SBD/SBJ announced the '18 Sports Business Award nominees , and Exec Editor Abe Madkour outlines the decision-making process in coming up with the 89 nominees . Among the local reaction: With both U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Center nominated for Facility of the Year, WCCO-CBS noted two Minnesota venues are "considered among the best in the country" ( MINNESOTA.CBSLOCAL.com, 3/19 ). SB Nation's Andrew Hathaway writes Atlanta United's nomination in the Team of the Year category comes after a "fantastic opening season that featured multiple attendance-breaking records and one of the best inaugural seasons" in MLS history, "destroying the idea/narrative that soccer can’t thrive in the south" ( DIRTYSOUTHSOCCER.com, 3/19 ). In San Jose, Mark Medina notes the Warriors' Team of the Year nod comes after "winning two NBA championships in the past three years with both star power and a team-oriented culture" ( San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 3/20 ). The Warriors created a video to mark their glut of nominations in recent years:
Warriors nominated by @sbjsbd for 2018 Sports Team of the Year as part of the Sports Business Awards. Hear from @SteveKerr on the honor. #WarriorsSound 🎙️ https://t.co/T7xX5Xm27w pic.twitter.com/HxwD0PC6hG
— Laurence Scott (@LaurenceScott) March 20, 2018
HERE's TO YOU : Taylor Strategy tweeted, "Congrats to our client partners, @Activision's @overwatchleague, @MBUSA, AMB Group and @XFINITY, on your nominations and achieving #sportsbiz excellence over the past year." ESP Properties Sales Manager Jeff Ziegenhorn : "Congratulations to our partners, the @nyrr , as the @nycmarathon was nominated for the @sbjsbd Sports Business Award - Sports Event of the Year. A well-deserved recognition for this outstanding organization." Northwestern athletics : "Leadership is a choice, not a position. ... Join us in congratulating #B1GCats VP for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips." Endeavor Global Marketing Exec VP Ed Horne : "Very proud of @Endeavor Global Marketing’s two @sbjsbd Sports Business Awards nominations. Thank you to our team and clients for another great year of creative, impactful work." Octagon : "Congratulations to our fellow nominees!" SunTrust Park : "SunTrust Park and The @BatteryATL are excited and honored to be nominated." NASCAR Managing Dir of Social Media Scott Warfield : "Elite company alongside @TB12sports @chicagobulls and @MLS! Thanks for the recognition @sbjsbd!"
OTHER REAX : SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey : "In the category 'Sports League of the Year' there is one finalist that is a college athletic conference, the @SEC. We have enjoyed a remarkable 12 months and are honored to be considered along with our colleagues from the @NHL @MLB @MLS @NBA and @LPGA #ItJustMeansMore." AP hockey writer W.G. Ramirez : "Three of the nominees from the 11th Annual Sports Business Awards involve the @GoldenKnights." Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg : "NASCAR has, inexplicably, been nominated for best in sports social media. Given the number of incorrect things tweeted and deleted, one can only assume this is the Sports Business Awards’ La-La Land moment."
For more, check out our First Look podcast recapping the nominees.
