Start Me Up: How New Leagues Are Innovating Sports and Capturing Fans

Jon Patricof - CEO and Co-Founder, Athletes Unlimited
Katlyn Gao - Co-Founder and CEO, LOVB
Andrew Sinnenberg - Chief Operating Officer, Premier Lacrosse League (PLL)
Johanna Boynton - Chair and Principal Owner, Toronto Six (PHF)
Shira Springer (moderator) - MIT Sloan Lecturer and Journalist, MIT Sloan

 

Amid seemingly endless opportunities for entertainment, the drama and excitement of sports remains a core part of our culture and continues to capture our attention. Shifting participation trends in youth and high school sports will shape the fans of the future. For example, volleyball - with over 450,000 participants in 2022 - is poised to overtake track and field as the most popular high school girls sport in the US. Amid these changes, we have seen a wave of new leagues - outside the Big 4 sports - pushing the boundaries of traditional league operations through unique approaches to fan engagement, team structure, player empowerment, and gameplay. This panel will dive into the strategies and tactics of innovative leagues like Athletes Unlimited, League One Volleyball, Premier League Lacrosse, and Premier Hockey Federation and outline what's in store for the exciting next chapter of professional sports.