World Congress of Sports at 20

The event is set to hit an important milestone in New York City as it again brings together the leaders in our industry and drives the discussion on the issues of the day and what it will take to succeed in the future.

On the eve of this industry-leading gathering, we open the time capsule and review the topics that drove previous events over the past two decades, the people who made headlines, and the prescient outlooks that garnered attention.

2002

Waldorf-Astoria, New York City

The first World Congress of Sports kicked off with the goal of bringing together the top executives to discuss the key issues facing the industry — and it delivered. Eight commissioners participated in that inaugural event, including the NFL’s Paul Tagliabue , who delivered the keynote address.

Tagliabue discussed the increased diversity and changing demographics of society and how that poses a challenge to the sports industry. “Our athletes need to be leaders,” he said. “We need to be proactive in encouraging them to become involved in the community. But the good thing is that the best athletes today will do it on their own. They recognize their role as a community leader.”

On the agenda:

■ “The Internet: Is there a future?” Yes, that was the subject of one panel discussion. Executives discussed the possible cannibalization of sports television viewers by the internet and what the future could hold for online video, which at the time was largely still a choppy and limited experience.

■  NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman hinted that his league could survive a lockout once its labor agreement expired after the 2003-04 season. “We need a system where all teams can be competitive,” he said. The thought became reality when the NHL locked out players and scrapped the entire 2004-05 season.

A prediction: “I think there is a very strong possibility the 2006 Super Bowl will be here in the city of New York at  Giants Stadium.”  — Bob Tisch ,  then chairman and CEO of the Giants, on the possibility of an outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather market.

How it played out: In 2010, NFL owners awarded the 2014 Super Bowl to MetLife Stadium, the new home of the Giants and Jets.

2003

Waldorf-Astoria, New York City

Television drove much of the discussion at this year’s event, from media rights to the migration of sports to cable.

“We’re all dinosaurs up here to one degree in that we all grew up with ABC, NBC, CBS,” said Ross Greenburg, then HBO Sports president. “All of our kids do not differentiate to a large degree between the cable television universe and the networks. When they watch a television show, they don’t care what channel it’s on.”

On the agenda:

■  Panelists weighed in on a media landscape that saw more league-owned networks, including NFL Network, which launched that year on Nov. 4. Much of the discussion centered on whether league networks would one day show live games, which indeed would prove to be the case.

■ IOC President Jacques Rogge used a keynote address to assure attendees that no anti-U.S. sentiment existed at the organization. At the time, New York City had an active bid in play to host the 2012 Olympics. The Big Apple would lose that bid in 2005, then four years later, Chicago would lose its bid to play host to the 2016 Games.

A prediction: “The days of networks paying ever-escalating rights fees may be over.” — CBS President and CEO Les Moonves

How it played out: Rights fees continued to skyrocket. In fact, later that year, NBC agreed to pay $2.2 billion for rights to the 2010 and 2012 Games — 30% more than it agreed to pay for the 2006 and 2008 Olympics,

2004 

JW Marriott, L.A. LIVE

With an overall theme examining the convergence of sports and entertainment, the WCOS shifted to California for Year 3. The media landscape continued to dominate much of the discussion as well, with panelists wondering if sports properties were making short-sighted decisions to shift games to cable.

“As you gravitate toward cable, you will get the money, but what is your opportunity to reach the casual viewer and make that person a branded lover of your sport? That is what is lost,” said Dick Ebersol, then chairman of NBC Sports & Olympics.

On the agenda:

■  Panelists discussed whether ESPN was right to pull the plug on its popular “Playmakers” series the previous year, after the NFL complained about how the series portrayed professional football players. “I think the real challenge is for the NFL to realize that, at the end of the day, dramatic narrative and storytelling is their business. They are in the emotional transportation business,” said Peter Guber , Mandalay Entertainment Group chairman.

■ Some executives wondered if China’s massive preparation for the 2008 Olympics could force the IOC to set spending limits. “In the Beijing region, they’ll add more power than England has in existence today. I feel sorry for the winning city in 2012,” said Mark Lewis , then vice president of General Electric’s Olympics sponsorship division.

