Navigating Sports Business

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 14:00 - Having multiple teams on the platform 16:15 - Marketing tactics 22:05 - Baseball predictions 26:15 - Ahmed's career path 37:30 - Rapid Fire Questions   Book Recommendation: The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 in sports.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=72489191733141b7fb29046bc253b7f3   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 - Livvy Dunne and building athlete brands 22:25 - Athletic departments creating commercial arms 26:15 - Crystal ball predictions 27:50 - Scott's interests outside of athletics 35:20 - Rapid Fire Questions   Shownotes: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius War of Shadows Gino's Restaurant   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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&ppepisode=28d3e011473bfd6caad5a7be5a48e682   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 moves 5:00 – Reflecting on Diana Taurasi's retirement 15:00 – Vince Kozar's path to team president 20:00 – Impact of new Suns/Mercury ownership 26:50 – Hosting the 2026 Women's Final Four 29:20 - Differentiators for the Mercury 33:50 – Rapid Fire Questions

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 many Rangers fans as possible.   He shares how they were able to manage relationships with different partners throughout the process, and the hard work that went into creating Rangers Sports Network.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=94bf2e252950ffa46e031485ed9e76dc   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 Group? 10:05 - Dan Gilbert's ISMs 16:35 - Other organizations to emulate  19:00 - Investing in new innovations 23:55 - The Cavs' success 28:10 - Cavs Rewards 30:40 - Measuring business success in a 1-seed season 36:15 - Launching Rock Entertainment Sports Network 40:35 - Rapid Fire Questions     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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=69b9d091a38903dbc0dcab91e256677f   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 Success   Details: 1:45 - Being an owner vs. a shareholder 3:25 - Investing in McLaren Racing 21:30 - The X Games investment 26:15 - What's next? 30:20 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 remains part of this larger agreement.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=e1208c0097bd387a03635525a3e5728a   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 and streaming, teams will need to get creative and ensure that their content (especially games) are accessible and attractive in-market for both existing and new fans.   Jim Cochrane - Chief Business Officer at the Texas Rangers - and Jon Heidtke - Founder and Principal at Heidtke Sports Entertainment - discuss how this new strategy has put the organization in the best possible position in this new media marketplace.   Details: 2:25 - Rangers Sports Network 12:50 - Content beyond live games 15:25 - The next 5 to 10 years 18:15 - Baseball's TV product 28:05 - Rapid Fire Questions  36:55 - Umar's POV on sports media     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=63a7a2d379877303044ce5fc20d536a7   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 case for DEI 6:30 - BSBA overview 16:00 - Networking advice 20:05 - The Yard 23:00 - The future of the BSBA   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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-hulu-ceo/id1544529117?i=1000686685297   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 background as a basketball player 5:05 - The growth of women's basketball 12:35 - The media value of the Women's Basketball Championship 16:15 - Challenging issue for the NCAA 18:45 - Addressing gender inequity in sports 23:45 - Emerging trends 30:00 - Rapid Fire Questions     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=95c5af8b8ff44aaf981512b046a1330e   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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: 1:40 - Working for three different ownership groups 4:55 - Venue challenges 8:40 - Managing league-level relationships 10:30 - What do the best properties do well? 14:25 - Marina's new role at Navigate 18:10 - Private equity in college sports 23:15 - Large-scale facilities project 25:45 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 their marketing waxes and wanes with on-field performance.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=283d4745d47cdf2bc56bc086c768f5d9   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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 background 6:40 - Joining a struggling McLaren Racing in 2016 12:30 - Liberty Media acquiring F1 14:30 - Drive to Survive 16:00 - “Forever Forward” 18:40 - Licensing and brand extensions 22:40 - Women in F1 24:45 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Matthew Holt - Chief Executive Officer at IC360 - explains why the thousands of available prop bets during the Super Bowl are even more difficult to monitor and regulate than those we see during regular games.   