Key Takeaways
- PlayMetrics sold Steva, a professional-level sports video analysis platform, to Cardinal Sports Capital three months after merging with Stack Sports
- The divestiture narrows PlayMetrics’ product focus to youth sports operations management software used by thousands of clubs, leagues, and tournaments
- Steva was part of the Stack Sports portfolio before the June 2025 merger backed by private equity firm Genstar Capital
- Cardinal Sports Capital previously operated Steva and plans to advance the technology for professional sports performance analysis
- Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed
Refocusing After the Stack Sports Merger
PlayMetrics announced the sale of Steva to Cardinal Sports Capital on October 7, marking a strategic shift following its June 2025 merger with Stack Sports. The combined company, which operates under the PlayMetrics brand and CEO Mike Doernberg, now serves thousands of youth sports organizations with operations management software.
Steva, a video analysis tool designed for professional sports performance measurement, came to PlayMetrics through the Stack Sports acquisition. The platform operates in a different market segment than PlayMetrics’ core youth sports operations products, which focus on financial management, scheduling, registration, and communication tools for clubs and leagues.
Genstar Capital, the majority owner of the merged entity, backed the transaction as part of the company’s post-merger integration strategy.
Concentrating Resources on Youth Sports Operations
The sale reflects PlayMetrics’ decision to prioritize its unified platform for youth sports organizations rather than maintain products serving professional athletics. “The sale of Steva is part of our strategy to concentrate our resources where we can deliver the most value,” said Mike Doernberg, CEO of PlayMetrics. “Our vision is clear: to provide the most comprehensive and integrated solution for youth sports operations management.”
PlayMetrics positions its software as an operating system that handles the administrative, financial, and communication needs of clubs, leagues, tournaments, and governing bodies. The company states that directors, coaches, administrators, and families use the platform to manage daily operations across multiple sports.
Cardinal Sports Capital’s Familiarity with the Asset
Scott Secord, Managing Partner of Cardinal Sports Capital, noted his firm’s previous experience with the platform. “Having operated the business in the past, we have a strong understanding of the market and look forward to advancing the technology and driving its growth into the future,” Secord said.
Cardinal Sports Capital, founded in 2020 and based in Toronto, provides financial advisory services including private equity financing, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic consulting. The firm’s acquisition of Steva adds a technology asset to its portfolio focused on sports performance analytics at the professional level.
Strategic Implications
The transaction illustrates how software consolidation in youth sports can lead to portfolio refinement. PlayMetrics now operates with a narrower product scope than the combined Stack Sports and PlayMetrics portfolios offered separately, concentrating technology development and customer support on a single market segment.
For youth sports organizations currently using PlayMetrics, the divestiture signals the company’s commitment to its core platform rather than diversification into adjacent sports technology markets. The move may accelerate product development for youth-focused features as engineering resources previously allocated to professional-level video analysis shift to operations management tools.
via: barchart
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