A prediction: “In the future, the stadium is worldwide. It means leagues and sports teams can control the egress that the public has to them, so the day will come — but it is not going to happen in the next decade, in 20 years — that everything will be [pay-per-view] and you will be buying a ticket and you will have a worldwide stadium.” — David Hill, then Fox Sports TV Group chairman

How it played out: There’s still time left in Hill’s prediction window, but so far PPV primarily remains the domain  of the fight industry.

2005

Waldorf-Astoria, New York City

It was back to the Big Apple in 2005 with an overall theme of “The changing face of consumers and sports consumption.” Technology drew much of the spotlight, including how areas overseas were using mobile technology.

“One single medium in Europe is driving sports in the youth market, and it is mobile,” said Michael Payne, then Formula One special adviser to Bernie Ecclestone. “Television remains king, but in terms of driving audience, driving eyeballs today on your mobile phone throughout most of the European markets and the Japanese market, they are getting the 30-second clips, the previews, the excitement of the event.”

On the agenda:

■  On a panel discussing digital technology, Carlos Silva, then AOL’s senior vice president of news and sports, said people should not buy into technology that offers capabilities for which people are more comfortable using their personal computers. (The arrival of Apple’s iPhone two years later would bring the smartphone to market and forever change the way content is delivered.)

■  Executives took aim at the steroids scandal rocking Major League Baseball. “From an advertising perspective, the only reason you are sponsoring sports is to align with the quality, integrity and image of these sports,” said Tony Ponturo, then vice president of global media and sports marketing at Anheuser-Busch. “When that is jeopardized, you really have to second-guess that commitment.”

A prediction: “I do not think the NFL or MLB fits into Vegas just in terms of demographics. I think demographically, an arena with 41 hockey or basketball games would be one of the two.” — Jerry Colangelo, then the CEO of the Phoenix Suns, on the potential of placing a professional sports team in Las Vegas.

How it played out: The NHL would be the first team from the top four leagues to call Vegas home, launching the Golden Knights in 2017. The NFL’s Raiders would relocate to the market in 2020.

2006

The Pierre, New York City

The event tried out new space in New York with a theme that focused on “The changing dynamics of sports business.” As the demographic and ethnic profile of the United States continued to change, executives outlined how they were adjusting their marketing and the way they do business.

On the agenda:

■ Team executives discussed how they were looking to develop land near their stadiums to generate additional revenue. Mixed-use development around stadiums and arenas was still in its relative infancy at the time, but would quickly drive most major facility projects moving forward.

■ David Levy, then president of Turner Sports, spoke about the convergence of digital technology. “We really don’t care what devices they use. It’s about creating touch points. Ultimately, brands will win across all technologies.”

A prediction:  “We just had Bimbo bread, which is one of the largest baked goods manufacturers in the world, spend time looking at opportunities here in the United States, looking at possibly buying the naming rights to one of our stadiums here in Los Angeles.” — MLS Commissioner Don Garber, on rising interest in the league from Mexican companies

How it played out: Bimbo would strike in 2011 with a jersey sponsorship of the Philadelphia Union. But before then, former MLS club Chivas USA would sign consecutive jersey deals with Mexico-based paint company Comex Group, convenience store Extra and beermaker Grupo Modelo.

2007

The Pierre, New York City

The nascent world of social media (Twitter was only a year old) garnered attention, as did the growing role China would play in global sports with the Beijing Games only one year away.

“This creation of communities and the discussion that takes place is the language of a new America,” said Dave Checketts, founder of SCP Worldwide.

On the agenda:

■  MLB Commissioner Bud Selig sat down for a one-on-one interview in which he addressed his retirement plans, the potential sale of the Chicago Cubs, efforts to build a new ballpark for the then Florida Marlins, and how to celebrate Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th career home run, which would come that season.

■ In a discussion on the next big thing in sports and entertainment, marketers discussed efforts to create their own content as opposed to sponsoring content. Becky Saeger, then vice president and CMO with Charles Schwab , highlighted cellphone advertising: “We have to be where [consumers] want to be. We’re gonna find a way to do it, and it’s gonna happen fast.”

A prediction: “I will wager in 10 years time there will be a dozen household Chinese brands in the U.S. and in Europe.”— Michael Payne, then Formula One adviser.

How it played out: Apparel brand Li Ning, computer maker Lenovo and appliance maker Haier already were gaining footholds in the U.S. at the time. Since then other Chinese companies have stepped up their efforts in the U.S., including consumer electronics maker Huawei, apparel brand Anta Sports, e-commerce site Alibaba, and events, media and marketing company Wanda Sports Group.

