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Hearing “Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of American Youth Sports”
house Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee · Jun 30, 2026 · Transcript · 25 transcript matches
MATT KAKABEEKE "Chairman Keeley, Ranking Member Bonamici, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before the committee today regarding our experience as a community-based youth sports program. For nearly 50 years, I've been involved with the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association as a player, a coach, a parent, hockey director, and now as its executive director. Five years ago, I assumed the role of executive director, and I took this role because of my longstanding commitment to public service and to serving the families and young people in my"
CRS Report
Congressional District Geography Workbook (119th Congress): An Interactive Tool for Congressional Users
Legal Sidebar · Jun 30, 2026
This Insight accompanies the Congressional District Geography Workbook, a Microsoft Excel file that congressional users can download from CRS.gov. The workbook provides information about U.S. House...
CRS Report
Can Sports Drive Economic Development?
Resources · Jan 17, 2024
Sports in the United States generate significant revenues. For example, one source estimates the combined value of all franchises in the National Football League (NFL) at $163 billion in 2023, while...
CRS Report
Tax Proposals and the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Merger
Resources · Aug 9, 2023
In June 2023, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced a planned merger. The PGA Tour is the world’s largest professional golf league, while LIV Golf is a newer league financed by the Saudi Arabia Public...
Testimony MATT KAKABEEKE
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"Chairman Keeley, Ranking Member Bonamici, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before the committee today regarding our experience as a community-based youth sports program. For nearly 50 years, I've been involved with the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association as a player, a coach, a parent, hockey director, and now as its executive director. Five years ago, I assumed the role of executive director, and I took this role because of my longstanding commitment to..."
Testimony RULLI, MICHAEL A.
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"Black Bear Sports Group supported upgrades to the facility, roughly exceeding $1.2 million, and continue supporting the Youngstown Phantoms, which is the minor league hockey team of Youngstown, and also the youth sports groups with a Give Hockey a Shot program. Within the Give Hockey a Hot program, it offers boys and girls the opportunity to try the sport of hockey free of charge, free skates, equipment included. Within the Give Hockey a Hot program, it offers boys and girls the opportunity to..."
Testimony MS. KATHERINE VAN DYCK, J.D.
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"It is the one that when parents will talk, complain about the most. The arrangements mean that what stay to play means is that a youth sports tournament requires any team participating to book their travel through their preferred travel agent and stay at their preferred hotel. They are told we got you the best rate. That is rarely true in today's age. It is very easy to look online and see on Expedia that you're paying a lot more and that there's a cheaper hotel down the road. Even USA Hockey..."
Testimony WILLIAMS, ROGER
“Career and Technical Education: Developing the Future of Main Street ...
house Small Business Committee · Feb 24, 2026
"from the great state of Minnesota, former Olympic hockey player in the Hockey USA team, we know won the gold medal. I want to say congratulations to you and your sport. And before we get started, I'd like to recognize Congressman Schmidt from the great state of Kansas to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the"
Witness Mr. Matt Kakabeeke
Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association · 1 hearing
CRS Report
Transgender Athletes and Title IX: Agency Investigations and Litigation
Posts · Jun 6, 2025
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs. Long-standing regulations implementing the statute permit separating the sexes in...
CRS Report
Title IX and Athletics: Legal Basics
Resources · Mar 27, 2025
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The Department of...
Hearing “Career and Technical Education: Developing the Future of Main Street Success.”
house Small Business Committee · Feb 24, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
WILLIAMS, ROGER "from the great state of Minnesota, former Olympic hockey player in the Hockey USA team, we know won the gold medal. I want to say congratulations to you and your sport. And before we get started, I'd like to recognize Congressman Schmidt from the great state of Kansas to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the"
Testimony KILEY, KEVIN
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"Our first witness is Ms. Linda Flanagan, an author from Summit, New Jersey. Our second witness is Mr. Matt Kakabeeke, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association in Portage, Michigan. Our third witness is Ms. Katherine Van Dyke, Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project in Washington, D.C., and our fourth witness is Mr. Brian Finnerty, founder of High Velocity Sports in Wolverine Lake,"
Testimony MATT KAKABEEKE
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"As COHA prepared to begin its 60th anniversary season and as I entered my fifth year as executive director, our organization was focused on building upon six decades of providing affordable and accessible youth hockey opportunities in the Kalamazoo community. However, on September 1, the very first day of that milestone season, we were informed that during a meeting with rink management that Wings West, our longtime home rink and the foundation of youth hockey in our community for decades, had..."
