2026 AGENDA
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
7:30-9:30 PM
Welcome Reception
Studio Foyer (Above the Lobby)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
7:15 AM
Registration, Badge Pick Up & Breakfast Begins for SBJ CONNECT Participants
Registration Hosted by:
Breakfast Hosted by:
7:30-8:30 AM
SBJ CONNECT: Structured Networking
Gold Ballroom
Hosted by:
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
Facilitator: Dan Kaufman, Managing Director, Sports Business Journal
7:45 AM
Registration, Badge Pick Up & Breakfast Begins for All Attendees
Registration Hosted by:
Breakfast Hosted by:
8:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
9:00 AM
Top of the Agenda: Industry Issues You Need to be Watching Now
Panelists include:
Renie Anderson, Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer, NFL
Dan Beckerman, CEO, AEG
Will Brass, Chief Commercial Officer, Premier League
Kevin Demoff, President, Team and Media Operations, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Sandra Douglass Morgan, President, Las Vegas Raiders
Bob Myers, President, Sports, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Moderator: Ben Fischer, Staff Reporter, Sports Business Journal
9:45 AM
Featured Conversation: Inside Perspectives on the Beautiful Game
Don Garber, Commissioner, MLS; CEO, Soccer United Marketing
Moderator: Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
10:15 AM
Networking Break
Hosted by:
10:45 AM
Programming for Every Passion: A Conversation with Bela Bajaria
Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer, Netflix
Guest Moderator: Elle Duncan, Lead Host, Sports and Live Events, Netflix; Studio Host, USA Sports
11:15 AM
Featured Conversation: Fanatics - Innovation, Expansion, and New Directions in Sports Business
Michael Rubin, Founder & CEO, Fanatics
Guest Moderator: Noah Garden, Deputy Commissioner, Business & Media, MLB
11:45 AM
CMOs in the Spotlight
Chris Davis, Brand President & Chief Marketing Officer, New Balance
Keena Grigsby, Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President Mobile Experience (MX) Business, Samsung Electronics America
Moderator: Adam Sloan, Executive, CAA
12:15-1:40 PM
Champions Luncheon
Gold Ballroom
Hosted by:
Champions of Sports Business – The 2026 Class
James Brown
Steve Greenberg
Andy Lansing
Billy Payne
Chris Plonsky
Arn Tellem
1:50 PM
Featured Conversation: One-on-One with a Sports Power Broker
David Blitzer, Owner, Bolt Ventures; Founder and Co-Founder, HBSE
Guest Moderator: Mike Levine, Co-Head, CAA Sports
2:20 PM
Industry Insight Winning Business and Fans Through Transformational Social Impact Partnerships
Chad Houser, Founder & CEO, Café Momentum
Miles Killebrew, NFL Safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Andrew Saltzman, President, Business Enterprise & Chief Commercial Officer, Atlanta Hawks
Guest Moderator: Colette Weintraub, Head of Music, Sports, and Entertainment, Stand Together
2:45 PM
Featured Conversation: One-on-One with Eric Shanks
Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Sports
Guest Moderator: Colin Cowherd, Host, The Herd
3:15 PM
Networking Break
Hosted by:
3:45 PM
The Creators – Part I Creators in Sports: How Leagues and Teams are Working with Today's Biggest Digital Stars
Featuring:
Tim Ellis, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, NFL
Dhar Mann, Founder, Dhar Mann Studios
Guest Moderator: Brent Weinstein, Senior Leadership Team, CAA
4:15 PM
The Creators – Part II Brand Ambassadors: Why Leading Brands are Turning to Creators to Reach Sports Fans
Featuring:
Leah Macko VP, Brand Marketing, Powerade
Jesse “Jesser” Riedel, Founder, Bucketsquad
Guest Moderator: Brent Weinstein, Senior Leadership Team, CAA
4:45 PM
Featured Conversation: One-on-One with Nick Khan
Nick Khan, President, WWE; Board Member, TKO
Moderator: Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
5:15 PM
The Business of Women’s Sports: Growing Audience, Investment and Scale
Panelists include:
Stephanie Alger, Chief Growth Officer, LOVB
Royce Cohen, Board Member, PWHL; Senior Vice President, Business Strategy, Los Angeles Dodgers
Matt Hong, President, USA Sports
Kate Schoff, Head, Sports & Entertainment Marketing, JPMorganChase
Bob Stanley, CEO & Managing Partner, CAA Evolution
Moderator: Rachel Axon, Staff Reporter, Sports Business Journal
5:55 PM
Closing Remarks
Day One Content Concludes
6:00 - 7:15 PM
Networking Reception
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
7:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
Breakfast Hosted by:
8:30 AM
Opening Remarks
Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal
8:45 AM
Sports Business and Entertainment 2026 and Beyond: Big Ideas, Big Events, Big Results
Panelists include:
Larry Freedman, Co-President & Member, Ownership Group, LAFC
Leah MacNab, Senior Vice President, Head, International Strategy & Operations, NBA
Mark Marshall, Chairman, Global Advertising & Partnerships, NBCUniversal
Bryan Perez, CEO, AXS
Ken Potrock, President, Major Events Integration, The Walt Disney Company
Moderator: Joe Lemire, Staff Reporter, Sports Business Journal
9:25 AM
Industry Insight
The LA28 Blueprint: Scaling Venue Connectivity for a Decade of Global Events
Panelists include:
Christian Lau, Chief Technical Officer, LAFC
Kamal Sadarangani, Vice President & Head, Telecommunications, Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Guest Moderator: Jason Caliento, Chief Commercial Officer, US, Boldyn Network
9:45 AM
From the Brand-Side: Examining Transformative Sponsorships
Amy Azzi, Vice President, Sponsorships and Events, T-Mobile
Dan Fleetwood, Vice President, Global Sponsorships, SAP
Moderator: Jeff Eccleston, Global Co-Head, CAA Brand Consulting, Creative Artists Agency
10:15 AM
Networking Break
Hosted by:
11:05 AM
Featured Conversation: One-on-One with a Global Power Broker
Behdad Eghbali, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Clearlake Capital Group.; majority owner, Chelsea F.C.
Guest Moderator: Matthew O’Donohoe, President, CAA Sports International
11:35 AM
Featured Conversation: 30 Years of the New York Liberty - Lessons in Valuation, Visibility, and Cultural Relevance
Clara Wu Tsai, Vice Chair, BSE Global; Governor, New York Liberty
Guest Moderator: Kara Swisher, Host, On with Kara Swisher; Co-Host, Pivot Podcast; Editor-at-Large, New York Magazine; Contributor, CNN
12:20 PM- 2:30 PM
Afternoon Program and Networking Reception
1:15 PM
Leaders Club Members Meet
(Members Only, Inquire to attend with RMiranda@sportsbusinessjournal.com; Full Details HERE )
1:15pm - 1:45pm - Arrival at Georgia Rooms
1:45pm - 2:15pm – Executive Fireside Chat
2:15pm - 2:30pm - Breakout Discussion
2:30 PM