The main difference is whether the prop is decided on the field of play, or whether it's something that can be known ahead of time, like the color of the winning team's gatorade or the duration of the national anthem.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=26b5af50fdc633e2edb4e7236f2139ad   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Randy Freer - Media Expert, Former Hulu CEO, & CEO of the Freer Company - shares his unique perspective on streaming, media fragmentation, the new NBA rights deal, and the viability of different models for viewing live sports.   He also discusses the changes he foresees for the next generation of sports fans and media consumers. In the past, it has been the “middle men” who have profited by purchasing live rights and selling advertising. Now, those arbitrage opportunities are becoming increasingly more complicated, and it's the IP holders who have the most to gain from the changes.    Details: 4:10 - The new NBA media deal 6:00 - The modern media landscape 17:50 - UFC/Expanding property audiences 20:30 - Hulu, Venu, and Fubo 26:55 - Media fragmentation 35:45 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Jared Orton – President of the Savannah Bananas – on the goal of offering affordable tickets to fans despite challenges with the secondary ticket market.   Fake tickets and price gouging are commonplace, and the Bananas are doing what they can to protect their fans and allow easier access to their games.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=fc87122340fbf55d3eccd66e0094711a   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Kimberly Bolt - CMO at the Washington Nationals - breaks down the art and science of marketing a Major League Baseball team.   She discusses D.C.'s unique identity as a transient city and how to market to those new fans as they move to town. She also shares what her team is doing to reach younger audiences including innovative influencer marketing strategies and a summer concert at the Nationals Park.   Details: 2:30 - Positive momentum for baseball 6:45 - Social/digital marketing 12:10 - Marketing to different types of fans 16:25 - Data and science vs. art in decision making 20:25 - Kim's background 25:55 - The Nationals Brand 27:15 - Attracting fans that are new to D.C. 30:35 - Celebrating the team's 20th anniversary 33:50 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

  Jeremy Bloom – CEO of the X Games, Former NFL & Olympic Athlete, and the Founder of Integrate - tells the story of his legal battle with the NCAA.   By accepting endorsements to fund his gold-medal skiing career, he forfeited his eligibility to play football at the University of Colorado. His story provides a vivid contrast to the current rules surrounding NIL in college sports.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=8d889a2d7528fe6866c5b6f43a0aad77   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Quentin Paquelier - CMO of Club América - leads marketing for the biggest soccer brand in North America. Their games average more viewers in the U.S. than any other soccer club in the world.   Quentin considers the U.S. to be a "second primary market" and explains the challenge of engaging with so many fans in different parts of Mexico, the U.S., and beyond, especially with the global spotlight of the World Cup coming up in 2026.   He also shares how their women's club on its own has more fans than most men's soccer teams.   Details: 2:25 - Quentin's background 4:45 - The global stature of Club América 9:50 - Differences between sports business in Mexico and the U.S. 15:40 - Club América Femenil 22:35 - The 2026 World Cup 32:05 - Projecting the next 10 years of soccer 35:15 - Rapid Fire Questions   Quentin's Restaurant Recommendations: Plantasia Quintonil   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Eddie Hearn – Chairman of Matchroom Sport – on Katie Taylor's trailblazing rise to superstardom, and how she lifted the sport of women's boxing up with her.   Despite his early skepticism of the commercial viability of women's boxing, Hearn took a meeting with Taylor out of respect for what she'd already done for the sport at the amateur and Olympic levels. He was blown away by her passion and personality and signed her to headline a fight despite doubt from many critics. Of course, Taylor then went on to become one of the most famous (and highly-paid) fighters in the world.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=240464c943fbf730fa11d4a5f752b403   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Jared Orton - President of the Savannah Bananas - shares the team's evolution from college summer baseball team to international entertainment sensation!   The mission has always been to make baseball fun. That has led to a tidal wave of ticket sales, merchandise, and new revenue streams like televised games and even a fan cruise. As they continue to scale, they are launching an entire league of Banana Ball teams that will compete in cities across the U.S. and beyond.   