The New Sports Economy

Sessions

• Unrivaled Partnerships That Move Culture

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Stefanie RappSenior Vice President of Sports StrategyTNT Sports
  • Kirby PorterChief Brand OfficerUnrivaled Basketball
  • Lance PillersdorfCEOAdvertising Week
  • Olga SuvorovaCMO, Mobile ExperienceSamsung Electronics America

  Success in today’s crowded sports economy is about more than logos on jerseys, it’s about tapping into cultural moments that deepen fan connections and drive business growth. Hear how collaborations between Samsung, TNT Sports, and Unrivaled are reshaping engagement around women’s sports. Discover how technology, media, and brand strategy intersect to amplify the women’s game and create new models for cultural relevance and impact as the groundbreaking Unrivaled gears up for Season 2.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 5:30AM EDT30minIn person

• Power Brokers in Sport: Building Brands and Driving Impact

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Cari ChampionBroadcast Journalist, Host and Storyteller
  • Chrysa ChinEVP, Strategic RelationsNBPA
  • Lindsay ColasEVP, Talent and The CollectiveWasserman
  • Lisa MetelusCAA Board and Head of Athlete Brand Strategy & EntertainmentCAA Sports
  • Sarah FlynnCMO35 Ventures and Boardroom

  brings together world-class leaders in the talent and athlete business. We’ll explore how you have built brands and driven meaningful business impact with the biggest names in sport. You’ll be joined by Lindsay Colas (Wasserman), Lisa Metelus (CAA), and Chrysa Chin (NBPA). The conversation will be moderated by award winning journalist, host, and storyteller Cari Champion.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 6:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Women’s Sports Isn’t the Future – It’s NOW

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Bailey WilliamsonSenior Vice President of PartnershipsTOGETHXR
  • Emma WakelySports Partnerships ManagerSnap Inc.
  • Jessie SchwartzfarbEVP, Head of Video Investmentdentsu
  • Kyrstin JohnsonNCAA gymnastTemple University
  • Aarti BhaskaranGlobal Head of Research and InsightsSnap Inc.

  The rise of women’s sports is undeniable. With fans demanding visibility and athletes becoming cultural icons, the playbook for brands has changed. This session from Snap, dentsu, and Ipsos, powered by research among 13500+ sports fans and experts, reveals how brands can seize the momentum, partner with athletes authentically, and ensure they’re not left on the sidelines of the biggest cultural shift in sports. Walk away with a better understanding of how brands can be part of the movement and support the next era of fandom!

  Wed 10/8 • 6:50AM EDT30minIn person

• The Culture of Sharing

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Amy SalazarEVP of Client ServicesWasserman Creative
  • Nicole WeltmanHead of Social and Brand PRTaco Bell

  Community is at the core of everything Taco Bell does. In fact, it’s a primary KPI. Taco Bell’s head of Social and PR shares how they set up their internal team and agency partners to set, identify and take quick action on trends to support their fans from the Student Sections to communities of all sizes at the speed of culture.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 7:25AM EDT20minIn person

• Faces In the Crowd: How creators become the main characters for the biggest events in Sports, Music and Entertainment

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Cameron GidariVice President of Social Media & InnovationMajor League Baseball
  • Daniel NunezChief Creative OfficerWasserman, Brands and Properties

  In today’s rapidly evolving cultural landscape, creators are no longer a marketing add-on – they’re a strategic necessity. Whether you’re building a brand, launching a campaign, or driving fandom in sports and music, creators sit at the intersection of relevance, community, and commerce. This session explores how brands and properties are effectively embedding creator strategy at the core of their operations to stay ahead in today’s fragmented media world. Join a cross-industry lineup of leaders as they unpack the role of creators in modern brand and fan ecosystems – from influencer-led storytelling to co-creation models that drive measurable impact.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 7:45AM EDT20minIn person

• Tapping Into Culture: The Playbook for Connection

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Andrew SteinthalHead of Talent and Culture PartnershipsChase
  • Jeff SanchezDirector of Talent and Influencer ContentNBA
  • Sofia HernandezGlobal Head of Business Marketing, TikTokTikTok
  • Speedy MormanJournalist & Cultural Storyteller
  • TJ AdesholaOperating Partner, Arctos Partners | Media Executive | Strategic Advisor

  The session will explore what it truly takes for creators, brands, platforms, and leagues to connect with audiences in meaningful ways.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 8:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Brand Building in the New Sports Economy

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Matt FerrelVP of Growth and MarketingTickPick
  • Meghan BradyExecutive Director, Sports & Entertainment MarketingJP Morgan Chase
  • Nicole ReboeCEORich Talent Group
  • Rob GreggFounder & CEOSTAND+
  • Zach MillerBucketsquad

