Business sponsorship of high school football teams a win for both

Operating a youth sports team is costly. Expenses can reach $10,000 to $30,000 per season, depending on the sport, the team size, travel needs, and other factors, according to fundlocker.org. 

Moreover, according to hyperrise.com, those costs have risen 46 percent since 2019, outpacing inflation. 

Few youth sports programs would be able to operate without support from their communities, say those who organize them. When businesses support local youth sports teams, the benefits are usually mutual. 

With 22 public and private high school varsity football teams, DeKalb County has many sports sponsorship opportunities. 

“By sponsoring youth sports businesses connect with local families, reinforce their family-friendly image and support such values as teamwork, health, and education. This builds long-term relationships and loyalty, as children often remember brands that supported them,” according to Cheddar Up, an online platform designed to help groups and organizations collect payments and information efficiently. 

Many businesses offer such support as funding for uniforms, equipment, travel, field rentals, and tournament fees. This can be through grants, donations, or in-kind contributions such as sports gear or supplies, Cheddar Up notes.  

Dozens of businesses throughout DeKalb County regularly support school football teams within the county, including Matthews Cafeteria in Tucker, Ford’s BBQ in Tucker, and NFA Burger in Dunwoody. 

Chick-fil-A, a regional brand with Atlanta area roots, vigorously encourages its owner-operators to select local community efforts to support, “creating impactful change in their neighborhoods,” in keeping with the company’s corporate values. Some Chick-fil-A restaurants, including one in Tucker,count among their community outreach efforts support of local school football teams. 

TeamSideline.com points out that an often-overlooked expense associated with youth sports is award and recognition costs, which hit between $500 and $3,000 in a typical program. Often this is where local restaurants and snack businesses step in with meals, treats, or even banquet sponsorships, particularly for winning teams.