SSAC

The Game Changers: Entrepreneurship with Jason Robins and Rich Paul

Moderator: Jessica Gelman

Panelists: Jason Robins, Rich Paul

From creating a new industry to redefining an old one, industry giants, Jason Robins and Rich Paul will share their origin stories, vision of leadership, and entrepreneurial approach to success. Both founders are highly influential in the sports industry and have expanded their reach beyond their original start-up goals while taking very different approaches, IPO vs partnership. Jason Robins founded DraftKings out of his passion for fantasy sports and has expanded the company into sports betting, gaming, and other consumer product offerings. Rich Paul founded KLUTCH Sports Group to represent NBA basketball clients and has built the agency into a leader in athlete empowerment and community impact. KLUTCH now has expanded into a variety of major sports and leagues with a wide array of industry-dominant offerings. This duo will give an in-depth look into their own entrepreneurship journey and lessons learned from building their empires across negotiations, business growth, and connecting with people. #GameChangers

The Future of Sports & Sports Business

Moderator: Abe Madkour

Panelists: Jessica Gelman, Julie Uhrman, Amy Latimer

Sports is a center for innovation and change, directly reflecting in real-time the changing expectations of fans, athletes, and industry. With the world’s eye often looking to sports to lead change, both with the game and customer consumption, how do sports organizations position themselves for sustainable long-term success? This panel will explore the future of sports and innovation opportunities within on-field experiences, fan engagement, and how sports are consumed. Hear from industry leaders with unique perspectives from leagues, teams, venues, and technology who are driving changes across and within sports. The panel will delve into how organizations can use analytics, AI, and data to improve all aspects of the game. Panelists will also discuss how changes in the broader ecosystem around ownership, globalization, foreign investment, gambling, and rapid shifts in technology are altering fan preferences and reshaping the sports industry. #futureofsports

The New Age of Sports Media: Content and Monetization

Moderator: Marie Donoghue
Panelists: Amy Reinhard, Lori Conkling, Harish Sarma, Reagan Carey

This past year has seen the realization of sports streaming. Netflix hosted its first live sporting event, the Netflix Cup, and has been the home to popular sports series, such as Formula 1: Drive to Survive and Quarterback. YouTube is now the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket. TikTok has re-invented how to consume sports by enabling off-the-field conversations in platforms such as SportsTok. Both playoff and regular season games are now broadcasted on a variety of streaming platforms. Amidst these changes, vMVPD providers are seeing large increases in their subscriber counts. Additionally, consumers are watching more sports content on social media platforms, like TikTok. Panelists representing some of the world’s most innovative digital entertainment companies will discuss approaches to their sports content development strategy, cutting edge ways to monetize the content, and how data drives these decisions. This panel will take a retrospective look at what approaches have been successful so far and how these learnings can be leveraged to anticipate future trends in sports streaming. #sportstreaming

David vs. Goliath: The Underdog Mindset

Moderator: Jackie MacMullan

Panelists: Sue Bird, Jeff Van Gundy, Nick Caserio

As fans, we watch sports for the unexpected and for the feats we did not see coming. Of course, many of the most memorable are David defeating Goliath. Upsets. Last second shots. Win streaks. What leads to the right moments where chemistry defeats legacy? Hear from Sue Bird, Jeff Van Gundy, Nick Caserio, and Daryl Morey on how players, GMs, and coaches come together when they have been both David and Goliath. What are the keys to developing this "underdog" mindset, and how can those of us who are not professional athletes apply those lessons to the challenges we face every day? #Underdog

Future of Football: Innovation on the Gridiron

Moderator: Michele Steele

Panelists: Paul Tudor Jones, Jonathan Kraft
American Football has long held the marquee sports spot within the United States thanks to continual advancements made by leagues and in the sport at large. The NFL is in a period of growth and innovation: the NFL's fan demographics have expanded, 5 international games will be played in 2024, player safety is paramount, flag football has been added to the 2028 Olympics, NFL games accounted for 93 of the top 100 most watched TV broadcasts in 2023, and more. However, fewer of America's youth are playing the game than any time in the past decade and there is concern about the traditional college football model. In this session we'll hear from Jonathan Kraft and Paul Tudor Jones II, two business titans who are at the forefront of this new football era, about what these recent dynamics mean for the game and how they expect the game to progress over the next few years. #FutureOfFootball

