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ESPN, NBA, CFP Among Big Winners At 8th Annual Sports Business Awards In N.Y.

ESPN, the NBA and the College Football Playoff were among the big winners last night at the 8th annual Sports Business Awards, which took place before a crowd of nearly 800 people in the Broadway Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis at Times Square. Last year, NBC Sports Group swept all three media awards on the strength of the Olympics. This year, ESPN swept on the strength of the FIFA World Cup and the CFP. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver earned a standing ovation after being announced as the Executive of the Year. He accepted the award from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, last year's winner. The NBA also was honored as League of the Year. Meanwhile, the inaugural CFP was so successful that it was part of several awards. Not only did it win Event of the Year, but Univ. of Arkansas AD and CFP Selection Committee Chair Jeff Long was named AD of the Year. Also, ESPN’s three awards are thanks in part to the CFP.

CATEGORY
WINNER
Best in Digital Sports Media
ESPN Digital Media
Best in Sports Event and Experiential Marketing
Momentum Worldwide
Sports Facility of the Year
Levi's Stadium
Best in Property Consulting, Sales and Client Services
Learfield Sports
Sports Event of the Year
2015 College Football Playoff
Best in Sports Technology
Zebra Technologies
Best in Talent Representation and Management
Excel Sports Management
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dick Ebersol
Sports Team of the Year
Los Angeles Kings
Best in Sports Television
ESPN
Athletic Director of the Year
Arkansas AD Jeff Long
Best in Corporate Consulting, Marketing
and Client Services
Octagon
Sports League of the Year
NBA
Best in Sports Media
ESPN
Sports Sponsor of the Year
AT&T
Sports Executive of the Year
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

SILVER LININGS: Silver following the ceremony acknowledged he was a bit overwhelmed by the individual honor, though he said it was wonderful to be honored amongst his peers. In a year where the NBA set a number of new league records on the business side, Silver said, "We hardly ever look backwards at the NBA, but this sets a new bar for ourselves." Silver when accepting the Executive of the Year award saluted his longtime mentor and boss, David Stern. Former NBC Sports Chair Dick Ebersol, who was honored last night with the Lifetime Achievement Award, clapped heartily after Silver’s remarks in appreciation of Stern’s many years of leadership. Meanwhile, Game 1 of the Cavaliers-Hawks Eastern Conference Finals diverted some attention away from the proceedings. Turner’s table featured execs like Lenny Daniels, Jon Diament and Sal Petruzzi watching TNT’s production of the game. Silver also admitted that his table of NBA execs was staying up-to-date with the game.

KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE: In his remarks about relationships and being fortunate to be in the sports business, Ebersol referenced the current relationship between Patriots Owner Robert Kraft and Commissioner Roger Goodell, as well as Kraft dropping any formal opposition to the league’s sanctions against the team over Deflategate. Ebersol: “I’m sure what happened (Tuesday when the Patriots) was that (Kraft and Goodell) both thought…how lucky we are to be in this world and figure out a way to bridge the differences. Remember that when you leave here tonight. You are, we are, the luckiest people in the world to work in this industry."

PREGAME HIGHLIGHTS: The Red Carpet entering the Broadway Lounge was the place to see and be seen, as groups three-deep waited for group photos. Some of the most memorable: all of Team Penske, including sports icon Roger Penske and his wife, Kathy, posing with team officials; a full contingent from the NHL Kings; the men and women from The Whistle, and a strong contingent from Baylor Univ, including former Astros Owner Drayton McLane and AD of the Year candidate Ian McCaw.

HERE COME THE JUDGES: The 15 independent judges that helped select the winners were acknowledged during the ceremony for their participation. The judges were former MLB Exec VP/Business Tim Brosnan, Bespoke Sports & Entertainment's Greg Busch, Turner's Daniels, Genesco Sports Enterprises' Kit Geis, Blue Sky Media NYC's Leslie Gittess, the USGA's Sarah Hirshland, Repucom's Michael Lynch, McCune Sports & Entertainment Ventures' Scott McCune, former WNBA President Donna Orender, Sports Media Advisors' Doug Perlman, Turnkey Sports' Len Perna, Bruin Sports Capital's George Pyne, Claude Ruibal; Fifth Generation Sports' Chris Russo and Wharton School of Business professor Ken Shropshire (THE DAILY).

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