BY COLBY FARR & SHELBIE HAMILTON
McKinney youth sports league spring season participation McKinney’s sports leagues have seen an 18% increase in participation since spring 2018.
McKinney Baseball & Softball Association (baseball) McKinney Baseball & Softball Association (softball)
Health benefits of youth sports
McKinney Sports Connection McKinney Little League Baseball McKinney Soccer Association (youth)
Physical health benefits:
• Improved cardiovascular health • Develops motor skills • Improved muscular fitness
3,000
+60.65%
• Decreases risk of becoming overweight or obese, and comorbidities such as diabetes
2,500
+69.48%
2,000
Mental health benefits:
1,500
• Develops goal orientation • Gives children a sense of belonging • Teaches leadership and coachability • Creates a chance to face and overcome adversity
1,000
+27.3%
No leagues were held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
500
+6.46%
-38.9%
SOURCE: CHILDREN’S HEALTH ANDREWS INSTITUTE FOR ORTHOPAEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
0
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCE: CITY OF MCKINNEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Jami Scoggins, mother of competitive volleyball player Brooklyn Horton, said she chose Areté Athletics because of the quality of the athletic program and coaching staff. The duo travels over 50 miles to reach the center, and Scoggins said her daughter has developed mentally and physically since she began attending the facility. “The atmosphere here is just good for my kid, it’s making her be a better person,” Scoggins said, noting that her daughter has also seen improve- ments in her athletic ability. Werner said the city has a significant draw for visitors attending youth sporting events, as well as semi-professional and collegiate events like the NCAA Division II football championship held at McKinney ISD Stadium. In 2024 and early 2025, the city has seen more than 7,000 room nights booked by travelers coming to McKinney for sports, Werner said, noting that the count only recognizes travelers
courts, a basketball court and a weightlifting area. Several years later, the private athletic facility underwent an expansion project that added 50,000 square feet in order to meet growing demand, Black said. “When we started out 10 years ago, we had 90 athletes,” he said. “Today, we have over 1,000.” The expansion opened in August, adding six more volleyball courts and another basketball court. In addition to expanding the center’s space for volleyball, the new space allows the center to host new events, such as a wrestling tournament and a basketball tournament, Black said. The center has seen as many 2,000 people coming to an event, Black said. “They’re coming from West Texas, East Texas, South Texas, Oklahoma and that means that they’re renting hotel rooms and they’re purchasing from our restaurants,” he said. “It’s a great benefit for the city of McKinney.”
that collaborated with the tourism office for their visit and that the actual count is likely higher. Looking ahead While city officials make progress on existing projects, Kinkade and her team are also consider- ing opportunities to bring additional sports fields to undeveloped parkland, implement additional practice space and create more multi-use facilities. Werner said the city’s investment in public sports facilities and existing local private facilities has pushed the tourism-focused organization to concentrate on attracting more sporting events. “Frisco, they have their piece of the pie, and they’re gonna win that big stuff all day, every day, because they have the right facilities for it,” Wer- ner said of professional sporting events locating in Frisco. “When it comes to tennis and youth soccer, … we’ll continue to be one of the top destinations for a long time.”
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