SXSports today kicks off its third year as an offshoot of the SXSW festival in Austin, and "more than 50 panels spread over three days reflect what kind of impact sports has on our culture." One "main panelist" is sports agent Erik Burkhardt, who will be joined by TMZ Exec Producer Evan Rosenblum. Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff "will provide management's point of view on the convergence of 'ethics, fandom and commerce in sports'" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/11). PBR CEO Sean Gleason headlines a panel along with bullrider Justin McBride titled, "PBR: The Original Extreme Sport Goes Mainstream" (THE DAILY).
Meanwhile, Gatorade today at SXSW will give an "early peek of prototypes" of a new "microchip-fitted 'smart cap' bottle and sweat patch that communicate digitally and provide athletes and fitness buffs constant updates on how much they should drink." The sneak peek will take the form of a "four-room interactive display" (WSJ.com, 3/10).
Also today, the 10th annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference begins at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The sold-out two-day event features speakers such as Bruin Sports Capital Founder & CEO George Pyne, NFL Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash, Red Sox President Sam Kennedy, FiveThirtyEight Founder Nate Silver, statistician/author Bill James, The Players' Tribune President Jaymee Messler and SBD/SBJ Exec Editor Abe Madkour (THE DAILY).
