Sports Club Advisors shines bright with the sale of two tennis industry icons
Sports Club Advisors is pleased to announce the sale of Petersburg Racquet Club in Augusta, Georgia and Player’s World of Sports on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Jim Bates, one of the founding partners of Sports Club Advisors, served as the sell-side advisor for both transactions.
Petersburg Racquet Club
Craig Jones, a nationally renowned tennis professional, bought Petersburg Racquet Club (“PRC”) in 1998.
Over time, Craig started doing more contract work with the USTA, and currently Craig is the Senior Director of Education for the USTA. It was Craig’s increasing role with the USTA that led Craig to engage Sports Club Advisors to prepare for, and execute, the sale of PRC in order for Craig, and his wife Gail, to move on to the next chapters of their lives.
“Jim Bates is the only person I know of in the country that combines the intimate knowledge and experience of owning/operating tennis facilities with a successful exit planning, business valuation, and mergers & acquisitions career. Jim’s help, advice, guidance, and marketing skills were invaluable to us as we embarked on our journey to sell PRC.” – Craig Jones
Columbia County purchased PRC and has rebranded the facility to the Columbia County Racquet Center. Many small improvements and upgrades to the 40 year plus old facility are in progress, with more to come.
“We knew it was important to Craig and Gail to find the next generation owner of PRC that would keep the facility as a racquet sports facility rather than it becoming a residential subdivision or assisted living facility. It took some time, but the right buyer came along in the end. We are thrilled for Craig and Gail; and, excited for the residents of Columbia County.” – Jim Bates.
Player’s World of Sports
If you have ever been to Hilton Head Island, then you know of Player’s World of Sports (unless your head was buried in the sand at one of the beautiful beaches). It has been a staple on HHI since 1982; and it is an island and tennis industry icon.
In 2008, after many years on the island as a tennis professional, Tom Jilly purchased Player’s World of Sports. Then, in 2014, Tom took the next step in fueling the growth of Player’s World by moving to a 3,000 square foot retail location in Shelter Cove Towne Centre, the newest and most popular shopping and entertainment complex on the island. After a long and rewarding career in the tennis industry, Tom wanted to retire and spend more time with family.
“When I first started down the road of exiting the business, I thought a broker or mergers & acquisitions professional wasn’t really necessary. Boy, was I wrong! Without the help of Jim Bates and Mike Behling at Sports Club Advisors, this deal would not have happened. I can’t recommend them enough”. – Tom Jilly
The new owners are a private group of investors that plan to grow Player’s World and are excited about continuing the 40 plus year history of Player’s World of Sports on Hilton Head Island.
“My first visit to Player’s World was as a high school senior in 1986, so I’ve been visiting HHI almost annually as either a player or a coach for almost 40 years. And, as a 30 year plus member of the Professional Tennis Registry (headquartered on HHI) I met Tom, and his wife Julie (Tom is a PTR member and Julie is the VP of Special Events and Pickleball). I’m so pleased, and proud to have assisted part of my PTR family in the sale of their family owned business. I wish Tom all the best with retirement.” – Jim Bates
Keep your eye on www.sportsclubadvisors.net
Exciting times are ahead at Sports Club Advisors. We continue to integrate and upgrade our website with a sophisticated mergers & acquisitions deal management platform. Bookmark our Active Engagements page to keep up with the latest tennis clubs for sale. Or, if you own a tennis facility and want to know the value of your tennis club, then click here for our Free Opinion of Value.
Jim Bates is a partner and co-founder of Sports Club Advisors. He is an experienced M&A advisor, a successful sports and fitness professional, a successful entrepreneur, and a published author (Business Valuation for Dummies, Wiley & Sons Publishing – 2009)
Contact Jim Bates at jbates@sportsclubadvisors.net to explore your opportunities to buy or sell.
