Tampa couple to franchise youth athletics training facility

Ben and Darcy Milsom, a Tampa couple with careers in sports, announced on April 21 their intentions to open a youth training facility franchise on May 3.

D1 Training is located at 3161-6 Curlew Road in the Westchase neighborhood of Tampa. 

The concept for the business germinated when the pair struggled to find their 14-year-old son training at a higher level than traditional youth sports camps offered. Conversations with other local families revealed the need for a proper facility and inspired the Milsoms to open D1.  

“For us, D1 Training in Westchase is more about passion than profit,” says co-founder Ben Milsom in a statement. “We’re thrilled to create an environment that helps youth athletes, encourages kids to step away from screens, and inspires families to train together.”

According to the statement, Ben is currently the chief revenue officer of Intersport, a Chicago-based sports marketing firm. He also previously worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Sacramento Kings in executive and sales positions. 

Darcy began her professional dance career in the NBA, performing with the Indiana Pacers for seven years—where she served as a captain—and with the Sacramento Kings for one year.

D1 Training is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. It has over 100 open locations in the country, 20 of which are in Florida.