Cheerleading's Big Leap: From Campus Chants to a Billion-Dollar Business

Cheerleading has come a long way from the days of simple chants and crowd engagement. It's now a highly competitive sport with impressive stunts and performances. This transformation didn't happen overnight. It was the vision of one man, Jeff Webb, who saw the potential in cheerleading and turned it into a massive business. Webb started his journey in the late 1960s, working for the National Cheerleaders Association. He was frustrated with the slow pace of change and decided to start his own company, Varsity Spirit, in 1974. With just $850 of his own money and $85, 000 from friends and family, he began hosting cheerleading training camps. The camps were a hit, with attendance growing from 4, 000 in 1975 to 300, 000 in 2019. But Webb didn't stop there. He saw an opportunity to expand into uniforms and competitions. However, this move almost ended his business. Webb partnered with a Tennessee-based manufacturer to produce uniforms. He collected deposits from schools and sent the orders and money to the manufacturer. But the manufacturer failed to deliver, and worse, went out of business. Webb was left with no uniforms, no money, and no supplier.This was a critical moment for Varsity Spirit. If Webb hadn't found a solution, his business might have failed. Fortunately, he found a small manufacturer in North Carolina who was willing to take on the challenge. This manufacturer, working from his basement, saved Varsity Spirit. The uniform business kept growing, and the North Carolina manufacturer eventually built a plant. Varsity Spirit continued to expand, merging with Herff Jones in 2011 and acquiring BSN Sports in 2013. The company became Varsity Brands and was acquired by Bain Capital for $2. 5 billion in 2018. Webb's vision transformed cheerleading into a highly athletic, competitive, and globally recognized sport. Today, almost every college and high school cheerleader in the country wears a Varsity uniform. This is a testament to Webb's perseverance and his ability to turn a crisis into an opportunity.