The Numbers Game: Football Analytics from Combines to Championships

Moderator: Ted Knutson

Panelists: Steve Palazzolo, Eugene Shen, Sean Clement, Heather Maclean

This panel will deep dive into the multi-faceted world of football analytics with seasoned industry experts from the Washington Commanders, Pro Football Focus, SumerSports, and StatsBomb. The panelists will discuss the current breadth of analytics use cases in football, ranging from the crucial role data plays in player evaluation and roster construction to the rapidly increasing utilization of data to inform game strategy and decision-making. The panelists will highlight the tangible impacts of data-driven methodologies in shaping the modern football landscape and explore potential analytics advancements that can further enhance the influence of data on success in the NFL. #TheNumbersGame

Partnerships: Activating Value

Moderator: Liz Moulton

Panelists: Kirsten Corio, Julie Haddon, Dave Alpern
In an era where sports sponsorships offer an abundance of assets, from jersey patches to on-court branding, the challenge lies in ensuring that partners receive optimal value while maintaining fan engagement and data privacy. This panel, featuring perspectives from leaders across various industries and roles, including the USTA, NWSL, Los Angeles Rams, and Joe Gibbs Racing, delves into the dynamics of sponsor-brand-fan relationships. This panel will explore evolving fan expectations, successful activations, and the impact of shifting data landscapes on sponsorship strategies. While traditional marketing remains a cornerstone of sponsorships, the panel will discuss how it's transitioning to become more digital, emphasizing the fusion of traditional and digital marketing in today's sports sponsorship ecosystem. The panel offers insights into how sponsors are adapting their approaches to first-party data access, emphasizing the importance of staying connected to fans in innovative ways. #ActivatingValue

Leveraging Sports Betting to Enhance the Fan Experience

Moderator: Jacob Feldman

Panelists: Brian Josephs, Keith Goldner, Eric Rimsky

As the U.S. sports betting market continues to mature, hear how key stakeholders within the ecosystem are collaborating to maximize fan engagement opportunities today and in the future. This panel will feature a deep dive into the deeper event data, including the growing focus on the athlete narrative as well as the usage of emerging technologies and advanced analytics. The panelists will discuss how these tools are being leveraged to fuel in-play betting, increase betting offers, and create personalized experiences that bring fans closer to the sports they love. #SportsBetting

The New Playbook: Revolutionizing Sports Gaming with Data and Technology

Moderator: Jeff Ma

Panelists: Grant Cloud, Madeleine Want, Brett Abarbanel

In the rapidly evolving landscape of sports gaming, the intersection of data analytics and technological innovation is creating unprecedented opportunities for growth and engagement. This panel will explore the forefront of innovation in sports gaming, highlighting how data is driving the development of new products and enhancing the sports viewing experience. Key topics will include new DFS game formats, responsible gaming initiatives, the integration of Esports into traditional sports gaming platforms, and the growth of digital communities that connect sports enthusiasts and enable them to form deeper connections to the games they love. Experts from leading gaming companies, including PrizePicks and Fanatics, will offer a deep dive into the intricate behind-the-scenes efforts that fuel these cutting-edge advancements in sports gaming. They will provide a rare glimpse into the complex interplay of data analytics, technology, and creative vision that underpins the development of new gaming formats and enhancements to the sports viewing experience. Through this discussion, the panelists will uncover how data and technology are not just changing the way games are played, but also how they are watched and experienced, paving the way for a more immersive and engaging sports gaming future. #TheNewPlaybook

The Digital Gambit: Creating Compelling Chess Content for New Audiences

Moderator: Danny Rensch

Panelists: Daryl Morey, Levy Rozman, Robert Hess

"The Digital Gambit" brings together chess legends Danny Rensch, Levy Rozman, Robert Hess, James Canty, and Daryl Morey to explore the evolution of chess in the digital era. This panel will delve into the transformation of chess content, fueled by mainstream media and online streaming, and its burgeoning appeal to a younger, tech-savvy audience. Discussions will focus on innovative formats like Chess960, the role of Twitch streamers in popularizing chess, and blending chess with other disciplines for unique content creation. The panel will also tackle the challenges of online cheating, the use of AI to enhance the chess experience, and strategies to monetize content while preserving the game’s integrity. Join us for an insightful exploration into how chess is being reimagined for a new generation, maintaining its rich heritage while embracing technological advancements. The event will also feature live demonstrations with our grandmasters interacting with the audience! #DigitalGambit