Weekly News Roundup: The Biggest Headlines in the World of Youth Sports
Anwar Stetson
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Bipartisan Bill To Boost Youth Sports
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) has introduced the Promoting Lifelong Activity for Youth Act, which aims to expand tax credits for youth sports parents and boost participation.
The PLAY Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY). He and Gottheimer previously proposed the bill in 2023; Lawler proposed legislation creating a youth sports equipment tax credit earlier this year.
The bill would change current tax law and allow parents to apply certain youth sports expenses toward the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
The bill also creates a youth sports-specific federal grant program.
Fox Sports Radio To Air National Youth Sports Show
A new national youth sports-focused radio program will debut this weekend.
Project NIL will air on Saturdays from 5-6 a.m. ET. The show will “explore the evolving intersection of youth sports and name, image, and likeness (NIL) in today’s athletic landscape.”
Longtime Philadelphia sports talk host Anthony Gargano will co-host with Daniel DiBerardinis, the athletics director at Philly’s Penn Charter High.
2034 Salt Lake Olympics Organizers Raise $200M For Youth Sports
Organizers for the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City have raised $200M in early funds that will be largely earmarked for youth sports programs and other community projects.
The Podium34 initiative is already two-thirds of the way to its $300M goal. Among the deep-pocketed benefactors: The Smith family, which owns the Utah Jazz and Mammoth, and the Miller family, which co-owns Real Salt Lake with Unrivaled Sports co-founder David Blitzer.
Smith previously pledged up to $10M to build ice rinks across the state and will open the Mammoth’s practice facility to youth sports. The Millers said they would work on youth sports initiatives with Blitzer and Unrivaled when they bought the MLS team (from Smith).
Another NFL Stadium Project Has Youth Sports Component
Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said the mixed-use district surrounding the team’s planned Arlington Heights stadium will host youth sports events.
The Washington Commanders, owned by Unrivaled Sports co-founder Josh Harris, recently pledged $20M toward a youth sports facility as a sweetener to get City Council to sign off on their new building/multi-use district on the RFK Stadium site.
