Navigating Sports Business

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.  ...

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=37dc5be7b4b...

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 opera...

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 sporti...

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...

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...

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 incl...

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 Navig...

Jim Delany – Former Commissioner of the Big Ten – on the challenges related to the current collegiate model. He discusses NIL and how any future system needs to ensure that payouts are made in compliance with Title IX.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=5a7928eec786137cdf7c90201ccd5dc7   For more insights, visit our  Link...

Rick Schlesinger - President of Business Operations for the Milwaukee Brewers - joins life-long Brewers fan Jeff Nelson to discuss the state of the team and their new long-term lease that runs through 2050.       They also discuss the RSN situation in Major League Baseball, robot umpires, and how to overcome a "small market."       Details: 1:45 - The Brewers/Cubs rivalry 4:00 - American Family Fi...

Mat and Justin Ishbia – Governor and Alternate Governor of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury – on their ground-breaking decision to broadcast their games over-the-air for free. Additionally, they distributed 25,000 antennas to support their community and grow their fan base.   While the future of sports media remains uncertain, the Suns and Mercury have now established themselves as pioneers of the fre...

Blake Lawrence - Co-Founder/CEO of Opendorse - shares his unique perspective on the NIL marketplace and what the data tells us after 2+ years.   He also gets into the precarious relationship between athletic departments and collectives, and how forward-thinking ADs are prioritizing NIL dollars in order to ensure sustained success.   For more insights, visit our  LinkedIn page  or learn more about...

Jon Steinbrecher - Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference - on the origins of MACtion in November and why midweek football games do so much to drive exposure for the schools in the MAC.   He and AJ discuss the benefits that come with that exposure, such as recruiting advantages for coaches and increased brand awareness. They also highlight some of the challenges that midweek games create, par...

Mat and Justin Ishbia - Governor and Alternate Governor of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury - on their philosophy for succeeding on and off the court. Mat believes they're ready to compete for an NBA championship with players like Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker , whom he calls the best player in the NBA.       In just a short time as majority stakeholders of the teams, they've already ma...

Rick George – Athletic Director at the University of Colorado – highlights the importance of geography in the decision to join the Big 12, and whether or not Coach Prime had a say in that decision. He highlights having access to key markets for "fundraising and fan-raising."   The advantages of a broad reach impact recruiting, branding, and even enrollment for the broader student body. Therefore,...

Jim Delany - Former Commissioner of the Big Ten - debates NIL, realignment, and the future of college sports. He and AJ discuss the factors that impact major decisions at the collegiate level, and set a reminder to have another conversation 5 years down the road.   Details: 1:55 - Life since retirement 3:45 - What makes a successful commissioner 12:05 - How would you lead college athletics? 21:45...

John Koller - Global CMO at HP - on the role of AI in sports marketing, and the areas where he sees near-term opportunities.   He predicts that creative campaigns will be personalized at scale using AI, especially as teams look to expand their reach beyond the U.S.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=85fc90b6be0f210a03939...

John Koller - Global CMO at HP - leads marketing and sponsorship for one of the original Silicon Valley brands. His career path has taken him through some of the most innovative sides of our industry, including stops at Twitch, Hard Rock, and PlayStation. He joins Jeff Nelson to discuss how that varied experience is helping him now at HP, and what he envisions for the future of tech in sports.   S...

Charlie Hussey – Deputy Commissioner/COO at the SEC – discusses the history of realignment in the SEC, and compares the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the other two waves of realignment that the conference has seen since the early '90s.       Adding Arkansas and South Carolina in 1990 was driven by the desire to expand to 12 teams in order to host a championship football game between the newly...

Charlie Hussey - Deputy Commissioner/COO at the SEC - on the evolution of college athletics, and how he feels about the state of the conference.   He and Jeff Nelson discuss the continuous, regional footprint of the SEC despite adding Texas and Oklahoma, and why they're comfortable with the 16 schools they currently have, with national appeal.   Details: 3:45 - The evolution of collegiate athletic...

Steve Lauletta – President of 23XI Racing – on the recent creativity that he's seen in NASCAR with events like the Chicago Street Race and the Clash at the Coliseum. He's optimistic about the future of the sport and the changes they've made to appeal to a broader audience.     Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=b579cd3ecab3...

Shawn Quill – National Sports Industry Leader at KPMG – on the importance of measuring your sponsorship portfolio to determine ROI. He also talks about finding deals that align with your brand's value, and give benefit to your partner beyond writing a check.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=3b0fad789156b8f3cd115d8cfbf6a...

Stu Halberg – CEO of Logitix – on what actually drives ticket purchasing. The surprising takeaway is that price is not as critical as once thought, at least compared to factors like, quality of the teams or performers, timing, and availability of other events in the area.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=ad61f9ea4ac7f6...

Steve Lauletta - President of 23XI Racing - details what it's like to build a NASCAR team from the ground up alongside Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.   He and AJ Maestas discuss the role of sponsorship in NASCAR and how it differs from other sports properties. They also touch on 23XI's unique positioning and their role in rejuvenating NASCAR's audience as they attract a more diverse audience to...