2026 SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
7:15 PM
Welcome Reception
Location: Terrace Suite, Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Hosted by
8:00 PM
Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
3rd floor, JW Marriott Downtown
7:30 AM
Registration
Pick up badge at Salon 6
Hosted by
7:45 AM
Breakfast
7:45 AM
SBJ Connect: Structured Networking
SBJ Connect: Structured Networking is a facilitated networking experience focused on:
- Connecting attendees through guided conversations and topic-driven discussions
- Sharing insights and exchanging ideas
- Building lasting professional relationships in a structured yet relaxed setting
8:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:00 AM
Reflections on a Lifetime of Leadership
Herb Simon, Owner & Chairman, Pacers Sports & Entertainment & Founder, Boxcar Development
9:30 AM
Industry Insight
9:45 AM
Setting the Standard: Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta - 10 Years of Transforming Revenue and Real Estate
Mike Plant, President & CEO, Braves Development Company
Derek Schiller, President & CEO, Atlanta Braves
10:30 AM
Networking Break
Hosted by
11:00 AM
Skating Smarter: Inside the NY Islanders’ Data-Driven Transformation with KAGR
Kelly Cheeseman, President, Business Operations, New York Islanders & UBS Arena
Jessica Gelman, CEO, KAGR (Kraft Analytics Group)
11:30 AM
Industry Insight
11:45 AM
Future Models & Trends: The Strategies Reshaping Ticketing Revenue
George Postolos, Co-Founder, Eventellect
Jim Van Dam, Vice President, Ticketing Sales & Service, Indianapolis Colts
12:15 PM
Lunch
12:15 PM
Workshop - Invite Only
Hosted by
Joseph Graziano, Chief Commercial Officer, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Rachel McMahan, Area Vice President Enterprise Sales, Salesforce
Inquire to attend: jtong@sportsbusinessjournal.com
1:30 - 3:10 PM
Concurrent Sessions
1:30 PM
Building a Strong Data Governance Framework: Lessons from the Detroit Lions
Jonathon Lorenz, Director, Data Governance, Detroit Lions
New Players, New Approaches: Using Ticketing Technology to Deepen Fan Relationships and Drive Growth
Kyle Burkhart, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Dallas Mavericks
Lee Schmold, Senior Vice President, Product, StellarAlgo
Craig Swaisgood, Vice President, Data & Analytics, New York Mets
2:00 - 2:05 PM
Transition
2:05 PM
Case Study: What Drives Fan Passion-Using Fan Insights to Grow Loyalty and Revenue
Garrison Cumming, Assistant Director of Brand & Marketing, Green Bay Packers
Kirk Wakefield, Chief Research Officer & Founder, Wakefield Global
The Rise of Ultra-Premium: Designing Experiences for the Highest-Value Fans
Amber Burda, COO & GM, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Kayla Schine, Senior Vice President, Premium Sales & Service, Legends Global
Scott Shepherd, CRO, Houston Texans
2:35 - 2:40 PM
Transition
2:40 PM
From Data to Decisions: BI Strategies Driving Performance and Revenue
Brooks Deaton, Vice President, Data & Insights, NASCAR
Iwao Fusillo, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, New York Jets
Jon Hay, Senior Vice President, Business Strategy & Analytics, Boston Red Sox
The Shifting Dynamics of the Secondary Market
Royce Cohen, Senior Vice President, Business Strategy, L.A. Dodgers
Tony Knopp, CEO, TicketManager
3:10 PM
Networking Break
Hosted by
3:30 PM
Year-Round Revenue Hubs: Optimizing Programming, Staffing & Fan-First Experiences
Megan Cantwell, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Events & Commercial Strategy, Marquee Development
Christy Castillo Butcher, Senior Vice President, Programming, SoFi Stadium & Hollywood Park
Hallie Yavitch, Senior Vice President, Booking & Marketing, Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater & L.A. Live
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Facilities Module - Trends and New Developments
Building for the Future: Inside the New Highmark Stadium
Kate Hussmann, Chief Strategy Officer, Buffalo Bills
The Belmont Park Transformation: Blending Heritage with Innovation
Matt Chmura, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Sales Officer, New York Race Association
Meg McWilliam, Principal, Senior Architect, Populous
5:00 PM
Networking Reception
6:00 PM
Depart for Lucas Oil Stadium
6:15 PM
Evening at Lucas Oil Stadium
Reception, Content & Interactive Experiences
9:00 PM
Evening concludes
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
8:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM
Defining the Future of Sports: What Leaders Are Betting on Next
Nic Barlage, President, Cleveland Cavaliers
Catie Griggs, President, Business Operations, Baltimore Orioles
Ryan Gustafson, President & CEO, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment
Mel Raines, President & CEO, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
9:30 AM
Industry Insight: The AI-Native League: What Breaks, What Gets Built
Ryan Dillon, Chief Growth Officer, Next 3
Shripal Shah, Chief AI and Innovation Officer, Next League
9:45 AM
Building a Leaguewide Agentic AI Data Strategy: Insights from MLS & DataGrail
John Sullivan, Chief Information Officer, MLS
Eric Brinkman, Chief Product Officer, DataGrail
10:15 AM
Networking Break
Hosted by
10:45 - 11:50 AM
Concurrent Sessions
10:45 AM
Business Analytics Case Study
The Next Revenue Surface: How Glass Floors Create New Value
Chris Thornton, CEO, ASB GlassFloor America
11:15 - 11:20 AM
Transition
11:20 AM
From Data to Dollars: How AI Is Driving Sales Performance
David Simbandumwe, Vice President, AI, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment
Game Day, Reimagined: How Smart Tech Is Elevating the Live Experience
Thomas Alomes, Senior Manager, Client Solutions, PMY Group
James Benesh, Vice President, Ballpark Experience, NY Mets
Julia Chongarlides, Senior Director & Executive Producer, Game Presentation & Stadium Productions, Mercedez-Benz Stadium
Michael Martin, Chief Technology Officer, Anthony James Partners
11:50 AM
Live Sports: Managing Concession Pricing and Fan Friendly Packages
Bringing Content In-House: Unlocking New Opportunities
Matt Bunting, Senior Vice President & Executive Director, Hawks Studios, Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena
Luka Dukich, Vice President, Content Marketing, Chicago Bulls
12:20 PM
Lunch
12:20 PM
Workshop – Invitation Only
Hosted by
1:45 PM
Unlocking Fan Lifetime Value: The Next Generation of Revenue Growth
John Coombs, CEO, Rover
Philippe Dore, Chief Marketing Officer, Desert Champions
Alena Jasinski, Vice President, Ticket Sales & Service, Charlotte Hornets
2:15 PM
Industry Insight
2:30 PM
The New Revenue Playbook: Where Will the Next Dollar Come From?
Jonathan Gibson, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, Penske Corp.
Urel Martinez, CRO, LA Galaxy
Roger VanDerSnick, CCO, Indianapolis Colts
3:00 PM
Networking Break
3:20 PM
Featured Session
3:50 PM
Featured Session
4:15 PM
Networking Reception
5:15 PM
Depart for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
5:45 PM
Evening at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Reception, Content & Interactive Activities
8:30 PM