2008

St. Regis Resort, Dana Point, Calif.

The nation was dealing with a recession as the event kicked off and attendees were confident in the industry’s ability to weather the storm, but the severity of the downturn in the months ahead would provide a major test. 

“Traditionally, sports has been relatively inelastic, and the ups and downs of the economy haven’t had a significant effect in a consumer respect,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “It’s a very bullish time in the industry.”

On the agenda:

■ NFL owners were unhappy with the current labor deal, which would lead them to opt out of it later that year. “We need to see beyond it, what our options are,” said Steve Tisch, New York Giants co-owner. “Roger [Goodell’s] going to have to bring everyone together with a united front.”

■ Seattle Sounders founding owner Joe Roth wondered if soccer would ever be as prominent in the U.S. as it has been elsewhere in the world. “It makes me angry because it makes us look stupid,” he said. “It’s not possible that we as a country are so different than everybody else. It just hasn’t been tapped in the right way.”

A prediction: “The problems are coming. We’re not there yet. I’d be surprised if we’re not seeing some effects [of the economy and $4 gasoline prices] beginning between July Fourth and Labor Day.” — Sports researcher Rich Luker on when the industry could feel the effects of the recession.

How it played out: The recession saw sports sponsors retrench and produced layoffs throughout the industry as revenue dipped in many sectors.

2009

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

The sports industry continued to face the harsh reality of the recession, so this year’s event provided a forum on decision making and how to survive the fallout. As Tim Leiweke , then CEO with AEG, said, “We’ve never seen anything like this, and I pray that we never see anything like this again.”

On the agenda:

■ Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said that, during the recession, franchise values would hold up and it would be individual investors making the buys instead of hedge funds. “I think institutions are more cautious than individuals are, so for the next couple of years we’ll find individuals buying teams. In the long term, there are institutional returns to be had here.”

■ Anxiety among consumers had sponsors putting a greater emphasis on communities and activation programs that deliver value to consumers. Coca-Cola, for example, rolled out a program that offered families hot dog discounts and soft drinks at games.

A prediction: “The new Twitter-type news feed or Facebook-style profile update is the new way people are going to find information on the Web because they’re no longer going to have to Google things anymore. They will just see what their friends are posting and that’s what they’re going to read and that’s what they’re going  to find the most important.” — Jeff Ma, co-founder, Citizen Sports

How it played out: Social media is deeply embedded in how news and other content is distributed.

2010

L.A. Live, Los Angeles

The industry met in one of the most active entertainment districts in the country. Executives looked to the months ahead when Tiger Woods would return to competitive play, the World Cup would get underway in South Africa and the nation’s top leagues would face tough labor negotiations.

On the agenda:

■ Speaking about labor talks, SCP Worldwide founder Dave Checketts said the big issue facing the top leagues was the change in ownership and players since recent work stoppages. “These guys that are here now were not there in ’99 when [the NBA] lost half a season,” he said. “They weren’t there in the ’80s when we were at the table with players. They don’t understand yet, in my view, how damaging [a work stoppage] can be.”

■ One panel saw no slowdown coming in media revenue growth. “In the entire world of entertainment, what has the upside?” said Ken Solomon, then chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel. “I bet on sports over anything except maybe $300 million motion pictures. I don’t think the blush is off the rose in terms of exploiting the value of what we have.”

A prediction: It was a team effort, but attendees were surveyed and 38% predicted ratings for that year’s World Cup would increase significantly compared to the 2006 event.

How it played out: The 2010 FIFA World Cup averaged a 2.1 U.S. rating and 3.261 million viewers, figures that were up 31% and 41%, respectively, from 2006.

2011

JW Marriott Marquis, Miami

Having left the recession behind, sports executives faced a new set of challenges, including labor unrest, the perils of social media and the future of content distribution. “We’re out of the recessionary tunnel,” said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. “As there are in any cycle, there are always new issues to deal with, [and] those are the constant challenges that we all have to address as we move forward.”

On the agenda:

■ Marketers were grappling with consumers increasingly using social media platforms to influence opinions on products and services. “You can’t control it, you have to manage that,” said Peter Moore, then running EA Sports. “We have lost control of the conversation to the consumer.

