SportTechie is a media partner of Hashtag Sports and we encourage you to take advantage of a 30% discount when registering by entering the discount code “SPORTTECHIE30“. This event overview is written by Steve Cobb, Co-Founder of Hashtag Sports.
After a year of refining and the unveiling of our Innovate thought leadership hub, it’s exciting to say that Hashtag Sports 2018 on June 25-27 in New York City is only one week away.
In just a few years, Hashtag Sports has become a must-attend event on the sports business calendar as the industry’s largest annual gathering dedicated to sports content, culture, and innovation. The sheer breadth of thought leadership and networking opportunities make the last week in June one of the most efficient of the year.
Across three days at the TimesCenter and Microsoft Technology Center in Times Square, over 2,000 industry professionals will come together from leading U.S. and international teams, leagues, brands, agencies, publishers, properties, and startups to connect and walk away with new ideas, partnerships, and a clear understanding of where the industry is heading.
This event is designed to help answer the difficult questions surrounding new technologies, trends and business models that are transforming sports and must be understood to meet the needs of today’s connected fan. Here’s how we do it:
Diverse Lineup of Over 200 Thought Leaders
Our speaker lineup is unparalleled and consists of 200+ executives, entrepreneurs and athletes who are shaping the content and next-gen experiences for the connected fan. Over 90% are VP or higher and they create a melting pot of genders, backgrounds and viewpoints to reflect the diversity of our fans and consumers. Some 2018 speakers include:
Angela Courtin, Global Head, YouTube TV
Steve Stoute, Founder & CEO, Translation
Juju Smith-Schuster, NFL Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Hope Solo, Olympic Gold Medalist & World Cup Champion, Team USA
Victor Cruz, Former NFL Player & Co-Host, The Victor Cruz Show
Michelle Wilson, Co-President, WWE
Melissa Proctor, CMO, Atlanta Hawks
Alicia Tillman, CMO, SAP
Katie Nolan, Host, ESPN
Heidi Browning, CMO, NHL
Bonin Bough, Producer & Host, Cleveland Hustles
Mike Greenberg, Host, ESPN
Morgan Sword, SVP, MLB
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Driver, NASCAR
Erika Nardini, CEO, Barstool Sports
Omar Raja, Founder, House of Highlights
Over 70 Sessions Across Eight Programming Tracks
Our unprecedented agenda comprises 70+ sessions of original insights, bold predictions, and candid discussions with a comprehensive track format that allows for deep dives on timely topics, including Sports Betting, of which other events are only able to scratch the surface. Thought leadership is delivered through a highly curated mix of power panels, executive keynotes, interactive workshops, original announcements and entertaining showcases. Our 2018 programming tracks include:
Content & Distribution, presented by Verizon Digital Media Services
Athletes & Creators, presented by opendorse
Sports Betting, presented by Genius Sports
Fan Experience, presented by OMNIGON
Sponsorship & Advertising, presented by GumGum
Next-Gen Partnerships
SportsFronts
Startups & Investment
Original Content Showcases
At Hashtag Sports, we take a “show and tell” approach to convey the power of engaging and innovative sports content to our attendees. That’s why this year’s event features live athlete podcasts, a sports comedy night, and full-day of main stage discussions with executives of over a dozen leading sports media companies, publishers and platforms. Our 2018 content showcases include:
SportsFronts presentations at the TimesCenter hosted by LZ Granderson
Hashtag Sports Comedy Hour at Bleacher Report
“Glass Case of Emotion” live podcast with NASCAR’s Ryan Blaney and guests
“The Victor Cruz Show” live podcast with Victor Cruz and Paul Rivera
Special Events and Networking
While thought leadership is the foundation of Hashtag Sports, networking and special events are where the magic happens. In addition to what goes on in the hallways between sessions, each evening features dedicated opportunities to meet in a casual atmosphere at our various Times Square networking events.
Our Opening Night Party on Monday, June 25th is open to all sports industry professionals in the New York City area, attendees and non-attendees alike, so make sure to reserve your spot as capacity is limited.
Finally, Hashtag Sports offers a Startup Experience to empower early-stage companies with special discounted pass rates. Qualified applicants will gain access to educational workshops and mentor sessions with industry veterans, who are able to offer advice and expertise on starting, growing, and scaling successful sports businesses.
For more info, check out the conference agenda and speaker lineup, get passes at www.hashtagsports.com, and follow us at @HashtagSports and #HS18.
