Island Garden

Name

Island Garden

Legal name

Island Garden

Website

https://islandgarden.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Basketball Programs & Facility Operations

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKACAE

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

SECONDARYMPAKAEAB

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Venues & Facilities (Stadiums, Arenas, Tracks, Complexes)

SECONDARYMPAKAJAA

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Camps, Academies & Training Centers

Keywords

• Youth basketball leagues
• Basketball facility operations
• AAU basketball programs
• Basketball training camps
• Adult basketball leagues

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hempstead

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. League Registration Fees: Revenue from team registrations for various youth and adult basketball leagues including Winter Super League, Spring, Summer, and Fall leagues. Fees vary by league and include referee fees.
2. Camp and Clinic Fees: Revenue from basketball camps including Fox Elite Summer Camp and other instructional programs.
3. AAU Program Membership: Revenue from Lightning Basketball AAU program with 80 boys and girls teams and over 300 teams total.
4. Tournament Fees: Revenue from hosting various AAU tournaments every weekend during spring season.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Island Garden operates a 53,000 sq ft basketball facility in West Hempstead, NY, hosting youth and adult basketball leagues (Winter Super League, Spring, Summer, Fall), AAU tournaments, skills camps, and training programs. As the home of Lightning Basketball AAU (founded 1992), the organization serves over 300 teams and impacts approximately 150,000 athletes and parents annually across the New York City metropolitan area.

Product overview

Island Garden is a basketball facility operator and the parent organization of Lightning Basketball AAU program. The company operates a 53,000 sq ft facility in West Hempstead, NY and offers a comprehensive suite of basketball programs including the Winter Super League (305 teams), Spring/Summer/Fall youth leagues, Adult leagues, AAU tournaments, Fox Elite training camps, and Little Lightning developmental programs for grades K-2. In September 2025, Lightning Basketball adopted the Fastbreak AI platform for AI-driven scheduling, cashless ticketing, and travel management. Lightning has placed over 700 alumni in college basketball programs and is recognized as one of the top 15 youth programs by the JR. NBA National Flagship program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Winter Super League Premier basketball league in the New York Metropolitan area featuring 305 teams for boys and girls ranging from 3rd through 12th grade, with divisions at three ability levels per grade. Operating for over 30 consecutive seasons across Nassau and Suffolk counties and surrounding areas using 12+ partner venues.
• Spring Youth Basketball League Spring basketball league open to boys and girls from 2nd through 12th grade with 8 game schedules and playoffs for teams finishing .500 or better. Registration fee is $2,310 per team including referee fees, with a $500 pre-registration deposit and a $200 discount for Super League participants.
• Summer Youth League Youth summer basketball league with 7 games plus playoffs for all teams. Divisions as demanded by registrations, open to grades 2nd through 11th/12th. Registration fee is $1,625 including referee fees for the regular season, with a $1,000 deposit due with registration.
• Fall League Pre-season fall basketball league with 8 games plus playoffs. Over 100 high school teams participate during the fall season. Registration fee is $1,805 including referee fees for the regular season, with a minimum $1,000 deposit due with registration.
• Adult Summer Basketball League Adult recreational basketball league offering 'A' and 'B' divisions with 8 games plus playoffs for teams .500 and better. Games played Monday-Friday at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm start times. Registration fee is $1,695 including referee fees for the regular season with team shirts included.
• Lightning Basketball AAU Program Independent nonprofit AAU basketball program with 80 boys and girls teams and over 300 teams total, recognized by National AAU as one of the top programs in the country and named one of the top 15 youth programs by the JR. NBA National Flagship program. Has placed over 700 alumni in college basketball programs at all levels. Operates through Island Garden facility.
• AAU Tournaments Various AAU basketball tournaments hosted at Island Garden every weekend during the spring season, including Lightning Basketball's participation in National Showcase events and top-level AAU competitions.
• Fox Elite Basketball Training Basketball training program led by Jim Fox, former Division 1 coach with 19 years of experience including 13 years as assistant at Davidson College. Offers skills training, camps, and instruction for players of all ages and ability levels. Basketball clinics priced at $50 per session, limited to 25 spots per session, open to grades 2-8.
• Fox Elite Summer Camp Summer basketball camp offering high-energy instruction, detailed teaching, and motivation for co-ed grades 2nd through 8th. Focus on skill development, confidence building, game IQ, and competitive improvement. Priced at $320 per camper, held 9am-3pm at Kellenberg Memorial High School.
• Little Lightning Early-start basketball instruction program for kindergarten through 2nd grade, focusing on basic basketball skills on lowered baskets. Part of youth development pathway leading to Lightning AAU program.
• Lightning Developmental League Developmental basketball league for grades 1-2-3 incorporating game settings on 8-foot baskets with coaches while focusing on skill development and teaching game fundamentals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 alumni placed in college basketball programs at all levels
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Fastbreak AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 September 2025Lightning Basketball and Island Garden adopted the full Fastbreak AI amateur sports management platform to power operations across 300+ teams. Includes Fastbreak Compete (AI scheduling), Fastbreak Tickets (mobile-first cashless ticketing), and Fastbreak Travel (hotel booking with Stay to Save program). The AI-driven schedule engine builds optimized matchups in minutes, factoring in past performance, bracket equity, venue capacity, court availability and eliminates coach conflicts.
• Adelphi UniversitycoreOthersPartner venue for Island Garden Super League games located in Garden City.
• Nassau Community CollegecoreOthersPartner venue for Island Garden Super League games located in Garden City.
• SUNY Old WestburycoreOthersPartner venue for Island Garden Super League games located in Old Westbury.
• The Fieldhouse (Massapequa)coreOthersPartner venue for Island Garden Super League games in Suffolk County.
• Chabad of Port WashingtonsupportingOthersPartner venue for Island Garden Super League games.
• Cove Sports Academy (Glen Cove)supportingOthersPartner venue for Island Garden Super League games in Suffolk County.
• Rising Stars Facility (Freeport)supportingOthersPartner venue for Island Garden Super League games.
• Kelleneberg Memorial High SchoolsupportingOthersVenue for Fox Elite Summer Camp located in Uniondale, NY.
• National AAUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLightning leadership holds top Board positions with National AAU. Jim Fox serves as Governor and District Boys Basketball Chair of NY Metropolitan AAU and Special Assistant to the National AAU President.
• JR. NBAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLightning Basketball named as one of the top 15 youth programs and member of JR. NBA National Flagship program.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• LeagueApps: Sports league management platform that Island Garden actively uses for registration and league operations. Comparable as a tech/operating partner enabling similar youth sports facility operators to run online registration and scheduling.