■ Executives also wondered if distributors had the right to stream channels to iPads, which had made their debut only a year earlier. “I think we’re going to stop the debate about screens and devices and get to a philosophy about content,” said Tim Brosnan, then MLB’s executive vice president of business. “Live games get sold here in this fashion for all these purposes. [A content] library gets sold here in this fashion for those purposes. We’re going to look to extract value on all of it.

A prediction: MLS Commissioner Don Garber confidently predicted that MLS will see “multiple increases” when its media rights deals with ESPN and Univision expired in 2014.

How it played out: MLS would strike an eight-year, $720 million deal across ESPN, Fox and Univision, which would be five times higher than the value of the deal set to lapse.

2012

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Calif.

It was back to the West Coast as attendees tackled issues such as the changing face of college sports, the need to improve the fan experience, ticketing, and the role of social media in consumer engagement.

On the agenda:

■ Industry executives said they were focused on improving customer service by providing better premium packages, diverse ticket prices and technology that makes it easier for fans to do everything from park their car to order concessions. “People talk about competing for the entertainment dollar, but I see it more as competing for the entertainment hour,” said Larry Baer, San Francisco Giants president. “If you don’t get it at the ballpark, you’ll get it at the theme park or movies or sailing on the bay or driving to the wine country.”

■ The Los Angeles market continued to wait for the NFL to return as panelists wondered what was taking so long for that to happen. At the time, seven different sites in the market had made stadium proposals.

A prediction: “The way that college sports operates is under threat. There is a groundswell right now. We’re getting to the tipping point where the model in place now, which is great for the colleges — give a scholarship to a kid to play football for you, give a scholarship to a kid who plays basketball for you … and you get to reap all the benefits — I think that’s coming to an end.” — ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap

How it played out: The Supreme Court blew up the model with a ruling this year that cleared the way for college athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness.

2013

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Fla.

The fan experience continued to drive the discussion as attendees were told not to disappoint their patrons. “If connectivity is important to that fan, we better provide it,” said Eric Grubman , then NFL executive vice president. “If the RedZone and what’s happening with a rival team is important to that fan, it better be on [the video board].”

On the agenda:

■ Team owners discussed efforts to make the in-game experience more valuable for fans than the at-home experience. “It is our job to make the presentation of our product on the ice for the fans to make them want to go there and be part of this community,” said Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik. “It’s a very special bond with other people that they’re not going to get at home.”

■ Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts discussed the $500 million plan to renovate Wrigley Field. “We are going to do what needs to be done to make sure that it’s there for the next generation of fans. The same park that your grandfather took you to, you can take your grandkids to.”

A prediction:  Rick Welts, then president and COO of the Golden State Warriors, said it would be at least another year or two before NBA team owners would approve placing ads on game jerseys. “The problem is that at a lot of levels, the local franchise levels, we are creating a disparity in revenue from big markets to small markets, and teams look at this as magnifying that [disparity] even more."

How it played out:  The wait was longer than expected: NBA owners didn’t approve selling jersey advertising until the 2017-18 season.

2014

St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, Calif.

The focus was on millennials at a time when the greatest decline in avid sports fans in the last decade was among 12- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 34-year-olds. That raised concerns about whether those generations will take their children to sports events the same way their parents did.

On the agenda:

■ Soccer was highlighted for its youthful demos and was seen as having the upper hand in attracting millennials. “We look at soccer, and it’s the second-biggest fan sport … among 12- to 24-year olds [for site users],” said Ken Fuchs, then a vice president with Yahoo Sports.

■ Lily Knowles , then vice president of product marketing for Vizio, said the younger generation’s behavior was changing even in respect to TV. “Sports has an interesting challenge. It’s one of the last live events that brings everybody together, but the challenge is that the content is not as readily available and engaging as other entertainment media when it comes to streaming. How does that affect the effectiveness of live sports?”

A prediction:  “Over-the-top makes me nervous. Over-the-top makes all of us nervous. Our No. 1 objective is to preserve, protect and defend the basic cable model against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” — Jeff Krolik , then president of Fox Regional Networks, on the growing number  of streaming services.

How it played out:  S treaming services have contributed t o the decline in pay TV subscribers, but since then every sports media  TV company has started a streaming service to get a piece of the action.

