Navigating Sports Business

Whit Babcock – Director of Athletics at Virginia Tech – on the possibility of NFL-style contracts finding their way into college football, and why he thinks that future is not dissimilar from the present.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=ae8d2b98dc149a023be6909fd08d9af4   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

In our first ever internal podcast, Navigate's new EVP of Consulting, Anne Ristau, joins the show to discuss her time as Head of Sponsorships for Dell and how she is using that experience now in her new role.   Anne will also be joining Navigating Sports Business as a recurring host, so keep an eye out for future episodes featuring Anne on the other side of the desk as the one asking questions.   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Rick Schlesinger – President of Business Operations for the Milwaukee Brewers – explains why MLB expansion is more viable now than in years past due to the lessening importance of the size of a media market which opens up more cities as potential suitors for a new franchise.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=37dc5be7b4b34c9d20973b4605521420   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Matthew Holt - President of U.S. Integrity - on how he and his team monitor the sports betting landscape for suspicious activity.   As rule-breakers continue to develop new methods of gaming the system, U.S. Integrity is continuously developing and employing new technologies in order to keep up.   Every transaction, whether or mobile or in a physical casino, can be tracked by the sports book operator or by an independent integrity monitor like USI.   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Hear an excerpt from AJ Maestas' recent TED Talk on the benefit of sports fandom. You can find the full talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEm0XHOs_JI&t=8s   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Julie Roe Lach - Commissioner of the Horizon League - joins the show to discuss how the biggest stories in college sports (realignment, NIL, the House v. NCAA lawsuit, and others) impact the mid-major level and schools without football.   She and Jeff Nelson also discuss her role as the Chair of the Indiana Sports Commission Board of Directors and why that city is so all-in on hosting major sporting events.   Details: 3:00 - Realignment at the mid-major level 10:55 - House v. NCAA 14:15 - How would you change college athletics? 30:45 - The Horizon League’s brand refresh 32:35 - Indianapolis Sports Commission 37:00 - Rapid Fire Questions   Links: The Secret Game, by Scott Ellsworth The Generosity Factor, by Ken Blachard and S. Truett Cathy Previous Episode: Blake Lawrence - Opendorse   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Blake Lawrence – Co-Founder/CEO of Opendorse – gives us a crystal ball look into the next six years of NIL, collectives, and revenue sharing in college athletics. He predicts that athletes will receive a payout directly from the school or conference, but will not be classified as employees.   He suggests what the landscape will look like for his youngest brother, football prospect Brock Heath, and how his future school's administration, coach, and collective will all sit down to discuss terms prior to him committing.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=56317ddb47247d855e3576efd49f0fb3   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Phil Knight – Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus at Nike – gives his solution to fix college sports. A bold idea for a three-tiered approach that separate football, basketball, and olympic sports.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=d0a972b133a5996e283c0bafed374775   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Phil Knight - Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus at Nike - joins AJ Maestas for an exciting interview about branding, Oregon football, and their experience working together.   Phil is one of the biggest university benefactors in the country. His donations to Oregon athletics are well known, as he has helped transform the program into a perennial powerhouse across sports, but his efforts have also included helping to fund a new law school building, a new library, and a half-billion-dollar donation for the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.   Details: 1:55 - “Air” movie 5:05 - Phil’s role in growing Oregon athletics 10:10 - The state of college athletics 16:10 - Oregon’s brand 18:05 - NIL and college apparel deals 25:15 - Phil’s legacy 27:10 - Keys to success in sports business 31:55 - Rapid Fire Questions   Links: Shoe Dog  Revolution Commercial  Phil watching LeBron break the scoring record For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Whit Babcock - Director of Athletics at Virginia Tech - on why donations to NIL collectives have a more immediate impact on winning than a longer-term project like a new facility.   He and Jeff Nelson also discuss the NCAA's proposal for a new subdivision and how schools would look to increase revenue to meet rising expenses.   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.