Navigating Sports Business

Bruce Bassett is the Founder of Grai Labs, embedded AI strategist with Navigate, and is one the world's leading experts on Artificial Intelligence. With decades of experience in academia and practical AI applications, he applies his knowledge and beliefs to the sports industry, and gives tips for staying afloat in a tidal wave of AI innovation.   Details: 2:00 - AI in the Sports Industry 6:15 - Wh...

"Every Red Sox or every Bruins game is a theatrical hit."   Ahmed Darwish - Chief Marketing Officer at NESN - explains the importance of making games accessible to fans, and how NESN's continuity helps fans have a reliable options for watching their favorites teams.   Despite streaming reshaping the industry and new players emerging, sports continue to hold strong media value.   Listen to the full...

Jared Orton – President of the Savannah Bananas – on the origins of the Bananaland at Sea fan cruise, which the team is bringing back for another voyage in 2026.   The Savannah Bananas are known for providing the very best in fan engagement, and the creativity and detailed planning that went into the fan cruise are the perfect example.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?p...

"I believe in my alma mater LSU more than anybody will ever know"   Scott Woodward – Athletics Director at LSU – on his approach to coach hiring, and swinging for the fences to secure the very best available. No matter how well an AD operates on the business side, they are still judged by noteworthy hires they make. That's why alignment with your institution and stakeholders is key.   Listen to th...

Robert Davari - CEO and Founder of Tixr - on how they are disrupting an industry by focusing on optimization, design, and building a better ticketing and ecommerce product.   Tixr recently announced its partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes, the first "big 5" team on their roster.   Timestamps: 1:40 - Tixr's origins 8:50 - Ticketing technology 12:05 - San Jose Earthquakes Partnership 15:35 - P...

Vince Kozar – President of the Phoenix Mercury – talks about how they have no trouble retaining fans who watch a game live or on TV. Whether those fans initially come to see Caitlin Clark, a rival team, or are just skipping channels, once they see what the Mercury have to offer, they stick around.   He also talks about the broader mission of the organization and the work they are doing to increase...

Navigating Sports Media: Ahmed Darwish - CMO at NESN - leads marketing for one of the most well-known and successful RSNs in the country. As business models shift across media, they are finding ways to reach more fans, including their DTC platform, NESN 360.   He also shares trends and predictions for NESN, for baseball, and for sports media in general.   Timestamps: 4:00 - DTC and Distribution 14...

Nic Barlage – CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rock Entertainment Group – explains his strategy of pivoting more towards single-game tickets, despite most teams focusing on season ticket packages. Capping season tickets has helped the Cavs jump into the top third of the NBA in gate revenue.   He also discusses the Cavs Reward program and what makes it more effective than other loyalty programs i...

Scott Woodward - Athletics Director at LSU - always seems to make the right coaching hire. He breaks down how finds the best candidates and shares other tips for succeeding as a high-level athletic department.   A man of many interests, he also discusses food, wine, literature, and advice for young people.   Timestamps: 2:15 - A lifelong LSU fan becoming AD 9:05 - Hiring the best coaches 19:20 - L...

Jahm Najafi – Chairman and Partner at MSP Sports Capital and Head of the Najafi Companies – shares his excitement for the new X Games League that will be to action sports what Formula 1 is to motorsports.   Najafi is an investor in X Games as well as McLaren Racing and other sports properties.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&pp...

Vince Kozar - President of the Phoenix Mercury - joins us to discuss the evolving landscape of the WNBA, his career journey with the franchise, and what's next for the team following Diana Taurasi's retirement. From front office shifts to player acquisitions, Vince shares insights into how the Mercury are navigating a transformative era.   Timestamps: 1:55 – Inside the Mercury's active offseason m...

Jim Cochrane – Chief Business Officer at the Texas Rangers – and Jon Heidtke – Founder and Principal at Heidtke Sports Entertainment were featured on the very first episode of our Navigating Sports Media Series. In this highlight, Jon breaks down the unique distribution model that they created which combines regional distribution, OTA broadcast, and a direct-to-consumer option in order to reach as...

