Philly Sport & Social, Philly Sports Network merge, form $2.5M/year amateur league

Two rival amateur sports leagues that claim a total of 3,500 teams and 50,000 annual players in area parks and rec centers have merged to form Philadelphia Sports Leagues, a single organization with $2.5 million in yearly fees and other revenue, and 60 parttime and fulltime employees, working from fields in 20 city and suburban neighborhoods.

Philadelphia Sport & Social, owned by Dan Feeney and Tim Horan, combined with Jason Cooper's and Ryan Ward's Philadelphia Sports Network to create the Leagues. Both target members in their 20s and 30s.

The founders say the leages pay more than $40,000 in city ballfield and gym rental fees, and promised in a statement to donate cash and services worth an additional $25,000-plus to Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and "other community and youth organizations in need."

Sports include basketball, bowling, broomball, cornhole, dodgeball, field hockey, floor hockey, football, handball, kickball, socce, softball, volleyball and water polo.