JOY OF THE GAME EXPANDS WEST, ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH LAKE BARRINGTON FIELD HOUSE

DEERFIELD, IL (March 2014) – Joy of the Game (JOTG), the North Shore’s premier basketball organization, is excited to announce their expansion into Lake Barrington. JOTG (158 S. Waukegan Road, Deerfield) is proud to partner with Lake Barrington Field House (28156 W. Northpointe Parkway, Lake Barrington), overseeing all basketball programs. The two organizations will be working together to create a variety of quality basketball programming at the pristine facility, including Joy of the Game West and Rising Stars West. These two new basketball programs will provide young athletes throughout West Lake County with resources and facilities to further their basketball careers.

IFG Development Group, LLC selected JOTG after an extensive search for the right partner. A number of national elite basketball organizations were interviewed during the selection process. Over the past year and a half, JOTG has expanded in the sports market, partnered with some of the highest quality organizations, and expanded their brand throughout Chicagoland, all while under new ownership. This new ownership has allowed JOTG to become a brand more well-known throughout the North Shore area. JOTG is now able to bring more kids into the programs without losing that same personalized coaching experience.

“We are very happy to have made the selection of JOTG. We believe this partnership will allow JOTG to extend their brand excellence to the Lake Barrington Field House.” Says Steven Edelson, Founder of IFG Development Group, LLC. As a result, the participants in our programs will receive the highest level of training to be found.”

Donnell Thomas will become the new Director of Operations for Joy of the Game West/Rising Stars West. “JOTG has a great system in place and it’s very exciting to be moving forward. Helping athletes grow is one of JOTG’s goals, so bringing in more players will help us achieve that in yet another location.” Thomas has had 12 years of experience in European professional basketball, and is in the Chicago Public League Hall of Fame for Paul Robeson High School and the College Hall of Fame for Northern Illinois University.  

“We have been wanting to expand for quite some time, and Lake Barrington seemed to be the perfect location,” Says Josh Carl, owner of Joy of the Game. “IFG Development Group, LLC has an impressive client list and a terrific track record on managing sports facilities, and JOTG is proud to take these next steps toward growth by teaming up with them.”

ABOUT JOY OF THE GAME

Founded in 1993, Joy of the Game has evolved from a small basketball clinic based in the North Shore of Chicago to the premier basketball facility and teaching center in the Chicago area. Joy of the Game offers a full array of programming that lends itself to players of all ages and skill levels and taught by a top-notch staff of expert, caring and qualified coaches. It is also the home to the nationally recognized Rising Stars travel basketball program. Joy of the Game believes that sports are not only about competition, but are an outlet to teach life’s valuable lessons. The ultimate goal of Joy of the Game is to give each player the skills to deal with life’s challenges in a positive and fun environment while instilling a sense of pride for his or her individual and team accomplishments. To learn more about Joy of the Game, visit http://www.joyofthegame.com/ or call 847-498-6646.