Nic Barlage - CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rock Entertainment Group - on how their organization is maximizing a dominant season from the Cavs, all while managing a growing portfolio of other properties across sports and media.   He also breaks down their Cavs Rewards program, and what differentiates it from what other teams have tried before.   Details: 1:50 - What is Rock Entertainment Grou...

Vincent Pierson and Curtis Walker – Co-Founders of The Black Sports Business Academy – discuss the business imperative behind building a diverse and equitable organization. In a time when DE&I practices are at risk, it's more crucial now than ever to understand the benefits.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=69b9d091a38...

Jahm Najafi - Chairman and Partner at MSP Sports Capital and Head of the Najafi Companies - is an investor in McLaren Racing, the X Games, and other major sports properties. He discusses some of his most significant investments and the philosophies that guide his decision-making.   Jahm's Book Recommendation: The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Succe...

Lynn Holzman – VP of Women's Basketball at the NCAA – on the NCAA's new media rights deal with ESPN and the opportunities it creates for fans of women's sports.   Embedded in the deal are storytelling opportunities that aim to promote women's basketball utilizing ESPN's platform.   While the NCAA men's basketball tournament is sold to network partners as a standalone package, women's basketball re...

In the first episode of our new "Navigating Sports Media" series, Navigate's Head of Media, Umar Hussain, hosts two guests who are leading the way in the regional broadcast space.   Staring down a new local media rights reality and with just 9 months of prep time, the Texas Rangers launched Rangers Sports Network and DTC offering in partnership with Victory+. With the ongoing disruption in cable a...

Matt Dennington – Co-Chief Commercial Officer at McLaren Racing – on how the team's 2024 Constructors' Cup Championship ultimately hinged on 0.7 seconds during one critical pit stop. He explains how that difference is reflective of the team's Forever Forward mentality which pushes for high performance at every level of the organization.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?...

Vincent Pierson and Curtis Walker - Co-Founders of The Black Sports Business Academy - highlight how they're engaging with the HBCU family to provide programming and resources with the ultimate goal of improving equity in the sports industry.   If you'd like to help support their mission, or if you're a student interested in learning more, visit www.thebsba.com .   Details: 2:15 - The business cas...

Randy Freer - Media Expert, Former Hulu CEO, & CEO of the Freer Company - explains why we need to adopt updated metrics for measuring ratings. He shares the example of the NBA, which seems to be more popular than ever across media platforms, despite ratings concerns early in the season.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/111-randy-freer-media-expert-former-hu...

Lynn Holzman - VP of Women's Basketball at the NCAA - breaks down the excitement for this year's March Madness and the record-setting growth metrics surrounding women's basketball.   Lynn also discusses her time as a conference commissioner, her background as a student athlete, and addresses the continued inequity we face as an industry despite all of our progress.   Details:  1:40 - Lynn's backgr...

Kimberly Bolt – CMO at the Washington Nationals – on marketing to fans who have recently moved to D.C. for work or school. They approach new fans with a two-pronged approach of excellent fan experience at Nationals Park, and brand storytelling that builds emotional connections between fans and players.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a...

Navigate's own Marina Carpenter - Head of Ownership & C-Suite Strategy - talks about her previous roles leading major decisions for properties like the Arizona Coyotes and how she translates that experience when advising clients.   Marina worked with three different ownership groups while at the Coyotes, worked on major legal and facilities projects including the sale of the franchise.   Details:...

Quentin Paquelier - CMO of Club América - on the differences between the sports industries in Mexico and the United States and why both sides have a lot to learn from each other.   He claims that the passion of his fanbase, and Mexican soccer fans in general, is unmatched in the U.S. and elsewhere. For Club América, the passion becomes part of the product they're selling. Still, the success of the...

Matt Dennington - Co-Chief Commercial Officer at McLaren Racing - says that winning the F1 Constructors' Championship in 2024 was just the beginning of the team's positive momentum.   They are well-positioned on the grid with a fast car and two talented drivers, but they're also in an enviable position on the business side with strong partnerships and great people.   Details: 2:10 - Matt's backgro...