Dodgers Venture Arm Invests in Youth Sports Training Company Startup

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The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Aug. 1 that the club’s venture arm has invested in a new youth sports training company co-founded by former Dodger Nomar Garciaparra.

The Dodgers’ investment vehicle, Elysian Park Ventures, is putting an undisclosed sum into the youth sports training company, known as E|L1, that was founded by Seattle Mariners’ minor leaguer Aaron Trolia and Garciaparra to offer sports training for young athletes and youth sports league teams. The company will be headquartered in Los Angeles.

E|L1 is opening the first Dodgers Training Academy at the site of Garciaparra’s former GBG Academy located in Redondo Beach. According to the announcement, E|L1 will continue to add new Dodgers training facilities throughout the Los Angeles area in the months ahead.

The Dodgers’ investment will enable the company to offer trainees rates that are about one-third the typical market price, according to a spokeswoman. “E|L1 will support players and teams of all skill levels and accommodate players and families who may not be able to afford the high price of other elite sports academies,” the announcement said.

Some of the money will also go toward the establishment of mobile training camps.

“E|L1 is a player-first organization that values personal development just as much as training and winning and believes that youth of all ages and skill levels should have greater access to the game,” Garciaparra said in the announcement.

Economy, education, energy and transportation reporter Howard Fine can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @howardafine.

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