APRIL 14-16, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA

2026 AGENDA

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

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:

7:45-8:45 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

8:15 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

Many chief marketing officers value sports for their ability to deliver shared experiences and cultural relevance while building brand identity and fan connections. But where do sports fit in with the overall marketing strategy and portfolio? And what are the campaigns that drive brand positioning, customer engagement, and revenue-generating marketing initiatives?

Chris Davis, Brand President & Chief Marketing Officer, New Balance

Haider Rafique, Global Managing Partner, Chief Marketing Officer, OKX

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, Pittsburgh Steelers

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:

Tom Gargiulo, Chief Marketing Officer, BODYARMOR Sports Nutrition

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

Women’s sports have been in a rapid growth phase – from attendance and viewership to investment and sponsorship – and all indicators are it will continue. But what will be needed to sustain it, keep the momentum, and build true scale? This panel will examine the investments, marketing, media distribution, and overall business decisions needed to see appreciable growth over the next five years and beyond.

5:55 PM

Closing Remarks

Day One Content Concludes

6:00 - 7:15 PM

Networking Reception

THURSDAY, APRIL 16

7:15 AM

Registration & Breakfast

8:45 AM

Opening Remarks

Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal

9:00 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

9:40 AM

Industry Insight – Boldyn Networks

10:05 AM

From the Brand-Side: Examining Transformative Sponsorships

For decades, cutting through the clutter has been a common part of the sports sponsorship vernacular. And it has never been more relevant than today. This session will look at the companies that have made big bets on innovative, culturally resonant partnerships that elevate fan engagement and build brand equity and, in some cases, go where no brand has gone before.

10:35 AM