Navigating Sports Business
Jen Spicher – CEO of Pro Volleyball Federation - on "converting the unconverted" and looking to attract new fans to the league. She also explains their strategy on expansion, aiming for 10 teams in 2025, and as many as 20 by 2026. She says that she has conversations every day with someone interested in putting a franchise in a new market. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
info_outline 91. Mike Buckley - United States SailGP TeamNavigating Sports Business
Mike Buckley - Co-Owner & CEO of the United States SailGP Team - shares his excitement around the sport of sailing and the upcoming New York Sail Grand Prix. As both an executive and a champion sailor himself, Mike has a unique perspective not shared by many other owners of professional teams. His fellow investors in the U.S. team include include boxer Deontay Wilder; NFL players DeAndre Hopkins, Malik Jackson, and Roquan Smith, actress Issa Rae, and many other big names. Details: 1:30 - Mike's experience with sailing 6:30 - The growth of SailGP 8:50 - SailGP's Climate...
info_outline Highlight: Meredith Batcheller - AdobeNavigating Sports Business
Meredith Batcheller – Head of Global Sports Marketing at Adobe – explains the tech integration behind their partnership with Major League Baseball. Using Adobe's technology, MLB is able to create customized messaging for fans entering ballparks. The partnership allows Adobe's marketing team to reach MLB's evolving fanbase. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
info_outline 90. Sameer Ahuja - GameChangerNavigating Sports Business
Sameer Ahuja - President of GameChanger and SVP at DICK'S Sporting Goods - leads the largest youth sports video streaming platform in the country. More hours are streamed in a single year on GameChanger than have been played in the entire history of Major League Baseball. As youth sports continues to become more sophisticated, GameChanger exists to fill a need for stats, video, and more. Sameer joins Jeff Nelson to explain the business model that has led to scalability and success. Details: 2:00 - What is Gamechanger? 6:55 - The business model 14:59 - Surviving COVID without live...
info_outline Highlight: Anne Ristau - NavigateNavigating Sports Business
Navigate's EVP of Consulting, Anne Ristau, discusses the role of private equity in sports, both at the professional and collegiate level. She and Jeff Nelson emphasize the importance of innovation and increased capital as property valuations soar, while maintaining a focus on what's best for the fans. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
info_outline 89. Jen Spicher - Pro Volleyball FederationNavigating Sports Business
Jen Spicher - CEO of Pro Volleyball Federation - discusses the league's rapid ascent to national prominence, as well as the general rise of women's volleyball. She and Anne Ristau also explore the work that Navigate did with Pro Volleyball Federation to help secure their media rights deal with CBS Sports. Details: 1:35 - Jen's background as a student athlete 3:20 - Pro Volleyball Federation 8:00 - The rise of volleyball 10:10 - The future of the league 12:50 - Working with Navigate and CBS Sports 14:00 - The business model 22:25 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights,...
info_outline Highlight: Matthew Holt - U.S. IntegrityNavigating Sports Business
Matthew Holt – President of U.S. Integrity – shares the story of a boxing manager who is being investigated for placing a massive wager on his own client. He explains how U.S. Integrity monitors nefarious activity in sports betting. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
info_outline 88. Meredith Batcheller - AdobeNavigating Sports Business
Meredith Batcheller - Head of Global Sports Marketing at Adobe - explains the "why" behind some of their most exciting sports partnerships, including MLB and the NWSL. She also shares how her experience on the agency side of the business, and her time as a student athlete, have prepared her for success in her current role. Details: 6:30 - Experience on the agency, B2B, and B2C sides of our industry 13:45 - Adobe 21:00 - NWSL partnership 27:55 - The outlook for the rest of 2024 30:35 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate...
info_outline Highlight: Julie Roe Lach - Horizon LeagueNavigating Sports Business
Julie Roe Lach – Commissioner of the Horizon League – on how the House v. NCAA lawsuit is impacting her conference and the mid-major level of college athletics. The Horizon League is not a named defendant in the case, limiting the information that she and her team receive. However, they still manage to keep their presidents and chancellors up-to-date on this lawsuit and others that have the potential to dramatically alter the state of college athletics. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at ....
info_outline Highlight: Whit Babcock - Virginia TechNavigating 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: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
info_outlineGreg Sankey, Commissioner of the SEC, joins AJ Maestas on today's episode of Navigating Sports Business podcast. They discuss operating during COVID-19, the path to becoming commissioner, the future of collegiate athletics, and some great book recommendations.
Details:
00:00 - Commissioner Sankey's background
3:50 - Handling COVID in the SEC
17:20 - Book Recommendations
25:00 - Was playing football in 2020 the right decision?
31:10 - New SEC television deal with ABC
42:20 - The future of collegiate athletics
57:20 - Leadership and social justice
1:01:00 - Personal habits for success
Book Recommendations:
Leadership Strategy and Tactics, by Jocko Willink
The Life You Always Wanted, by John Ortberg
Be Quick But Don’t Hurry, by Andrew Hill
Book of Ecclesiastes, Old Testament
Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, by Andy Stanley
Thinking in Bets, by Annie Duke
How Churchill Waged War, by Allen George Packwood
Philanthropic Organizations: