SSAC

Moderator: Jessica Gelman Panelists: Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Bela Bajaria From Drive to Survive to Quarterback, Netflix has reshaped how fans engage with sports through immersive storytelling. Now, with WWE’s flagship Raw moving to Netflix, the streaming giant is making an even bolder play in live sports entertainment. But what makes for compelling sports storytelling? How do you build anticipation for big events, cultivate new audiences, and sustain engagement beyond the game? This panel brings together two of sport’s most influential content executives, Netflix’s Bela Bajaria and WWE’s Paul “Triple H” Levesque, to explore how sports media is evolving, what it takes to craft narratives that captivate global audiences, and the future of sports entertainment in the streaming era.

Moderator: Ben Alamar Panelists: Jackie MacMullan, Jeff Bennett, Rebecca Dyer, Brant Berglund Storytelling plays a vital role in the fan experience. Across the sports landscape, storytellers are relied upon to convey the drama and excitement of sports, bring new fans in, and satisfy fans' hunger for knowledge. The tools available to storytellers have expanded significantly over the last few years with the expansion of new data sets and metrics that provide new insights and perspectives on sports. The recent advances in AI also provide the opportunity for new tools, but also a potential to replace certain types of storytelling through automation. This panel discusses how the role of the storyteller has changed, skills and perspectives needed to tell good stories, and how AI is and will change how fans engage with sports stories.

Moderator: Valerie Camillo Panelists: Shelley Pisarra, Tim Clark, Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick In 2025, sports are fighting harder than ever for fans’ attention – contending with an unprecedented news cycle, shorter attention spans, and changing modes of content consumption. This panel will discuss how teams and leagues are using data to adapt in this rapidly changing world, and how they can play – and win – the attention game.

Moderator: Danny Rensch Panelists: Alexandra Botez, Levy Rozman, Daryl Morey, Ella Papanek Chess is experiencing a global renaissance, fueled by emerging innovations in streaming, social media, and format variety, but where does the game go from here? Join Levy Rozman, Alexandra Botez, Ella Papanek, Daryl Morey, and Danny Rensch as they explore how chess is evolving to engage new audiences. This panel will dive into the growth of chess content creation and how the sport is expanding into new mediums and formats.

Moderator: Chad Millman Panelists: Jeff Ma, Nate Silver, Sean Zerillo The rapidly evolving landscape of sports betting presents unique challenges for both bettors and bookmakers, especially as data anomalies and unexpected outcomes increasingly disrupt predictive models. This panel, featuring industry experts, will explore strategies for identifying and addressing situations when actual results deviate from model expectations. The panel will explore the implications of unusual betting patterns and dive into the sports betting challenges of the 2024 NFL Season, where favorites won 72.1% of the time, the highest winning percentage in almost 20 years.

Moderator: Liz Moulton Panelists: Greg Kim, Sonia Raman, Michael Girsch, Matt Gaudry Career Playbooks presentations are given by a wide range of professionals from leagues, teams, and other players in the sports industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear each speaker’s unique story of entering and succeeding in the sports industry and learn vital careers lessons as they chart their own career paths. The Playbooks presentations will also include Q&A opportunities for attendees to engage with speakers.

Moderator: Contessa Brewer Panelists: Jonathan Kraft, Mark Shapiro What will the sports industry look like in 2045? In this forward-thinking conversation, Jonathan Kraft and Mark Shapiro will explore the forces shaping the next generation of sports—from mega-events like the World Cup and Olympics to the future of live entertainment and hospitality, and the growing role of private and public capital in shaping teams and leagues. Jonathan Kraft has led the redefinition of sports property ownership across multiple leagues, real estate development, analytics, and embracing technology to drive differentiation. Mark Shapiro’s innovation from ESPN to Endeavor to TKO has changed the connectivity of entertainment, leagues, and the fan experience. Learn what trends they saw leading to the strategic decisions which led to changes in how the sports world operates. Understand what they see ahead with athlete-performance, financing/valuation, up ‘n coming sports, and the role of analytics across all aspects of the sports world. More specifically, how will venue infrastructure change and what will the lines between live events, media, and technology be when defining the ultimate fan experience in the decades ahead? Join two of the most influential leaders in sports as they break down the evolution of the industry, sharing insights on where the biggest opportunities lie and what challenges the business of sports will face in the future.

