True Sports Group

Overview

National youth sports platform launched October 2025 when TZP Group completed a majority recapitalization of True Lacrosse (founded 2008). Headquartered in Illinois. Co-founders Jake Deane and Mike Gabel continue to lead alongside TZP.

Portfolio

• True Lacrosse — core brand: youth travel teams, tournaments, camps, and clinics
• Expansion thesis into volleyball and adjacent sports via organic growth + add-on acquisitions

Scale

• 9,000+ athletes
• 400+ teams
• 25 states

Financials

• ~$3.5M EBITDA at transaction; ~$40M valuation implying ~11.4x EBITDA. Not publicly confirmed.

Backer: TZP Group

• Multi-strategy investment firm, ~$2B AUM
• Focus: control, growth equity, debt/structured in tech, business services, consumer

Strategic Notes

• Template for lacrosse-to-multi-sport rollup; parallel to Inspiring (baseball-to-multi-sport) and Made Hoops (basketball core).
• If True Sports expands into soccer, it would enter the PE-backed youth sports platform competitive landscape more directly.
• The 11.4x EBITDA print is a useful reference point for small-platform youth sports valuations.

Open Questions

• Confirm True Sports Group EBITDA and deal multiple via banker validation.
• Geographic reach — Midwest focus relative to other regional youth sports platforms.