Details: 1:30 - The Origins of the Savannah Bananas 6:45 - Distinction from the Harlem Globetrotters 7:30 - The Globetrotters model at scale vs. having just one team 14:40 - The secondary ticket market 18:20 - Banana Ball on TV 21:00 - Recruiting talent 23:00 - Business operations 27:25 - The Fan Cruise 30:25 - Building out a league of Banana Ball teams 32:05 - Rapid Fire Questions     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Tim Zulawski – President of AMB Sports & Entertainment – explains how AMBSE collaborates with brand partners to solve their business problems. AMBSE's perspective: Ultimately it starts with sourcing partners that you know you can positively impact with the tools available to you.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=8414c1e30131e9e15dd33a38c05e3c4d   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Jeremy Bloom - Former NFL & Olympic Athlete, and the Founder of Integrate - discusses his public battle with the NCAA, his sister's underground poker game that spawned a Hollywood movie, and the lessons he learned in football and skiing that turned him into a successful founder.   Jeremy also teases a major career announcement that will be coming the day after this episode's release!   Details: 2:45 - Reaching elite levels in two sports 7:40 - Jeremy's dispute with the NCAA 15:45 - The NFL experience 18:25 - Molly's Game 21:00 - Lessons from the transition from sports to business 27:05 - What's next for Jeremy? 31:30 - Rapid Fire Questions     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Daniel Lamarre – Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board at Cirque du Soleil – tells the story of the chance meeting with The Beatles that led to a powerful artistic collaboration.   "There is no pitch. You're a creative force. We're a creative force. We're here to see if we can work together."   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=7692d2a2f75fc07daf409f2d40d29cd7   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Eddie Hearn - Chairman of Matchroom Sport - leads the only global boxing promotional company in the world. However, his empire expands beyond boxing to basketball, darts, snooker, gymnastics, and many other sports.   He discusses his groundbreaking $1 Billion deal with DAZN that brought the biggest fights in the world to streaming, and his thoughts on YouTubers getting in the ring.   Details: 4:05 - Fan experience in professional darts 5:20 - Lessons for life and business 7:45 - Matchroom Boxing 12:15 - YouTuber Boxers 14:50 - Women's Boxing 18:55 - The largest boxing broadcasting deal in history with DAZN 26:55 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Michael Alford – Vice President and Director of Athletics at Florida State – on the national brand that is FSU athletics, and how they're able to compete for market share with NFL teams, without having to follow the same regional restrictions.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=d673c4611a03e742750bbd3c18d30857   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Tim Zulawski - President of AMB Sports & Entertainment - manages a portfolio of properties that includes the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC, the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Atlanta Drive GC.   He talks about how Atlanta United is using data to maximize the massive opportunity around soccer with the U.S. set to host the Men's FIFA World Cup in 2026. He also shares how drastically reducing concession prices, can actually increase both revenue and fan satisfaction.   Details: 1:35 - Staying with AMBSE for >20 years 9:00 - AMBSE Ventures 11:10 - Promoting events 17:20 - Low prices on concessions 22:00 - The 2026 World Cup 28:35 - Rapid Fire Questions     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Umar Hussain – Head of Media at Navigate – on his experience negotiating multibillion dollar deals down to the smallest detail. He also talks about launching ESPN+ and the direct-to-consumer platform for NBA TV.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=85a49c2005d45c7def8aca7dbc9d0504   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Daniel Lamarre - Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board at Cirque du Soleil - on the origins of one of the world's most creative performances, the challenges they've overcome, including going from $1B in annual revenue to $0 overnight during the pandemic in 2020.   He also discusses the meeting with Paul, George, and Ringo that led to Cirque's collaboration with the Beatles.   Details: 2:00 - Cirque's origin 6:00 - Taking the reigns 8:10 - Working with The Beatles 12:30 - The largest employer of former Olympians 14:10 - Taking private equity financing 15:30 - The crisis during the pandemic 18:25 - Shifting into his current role 20:40 - Continuing to push the envelope 23:55 - The One Drop Foundation 25:00 - Rapid Fire Questions   Shownotes: One Drop Foundation Ferreira Café   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Alex Martins – CEO of the Orlando Magic – on leading both the business and basketball sides of an organization.     