Navigating Sports Business

Buffalo Bills and Sabres Co-Owner Kim Pegula is the only female president in both the NFL and NHL. She shares her experiences and her thoughts on women in sports and what the industry can do to continue improving diversity and inclusion efforts. Listen to the full episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kim-pegula-buffalo-bills-sabres/id1544529117?i=1000518023316

Will the XFL ever make a comeback? In this highlight from our very first episode, Oliver Luck - former XFL Commissioner - explains what a potential competitor to the NFL or college football would need to get right in order to succeed. He also shares some of his favorite innovations that the XFL made in terms of football, broadcasting, and the business model of a professional league. Listen to the full episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oliver-luck-xfl-nfl-ncaa/id1544529117?i=1000502106835

With decades of experience working for Nike, Adidas, and later Reebok, Sonny Vaccaro is one of the most significant figures in the history of sports marketing. His work played a large role in shaping the current marketing landscape in college athletics. Beyond that, his personal war with the NCAA, and his recruiting of Ed O'Bannon to the now famous Supreme Court case, had a direct impact on the implementation of NIL rule changes in 2021. Details: 2:05 - Name, Image, Likeness 6:10 - Sonny & the NCAA 10:30 - Ed O'Bannon & the Supreme Court 13:35 - The future of college athletics 19:00 - Injustice - in sports and in history 27:40 - Sonny's marketing gameplan 44:00 - Sonny's legacy There's a lot more to Sonny Vaccaro's story than we could fit into one podcast. Learn more in Sonny's documentary: Sole Man. For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/

Azania Andrews - VP, Connections at Anheuser-Busch - on how their organizational culture and their "bias to action" allow them to react quickly to trends and to build nationally lauded marketing campaigns in sometimes only a few hours. Listen to the full episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/azania-andrews-anheuser-busch/id1544529117?i=1000528841858

Episode recorded in June 2021, prior to the ending of Larry Scott's Commissioner term. Larry Scott - Former Commissioner of the Pac-12 - joins the show to talk about his experience leading a Power 5 conference, including his biggest successes and greatest challenges from the past 12 years on the job. He and AJ discuss the Pac-12 Network, the reality of NIL, and how we almost saw a Pac-16 super conference in 2010 with the potential additions of Big 12 powerhouses like Texas and Oklahoma. Details: 1:15 - Larry's background 3:15 - Pac-12 Expansion 11:45 - TV deals & the Pac-12 Network 25:45 - Succeeding at Olympic sports AND football 33:05 - NIL 42:30 - What's next for Larry Scott? 45:25 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/

Val Ackerman - Big East Commissioner - on why the name, image and likeness era is one of the most momentous junctures in NCAA history. When student-athletes are selecting a school to attend, they look for the best personal fit in terms of coaching staff, facilities, playing time, academics, proximity to home, and now NIL opportunities. Link to Full Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/val-ackerman-big-east/id1544529117?i=1000527346274

Anheuser-Busch is well-known for some of the most innovative and exciting activations, advertisements, and marketing campaigns in sports. As VP of Connections, Azania Andrews has a hand in creating all of it. She explains how A-B is able to react quickly to trends that are relevant to consumers, how she helped make Michelob Ultra the #2 beer brand in the country, and why keeping fans connected at a local level will be more important than ever in a post-pandemic world. Management Leaders for Tomorrow: https://mlt.org/ Details: 1:35 - Azania's Background 5:50 - Diversity & Inclusion at A-B 11:30 - Beginning a new role at the start of a pandemic 15:50 - Reacting quickly as a brand 20:10 - Michelob Ultra is the #2 beer brand in the country 23:00 - Leveraging an influencer program 27:45 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/

Matt Davis - Head of U.S. Sports Marketing at Anheuser-Busch - shares the biggest lessons he's learned about engaging sports fans, and why brands should aim to be part of the excitement surrounding the event, rather than a distraction. He also gives his advice for teams hoping to partner with Anheuser-Busch. Jeff Adams Ad Example: Link to full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-davis-anheuser-busch/id1544529117?i=1000523902596

Val Ackerman was the founding President of the WNBA. Now she draws on her years of experience as a professional basketball player, executive, and journalist in her role as Commissioner of the Big East. She joined the Big East in 2013 while the conference was reeling from the departure of 7 member schools. She discusses with AJ how her team overcame that challenge and compares the similarities to their most recent obstacle, the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss the impact of NIL on college athletics, advice she took from NBA Commissioner David Stern, and the future of the WNBA. Details: 1:55 - Val's basketball career 5:00 - Title IX 12:45 - Launching the WNBA 18:25 - Big East 24:15 - NIL 35:40 - Rapid Fire Questions

Nick Kelly on the importance of getting access to decision-makers when pitching a brand like Anheuser-Busch, and why smaller properties should "stay local" when trying to make a deal happen. Listen to the full episode here.