SSAC

Press Any Key to Start: How to Build an Esports Brand

Casey Chafkin - Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder, Skillz Inc.

 

David Higdon - Global Head of Communications, Esports for Riot Games

 

Nicole LaPointe Jameson - CEO, Evil Geniuses

 

Saj Cherian (Moderator) - Partner, Kynetic

 

In 2019, The Overwatch League was the only major sports league to show a rise in television viewers from the 18 to 34-year-old demographic. However, despite Esports’ exponential year-over-year growth, it has struggled with cultivating strong and lasting brands. In order to do so, Esports businesses must build solid and sustainable brands to endure rapid shifts in game popularity and determine how to leverage their platforms, both online and offline. As the industry is still evolving, there is no one right answer on how to go about creating, maintaining and growing a brand in the Esports industry. In this panel, industry thought leaders from a variety of Esports businesses will discuss how they have chosen their unique path for their brand, how they generate success, and how they attract and maintain fans and customers.

Tackling the Name, Image, and Likeness Issue in College Sports

Gerry Cardinale - Founder and Managing Partner, RedBird Capital Partners

 

Saquon Barkley - Running Back, New York Giants

 

Stan Wilcox - Executive VP Regulatory Affairs, NCAA

 

Martin Jarmond - Athletic Director, Boston College

 

Warren Zola (Moderator) - Executive Director, Boston College Chief Executives Club

 

California’s passing of the Fair Pay to Play Act in late 2019 reignited the longstanding, nationwide debate over collegiate athlete compensation. Given the complexity of the issue, the vast number of stakeholders, material financial implications and multitude of potential resolutions, it is no surprise that this debate has captured the attention of the sports world and beyond. California’s groundbreaking legislation has also placed the spotlight firmly on the NCAA which is actively revisiting its related rules and policies. Hear from a varied group of stakeholders in the college space as they discuss and debate some of the most pressing issues surrounding this topic, including the potential ramifications for players, schools and athletic programs, the attractiveness of name, image and likeness opportunities, as well as ethical and regulatory challenges.

Sports in 2040: Hindsight is 2020

Daryl Morey - General Manager, Houston Rockets

 

Jessica Gelman - CEO, Kraft Analytics Group

 

Bill James - Former Sr. Baseball Operations Advisor, Boston Red Sox

 

Nate Silver - Editor-in-Chef, FiveThirtyEight

 

Katie Nolan (Moderator) - Host, ESPN

 

In 2040, the NBA has a 5-point line, NFL stadiums seat 40,000 as fans watch via VR, Amazon will own MLS, and MLB games finish in less than an hour. This panel will make bold predictions on what’s to come. Sports have radically changed over the last 20 years, from how teams manage their players to how sports media delivers content to how fans watch games. As we look toward the future, the only thing that is certain is that change will continue at a rapid pace. With that in mind, our brave panelists will predict the future landscape of sports and attempt to defend their wild speculations.

Sponsorship in the 2020s: Leveraging Technology to Uncover Gems

Robert Hofmann - Vice President, Account Director & Club Sponsorship Lead, Club Business Development, NFL

 

Lauren Riker - Global Marketing Analytics Manager, New Balance

 

Scott Tilton - CEO & Co-Founder, Hookit

 

Tiffany Frits (Moderator) - Business Operations Manager, ESPN Stats and Information Group

 

From headphones to tennis shoes, sponsorship influences buying decisions because of one simple reason: fans want to be like their sports idols. Though sponsorships improve sales, they have historically been difficult, if not impossible, to quantify. But with increasing ways to measure fan engagement, can we use data to truly understand and predict the value of sponsorship? This panel will examine how brands are utilizing machine learning, targeted advertising, and incentive-based sponsorships to predict successful athlete and league partnerships. Brands, leagues and sponsor tech will weigh in on how to succeed in this emerging and exciting space heading into the new decade.

MLS Growth Story: A Conversation with Don Garber and Jonathan Kraft

Don Garber - Commissioner, MLS

 

Jonathan Kraft - President, The Kraft Group 

 

Taylor Twellman (Moderator) - Soccer Analyst, ESPN 

 

Today, Major League Soccer (MLS) is one of the most successful growth stories in American sports history. The average MLS team is valued at $313mm (30% growth from last year) and team valuation growth outpaces every major US league team valuation growth by at least 2x. During its evolution, MLS has used creative concepts to bring in talent (the Designated Player Rule adopted in 2007) and witnessed impressive surges in attendance across the league (Atlanta United averaged 70,000+/game last year). Having launched with 10 teams in 1996, the league plans to expand to 30 teams by 2022. Learn how Commissioner Don Garber has shepherded the growth of MLS and soccer in the United States and how the guidance and partnership with one of the founding MLS investors, Kraft Group President Jonathan Kraft, has helped shape the opportunities, overcome adversity, and align the US to host the World Cup in 2026.

