SSAC

A New Arena: Careers After Sports

Justin Tuck – VP, Goldman Sachs & Former Player, NFL

 

Shawn Johnson East – Former Olympic Gold Medalist

 

Andy Roddick – Former Professional Tennis Player

 

Metta World Peace – Former NBA Player

 

Michele Steele (Moderator) – Studio Anchor & Reporter, ESPN

 

A professional athlete’s lifepath after retiring can be as unpredictable as their career between the lines. So what brings an Olympic gold medalist, Super Bowl champion, NBA Finals winner, and world No. 1 tennis player to the same stage in Boston? Learn what makes these successful athletes tick and what excites them about their new arenas. Panelists will share how they think about business decisions and opportunities, and how their playing days have impacted their post-sports life.

The Path to Greatness

Sue Bird – Point Guard, Seattle Storm

 

Larry Fitzgerald – Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals

 

Ameeth Sankaran (Moderator) – CEO, Religion of Sports

 

Sports are mythic, and a backdrop for life. What does it take to become the greatest of all time? What does it take to sustain it? How is this different based on individual and make-up? Join Religion of Sports CEO, Ameeth Sankaran, to learn how they uncover and bring to life this mythical goal. “The Path to Greatness” panel will highlight both brilliant athleticism and more importantly, share life lessons that come from sports – physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. Sue Bird and Larry Fitzgerald will weigh in on their paths, learnings, and what remains to be done. Content from other Religion of Sports athletes’ stories will be woven in to uniquely share nuances by sport and subject.

Save the Data: The Future of Data & Technology

Shelley Pisarra – EVP of Global Insights & Strategy, Wasserman

 

Matt Smith – SVP of CRM, Fanatics

 

Kat Frederick – CMO, Ticketmaster

 

Kelly Ungerman (Moderator) – Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

 

Technology has transformed how sports organizations engage with their fans and collect information. Investing in new tools, acquiring new companies, and taking a “test and learn” approach to understanding customer needs have been critical to the evolution of key industry players. Learn how organizations think about data creation when building new products, how they incorporate that information into their broader ecosystem, and how analyzing vast customer information supports the increasing demand for the instant gratification of a personalized digital experience. Additionally, panelists will discuss how the new data privacy laws are creating shifts to technology and creation of new processes. Executives from the leading ticketing, wearables, marketing, and merchandise organizations will share how they are leveraging technology to meet changing customers needs, regulations, and data capture.

Innovating for the Next Generation of America's Pastime

Greg Cain – VP of Baseball Data, MLB

 

Caleb Weinstein – Director for Sport, Media, & Entertainment, Google Cloud

 

Lou DePaoli – EVP & CRO, New York Mets

 

Jason Gaetdke – CTO, MLB

 

Cristina Daglas (Moderator) – Senior Deputy Editor, ESPN.com

 

America’s pastime has seen attendance drop in recent years, yet the league set digital ticketing and consumption records in 2019. Learn how Major League Baseball and its teams are leaning into data analytics and machine learning to increase entertainment value and accessibility for fans around the world. This panel will dive deep into how technology is driving innovation across the league and the fan experience and helping grow the game for the next generation. Hear from Google Cloud’s Director for Sport, Major League Baseball’s CTO and VP of Baseball Data, and the Mets’ Chief Revenue Officer about how they are driving the game forward.

Start Me Up: Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Nate Silver – Editor-in-Chef, FiveThirtyEight

 

Dean Kamen – Founder, FIRST

 

Alexis Ohanian – Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Initialized Capital & Co-Founder, Reddit

 

Jason Robins – CEO & Co-Founder, DraftKings

 

Jessica Gelman (Moderator) – CEO, Kraft Analytics Group

 

Reddit, the Segway, Daily Fantasy Sports, and predicting presidential elections. Over the past decade, meet the inventors and entrepreneurs who have created lasting change affecting how consumers engage with information, data, and the world. How did they conceive of their ideas? What challenges did they face in their journey to create the product and build the business? How would today’s technology accelerate their original ideas? While some have made their mark in the sports industry by identifying changing consumer preferences and technological advances, others find inspiration from other industries. This panel will share learnings across industries, analyze how serial entrepreneurs build innovative ideas and ideate on where they see opportunities in sports.

