2025 AGENDA
WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN JULY
To help with your travel plans, please see the proposed outline of activities below:
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18
- Afternoon / Evening Welcome Reception
- Full day of content at Intercontinental Downtown LA
- Evening off-site activity
- Full day of content at Intercontinental Downtown LA
- Evening off-site activity
- Off-site morning activity (TBD)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15
- Afternoon / Evening Welcome Reception
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16
- Full day of content at Intercontinental Downtown LA
- Evening off-site activity
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17
- Full day of content at Intercontinental Downtown LA
- Evening off-site activity
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18
- Off-site morning activity (TBD)
Bus transportation will be provided for offsite activities
2024 SCHEDULE
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
7:30-9:30 PM
Welcome Reception
Hosted by The Dallas Cowboys and Legends
Training Table at The Star
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Breakfast
Hosted by Tony Fay Public Relations
The Star Ballroom C-D, Second Floor, Omni Frisco at The Star
8:30 AM
Welcome, Opening Remarks and Attendee Meet & Greet
Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
Tom Andrus, President, AXS North America
The Star Ballroom A-B, Second Floor
9:00 AM
Unlocking the Next Gen Fan Experience: Innovation in Sports Ticketing and Engagement
Justin Burleigh, Chief Product Officer, AXS
Nicole Freeman, Vice President, Team Marketing & Business Operations, NBA
Clay Luter, Executive Vice President & Co-Head, Sports, Ticketmaster
Mike Quarino, Vice President, Club Ticketing, MLS
Moderator: Bret McCormick, Staff Writer - Facilities & Ticketing, Sports Business Journal
9:35 AM
Featured Presentation - Beyond Our Imagination: Redefining Personalization with Parallel RealityTM Experiences
Albert Ng, Co-Founder & CEO, Misapplied Sciences
Facilitator: Joe Lemire, Senior Writer - Technology, Sports Business Journal
10:05 AM
Partner Insight: Committing to Continuous Innovation
Rob Bence, VP, Technology & Cybersecurity, Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Bryce Hollweg, Chief Operating Officer, Florida Panthers
Brett Olson, Senior Director of Strategy & Innovation, Washington Commanders
Moderator: Brian Gorney, Managing Director, U.S. Pro Sports, Verizon
10:20 AM
Featured Presentation - Identifying Opportunities: Leveraging Data Collaboration to Optimize Brand Partnerships
Matt Wolf, Executive Vice President, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, NBA
Facilitator: Dan Kaufman, Managing Director, Sports Technology, Sports Business Journal
10:50 AM
Introduction of Emerging Executives
11:00 AM
Networking Break
Hosted by FEVO
The Star Foyer
11:30 AM
Concurrent Sessions - The Star Ballroom A&B and Wynne Ballroom
Presentation - Fan Engagement: How the NFL Is Leveraging Data and Analytics to Help Grow Their Global Fan Base
Kelley Gazdak, Vice President, Data & Analytics, NFL
Facilitator: David Broughton, Research Director, Sports Business Journal
The Star Ballroom
Evolving Hospitality: Navigating Trends in the Premium Space
Jackie Keller, Vice President, Hospitality, Wasserman
Mike Ondrejko, President Global Sales, Legends
Brian Ruede, President & CEO, Quint
Dan Werly, Senior Vice President & COO, Tennessee Titans
Moderator: Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large - Marketing & Sponsorship, Sports Business Journal
The Wynne Ballroom
12:05 PM
Beyond Seasons: Navigating Year-Round Mixed-Use Success
David Carlock, Founder & Principal, Machete Group
Todd Glickman, Chief Revenue Officer, Comcast Spectacor
Russell Silvers, Chief Operating Officer, AEG Global Partnerships
Fran Weld, CEO, Canopy Team
Moderator: Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
12:35 PM
Lunch
Sponsored by AXS
The Star Ballroom C-D
1:45 PM
Winning Beyond the Scoreboard: The Jones Family's Formula for Success
Charlotte Jones, Chief Brand Officer & Co-Owner, Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones Jr., Chief Sales & Marketing Officer & Co-Owner, Dallas Cowboys
Stephen Jones, Chief Operating Officer & Co-Owner, Dallas Cowboys
Moderator: Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
2:30 PM
Leadership Perspective: Effective Strategies for Sports Franchise Management
Chad Estis, EVP, Business Operations, Dallas Cowboys; EVP, Legends
Raven Jemison, President, Kansas City Current
Jess Smith, President, Golden State Valkyries
Tim Zulawski, President, AMB Sports and Entertainment
Moderator: Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
3:10 PM
Networking Break
The Star Foyer
3:45 PM
Concurrent Sessions - The Star Ballroom A&B and Wynne Ballroom
Bite-Size Insights: Leveraging Data to Boost F&B Revenue
Scott McDade, Vice President, Data Science, Aramark Sports & Entertainment
Jamie Obletz, Group President, Sportservice, Patina Restaurant Group & Delaware North UK
Parag Shah, Sr. Director, Analytics & Business Intelligence, Sodexo Live!