Testimony MATT KAKABEEKE
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"As youth sports become more consolidated, longstanding community-based organizations face the prospect of losing facility access, organizational autonomy, and historic identities. On March 3, 2026, Black Bear Sports Group evicted Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association from Wings West, leaving us without a home. I believe this community has a unique opportunity to bring attention to these issues and"
Testimony MS. KATHERINE VAN DYCK, J.D.
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"Varsity monopolized the cheerleading market by controlling events, apparel, and the governing body. Black Bear Sports Group appears to be doing the same in youth hockey with ice rinks, leagues, and tournaments. Three Step Sport owns thousands of leagues and tournaments, including 70% of elite soccer tournaments and showcases in New"
Testimony MR. BRYAN FINNERTY
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"But I'll go back to my beginning statement, which is the stewardship in the community, if they're not present, because I don't believe it's present everywhere, but where it is present in Give Kids a Shot program enables them to have a chance and access to play, then I think without that, there would be no hockey in that town. And I think we could name 50 towns like that across the"
Testimony RULLI, MICHAEL A.
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"I think these are fascinating conversations. I know in the Mahoney County area, you know, I was a product of late 80s and the 90s, and there was no hockey. And we had the Pittsburgh Penguins, who was owned by the DiBartolo family from Youngstown. So that was the first introduction to hockey within the area. And I thought they did a good job, and maybe you could just take a second with the communication when you have hockey organizations like this in smaller off-market, you know, B and C cities,..."
Testimony MR. BRYAN FINNERTY
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"I think if you've got a supporting organization that could go from a professional sport like the NFL, which is doing their flag football programs, the NFL play program, and the play 60 and play 90 programs, which we've seen at our facility that give access to hundreds of kids that wouldn't have it otherwise, that's a really good harmony. We get to do outreach because there's a larger organization wanting to do more in our community. So I think whether it's football, soccer, hockey, whatever it..."
Testimony LEE, SUMMER L.
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"Let's mark up bills that get private equity out of every sector where it's causing harm. Just like families shouldn't have to go broke so that their kid can play soccer or hockey, they should be able to afford healthcare and housing and childcare and eldercare in the richest nation in the world. We need to start putting people before profits, and this, I think, is a wonderful start, but hopefully it will actually lead us to some action across the board on private equities takeover of all of our..."
Testimony MATT KAKABEEKE
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"Yes, Mr. Harris, that's a fantastic question, and it's passion. It's the passion that it's local leadership, administrative, local programming that's invested in that particular community to ensure that these young children have the opportunity to enjoy, whether it's soccer, hockey, lacrosse. So I think it comes down to the passion of the local volunteer-driven board of directors or the administrative staff of that particular"
Testimony MR. BRYAN FINNERTY
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"So I think at the end of the day, I sound like a broken record, but by putting them first in what their desires and needs are, we can talk to the parents and educate them a little bit on not every 8-year-old is going to get a college scholarship or turn pro, and at the same time, if they're happy and healthy and ultimately want to play club hockey or soccer or baseball when they get to college, I think we've done our job. Good"
Testimony OWENS, BURGESS
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"Thank you. I just want to make sure I ask a couple of other quick questions. Mr. Culkaby, Black Bear says it's saving rinks and growing the game. I'd like to give you a chance to respond to a characterization. How would you describe Black Rock's impact on your hockey? I just want to say one quick comment before I let Ms. Fenerday, first of all, thank you. I think the importance to understand that investment is important, but it's one of the mission of our kids, not"
Testimony MATT KAKABEEKE
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"So I think it comes down to the passion of the local volunteer-driven board of directors or the administrative staff of that particular club. Black Bear Sports Group's impact on the County's Youngstown Hockey Association could simply be described as predatory. Within 30 seconds of meeting Scott Brannivan, the Director of Operations in Michigan, he'd unraveled 60 years of COHA history, demanding we change our name, our logo. All of our programming was advised that the participant fees will be..."