2015

JW Marriott, L.A.LIVE

Walt Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger said sports has to stay exciting, entertaining and engaging to attract young people. “Pace is definitely an issue. It’s an issue, by the way, in movies and television shows, too. Length is also interesting.”

On the agenda:

■ The industry was coming to grips with the rise of legalized gaming. “We want to be real careful here,” said Brian Burke, then president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames. “We don’t sell heroin at our games, and this, to me, is right on the edge of that. … But this is not a hypothetical. It plays global in terms of fixing matches in soccer. It’s happened in our lifetime in NCAA basketball. It’s not a hypothetical, folks. It scares me.”

■  The efficacy of sports advertising, and the costs to do it well, were debated by a panel of CMOs. “If you’re not the biggest spender, and we’re not, you have to find the hardest working assets,” said Matt Jauchius, then with Nationwide. “We think sports can be one of the hardest working assets in our portfolio.”

A prediction:“We’ve always had — between Nike, Jordan Brand and the NBA — a great partnership. We work together with a focus on growing  the game of basketball, and I think the uniform deal is something we’d absolutely be interested in.”  — Larry Miller , Jordan Brand president, on the possibility  of replacing Adidas as the NBA’s uniform provider.

How it played out: Two months later, the NBA announced an eight-year deal with Nike worth $1 billion.

2016

JW Marriott, L.A. LIVE

The growing influence of China, and its deep pockets, had the full attention of attendees. “They have an appetite for a lot more than just physical sports,” said Todd Goldstein , AEG chief revenue officer. “It’s music. It’s fashion. The movie business. The No. 1 buyer of movie tickets will be China next year. They will surpass the United States. It’s nothing short of incredible.”

On the agenda:

■ Toyota’s Jack Hollis, then marketing group VP, described the automaker’s $835 million global rights deal with the IOC as “a little scary.” Hollis: “It’s like, ‘Wow, what the heck are we doing?’ At the same time, it’s ‘Wow, look what we get to do.’”

■ Bill McDermott , then CEO of SAP, mixed in business and management principles during an on-stage conversation. Among the tips: “The highest form of respect is the truth. Sometimes don’t fire them. Fire them up.”

A prediction:   Actress Gabrielle Union said the idea of athletes making social statements is “here to stay.” Union: “We saw athletes in the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s who were very, very politically active. And they all paid for it dearly. … In this day and age, the longer you stay silent, that will affect your bottom line. Your fans want to know what side of history you’re going to be on.”

How it played out: A year later, quarterback Colin Kaepernick would take a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice. It would be another spark for athlete activism, which has been widespread ever since.

2017

Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, Calif.

Attendees were told it would take bold thinking in marketing, deal-making and the use of technology to attract the next generation of fans. Some executives saw a gap between what the younger generation wants and what sports provide.

“My son is a baseball fan — he plays baseball,” said Michael Levine, co-head of CAA Sports. “He comes to Yankee Stadium and has a great time. I don’t think he and any of his buddies have ever sat down and watched a Yankee game from beginning to end on TV, and that’s scary to me.”

On the agenda:

■ Panelists addressed the task of presenting sports to an attention-span-challenged generation. “Digestible, short-form content is here to stay,” said Andrew Judelson, then WME-IMG executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Sports sets itself up well within that format, whether it’s highlights, recaps or whatever.”

■ Despite those short attention spans, it doesn’t mean you can’t keep the attention of next-gen fans for longer. “If you put the right content in front of the right consumer, they’ll give you not only the 7 seconds, but up to 2.5 minutes, and sometimes even more,” said Telisa Yancy, then CMO of American Family Insurance, on her brand’s use of longer-form digital videos.

A prediction: A decision on the local media rights for the expansion NHL Vegas Golden Knights was approaching fast, said Evolution Media Capital partner Alan Gold. “Hopefully, we’ll have a decision in the next few weeks,” said Gold, who was representing the team in marketing its local media rights.

How it played out: About a month later, the Golden Knights signed a multiyear deal with AT&T Sports Networks, securing their first local TV partner.

2018

JW Marriott, L.A. LIVE

Every sector of the sports business was facing more competitive threats than they had seen in decades, so panelists used this year’s event to tell how they’re handling, and exploiting, those changes in doing business. “Disruption — it’s the word of the moment right now,” said Peter White , partner at the firm DLA Piper.