Sumathi Thiyagarajan, Senior Vice President, Analytics & Business Operations, Milwaukee Bucks & Fiserv Forum
Moderator: David Broughton, Research Director, Sports Business Journal
The Star Ballroom
Flexible Memberships: Customizable Packages and Experiences that Engage Fans and Increase Revenue
Drew Bentley, Vice President, Business Operations & Strategy, D.C. United
Adam Feldman, Vice President, Ticket and Sales Operations, Las Vegas Raiders
Chris Giles, Founder & CEO, FanRally
Moderator: Mason Donley, Head of Sports, AXS
The Wynne Ballroom
4:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions
Facilities of the Future
Jonathan Emmett, Principal & Design Director, Gensler
Jennifer O'Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, New York City FC
Bryan Trubey, Senior Principal, Overland Partners
Moderator: Bret McCormick, Staff Writer - Facilities & Ticketing, Sports Business Journal
The Star Ballroom
Balancing Act: The Intersection of Primary and Secondary Ticket Markets
Stu Halberg, CEO, Logitix
Michael Kesaris, Vice President, Strategy & Insight, Florida Panthers
Harrison Kim, Senior Vice President, Business Strategy, Austin FC
Moderator: Joe Lemire, Senior Writer - Technology, Sports Business Journal
The Wynne Ballroom
4:45 PM
Concurrent Sessions
Inside the Intuit Dome: Fan-Centric Innovations and Experiences
George Hanna, Chief Technology and Digital Officer, LA Clippers
Facilitator: David Broughton, Research Director, Sports Business Journal
The Star Ballroom
The Next Chapter: Advancements in AI Ticketing
Travis Case, Vice President, Ticket Sales & Service, LAFC
Ryan Miller, Founding Partner & CEO, WolfCycle.ai
Facilitator: Joe Lemire, Senior Writer - Technology, Sports Business Journal
The Wynne Ballroom
5:15 PM
Networking Reception
The Star Foyer
6:15 PM
Buses depart from the valet parking area at the Omni for Cosm
6:30 PM
Arrive at Cosm
Welcome & remarks by Jeb Terry, President & CEO, Cosm, followed by a reception
Hosted by Cosm
8:15 PM
Depart Cosm, staggered bus departures
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
8:45 AM
Breakfast & DRIVE Connect
A curated and highly intentional thought leadership and networking program designed to touch on some of the hottest topics and challenges facing your industry and to ensure every attendee leaves with new, meaningful business ideas and relationships
Facilitator: Dan Kaufman, Managing Director, Sports Technology, Sports Business Journal
The Star Ballroom C-D, Second Floor, Omni Frisco at The Star
10:00 AM
The Road to LA28 – A Look Ahead at What’s in Store as the Torch Returns to the USA
Allison Katz-Mayfield, Senior Vice President, Games Delivery Revenue, LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games
Bryan Perez, President & CEO, AXS
Moderator: Bret McCormick, Staff Writer - Facilities & Ticketing, Sports Business Journal
The Star Ballroom A-B, Second Floor
10:30 AM
Revolutionizing Media: Beyond the Traditional Revenue Streams
Brad Alberts, President & CEO, Dallas Stars
Allison Barber, President & COO, Indiana Fever
Nic Barlage, CEO, Rock Entertainment Group, Cleveland Cavaliers
Neil Leibman, President, Business Operations & COO, Texas Rangers
Moderator: Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
11:00 AM
Partner Insight: The Use of Temporary Structures to Increase Revenue and Improve the Spectator Experience
Jason Tedrow, President & CEO, InProduction
Facilitator: Dan Kaufman, Managing Director, Sports Technology, Sports Business Journal
11:15 AM
Networking Break
The Star Foyer
11:45 AM
Featured Interview - Playing for Profit: Decoding Private Equity’s Game Plan in Sports
Chad Hutchinson, Partner, Arctos
Moderator: Austin Karp, Managing Editor, Newsletters, Sports Business Journal
12:15 PM
Partner Insight: Shaping the Future of Mobile Rewards and Wallet: Successes and Learnings with the Cleveland Guardians
Chris Hart, Director, Digital Experience, Cleveland Guardians
Sam Yarin, Vice President of Product & Sales Strategy, Venuetize, powered by Everi
12:30 PM
Lunch
The Star Ballroom C-D
1:45 PM