Testimony MATT KAKABEEKE
“Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of Amer...
house Education and Workforce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"By providing a world-class experience. We strive to do that at our club every day, and we would make ourselves more attractive by having the community involvement, our former pro players, our college players, having a large volume of volunteers with community investment to host tri-hockey for free events, to host an 8U jamboree with a chili challenge cook-off, to make it a festival atmosphere, carnival-like every time you step on the ice. That's how nonprofits are going to survive in this..."
Testimony WILLIAMS, ROGER
“Career and Technical Education: Developing the Future of Main Street ...
house Small Business Committee · Feb 24, 2026
"Gentleman yields back. I now recognize Mr. Stauber from the great state of Minnesota and the hockey magnet in this group and champion for five minutes. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize Mr. Cisneros in the great state of California for five"
Testimony MALLIOTAKIS, NICOLE
Full Committee Hearing on The Growing Business of Sports: Reviewing Fe...
house Ways and Means Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"but I'd also be remiss if I did not highlight a provision of the tax code that disproportionately affects both the Knicks and New York's hockey team, the Rangers. Section 162M of the tax code limits how much compensation a public company can deduct for certain highly compensated"
Testimony BRITT, KATIE BOYD
Joint hearings to examine preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
senate Appropriations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
"note that this hearing is obviously being held against the backdrop of a shutdown of DHS. I want to make sure that we're doing everything possible to get DHS fully funded to make sure that the resources are there for each one of you and the collaboration is at full maximum potential there. Look, international sporting events are a great unifier. From the miracle on ice in 1980s, to the dream team in 1992, to even just watching us beat Canada, both men and women, in the hockey arena. Nothing..."
Hearing Full Committee Hearing on The Growing Business of Sports: Reviewing Federal Tax Policy in the Multibillion-Dollar Industry
house Ways and Means Committee · Jun 30, 2026 · Transcript
MALLIOTAKIS, NICOLE "but I'd also be remiss if I did not highlight a provision of the tax code that disproportionately affects both the Knicks and New York's hockey team, the Rangers. Section 162M of the tax code limits how much compensation a public company can deduct for certain highly compensated"
Hearing Joint hearings to examine preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
senate Department of Homeland Security Subcommittee · Apr 15, 2026 · Transcript
BRITT, KATIE BOYD "note that this hearing is obviously being held against the backdrop of a shutdown of DHS. I want to make sure that we're doing everything possible to get DHS fully funded to make sure that the resources are there for each one of you and the collaboration is at full maximum potential there. Look, international sporting events are a great unifier. From the miracle on ice in 1980s, to the dream team in 1992, to even just watching us beat Canada, both men and women, in the hockey arena. Nothing compares to cheering on our country, and nothing is more unifying. I am excited for us to have that..."
CRS Report
Emerging Legal Issues Under Title IX: Transgender Athletes and Name, Image, and Likeness Compensation for College Athletes
Reports · Mar 25, 2024
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. All K–12 public...
CRS Report
Membership of the 118th Congress: A Profile
Reports · Dec 12, 2024
This report presents a profile of the membership of the 118th Congress (2023-2024) as of December 12, 2024, or at the beginning of the 118th Congress (January 3, 2023), where noted. Statistical...
CRS Report
Membership of the 117th Congress: A Profile
Reports · Dec 14, 2022
This report presents a profile of the membership of the 117th Congress (2021-2022) as of December 13, 2022, or at the beginning of the 117th Congress (January 3, 2021), where noted. Statistical...
CRS Report
Membership of the 116th Congress: A Profile
Reports · Dec 17, 2020
This report presents a profile of the membership of the 116th Congress (2019-2020) as of December 17, 2020. Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data...
CRS Report
Oil Sands and the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund: The Definition of “Oil” and Related Issues for Congress
Reports · Feb 15, 2017
In 2005, the United States imported approximately 217 million barrels of oil-sands-derived crude oils from Canada. In 2015, that figure increased to 587 million barrels, accounting for approximately...
CRS Report
Internet Gambling: Policy Issues for Congress
Reports · Nov 7, 2016
Gambling, once widely outlawed, is now a regulated, taxed activity that is legal in some form—bingo, card games, slot machines, state-run lotteries, casinos, and even online—in all states except...
CRS Report
Daily Fantasy Sports: Industry Trends, Legal and Regulatory Issues, and Policy Options
Reports · Feb 24, 2016
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) companies, which operate online gaming platforms that allow players to assemble imaginary sports teams and compete in daily or weekly contests, function in a gray area of...