On the agenda:

■ Conversations about gender and racial diversity took on more urgency as cases of sexual harassment affected multiple sports companies. “A big part of inclusion is not saying we need a woman of color or a woman at the table. It’s about putting the right people at the table,” said Christy Haubegger, then an agent with CAA and one of the architects behind the Time’s Up campaign. “I never feel like I’m at the table because a box has been checked.”

■ Andrew Davis, then Coca-Cola’s global chief diversity and inclusion officer, said leaders in sports and entertainment have a responsibility to be the bridge to unite the country. “People are wired to belong. If you find a sense of community, you give your best self.”

A prediction:If expanded sports betting becomes legal in the U.S., Sara Slane, American Gaming Association senior vice president of public affairs, said to expect a mix of  “brick-and-mortar experiences” and mobile platforms,  which is a good “opening salvo.”

How it played out: The Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting that May. Since then, 26 states and D.C. have legalized some form of sports betting, with 23 of those allowing online sports betting. Laws in D.C., Arizona, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia allow for sportsbooks in stadiums and arenas.

2019

Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, Calif.

Panelists looked ahead to a future that held more gambling, esports and new media. “Even with the reach and success of esports, it’s still one of the most underused advertising opportunities,” said Riot Games co-chair and co-founder Marc Merrill . “But we still believe we are in the leather-helmet days. Imagine what the esports industry is going to look like in 2050 as technology continues to evolve.”

On the agenda:

■ Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer brought his energy to the event as he outlined the transformation of the franchise. “Fans want to know, ‘Who are we? What do we stand for?’ I love what we stand for and what we mean,” he said.

■ Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav was asked why he stayed on the sidelines when the 21 Fox Sports-branded RSNs came on the market the previous year. “We just felt like it’s a very treacherous market,” he said.

A prediction: “You see people saying, ‘I want this one and that one’ and before you know it, you’re getting nine new emails a day from your OTTs. People aren’t willing to buy more than two or three or four things. So, I think what you’re going to see in the next three years is a winnowing down of the number of companies that play in this.” — DAZN Group Executive Chairman John Skipper, on the proliferation of streaming services.

How it played out: A UBS study in June 2021 suggested that subscription fatigue is setting in, with respondents subscribing to about 2.5 services, an average that plateaued for the first time in the survey’s history. Still, streaming options continue to grow.

2020

Virtual series

The pandemic tested the chops of everyone throughout the sports business and SBJ was no different, as we shifted to a series of virtual presentations. It was a time when stakeholders learned new capabilities as they faced the unknown. As CAA Sports co-Head Howie Nuchow said, “This is a time when you learn a lot about the people standing to the left and the right of you.”

On the agenda: 

■  Geoff Reiss , Verizon Media vice president and Yahoo Sports GM, talked about sports’ eventual return: “There’s nothing I want more right now than to be able to go with my family to a ballgame. That is like the North Star that for me is hanging out in the distance. When can we go to a game together?”

■  Bob Myers , Golden State Warriors president of basketball operations and GM, compared the sports industry to being in the “first quarter of a tough game, and we’re down in this game, but we can come back, and we will.”

A prediction:   In a period of uncertainty, predictions were in short supply. But Cole Gahagan, president and CEO of Learfield IMG College, was bullish on college football’s return. “I do think we’re going to see something in the fall, for sure. I think that football in one form or another is going to be back this fall.”

How it played out: College football did return in the fall, but like its counterpart in the NFL, did so in fanless stadiums or with greatly reduced capacities.

2021

SBJ has a major lineup in store for this year’s CAA World Congress of Sports as we return to an in-person event Oct. 12-13 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City.

A powerful slate of one-on-one interviews highlights the agenda, including chats with: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred ; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman ; MLS Commissioner Don Garber ; NASCAR President Steve Phelps ; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert ; NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird ; Michael Rubin , CEO of Fanatics and partner in the Philadelphia 76ers; Marc Lasry , co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and chairman, CEO and co-founder of Avenue Capital Group; Shad Khan , owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and chairman of Fulham FC; and Jimmy Pitaro , chairman of ESPN and sports content, The Walt Disney Company

Topics to be addressed by a deep roster of other speakers include: immersive experiences in sports and entertainment, the new sponsorship game, the changing dynamics of sports viewership and consumption; building brands through events, talent and more; and the future of sport betting.

To learn more about this event and to register, visit www.WorldCongressofSports.com.