Twenty years and counting: 411 with PrimeTime Sports Senior Director and Founder David Stephens

As PrimeTime Sports gears up for more great tournaments in Las Vegas and across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, VYPE DFW took the time to connect with PrimeTime Sports Senior Director and founder David Stephens. Mr. Stephens laid out just what PrimeTime Sports is all about and shared some of his fondest memories from the last two decades.

Check out the exclusive interview below!

Stephens: To be the leading provider of youth sports events by being The Best Game In Town.

VYPE: How long has PrimeTime Sports been around?
Stephens: The first event was held in July, 2000 in Plano, Texas!

VYPE: What impact have you seen PrimeTime Sports have on your community?
Stephens: It has created great competitive opportunities for young people and family experiences for athletes and their families. PrimeTime Sports competitions offer a unique opportunity for the development of life skills for young people including: commitment, sacrifice, hard work, and team before self which will contribute to their becoming responsible and productive adults. With all of that, we never want you to forget the sheer enjoyment of playing the game that you love.

VYPE: What has PrimeTime Sports meant to you?
Stephens: My points of pride fall within three buckets:

The privilege of creating thousands of great competitive opportunities for young athletes, which allowed them to play the game they love, earn college scholarships, and, most importantly, experience the joys of competing, getting better, and understanding the value of a team.

The privilege of working with some of the best people in the business, whether today, years past, or opportunities to come. I am surrounded by a special group of people and can say without equivocation that I love each and every one of them.

The opportunity and joy to build what is now PrimeTime Sports and to do so with Janice, who was not only my beloved wife, but also my brightest fan, toughest critic, and always there when I needed her.

VYPE: What has been your favorite memory affiliated with PrimeTime Sports?
Stephens: It would be impossible for me to select a single moment. There are many, many stops on my PrimeTime journey, the first basketball tournament in 2000 with 26 teams, the first Nationals in Kansas City with 48 teams, the addition of soccer and 7on7 football, planting the PrimeTime flag in nearly 20 states, building our Nationals into the largest grassroots national basketball championship, and so much more. And at each sign post, I have made so many friendships with players, coaches, officials, staff, and so many others connected with the youth sports world.

VYPE: What are your goals for PrimeTime Sports as you continue to expand and showcase young talent?
Stephens: There will always be shifts and pivots in the business of operating events, and we will continue to work to be a leader in the youth sports space, by continuing to provide great competitive opportunities to athletes and experiences for their families. As has always been the case, we also want to help the young athletes remember what is important is the journey, not the destination, value the opportunity to compete, appreciate the support of coaches, and family, and respect the game.

Now that you, the fan, knows a little bit more about PrimeTime Sports and their contribution to youth athletics as well as their mission, it's not too late to make it out to some of the many games that are happening over the course of this week! You can catch VYPE DFW at the Southwest Athletic Center in Carrollton, Texas covering many of the events, but be sure to go see it in action for yourself. Find tickets at the PrimeTime Sports website now!