  From creator-led ventures to breakthrough performance products and established household names, the business of sports has never been more diverse-or more dynamic. This session brings together Jesser’s Bucketsquad, Stand+ performance footwear and JP Morgan Chase to explore how brands are built and scaled across today’s sports ecosystem. From creators shaping fandom to how innovation is fueling new performance categories, and how traditional players and financial leaders are adapting to meet fans and consumers in fresh, culturally relevant ways.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 8:50AM EDT30minIn person

• Power Plays: Redefining Women’s Sports Stories with Religion of Sports

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Gotham ChopraFilmmaker and Co-FounderReligion of Sports
  • Kelly SweeneySr Director Integrated Media CollectiveThe J.M. Smucker Co.
  • Kelsey PlumTwo-time WNBA Champion, Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Four-Time WNBA All Star
  • Lauren FisherVP, Development & Executive Creative DirectorReligion of Sports
  • Lindsay RittenhouseSenior ReporterAd Age

  A new era in sports storytelling is here – and women are leading the charge. Co-founded by Gotham Chopra, Tom Brady, and Michael Strahan, the Emmy-winning studio Religion of Sports (ROS) is amplifying women athletes through Next is Now, a groundbreaking content initiative that puts women at the forefront of both narrative and production. Featuring powerful stories like Fastest Six Weeks in Sports, ROS is rewriting the rules of sports storytelling – with brand partners like DoorDash, Chase and Uncrustables fueling the momentum through full funding and executive production. Join ROS, WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum and brand partner Kelly Sweeney from The J.M. Smucker Co., for a candid conversation on the future of sports media – and how it’s being built by women, for everyone.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 9:30AM EDT30minIn person

• The Winning Strategy: How Prime Video & Amazon Ads Are Transforming Live Sports

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Danielle CarneyHead of U.S. Video and Live Sports SalesAmazon Ads
  • Amy McDevittHead of Sports Brand PartnershipsAmazon Ads
  • Jared StacyVice President, Global Live ProductionPrime Video
  • Jeremy CareyChief Investment OfficerOptimum Sports

  Join us for an exclusive conversation with Amazon Ads and Prime Video leadership as they discuss the intersection of premium content and democratized access to live sports advertising. Amy McDevitt moderates this discussion with Danielle Carney and Jared Stacy, exploring how Amazon’s dual strength in production and ad tech is reshaping the sports advertising landscape.

  Wed 10/8 • 10:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Woj on the Future of College Sports

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Adrian WojnarowskiGeneral Manager, Men's BasketballSt. Bonaventure
  • Pat O‚ÄôTooleCMOUnleashed Brands

  St. Bonaventure’s GM Adrian Wojnarowski sits down with Pat O’Toole, CMO of Unleashed Brands, to unpack the future of college sports in this era defined by NIL, athlete creators, and the ever-changing collegiate landscape. Together, they’ll explore how athletes are navigating new opportunities to monetize their brands, how universities like St. Bonaventure are adapting to stay competitive, and what role marketers and college sports innovators play in shaping the next generation of fandom and business of college athletics.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 10:50AM EDT30minIn person

• Making Women’s Sports Easier to Buy

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • Ashlyn Harris2x World Cup Champion and Olympian
  • Jesse RednissCEO and Co-FounderPrecise.ai
  • Laura CorrentiFounder and CEODeep Blue Sports + Entertainment
  • Nick CiceroFounderMondo Metrics

  The growth of women’s sports have been impeded by two things: they’re hard to find and hard to buy. In this session, Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment will unveil their newest solution to alleviate women’s sports growth challenges: a business intelligence tool powered by Precise and Mondo Metrics to support brands and buyers in making informed investment decisions in the category. The platform leverages real-time signals inclusive of trending content themes, top social accounts, ratings and more to make the business case to buy women’s sports media and sponsorships. We’ll hear from the platform’s architects as well as special guest, 2x World Cup Champion Ashlyn Harris, on the importance and implications of having access to this data.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 11:30AM EDT30minIn person

• The Ochocinco Brand Playbook

  Creativity Stage

  • The New Sports Economy

  • A.J. AndrewsProfessional Softball, BETMGM Ambassador and Host of MLB Network's "Play Ball "
  • Chad JohnsonEntrepreneur and athlete
  • Doug SandersFounderSanders Sports & Entertainment (SSE)

  From electrifying fans on the field to building a powerful presence as a creator and media brand, Chad Ochocinco has redefined what it means to be an athlete in today’s sports economy. Joined by his business partner Doug Sanders, this conversation will dive into how Ochocinco has leveraged his voice, personality, and authenticity to connect with fans and brands alike. Together, they’ll explore the evolving role of athletes as creators, the unique opportunities for partnerships in the New Sports Economy, and how brands can engage authentically with athlete-driven communities to build deeper, lasting connections.

  Presented by

  Wed 10/8 • 12:10PM EDT30minIn person