Inaugural Sports Business Awards Being Held Tonight In N.Y.

The inaugural Sports Business Awards will be presented tonight by SportsBusiness Daily/Journal at a special ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in N.Y. A special VIP reception will begin at 4:30pm ET followed by an opening cocktail hour at 5:30pm. The sold-out event will start at 7:00pm and feature awards in 11 categories, presented in the following order: Pro Team of the Year, presented by A-B VP/Global Media & Sports Marketing Tony Ponturo; Athletic Director, presented by Univ. of Louisville AD Tom Jurich; Sports Facility, presented by ESPN Senior VP/Marketing Katie Lacey; Sports Innovation/Technology, presented by Octagon Exec VP & CMO Lisa Murray; Sports Online, presented by AFL President & Deputy Commissioner Ed Policy; Sports Event Marketing Firm, presented by USTA Chief Diversity Officer Karlyn Lothery; Sports League, presented by Proskauer Rose attorney Howard Ganz; Sports Sponsor of the Year, presented by Nets Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Brett Yormark; Sports Media, presented by WNBA President Donna Orender; Sports Agency, presented by NHL Senior Exec VP/Business & Media John Collins; and Sports Executive of the Year, presented by MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred on behalf of last year's winner, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. A reception will follow the awards ceremony. Look for winners in tomorrow's Morning Buzz.