Key Takeaways
- RBI Austin broke ground October 23 on a $15.1 million, 33-acre youth development campus at 7401 Loyola Lane, with completion expected in late 2027
- The nonprofit has raised $7.2 million and launched the final phase of a capital campaign to close the remaining $7.9 million, per the organization
- Within three years of opening, RBI Austin plans to roughly double annual participation from about 1,700 children to 3,400
- All 23 members of the nonprofit’s 2025 and 2026 graduating classes are attending college, with 21 involved in collegiate athletics
RBI Austin, a youth sports and mentorship nonprofit affiliated with Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program, has started construction on a 33-acre youth sports complex in East Austin. The $15.1 million Youth Development Complex at 7401 Loyola Lane is expected to open in late 2027 and will be the organization’s first permanent home since its founding in 2009, according to reporting from Community Impact.
From Leased Fields to a Permanent Home
RBI Austin was founded in 2009 by Matt Price and Andy Harris, who identified a gap in youth opportunities while coaching baseball at Reagan High School. The program launched with 15 participants, passed 100 by 2011, and now serves more than 1,700 children across Austin and surrounding communities, per Community Impact. For its entire 17-year run, the nonprofit has operated out of leased spaces.
The outcomes data is what makes this organization worth watching. All 23 members of its 2025 and 2026 classes are now in college, and 21 of them are involved in collegiate athletics. David James, MLB vice president of baseball and softball development, said at the groundbreaking that RBI alumni nationwide are increasingly returning to the sport as coaches and club staff, and that the commissioner’s office plans continued support for the Austin affiliate.
What the 33-Acre Campus Includes
The complex is built around three core assets, according to the nonprofit:
- A roughly 115,000-square-foot outdoor ball field for baseball, softball and other activities, with dugouts and seating
- A covered turf training field of more than 30,000 square feet, housing batting cages and additional sports facilities
- A headquarters building with classrooms for mentoring, academic support and job training, plus a weight room and offices
Executive Director Matt Price framed the design around whole-child development rather than sport alone, noting the campus will also host family events, movie nights and graduation celebrations. Reid Ryan, CEO of Ryan Sanders Baseball, described the finished product as baseball paired with a community center, citing planned ACT and SAT prep, homework mentoring and weekend programming.
Who Is Funding the $15.1 Million Project?
RBI Austin has raised $7.2 million of the estimated $15.1 million cost over the past several years, per the organization, and credited the Round Rock-based Nolan Ryan Foundation as a key backer alongside the Ryan family and the Round Rock Express. The final phase of the capital campaign, targeting the remaining $7.9 million, is now underway.
The project team includes The Burt Group, Garza EMC, VLK Architects, Drenner Group, Dunaway, DBR and CPM Texas. Travis County commissioner Jeff Travillion committed local government assistance to the project as needed, per Community Impact.
Doubling to 3,400 Kids Rests on a $7.9 Million Campaign
The nonprofit’s stated goal is to roughly double annual participation to 3,400 children within three years of opening, which would put that milestone around 2030. That growth target, and the late 2027 opening date, now depend on closing the $7.9 million fundraising gap while construction proceeds. For operators tracking facility development in the nonprofit youth sports space, this is a useful case study in how MLB affiliation, a regional foundation anchor and local government support can combine to take a leased-space program to a permanent 33-acre footprint. The next number to watch is how fast the final $7.9 million comes in.
Source: Community Impact, Ben Thompson, October 26, 2026, https://communityimpact.com/east-austin/development/rbi-austin-breaks-ground-on-33-acre-youth-sports-complex-in-east-austin/
YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.
About Youth Sports Business Report
Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) is the largest and most trusted media platform covering the business of youth sports worldwide. YSBR delivers youth sports news, market intelligence, and original analysis daily across facilities, sponsorships, private equity, NIL, sports technology, and league operations. With more than 50,000 followers, YSBR is the leading source of youth sports industry news for the investors, owners, operators, and brands shaping the future of youth sports.
