Key Takeaways
- PlayMetrics divests Student Sports (Elite 11 and Area Code Baseball) to Elysian Park Ventures in second major sale this year
- Transaction follows June 2025 merger of PlayMetrics and Stack Sports, backed by Genstar Capital
- PlayMetrics previously sold video analysis tool Steva to Cardinal Sports Capital as part of portfolio refinement strategy
- Company serves thousands of clubs, leagues, tournaments, and governing bodies with operations management software
- Elysian Park Ventures is backed by Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group, focuses on sports-adjacent investments
Narrowing the Portfolio
PlayMetrics completed the sale of Student Sports to Elysian Park Ventures on December 12, removing two prominent athlete development brands from its portfolio. Student Sports operates Elite 11, the premier quarterback training and evaluation platform, and Area Code Baseball, a longstanding showcase for high school baseball talent.
The business came to PlayMetrics through its June 2025 merger with Stack Sports. Genstar Capital supported the combination, which brought together two youth sports software providers under a unified operations management platform.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Boxwood Partners served as PlayMetrics’ exclusive financial advisor.
Strategic Rationale
PlayMetrics CEO Mike Doernberg framed the decision as a focus exercise. “This move allows us to concentrate on where we can create the most impact,” he said. “Our vision is to become the essential platform that youth sports organizations rely on to run their operations every day.”
The sale marks the second divestiture in recent months. PlayMetrics previously sold Steva, a video analysis tool, to Cardinal Sports Capital. Both transactions reflect a deliberate trimming of non-core assets acquired through the Stack Sports merger.
The company’s stated priority centers on operations management software for clubs, leagues, tournaments, and governing bodies. PlayMetrics positions itself as a unified platform handling financial, operational, coaching, and communication tools for youth sports organizations.
What’s Next for Student Sports
Elysian Park Ventures brings sports ownership DNA to the transaction. The firm is backed by the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group and invests across sports, health, culture, commerce, and technology sectors.
Cole Van Nice, Managing Partner at Elysian Park Ventures, described Elite 11 and Area Code Baseball as “the gold standard in athlete identification and development.” The firm plans to work with Student Sports leadership on growth strategies while maintaining the brands’ established culture and relationships.
Student Sports has operated for more than 25 years in grassroots sports marketing and athlete development. Beyond Elite 11 and Area Code Baseball, the company produces custom events and content for brand partners seeking access to youth athlete audiences.
Looking Ahead
PlayMetrics now enters 2026 with a tighter product focus and clearer lane in the youth sports software market. The company accelerates its product roadmap while shedding event and content businesses that sit outside operations management.
For Elysian Park Ventures, the acquisition adds established athlete development platforms to a portfolio targeting sports infrastructure and adjacent markets. Student Sports provides direct access to high school quarterback and baseball talent pipelines with multi-decade brand recognition.
The transaction continues a broader pattern of private equity reshaping youth sports assets, with buyers sorting businesses into distinct operational categories rather than maintaining diversified portfolios.
via: PlayMetrics
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