Pat Weber, Game One’s president and CEO, spoke with SGB Media about the dealer’s ambition to build a national platform, how technology is reinventing customer interactions in the team space and the firm’s commitment to local service.
Initially called ASB Sports, Game One was formed in 2018 with the merger of three team dealers: Williams’ Sporting Goods, Paris, TX; Cardinal’s Sports Center, Cardinal Sports, Lubbock, TX; and Team Sports, Holland, OH. The firm has since acquired six more dealers: Athletic Supply, Odessa, TX; Barcelona Sports, Houston, TX; Brandtek, Madison, WI; Bumblebee Sports, Nicholasville, KY; The Graphic Edge, Carroll, IA; and Universal Athletic, Bozeman, MT.
Game One is owned by Trivest Partners, a Miami-based private-equity firm focused on founder-led and family-owned businesses.
Weber joined Game One as VP of Sales in January 2021 after a 19-year career at Universal Athletic. He has been president since March 2023 and CEO since February 2024.
SGB: Why was Game One established?
Weber: Game One was founded in 2018 to create a true alternative in the team dealer space — a model built to compete with national players while keeping people and service at the center. As consolidation swept through the industry, we saw the need for a nationwide dealer with enough scale to stay competitive, yet without losing the local relationships that make this business special. From day one, we believed that putting our people first would create a culture where the best talent wants to stay, grow and do their best work. That belief shaped our leadership team. Four of our six executive team members once sold in the team channel, with three of them working in the field as recently as four years ago. Each of us still spends time on the road every year, traveling with our reps and experiencing firsthand the challenges they face. That connection keeps us grounded in the realities of the field and ensures our strategy always supports the people who make Game One what it is. I couldn’t be prouder of the team and what they’ve accomplished — driving growth, profitability and a shared vision for the future.
SGB: How has the business model evolved?
Weber: Our commitment to people hasn’t changed, but the tools that help them succeed have. From the beginning, we believed that empowering our people would lead to stronger relationships and better results. Today, technology allows us to bring that belief to life in new ways. In 2018, AI and automation weren’t nearly as capable as they are now. Today, we can enable every rep to reach more customers, drive higher volume and deliver exceptional service without oversaturating territories or limiting earning potential. At Game One, we believe that technology should make human connection even more valuable. That’s where we shine, blending innovation with empathy, and scale with service.
This year, we launched Scout, our AI-driven field assistant that provides real-time data, insights and support to our reps. Scout is quickly becoming the central interface for all our tools, helping every rep deliver faster, smarter and more personalized in-person experiences. It represents the next evolution of our founding vision: people first, empowered by innovation.
SGB: How does Game One differ from other consolidators in the team space?
Weber: We want to be an alternative to what has already been shown to be an effective way of creating profits for the acquiring company. The difference, though, is based on our rep model; not putting reps on top of reps, mandating that they compete against each other but, instead, supporting reps through tools, technology and opportunity so they can grow as big as they want and make as much as they want. We want our reps to have no glass ceilings. And we stand behind that promise. We also believe in being upfront about how we will move forward with each legacy business. Every business has strengths that Game One can benefit from. Transparency and fairness are the foundation of every acquisition and every relationship we build.
SGB: How do the dealers partnering with Game One benefit?
Weber: Dealers who partner with Game One gain peace of mind knowing their people will be treated right. Many owners come to us looking for a succession plan that protects their legacy and their teams. We can’t keep everyone, but we’re upfront about what’s needed, and we ensure fair, respectful transitions. More than a financial transaction, it’s about joining a culture where their teams can continue to thrive. That’s why word-of-mouth referrals from past sellers have become one of our strongest acquisition sources.
We recently partnered with the Brandtek sales team from Madison, WI. As part of that transition, we sent a group of twelve Game One teammates to Madison to support onboarding and integration. It wasn’t just about systems and processes; it was about relationships. We want every new team to feel supported from day one, to understand our culture and to see how their local strengths fit into the bigger Game One vision. Each acquisition isn’t just a transaction; it really is a true partnership.
It’s not easy being a small company in this market. Once a new partner is part of the Game One family, they benefit from our purchasing power, best practices, brand access, and technology advantages.
SGB: How has forming Game One helped in servicing schools and other team customers?
Weber: As we’ve expanded into new territories, schools have welcomed us with enthusiasm, often after years of frustration with inconsistent communication or inflated pricing. Each rep is paired with an account manager and billing analyst, ensuring every customer has a direct line for orders, returns, or billing questions, even if the rep is in the field. Our transparent, value-based pricing and hands-on local service model are resonating. Customers are seeing their reps more often, getting faster answers and receiving their gear on time. In 2025, our average delivery time from art approval to shipment was approximately 4 days, with no more than 10 days during peak season: the fastest I’ve seen in 20 years in this business.
SGB: Game One recently partnered with Nike to outfit the University of Indianapolis. Is the Division 1 college level a newer opportunity?Weber: Approximately 85 percent of our business is in high school or collegiate with about 15 percent in club. This past year we signed some major Division I schools with our partners Adidas, Under Armour and Nike, including Rice University, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Indianapolis (Nike), Chicago State and Missouri State (Adidas), and University of Denver (Under Armour). Our partnership with the shoe brands remains strong and is reflected in our ability to land major college deals. Our growth in this segment is accelerating.
SGB: Is the club channel seeing healthy growth?
Weber: The club business is a great opportunity for growth. Every dealer is looking at it, trying to understand how to grow in this channel.
SGB: How is Game One’s business performing?
Weber: We have had a record year of growth and profitability. We’re seeing more than 20 percent year-over-year revenue growth. We expect to continue that trend for the next several years as our investments in technology and people further accelerate ROI. Most impressive though is our tenured reps (those with us for over four years) have grown almost 10 percent year-over-year. Coupled with the fact that we have onboarded more than 50 new reps over the past 12 months, Game One has a real opportunity for strong continuing growth over the next couple of years as the new reps mature their business in their respective territories.
SGB: Do you see more tailwinds than headwinds ahead for Game One?
Weber: We continue to face price pressure and unpredictability around tariffs, which requires focus on efforts to offset. New product development is also an area of focus. Game One wants to continue to innovate and support customer needs. The opportunities, however, are significant. Our biggest growth levers lie in fully building out our national presence, continuing technological development, expanding in club sports, and accelerating e-commerce. We believe these can all tie together to create a cohesive rep platform, one that drives growth and data across multiple avenues, connects our sales and service teams, and provides real-time visibility into the customer experience.
SGB: What are your expansion plans?
Weber: We are focused on adding quality dealers who can help us grow the business, especially in geographies where Game One does not have an existing presence. Expectations over the next three years are to add 100 sales reps and around 10 dealers to the Game One family. We’ll continue to be selective and strategic, prioritizing cultural fit, long-term growth potential and alignment with our vision of building the strongest national dealer platform in the country.
Image courtesy Game One (shown from left to right: Brock Paalhar (SVP of National Sales), Chris Wilde (EVP of Sales), Pat Weber (President/CEO), Corey Goblirsch (Chief Operating Officer), Eric Loring (Chief Digital Officer)
