Harris, Blitzer Invest $10M in HOF Village to Boost Youth Sports Initiative
Josh Harris and David Blitzer continue to make moves in the youth sports market.
The two billionaire sports owners have acquired a majority stake in the ForeverLawn Sports Complex located at Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. Harris and Blitzer, who own several sports teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Commanders, and New Jersey Devils, plan to invest around $10 million to expand youth sports programming at the 115-acre site centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This latest acquisition is part of their ongoing efforts in youth sports. Earlier this month, they acquired the snowboarding camp We Are Camp with support from Shaun White. They also purchased Ripken Baseball earlier this year and merged it with their other youth baseball brand, Cooperstown All Star Village. This new deal, which allows Hall of Fame Village Resort and Entertainment Co. to retain a 20% stake in the complex, aims to enhance synergies across their expanding portfolio.
Harris and Blitzer finalized the purchase through their family offices rather than Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), which oversees the Devils and 76ers. Although they remain focused on their professional sports teams and related real estate ventures, acquiring the Hall of Fame Village complex demonstrates their optimism about the future of youth sports. This acquisition also helps the new Commanders owners strengthen their NFL connections.
Their partnership with HOF Resort and Entertainment (NASDAQ: HOFV) will extend to the Village’s Center for Performance, a large, year-round indoor sports facility that hosts various tournaments, sporting events, and concerts.
HOFV, which went public through a merger with Gordon Pointe Acquisition in 2020, has been working to recover from significant losses and near delisting caused by the pandemic. The collaboration with Harris and Blitzer could provide a boost for HOFV while the duo continues to grow their influence in the youth sports market across the country.