Doorway to Doorway: From Facial Recognition to Ingress to Personalized Experiences
Marcel Braithwaite, Senior Vice President of Business Operations, Houston Astros
Brandon Covert, Vice President of Information Technology, Cleveland Browns
Oscar Fernandez, SVP, Technology, NY Mets
Moderator: Katherine Krohn, Principal, EVP - Venues & Events, Next League
2:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions
Game Day Magic: Why Fans Keep Coming Back
Jerome Elenez, Vice President of Marketing, FC Dallas
JJ Gottsch, CEO & General Manager, Austin Gamblers
Ashley Hall, Vice President, Ticketing Sales & Services, LA Galaxy
Moderator: Vito Iaia, Chief Revenue Officer, AXS
The Star Ballroom
Monetizing Sports Travel Packages
Arich Berghammer, Senior Vice President, Revenue & Growth, ASM
Craig Decker, Manager of Corporate Sales, Green Bay Packers
Daren Libonati, Co-Founder, Jampack
Greg Nortman, EVP of Ticketing & Revenue Partnerships, On Location
Moderator: David Broughton, Research Director, Sports Business Journal
The Wynne Ballroom
2:45 PM
Networking Break
Hosted by Boingo
The Star Foyer
3:15 PM
Partner Insight: Innovative Fan Engagement: Transforming the Game with Oracle
Phil Ross, Senior Sales Engineer, Oracle
Moderator: Dan Kaufman, Managing Director, Sports Technology, Sports Business Journal
3:30 PM
Empowering Data-Driven Decision-Making: Strategies for Cultivating an Analytical Culture Across the Organization
Jared George, Vice President, Strategy and Analytics, New York Islanders
Matt Gray, Executive Vice President, Revenue & Strategy, Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Klene, Vice President of Business Strategy and Analytics, Chicago Bulls
Moderator: Joe Lemire, Senior Writer - Technology, Sports Business Journal
4:00 PM
Featured Interview - Beyond the Star: Troy Aikman’s Journey
Troy Aikman, ESPN Analyst, Pro Football Hall of Famer, 3x Super Bowl Champion
Moderator: Whitney Shaw, CEO, American City Business Journals
4:30 PM
Networking Reception
The Star Foyer
5:30 PM
Buses depart from the valet parking area at the Omni for PGA of America Headquarters
6:00 PM
Arrive at the PGA of America Headquarters
Evening hosted by PGA of America
Welcome and remarks by Jeff Price, Chief Commercial Officer, the PGA of America
Reception hosted by Eventellect
8:15 PM
Depart PGA of America Headquarters for the Omni at The Star
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
8:15 AM
Breakfast
The Star Ballroom C-D, Second Floor, Omni Frisco at The Star
9:15 AM
Considerations for Your Venue’s Fancentric Journey
Chris Kinnan, Associate Director & Co-Founder, Innovation Institue for Fan Experience (IIFX)
Dr. Lou Marciani, Director & Co-Founder, Innovation Institue for Fan Experience (IIFX)
Facilitator: David Broughton, Research Director, Sports Business Journal
The Star Ballroom A-B, Second Floor
10:00 AM
Examining the Business, Trends, Facility and Revenue Growth around Women Sports
Amber Cox, Chief Operating Officer, Dallas Wings
Brady Stewart, CEO, Bay FC
Moderator: Bret McCormick, Staff Writer - Facilities & Ticketing, Sports Business Journal
10:30 AM
Big Events-Big Revenue: From Pricing Strategies to Inventory Control to Marketing Roll Out and Fan Expectations
John Beaven, Chief Revenue Officer, Golden State Warriors
Molly Pendleton, SVP, MLS, Touring, and Unified Events, Eventellect
Will Pitts, Chief Operating Officer, Charlotte Sports Foundation
Moderator: Joe Lemire, Senior Writer - Technology, Sports Business Journal
11:00 AM
Featured Presentation - The Top 10 Trends in Sports Business You Should Be Watching
Abraham Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
11:30 AM
Welcome to Globe Life Field
11:40 AM
Content sessions conclude at the Omni
11:50 AM
Buses depart from the valet parking area at the Omni for Globe Life Field
12:30 PM
Arrive at Globe Life Field
Lunch in the suites
1:35 PM
Toronto Blue Jays @ Texas Rangers
Afternoon at the Ballpark Hosted by The Texas Rangers
Lunch Hosted by Amazon Just Walk Out
Buses will depart from Globe Life Field to the Omni Hotel and Dallas Fort Worth Airport – staggered departures
5:00 PM