The mission statement for the Magic is "to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way." But due to the cyclical nature of the NBA, you have to be find ways to succeed as a business, even when the team is isn't competing for a championship.     One area where the Magic has found success, is in group ticket sales, where they've led all NBA teams for nine consecutive seasons. Now that their young team is emerging as a threat in the Eastern Conference, the sky is the limit.     Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=86be8dbe20a590a9ef9422581400fac8     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Michael Alford - Vice President and Director of Athletics at Florida State - on the current and future challenges surrounding college sports.   He discusses the role of analytics in projecting future revenue streams, and the possibility of private equity investment into athletic departments.   Details: 3:55 - The role of analytics in collegiate athletics 6:35 - Pro sports vs. college sport 9:40 - Private Equity in college athletics 15:35 - Mixed-use development 18:05 - How to build a successful athletic department 21:30 - Performance-based incentives 29:40 - Rapid Fire Questions   Books Recommendations: Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson Taking London Tallahassee Restaurant Recommendations: Blue Halo Shell Oyster Bar   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Greg Sankey - Commissioner of the SEC - on balancing what's best for his conference with the long-term goals of Division I at large.   He emphasizes the role of automatic March Madness bids as a key motivator for conferences wishing to maintain the current system.   His opinion is that the responsibility to guide college athletics into the next era doesn't rest solely on the SEC and Big Ten.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=0412aa087274a120752cd355ef29f8ad   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Umar Hussain - Head of Media at Navigate - joins our second ever internal podcast. He shares stories from his previous roles at ESPN and the NBA, along with predictions for the next era of sports media.   He and Anne also discuss the biggest stories of the day including the NFL on Netflix and the NBA/WBD lawsuit.   Details: 1:50 - Umar's background 11:35 - A new role at Navigate 14:35 - The value of live sports media rights 18:00 - Outlook on traditional broadcasters 20:40 - The biggest sports media stories 31:25 - Sports betting companies getting more involved in media rights? 34:10 - Rapid Fire Questions   Umar's Restaurant Rec: Le Great Outdoor   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

"We've always had to do things differently to be able to compete at the level that we want to compete, which is at the highest level."   Rob Mullens – Athletic Director at Oregon – on the move to the Big Ten and what it means for the Ducks' future.   Oregon athletics has become a global brand through years of creative planning and strategic investment. Still, they are an underdog in many ways compared to some of their new peers when it comes to resources. Mullens highlights the role of Phil Knight and Nike in authentically maximizing the incredible opportunity to join the Big Ten   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=491790ced6fe9fa794178bc0ed7f7c47   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Alex Martins - CEO of the Orlando Magic - discusses what it's like to oversee both the business and basketball operations of the organization.   He started with the Magic at the inception of the franchise in 1989, and has worked on some of the biggest project types in sports business, like the development of the Kia Center. He shares how the Magic maintain a partnership with Disney World to train their staff on providing best-in-class experiences for all of their fans.   Details: 3:00 - The launch of a new NBA franchise 6:00 - Building the Kia Center 10:55 - The path to being a team CEO 20:20 - Overseeing both the business and basketball sides 24:45 - Rapid Fire Questions   Restaurants: The Ravenous Pig Kadence Books: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Atomic Habits   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Jeehae Lee – Founder & CEO of Sportsbox AI – on how leveraging the world's largest database of golf swing data unlocks new techniques for training and improving anyone's golf game.   Her team can even predict how Bryson DeChambeau is going to play on a given day, using the data from hundreds of his warm up swings.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=4a7dd8f42e57d619a6405627e65f9975   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