How big is the youth sports market?
American families spend approximately $54 billion annually on kids’ sports and recreation, according to the YSBR and Kinetica Group Youth Sports TAM & Parent Spending Report, with organized sports alone representing a $40 billion-plus market. The average family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, up 46 percent since 2019, per the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, and market research projects the global youth sports market will reach approximately $114 billion by 2032 (Business Research Insights).
How many kids play youth sports in the United States?
Approximately 27.3 million children ages 6 to 17, or about 54.6 percent, played organized sports in 2022-2023, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health as reported by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. High school sports participation reached a record 8.26 million athletes in 2024-25, per the NFHS.
Who founded Youth Sports Business Report?
Youth Sports Business Report was founded by Cameron Korab, a sports marketing veteran with more than a decade in the industry and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Korab also co-founded Vertical Sports, a sports marketing advisory serving brands across youth, college, and pro sports.
What does YSBR cover?
YSBR delivers original reporting and market intelligence on youth sports facilities, youth sports technology, sponsorship and brand partnerships, private equity and venture capital deals, NIL policy, coaching development, equipment and apparel, tournaments and events, and community sports initiatives. Readers include industry executives, investors, facility owners and operators, league administrators, and youth sports parents.
Youth Sports Business Report resources
- Newsletter: Subscribe to Youth Sports HQ, the most-read newsletter on the business of youth sports, delivering curated youth sports industry news and analysis to thousands of industry leaders every week.
- Research: Read the Youth Sports TAM & Parent Spending Report, an exclusive YSBR and Kinetica Group analysis of market size, parent spending, and marketplace opportunities.
- Jobs: Browse the YSBR Youth Sports Job Board, the most comprehensive destination for careers in youth sports, with hundreds of active listings across facility management, league operations, coaching, sports technology, and marketing.
- Services: Find vetted partners and solutions for your organization in the YSBR Services Hub, connecting youth sports operators, brands, and investors with verified providers across the industry.
- About: Learn more about Youth Sports Business Report and our editorial standards.
Follow Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR): LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | Substack
Check out Jr. Sports Marketing on YouTube or Spotify
Hosted by Cameron Korab, founder of Youth Sports Business Report, Jr. Sports Marketing features candid 1-on-1 conversations with the brands, athletes, leagues, and innovators building the future of youth sports. Each episode breaks down how the smartest brands are activating, building equity, and winning with youth sports families. If you’re an operator, founder, investor, or marketer trying to understand where this space is headed, this is your show.
Youth Sports Marketing Questions, Answered
Where can brands sponsor youth sports? Brands can sponsor youth sports through local leagues and clubs, tournaments and events, facilities and complexes, governing bodies, and national platform programs. Sponsoring a child’s own program is the most powerful entry point: 81 percent of parents say it captures their attention, outperforming TV, social media, and pro sports sponsorship, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study conducted by YouGov Sport.
How much does youth sports sponsorship cost? Youth sports sponsorship costs range from a few thousand dollars for a local league or team sponsorship to six and seven figures for regional facility naming rights and national platform programs. The environment is welcoming at every level: 84 percent of parents hold net positive sentiment toward brands sponsoring youth sports, with negative sentiment under 5 percent, per YouGov Sport research. Most brands start with a pilot activation, measure engagement, then scale.
What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? The data is striking: 80 percent of parents say they would choose the brand that sponsors their child’s youth sports program when comparing two similar products, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study by YouGov Sport. A 2026 EMARKETER and DICK’S Media survey found 84 percent of sports parents say that role influences their purchase decisions, and 60 percent spend more on game and practice days, driving loyalty across categories from dining to travel to automotive.
Ready to build a youth sports strategy? Vertical Sports is an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Every Fan, Every Level. Brands and youth sports organizations can reach the team at info@verticalsports.us.