Sports Gambling Innovation: Betting on the Future

Frank Frigo – Co-Founder, EdjSports

 

Kip Levin – President & COO, FanDuel

 

Matthew Berry – Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst, ESPN

 

Jeffrey Yass – Founder and Managing Director, SIG

 

Jeff Ma (Moderator) – Co-Host, Bet the Process

 

In the 18 months since the Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, revenue generated across states offering legal gambling has reached an astounding $15 billion. This is just a drop in the bucket as the market for illegal sports gambling has been estimated upwards of $150 billion. As gambling comes closer to being completely legalized across the United States, businesses and leagues are taking innovative approaches to make betting interesting and more mainstream to maximize the seemingly limitless revenue pool. This panel will discuss the mechanics behind the legislation, technology, and implementation.

Finding the Favorite: Engaging Fans and Bettors

Zach Leonsis – SVP of Strategic Initiatives, Monumental Sports

 

Brian Josephs – VP of Digital Sports, Sportradar

 

Scott Kaufman-Ross – SVP of Fantasy & Gaming, NBA

 

Doug Kezirian – Sports Betting Analyst & Daily Wager Host, ESPN

 

Chad Millman (Moderator) – Chief Content Officer, Action Network

 

Daily Fantasy captivated a generation of players that do not consider themselves sports bettors. As legalization continues to sweep across the country, what new game formats will attract the ever expanding pie of potential players? Industry trailblazers are working to create and enrich the gambling experience for fans through innovative stadium experiences, daily games, podcasts and television shows that can be consumed wherever you are. During this panel, leaders from across the gambling landscape will share their vision of fan experience that would excite anyone from the hardcore gambler to the newbie.

Fanalytics 2.0

Rich Gotham – Team President, Boston Celtics

 

Rob King – SVP of Original Content, ESPN

 

Jessica Gelman – CEO, Kraft Analytics Group

 

Jason Robins – CEO & Co-Founder, DraftKings

 

Alison Overholt (Moderator) – VP of Storytelling & Special Projects, ESPN

 

In our first “Fanalytics” panel in 2013, we speculated the ways to collect and use data to improve the fan experience. Back then, we discussed opens and clicks, but now the nuances are much deeper. What has changed? Today customer insights are gained throughout the fan lifecycle and are informing improvements to the end product and customer experience. Learn how industry leaders such as Amazon, ESPN, DraftKings, and the many organizations KAGR works with are striving to better understand fan needs. Listen to business leaders across the sports landscape discuss how organizations are quantifying fan behavior, better understanding customers, and approaching the future.

Ticketing Analytics: Secondary to None

Rob Sine – Chief Revenue Officer, AXS

 

Adam Grow – COO, KORE Software

 

Kristin Bernert – SVP of Business Operations, MSG Sports

 

Patrick Ryan – Co-Founder, Eventellect

 

Shira Springer (Moderator) – Sports and Society Reporter, NPR & WBUR

 

Ticketing and game attendance remains the cornerstone of sports organizations. With the push for an open ticketing environment in recent years, technology has increased transparency, improved insights into who is attending a game, and provided more customized ticketing options. Season ticket holders remain the key to sustained success, but the definition of what they get and how they engage with their team is shifting. Listen in as industry leaders from ticketing giants to beloved teams to marketing platforms discuss the strategies they are using to fill their stadium and extend season tickets, while using the secondary market to gain new customers and test pricing.

How Big Is Your Jumbotron: Optimizing the Venue Experience

Jim Nolan – COO, Kraft Sports & Entertainment

 

Kat Harwood – Senior Manager, Deloitte

 

Mike Shane – Chief Business Officer, Comcast Spectacor

 

Peter Feigin – President, Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum

 

Josh Walker (Moderator) – Co-Founder & President, Sports Innovation Lab

 

Over the past decade, 85% of sports venues have invested in significant improvements to meet the changing needs of fans and enhancing the overall experience. With a focus on creating new experiences within the venue, including new premium locations, all- you-can-eat options, or simply entry into the game, venue owners and operators are rethinking and redefining the in-venue experience. Increased investments in upgrades include UltraHD video boards, escalators for aging populations, improved communication in apps, better wifi, and optimized traffic flow. This panel brings together industry leaders with diverse perspectives to discuss the current trends and best practices.