As part of SportsBusiness Journal's 20th anniversary, many sports execs shared their memories of the magazine's launch in '98. THE DAILY will roll out some of these remembrances over the next few days.
* Bulls and White Sox Chair JERRY REINSDORF: “I loved the idea as soon as I heard it as it was going to save me many hours reading a multitude of publications. SBJ has become a must-read within the sports industry, and the influence SBJ wields within the industry certainly is a tribute to everyone involved over the past two decades. During a time when the print media market has been turned on its head in a great many ways, SBJ has flourished because of what it provides to the always-expanding niche market of sports.”
* Former NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE: “The impact of SportsBusiness Journal has been amazing in creating transparency in terms of what sports business is and information about how the sports business operates. What are the skill sets? What are the opportunities for talent and for organizations? It opened up the playing field, the marketplace, in a sense for easier entry by startup organizations and easier entry for talented people. Twenty years ago, people would ask me, ‘How do I even understand what sports business is and how do I prepare for a career in sports business?’ SportsBusiness Journal … has lowered the barriers of entry. It has increased the transparency and openness, allowing far greater ease of entry by new organizations and by talented individuals. People say to me, ‘I’d love to have a career in sports business. What should I do? Where should I start?’ The first thing you should do is get a subscription to the SportsBusiness Journal and learn what the sports industry is. Understand it’s not just about teams and athletes. It’s about facilities. It’s about distribution. It’s global.”
* Populous Founder & Senior Principal EARL SANTEE: “For me, it was interesting because it was kind of like the sports industry was happening but not really communicated about or a topic of conversation other than when a team wanted a new building or to renovate. So what SBJ did was put it as a fresh topic and one of the first things in people’s minds in terms of, ‘What are people doing with their venues?’ (SBJ) kind of facilitated this overall development through the Daily and Journal; you enabled a lot of what happened by reporting on the stories, reporting on what happened, identifying who did it and then every client chose their own path. I think we still would have done all the projects we did, but probably not in the time period we did, because you gave a voice to this market.”
* Former PGA Tour Commissioner TIM FINCHEM: “It was genius, really, considering the popularity and the business of sports. Between our own business areas and the number of sponsors we maintain between our tournaments and marketing partners, we saw a real opportunity to tell our business story and the value we provide.”
* Sports Management Worldwide Founder & President LYNN LASHBROOK: “I moved to Portland in ‘96 and sometime in ‘97 I saw a sample of SBJ on the street and grabbed a complimentary copy. In it was a full page ad with JP Morgan and a picture of BRIAN MCCOUGH, a consultant for pro sports franchises. I contacted him and he came to Portland and we met with the mayor to discuss how to land a MLB franchise. That was the beginning of our 20-year MLBtoPDX.com campaign. In short, as I finish my 46 year as a college professor, I consider the SBJ the sports bible for all sports management students.”
