create something truly unique and powerful.”
“SportsEngine is thrilled to become part of NBC Sports Group,” said Justin Kaufenberg, CEO, SportsEngine. “From its premier national coverage of properties including the Olympics, NHL, Premier League and Sunday Night Football, to its extensive coverage of local sports through its regional sports networks across the country, to its GolfNow product that helps millions of golfers reserve tee times at their local courses, NBC Sports Group has long shown strength and leadership in its ability to serve sports fans everywhere. Together, SportsEngine and NBC Sports Group will continue to serve fans by encouraging kids to play sports, and will help improve the participation experience for millions of organizers, coaches, parents and athletes across the country.”
Founded in 2008 by co-founders Kaufenberg, Carson Kipfer and Greg Blasko, SportsEngine currently has more than 230 employees based out of the organization’s Minneapolis, Minn., headquarters. Kaufenberg and his executive management team, including his co-founders, will remain in place post-acquisition and will retain equity in the company alongside NBC Sports Group.
