History of Backyard Sports in Timeline
Backyard Sports is a video game franchise available on various platforms, featuring child versions of famous athletes like Barry Bonds, Tom Brady, and David Ortiz. The games are officially licensed by major U.S. sports leagues, including MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS.
1997: Backyard Sports Series Debut
The Backyard Sports series was launched in 1997 by Humongous Entertainment with the release of Backyard Baseball.
1999: Backyard Football Introduces "Create-A-Player"
In 1999, Backyard Football was released, introducing the popular "Create-A-Player" feature to the franchise, allowing players to customize their own athletes.
July 2013: The Evergreen Group Acquires Backyard Sports
In July 2013, The Evergreen Group acquired the Backyard Sports franchise during Atari's bankruptcy proceedings, adding it to their Epic Gear LLC portfolio.
February 2014: Day6 Sports Group Acquires Backyard Sports
Day6 Sports Group acquired the Backyard Sports franchise in February 2014 and announced plans to relaunch the series.
2016: Backyard Sports Movie in Development
Cross Creek Pictures and Crystal City Entertainment were reported to be developing a movie based on Backyard Sports in 2016.
2016: Day6 Sports Group Acquired
Day6 Sports Group, the owner of the Backyard Sports franchise, was acquired by a European investment group in 2016.
April 2019: Humongous Hints at Backyard Sports Revival
Humongous Entertainment sparked speculation about a potential Backyard Sports revival by tweeting an image of the original Junior Sports logo in April 2019.
2020: Day6 Sports Group Closes
Day6 Sports Group ceased operations in 2020, leaving the future of the Backyard Sports franchise uncertain.
2020: Backyard Sports Franchise Purchased
Following Day6's closure in 2020, Ari Pinchot and Stuart Avi Savitsky, through Backyard Sports LLC, acquired the Backyard Sports franchise.
2021: Backyard Sports LLC Represented by UTA
In 2021, Backyard Sports LLC, under the representation of United Talent Agency (UTA), secured the trademarks for the Backyard Sports franchise.
August 20, 2024: Playground Productions to Relaunch Backyard Sports
On August 20, 2024, Playground Productions, led by Lindsay Barnett, announced their plans to relaunch the Backyard Sports brand, encompassing video games, a TV series, and films, in partnership with Ari Pinchot and Stuart Avi Savitsky.
2024: Jason Kelce Expresses Interest in Backyard Sports Revival
NFL player Jason Kelce publicly expressed his interest in reviving the Backyard Sports franchise in 2024, sparking a wave of nostalgia and excitement among fans.