Moderator: Bill Connelly Panelists: Lorrissa Horton, Scott Pioli, Kevin Demoff Increasingly, NFL organizations are becoming more data-centric, and as a result, so has the role of the Front Office. See through the eyes of NFL executives whose franchises are on the leading edge as they discuss the role of data analytics on free agency/draft strategy, prospective player evaluation, play calling on the field, organization of weekly preparations for game day, and managing athlete workload. 

Moderator: Pablo Torre Panelists: Sendhil Mullainathan, Daryl Morey As AI continues to reshape industries, its impact on sports is only beginning to be understood. Economist and behavioral scientist Sendhil Mullainathan and Daryl Morey join Pablo Torre Finds Out for an in-depth discussion on how AI can expand human capacity in sports, not by replacing human intuition and expertise, but by enhancing decision-making, strategy, and performance.Rather than merely automating scouting reports or game-day decisions, AI can serve as a powerful tool for reflection and learning—helping athletes identify patterns in their play, coaches uncover hidden strategic opportunities, and front offices refine their decision-making processes. Should teams rely on AI-driven scouting, or should these systems be designed to work alongside human evaluators, amplifying their insights? Can AI help players recognize critical mistakes in real time and develop strategies to adapt? And how do we ensure technology strengthens competition rather than diminishing its human essence?This panel will move beyond the hype, exploring AI’s true potential to act as a “bicycle for the mind” in sports—an augmentation of human intelligence that enables athletes, coaches, and teams to push the limits of their capabilities.

Moderator: Erin Kelly Panelists: Mike Shane, Jeff Heaton, Emily Johnson, Kari Gritton The most fundamental fan experience in sports is in a seat watching your favorite team live. This panel brings together top ticketing voices to explore the evolving landscape of how fans buy, sell, and experience live events. Experts from across the ticketing landscape will share insights on innovations in ticketing strategy, from dynamic pricing and distribution to personalized fan engagement. As technology advances and consumer expectations shift, panelists will discuss how teams, venues, and platforms are adapting to maximize both revenue and accessibility. With perspectives spanning major league sports and emerging markets, this session will offer a deep dive into the trends shaping the future of live event ticketing.

Moderator: Katie Hodel Panelists: Karlis Kezbers, Keith Goldner, Nicole Pelaez-Dandrea, Branden Moore In an era where data is king, predictive modeling has become a critical tool for decision-making both on and off the field. From optimizing player performance and game strategy to enhancing fan engagement and business operations, predictive models shape the way organizations in sports operate. However, the path to building, testing, and deploying these models is filled with challenges, including structuring data science teams for success, designing and optimizing data systems, ensuring model accuracy, and understanding the broader implications of data-driven decision-making. This panel brings together experts from leading sports and entertainment companies to discuss the evolving landscape of predictive modeling, the biggest hurdles they face, and the innovations shaping the future of analytics in sports. Join us for an in-depth conversation on how model-driven decision-making is transforming the sports industry.

Moderator: Alex Edelman Panelists: Nate Silver, Jessica Gelman, Daryl Morey

Moderator: Michael Lewis Panelists: Andrew Luck, Adrian Wojnarowski The NCAA has entered a new era - one shaped by NIL, the transfer portal, and a talent market that looks more like free agency than the traditional recruiting of the past. As the landscape shifts, programs are adapting by introducing General Managers, a role long associated with professional sports but now critical to navigating college athletics. In this discussion, Andrew Luck (GM, Stanford Football) and Adrian Wojnarowski (GM, St. Bonaventure Basketball), explore how front-office leadership is evolving at the college level. What separates a great college GM from their professional counterparts? How do you balance player recruitment and retention when the rules change by the year? And as college sports become increasingly commercialized, how do these new decision-makers shape the future of the game?

Moderator: Michael McCann Panelists: Oliver Luck, Mark Jackson, Brian Higgins As college athletics enters a transformative era, a landmark NCAA settlement could reshape player compensation, conference dynamics, and the future of the NCAA itself. This panel brings together leading voices from sports governance and business strategy to explore the implications of direct athlete payments, revenue sharing, and evolving financial models. Panelists will discuss how schools should adapt to a salary cap environment, the role of the NCAA as a governing body, and the impact on competitive balance between large and small programs. The conversation will also examine conference realignment, private equity’s growing influence in college sports, and data-driven decision-making for long-term NCAA sustainability. With major financial and structural shifts on the horizon, this discussion will provide insights into what lies ahead for college athletics and the future of the NCAA.