Soccer Analytics: The Beautiful Game Meets the Analytics Edge

Vosse de Boode - Head of Sports Science, AFC Ajax

 

Devin Pleuler - Director of Analytics, Toronto FC 

 

Ted Knutson - CEO & Founder, StatsBomb 

 

Tyler Heaps - Director of Sporting Analytics, U.S. Soccer Federation 

 

Grant Wahl (Moderator) - Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated 

 

The arms race is on – more teams from FC Barcelona to Liverpool are using analytical tools to influence and inform their technical decisions, transfer market game plan, and scouting strategies. Learn how coaches, players, and executives are incorporating data and analytics into their decision-making process. This discussion will dive into the competitive advantages that can be unlocked through soccer analytics in the Manager’s office, on the pitch, and in the boardroom.

Reinventing a Business: The Future of Sports Business

Paul Caine - President, Endeavor/NFL On Location Experiences

 

Amy Latimer - President, TD Garden 

 

Jimmy Pitaro - President, ESPN 

 

Amy Howe - President and COO, Ticketmaster 

 

Abe Madkour (Moderator) - Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal 

 

50% of the leading companies in S&P 500 will be replaced in the next 10 years. Industry leaders in sports (ESPN and Ticketmaster), new entities spun out of leaders (On Location), and companies at the frontline of venue experience (Delaware North) are facing increasing competition. New entrants to the field, alternative entertainment options, and shifts in customer behavior require aggressive shifts. On this panel, leaders of some of the world’s most prominent companies driving the sports ecosystem discuss their proactive approach to understand customer needs, the changing business dynamics and the challenges keeping their businesses as industry leaders.

From the Martial Arts to the Art of Negotiation – Sport, Science, Art, or Philosophy?

Sensei Nick Theodorou – Owner & Founder, Theodorou Academy

 

Deepak Malhotra – Professor, Harvard Business School

 

When it comes to excellence and superior performance in the martial arts, sports, business or any other endeavor, how does one exceed the limits of science and truly become an “artist”? Are experts simply outstanding practitioners of their sport, or do they go beyond “practice” and develop their own philosophies? What are the limits of exceptional technique, and how do you go farther by mastering underlying principles? In a dynamic and wide-ranging conversation on the essence of mastery, Sensei Nick Theodorou (a 35-year practitioner of the martial arts and 6th degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu) and Professor Deepak Malhotra (a Negotiations Professor of 17 years at Harvard Business School and an advisor on deals and conflicts around the world) will discuss what accounts for greatness in the martial arts, in the worlds of negotiation and diplomacy, and in everything from sports to the performing arts to leadership. Come learn as well as participate in a conversation that will enhance your own game, whatever skill or domain you are trying to master.

Michael Lewis – Going Deep with Mike Leach – The Most Innovative Mind in Football

Mike Leach – Head Football Coach, Washington State University

Michael Lewis – Author & Journalist

 

Coach; Author; Innovator; Eccentric; Brilliant; Unconventional. All these and more have been used to describe Mike Leach, who will sit down with bestselling author Michael Lewis for a one-on-one conversation on being arguably the most innovative coach in football history and how he has changed the way the game is played. Coming off an 11-2 season at the helm of the Washington State Cougars football program, Leach will take a moment to reflect on where he’s been, where he’s going, and why he might be the most misunderstood man in college football.

Competing with the Couch: Improving the Venue Experience

Tom Garfinkel – President & CEO, Miami Dolphins

Amy Latimer – President, TD Garden

Brian Mirakian – Senior Principal & Populous Activate Director, Populous

Pete Giorgio – Leader, US Sports Consulting, Deloitte

Angela Ruggiero (Moderator) – CEO & Co-Founder, Sports Innovation Lab

 

With increasing options for when, where, and how fans are able to watch their favorite teams play, legacy venues are trying to accommodate newer technologies and comforts to encourage fans to come to live games and engage with their team. Creating a new venue experience offers organizations the opportunity to incorporate state-of-the-art technology, local and gourmet food and beverage options, and more ways for fans to interact with each other and the game itself. But, it is also a long and expensive process. On this panel, executives will discuss how they are redefining the “street to seat” experience to fill their seats and create an unparalleled experience for longtime and new fans alike.