SSAC

Moderator: Cassidy Hubbarth Panelists: Megan Rapinoe, Nate Silver, Jessica Gelman Sports serve as a unifying force and catalyst for change. Sports possess the ability to uplift communities through athlete-driven philanthropy, team engagement in community development, and league initiatives including international outreach. From trailblazers like Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens breaking down racial barriers to contemporary icons such as Megan Rapinoe and the USWNT championing gender equality, the influence of sports on society transcends mere competition. This panel will discuss what has made sports shift so meaningfully in impact over the past decade. As athletes and sports organizations continue to expand their impact, there arises a need to measure and expand this impact. Join Megan Rapinoe, Nate Silver, and Jessica Gelman in the closing panel of SSAC24 as they delve into the profound influence and evolution of the sports industry.

Moderator: Claire Rogers Panelists: Krista Olson, Travis Trembath, Fahad Zahid Historically, golf has been perceived as a sport with a strongly loyal but relatively small fanbase. While golf’s various stakeholders continue to seek out ways to attract new fans, the sport has seen significant momentum in recent years, with participation growing at rates that haven’t been seen in decades. The introduction of cutting-edge golf media platforms and content has played a key role in generating interest in golf, offering both burgeoning and devoted fans the opportunity to engage with the sport on a deeper level. This panel brings together executives from the PGA of America, PGA TOUR, and LPGA Tour as well as leading golf brand No Laying Up to discuss the steps needed to capitalize on these trends and outline the path forward for growing the game. #GrowingTheGame

Ian Graham, a trailblazer in soccer analytics, joins Sarah Rudd, an advanced analytics expert, Jesse Marsch, an innovative coach, and Bill James, a data pioneer from baseball. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of soccer analytics, discussing how clubs like Liverpool leverage data for player recruitment. They highlight the challenges of integrating analytics into decision-making and the importance of collaboration between coaches and data scientists. The conversation delves into the balance of creativity and data-driven strategies, reshaping the future of the sport.

Discover the evolution of basketball analytics with pioneers Dean Oliver, Brittni Donaldson, and Mike Zarren. They discuss the beginnings of analytics, tracking data revolution, challenges in data accuracy, and balancing three-point shooting with team dynamics. Explore player development, coaching strategies, and the future of analytics in basketball.

Moderator: Warren Zola Panelists: Martin Jarmond, Val Ackerman, Brian Higgins The world of college athletics has seen seismic shifts in recent weeks and years. The introduction of NIL compensation has altered the recruiting landscape across sports, media rights are evolving the exposure of college sports, and conference realignment is changing the college sports experience for student-athletes, universities, and their fans. This panel will delve into the impact of these changes to date and what they could mean for the future of college athletics. Hear from Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman, UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond, COO of NIL consulting firm Altius Tommy Gray, and NCAA SVP of Business Performance Brian Higgins as they discuss the latest developments across college sports and where we go from here. #NewGeneration

Moderator: Arda Ocal  Panelists: Meghan Chayka, Tyler Dellow, P.K. Subban, Jacqueline Davidson There's a changing of the guard underway in the NHL, with legendary superstars entering the twilight of their careers and a new crop of generational talents on the way up. As this new era of the NHL gets underway, how are front office executives thinking about roster construction? What's the balance between analytics and eye test? How do you construct a roster that can handle the grind of the regular season while making sure you have a team that's built to succeed in the playoffs? From the player’s perspective, how is this next generation of NHL athletes thinking about analytics to improve their game, scout opposing teams and maximize their recovery? Come find out all this and more from 13 year NHL veteran PK Subban, NHL front office executives Brett Peterson and Tyler Delllow and Stathletes Co-Founder and CEO Meghan Chayka. #StatsToStanleyCups

NBA executives Daryl Morey, Monte McNair, and Nico Harrison discuss the hidden factors and behind-the-scenes challenges of sports negotiations. They explore the complexities of internal team dynamics, strategic decision-making, media influence, and negotiating styles in high-stakes deals, shedding light on the intricacies of building championship-level teams.

Moderator: Alison Overholt Panelists: Kat Frederick, Tim Clark, Carolyn Tisch There are more ways than ever for fans and organizations to engage and interact, both digitally and in-person. By extending the game day experience and connecting more broadly with fully virtual viewing opportunities, sports organizations have an abundance of options to reach more fans in new and different ways. However, maximizing fan attention and engagement remains a challenge in a world where so many alternatives exist. This panel will delve into the ways that organizations foster authentic and long lasting fan engagement and how they differentiate in their local market while globalizing their brand. Panelists will also discuss the increasing role of technology and who owns the fan data along with the growing need for analytics to connect sports and fans. #fanalytics

Gerry Cardinale, founder of Redbird Capital Partners, discusses innovative sports investment strategies. Rich Kleiman, co-founder of Boardroom, shares insights on emerging leagues and fan engagement. Steve Pagliuca, co-owner of the Boston Celtics, explores the evolving landscape of sports ownership. The trio delves into the impact of globalization, technology, and media partnerships on sports franchises, highlighting opportunities in women's sports and the complexities of navigating ownership challenges. Their perspectives reveal the future trends shaping the global sports economy.

Michael Lewis, the author of 'Moneyball', joins baseball historian Bill James, former NBA champion Shane Battier, and Daryl Morey, an analytics pioneer in basketball. They discuss the transformative power of data in sports over the last two decades. The conversation delves into how analytics changed player evaluations and team strategies in baseball and basketball. Personal anecdotes illustrate the emotional narratives of overlooked talent, while leaders reflect on the importance of balancing metrics with team dynamics and inspiring players.