For many kids, sports are about more than the final score. They are an opportunity to build confidence, learn teamwork and communication skills, stay healthy, and create lifelong friendships.
Access to youth sports remains a challenge. In 2026, fewer than four in 10 kids ages 6 to 12 were reported to participate in sports. As participation declines and costs continue to rise, organizations across the country are formulating solutions to make sports more accessible and affordable for the next generation.
Last month, Buffalo Wild Wings and ESPN came together to help tackle those challenges, hosting the inaugural Take Back Sports Youth Sports Summit in New York City. The event brought together leaders and thought partners from across the youth sports landscape to discuss ways to better support families, strengthen local programs, and help more kids get in the game.
ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative aims to encourage youth sports participation nationwide, with a focus on community recreation leagues, coaching, and multisport play. To date, the initiative has invested $5 million in organizations working to remove barriers to participation, including the Buffalo Wild Wings Foundation, which alone has raised more than $28 million for youth sports since 2013.
“There is nothing more central to being a kid than playing your favorite sport. As less kids participate, and cost associated with participating soars, the work that programs like this do becomes paramount,” says Inspire Brands Foundation Executive Director Stuart Brown. “The Buffalo Wild Wings Foundation is proud to contribute to the effort to expand access to this cornerstone of childhood and raise awareness for the future of sport in this country.”
The summit provided a forum for leaders across the sports community to exchange ideas and perspectives, with an emphasis on creating safe, supportive environments where kids can develop skills that extend well beyond the field.
Through involvement in initiatives like Take Back Sports, Buffalo Wild Wings is continuing its commitment to helping more kids experience the benefits of youth sports. By raising funds, generating awareness, and bringing organizations together around shared solutions, the goal is simple: make sports more fun, accessible, and affordable for kids and families across the country.
The Inspire Foundation exists to ignite and nourish change for good. In 2024, Inspire’s brand foundations gave more than $23 million to support youth-related organizations, making a difference in the communities we serve. To learn more about the Inspire Foundation, visit foundation.inspirebrands.com.
About Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings, founded in 1982, is the largest sports bar brand in the United States, with more than 1,400 restaurants in nine global markets and a rapidly growing off-premise business through Buffalo Wild Wings GO. Buffalo Wild Wings is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit BuffaloWildWings.com and InspireBrands.com.
