Key Takeaways
- Ascent Sports Group, the GTCR-backed platform formed in January 2026, has officially completed its acquisition of LiveBarn
- Ray Giroux, a decade-long LiveBarn executive and former COO, takes over as CEO; founder Farrel Miller moves to Ascent’s board
- LiveBarn now streams from more than 4,000 playing surfaces across the U.S. and Canada
- Financial terms were not disclosed in today’s announcement, though the deal was previously reported at approximately $400 million
- Ascent says it plans to deepen LiveBarn’s hockey capabilities while selectively expanding into other sports
From Reported Deal to Official Close
Ascent Sports Group formally announced the completion of its acquisition of LiveBarn on March 24, marking the official close of a transaction first reported in January.
YSBR covered the deal on January 24, when private equity sources confirmed GTCR had acquired LiveBarn for approximately $400 million. At the time, the company disclosed roughly 1,900 facilities across 49 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Today’s announcement does not disclose financial terms but describes LiveBarn as streaming from more than 4,000 playing surfaces, a figure that likely reflects individual courts, rinks, and fields within those facilities rather than a change in footprint.
Raymond James advised LiveBarn on the sell side, consistent with the original reporting. Evercore served as financial advisor to Ascent and GTCR.
New Leadership, Same Hockey Core
The biggest new detail in today’s announcement is the leadership transition. Ray Giroux, who spent more than a decade at LiveBarn and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer, has been named CEO. Founder Farrel Miller transitions to Ascent Sports Group’s board of directors.
“As a hockey parent, former player and a longtime member of the LiveBarn team, I know how important the platform is to players, families and our venue and league partners,” Giroux said in the release.
Ascent CEO Gary Swidler framed the acquisition around solving a pain point familiar to sports families, noting that parents currently juggle too many disconnected tools to participate in sports. The company says it plans to invest in product quality, reliability, and accessibility while maintaining LiveBarn’s relationships with venues and leagues.
What Changed Between January and March
YSBR’s January coverage was sourced from private equity contacts and reporting from Sportico and The Globe and Mail. Today’s release fills in several gaps. The January story did not include details on leadership changes, Ascent’s product strategy, or the continued involvement of Ares Credit funds as an investor post-transaction. The formal announcement confirms all three.
The broader Ascent vision also comes into sharper focus. Formed in January 2026 as a Leaders Strategy partnership between GTCR and Swidler, Ascent describes itself as a technology and media platform focused on digital products for youth and amateur sports. LiveBarn is its first acquisition, and the company has signaled it intends to make additional investments across the ecosystem.
What This Means for Youth Sports Streaming
LiveBarn remains the clear market leader in automated youth sports livestreaming, particularly in hockey. With private equity backing and a new leadership team in place, the platform is positioned for increased investment in its technology stack. Whether Ascent pursues additional acquisitions or builds organically from the LiveBarn base will be worth watching in the months ahead.
Source: PRNewswire, Ascent Sports Group, March 24, 2026
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