For our 100th episode, we invited back one of our very first guests for an update on the conversation that he and AJ had in 2020.   Greg Sankey - Commissioner of the SEC - discusses what it's been like to lead his conference through arguably the most unpredictable era of college athletics. He shares his vision for the future, and how he's setting out to tackle the challenges in front of him.   Details: 2:30 - The current reality of collegiate athletics 19:35 - Unique organizational strategies 24:50 - Greg's dirt track racing fandom 27:30 - Objectives for the future 37:25 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Andrea Hopelain – GM & SVP of Publishing at EA SPORTS – on the groundbreaking NIL deal that led to the return of EA's College Football title after more than a decade.   She explains their motivations behind bringing the game back, and how they were able to work with student-athletes to create the ultimate college football experience for fans.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=c5d3037493dd0c05effdafbae702d11a   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Rob Mullens - Athletic Director at Oregon - discusses the move to the Big Ten, and the creative risks that have turned Oregon athletics into a national brand over the past 20+ years.   He also discusses the importance that Phil Knight has had to not just the program, but the university as a whole. If you missed our Phil Knight interview, you can listen to it here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=d0a972b133a5996e283c0bafed374775   Details: 2:20 - Pac-12 schools in the Big Ten 7:45 - How can others replicate Oregon's success? 10:50 - The big duck and bold marketing 15:50 - The House settlement 22:25 - AJ's predictions for the future of college sports 26:06 - Rapid Fire Questions Links: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant The Oregon Duck in the river at Big Ten Media days Joey Harrington poster in NYC Rob's favorite Oregon jerseys   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

"It's a matter of when, not if."   Ryan Engle – Founder and CEO of GOLF+ – explains why he's still bullish on VR, once headsets are able to make the critical shift from toy to tool.   Improvements in battery life and comfortability will play a role, along with additional use-cases and applications like GOLF+.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=bba2a2f59b34907eaa37b167a6d14a3e   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Jeehae Lee - Founder & CEO of Sportsbox AI - talks about her background as an LGPA professional, and how Sportsbox is using the largest database of golf swing data ever collected, to revolutionize how players like Bryson Dechambeau are able to train.   Details: 4:30 - Jeehae's career as a collegiate and LPGA golfer 10:15 - The evolution of golf training tech 11:45 - TopGolf 12:50 - Sportsbox AI 29:15 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Jeff Longo & Patrick Stack – Co-Founders of Sports Biz Careers – on the impact that SBC has had on 2,500+ high school and college students in the first five years of operation.   They talk about growing the nonprofit organically, and how they were able to pivot as they went.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=5643a540d0e2952b6df92ac037ee8a41   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Andrea Hopelain - GM & SVP of Publishing at EA SPORTS - joins the show two days before the official release of EA College Football 25. She talks about the excitement surrounding the game, and everything her team is doing to maximize this moment.       She also talks about EA's ability to manage complicated rights conversations, whether that's the $600 baseline NIL deal for each athlete featured in College Football 25, or managing the rebrand of their FIFA title to EA FC and the 300+ license holders featured in those games.       Details: 1:45 - Andrea's Background 3:25 - Her first roles at EA 5:55 - EA College Football 25 13:00 - EA FC - Rebranding the FIFA IP 14:30 - Gaming as a pathway to fandom 18:55 - EA SPORTS FC Futures 21:00 - Integrating across other forms of entertainment 24:15 - Rapid Fire Questions     The 3 C's: Be Creative Be Confident Be Candid     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Bob Thurman – Global VP, WIlson R&D & GM, Global Golf at Wilson –  on what it means to work in the Wilson Innovation Center, creating exciting products for the world's top athletes.   Listen to the full episode here:  https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=8e485144916bab88aa8154639c00f3d8   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Ryan Engle - Founder and CEO of Golf+ - on how his app is lowering the barriers to entry for golfers around the world. The VR golf game has grown from a putting simulator to a full 18 hole experience, and has partnerships with the PGA TOUR and Topgolf. 54% of users are non-golfers, and the average user is a decade younger than the average golfer.   Ryan also shares details about his background in tech and entrepreneurship in the early days of the App Store l. He thinks VR is yet to have its "iPhone moment" but that it's a question of when, not if.   Details: 3:05 - The Golf+ elevator pitch 9:45 - The origins of their TopGolf partnership 16:45 - Appealing to non-golfers 20:00 - PGA TOUR partnership 26:25 - Ryan's tech background   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.