Direct peers

• Houston Hoops: Top-tier regional AAU basketball program operating large rosters of boys and girls teams in national showcases. Comparable scale (hundreds of teams) and operating model to Lightning's AAU program.
• Five Star Basketball: Nationally recognized basketball training and tournament operator running elite camps, clinics, and showcase events. Comparable business model of monetizing elite youth basketball through camps, tournaments, and recruiting exposure.
• New York Gauchos: Elite AAU boys basketball program based in the NY metro area, directly competing with Lightning Basketball for top talent, tournament placements, and college recruiting exposure in the same regional market.
• Big Shots Basketball: National youth basketball tournament circuit that competes for the same AAU team participation and travel budgets that drive Lightning's spring tournament business. Comparable on tournament-side revenue streams.
• Team Melo: AAU basketball program in the NY metro region fielding multiple boys and girls teams in national showcase circuits. Comparable in scale, regional footprint, and tournament strategy to Lightning Basketball.
• City Rocks: Northeast AAU basketball program running nationally competitive boys and girls teams with strong college placement track record. Direct peer in club basketball operating model and showcase tournament participation.
• Riverside Hawks: Long-established NY-based AAU basketball program operating competitive teams across multiple age divisions. Directly comparable as a regional competitor pursuing similar college placement outcomes on the same player pool.

Emerging players

• D1 Sports Training: Multi-location sports training franchise offering basketball and other sport-specific coaching in dedicated facilities. Comparable on the facility-based skills training and camps side of Island Garden's business.

Broad incumbents

• Under Armour (AAU Partnerships): Major athletic brand that sponsors multiple elite AAU programs nationally and competes indirectly for sponsor and brand alignment dollars in the same youth basketball ecosystem where Lightning operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IslandGardenBB
• Facebookfacebook.com/IslandGardenBB
• Instagraminstagram.com/islandgardenny
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/island-garden-basketball

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Island Garden