Moderator: Shira Springer  Panelists: Constance Schwartz-Morini, Megan Rapinoe, Marie Donoghue Increasingly, leading sports figures are telling their stories and connecting directly through athlete-led podcasts, documentaries, and other content that indicates athlete power and changes to sports media approaches. Underscoring this trend is a growing interest from fans to go beyond broadcasted games and into the personal lives and perspectives of athletes. From Jason Kelce to David Beckham to Simone Biles, athletes are finding themselves in the producer chair to both commercially and artistically drive these projects. Hear from figures who saw these opportunities early on at the forefront of this movement, and how new mediums are impacting brand building, influence, and the ability to craft their narratives. Hear what has worked, understand the risks of saturation, who has been bypassed, and how things are evolving around athlete-driven content hold.

Moderator: Bret McCormick Panelists: Mark Jackson, Bill Hanway, Darren Ross, Fran Weld  Sports real estate has evolved into a powerful tool for fan engagement, urban revitalization, and the creation of innovative revenue streams. No longer just venues for games, modern sports facilities are driving economic growth, fostering community connections, and redefining the spectator experience. From the urban regeneration sparked by projects like the Intuit Dome to groundbreaking stadium designs like Ryan Field's year-round usability and the Dodgers' integration of historic preservation with cutting-edge upgrades, today's projects are setting new benchmarks for innovation. These spaces blend sustainability, inclusivity, and multifunctionality, offering tailored fan experiences and unlocking new revenue opportunities. How can sports real estate continue to balance architectural ingenuity with economic and social impact? Join leaders from Northwestern University, AECOM, Canopy Team, and Wasserman as they discuss the transformative potential of sports venues in shaping the future.

Moderator: Jessica Gelman Panelists: Michele Kang, Gerry Cardinale Join an exclusive conversation with Gerry Cardinale and Michele Kang, two entrepreneurs who are literally changing the sports industry.  Both founders have taken unique approaches to expanding global reach through investment approach and team ownership structure. Michele Kang is a pioneering entrepreneur and investor who has transformed women’s sports by founding and leading Kynisca, the world's pre-eminent women sports organization and the first woman-owned multi-team global organization dedicated to women’s football. Gerry Cardinale is the visionary creator, managing partner, and chief investment officer of RedBird Capital Partners, where his leadership has driven over $10 billion in investments across sports, media, and entertainment. The discussion led by Jessica Gelman will highlight their journey from early beginnings that has led to how and why they are building sports empires today.

Panelists: Alex Rodriguez, Jason Kelly, David Blitzer ‘The Deal’, Bloomberg’s hit show featuring Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly, brings its signature blend of sports, business, and investing to the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference for an exclusive live interview. In this special session, they sit down with David Blitzer—co-managing partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and a pioneer in multi-club ownership—to explore the evolving landscape of sports investment. From private equity’s expanding role to the strategic use of analytics in team acquisitions and operations, Blitzer shares his perspective on the business of winning both on and off the field. How do investors assess opportunities in today’s data-driven sports world? What’s next for ownership models as leagues adapt to new financial realities? Join us for a front-row seat to The Deal as we unpack the numbers, narratives, and next moves shaping the future of sports.

Moderator: Michele Steele Panelists: David Stearns, Nick Caserio, Daryl Morey What’s it like to negotiate nine-figure contracts, let go of a veteran fan-favorite player, or survive a trade deadline? This panel unites four visionary executives across three different sports—Daryl Morey (Philadelphia 76ers), David Stearns (New York Mets), Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Minnesota Vikings), and Nick Caserio (Houston Texans)—to explore how analytics are transforming team management across sports. The discussion will delve into how each leader leverages data and technology to guide roster construction, player evaluation, and development strategies. From navigating professional drafts to executing trades and competitive rebuilds, the panelists will share insights into how analytics drive sustained success in their respective leagues. They’ll also address the challenges of integrating data with traditional scouting and balancing innovation with the human element of decision-making.

Moderator: Abe Madkour Panelists: Amy Howe, Brian Rolapp, Jessica Gelman The sports industry is in a period of massive disruption from streaming media to direct-to-consumer to globalization to sky-rocketing team valuations to increased access to athletes to data connectivity. Why have team values increased so much despite declining viewership? The Future of Sports Business is evolving in real-time reflecting the changing expectations of fans, athletes, & stakeholders. Hear from industry innovators from the pre-eminent sports organizations engaging the changing fan, how the game is more connected than ever before, and why the sports world will continue to become smaller. This discussion will highlight how organizations across the ecosystem are strategically adapting to changing fan preferences and highlight the data & technology needed to support changes in-venue, at-home, and across the world. The panel will consider the broader influences affecting the sports ecosystem, including globalization and emerging trends, as they look to redefine the future of sports business.