Diamond Nation acquired by Unrivaled Sports, organization headed by Harris, Blitzer

Diamond Nation, the well-known youth baseball and softball complex in Flemington that regularly draws teams from throughout the East Coast and beyond, was acquired by Unrivaled Sports, an organization run by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, the owners of the Prudential Center, the New Jersey Devils, the Philadelphia 76ers and numerous other sports properties.

This acquisition is part of the recent launch of Unrivaled Sports, led by Harris and Blitzer with an investment from the California-based Chernin Group. The organization oversees seven prominent baseball and softball facilities through Ripken Baseball, Cooperstown All Star Village and Sports Force Parks.

More than 3,000 teams and 45,000 participants play at Diamond Nation annually, adding to the vast reach of Ripken Baseball’s efforts to encourage youth development and fun through baseball and softball camps, tournaments and instruction. Across all Unrivaled Sports properties, the company expects to welcome over 600,000 athletes and 1.3 million attendees annually through its 14 owned and operated properties.

“With the addition of Diamond Nation, we are enhancing our commitment to youth baseball and softball, building on the legacies of the Ripken Experiences and Cooperstown All Star Village,” said Wade Martin, CEO of Unrivaled Sports’ baseball division. “Diamond Nation will play a major role in advancing our vision of shaping young athletes through elite training, operational excellence and memorable experiences.”

Diamond Nation was founded by Jack Cust Sr. in 2009, and among those who have previously played or trained at the facility are Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, Anthony Volpe of the New York Yankees, Anthony DeSclafani of the Minnesota Twins, Mike Ford of the Cincinnati Reds organization and retired major leaguers Rick Porcello and Anthony Ranaudo.

“This partnership is a continuation of our family’s vision for Diamond Nation,” Cust said. “Our players and families will benefit tremendously from the additional resources available through a national effort to enhance the youth sports landscape.”

Diamond Nation features five 90-foot diamonds, two youth fields and a state-of-the-art indoor training facility, and attracts teams from across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. In addition to tournament programming, Diamond Nation operates its own club teams, the Diamond Jacks, and player development training programs at the venue. In addition to founding the complex alongside his father, former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jack Cust III and his two brothers have helped guide the facility’s operations and growth. The Cust family will continue to play a role in its operations moving forward.