TJ Adeshola
Fragmentation.
Whit Albohm
More offerings of content/increased competition and changing platforms.
Nic Barlage
The ever-evolving media landscape and how we continue to stay relevant with our ever-evolving fans.
Michael Behan
The increased barriers to getting people to attend our events. Stadiums designed for (and often by) a different generation than those who will soon become our target consumer (millennials and Gen Z), an out-of-stadium viewing experience that has been enhanced by the rapid growth of technology, inconsistent/late start times coupled with increasingly longer events, costs associated with tickets, concessions, etc.
Gabe Braselton
Ever-evolving fan expectations and engagement to the live, in-venue experience.
Austin Brown
Continuing to have the various leagues and organizations in professional sports support/push the voices of athletes politically and socially.
Nate Checketts
Attention span. You’re starting to see what shorter and shorter attention spans are doing to these long-form sports.
Arjun Chowdri
Focusing on our purpose. Value shifts are occurring faster than ever and purpose is more important as it relates to consumption habits. Given that sports is inherently a discretionary engagement, we need to continue to place our purpose at the front of why we do what we do and let that be a core driver of our business decisions.
Ahron Cohen
Adapting to a changing landscape of how consumers elect to attend live sporting events, as well as how they experience the event while at the venue.
Wes Day
Adapting rules and business practices to regulatory changes — known and unknown.
Bethany Donaphin
Creating game-day experiences that make fans want to consume the game in person.
Michael Fedele
Figuring out gambling, which is both a challenge and an opportunity.
Geoff Garmhausen
Figuring out how student athletes can profit off their name, image and likeness while maintaining a level playing field in college athletics.
Jessie Giordano
Relevancy and making sure you can break through at a time where media consumption is changing so drastically.
Ishwara Glassman Chrein
Innovating the viewing experience. 5G can help with that.
Adam Grossman
Threats that make the public think twice about going to entertainment (coronavirus, security, etc.).
Ben Gumpert
Pricing some of the most loyal fans out of the stadium and in-game experience.
Brian Herbst
The evolving pay-TV model and consumption habits of Gen Z.
David Jurenka
The ever-expanding entertainment choices competing for our attention, especially youth.
Nick Kelly
ROI again, but also look at franchise valuations. Is there a limit to how high they’ll go?
Akshay Khanna
Growing forms of entertainment that will keep people away from attending live experiences.
Francesca Leiweke-Bodie
Terrorism.
Joe Maczko
Meeting the ways that fans are consuming content across the ever-changing sports media landscape.
Andrea Marini
Rights fragmentation and technology access.
Joseph Markowski
Piracy. It doesn’t get talked about enough. We’re going to start talking about that a lot more regularly.
Zach Maurides
Increasing need for agility and preparedness with the surge in extreme weather and health events.
Maura McGreevy
Navigating the ever-evolving sports betting landscape.
Jared Merrell
Certainly sports betting, but it will be interesting to see where U.S. media rights land for the NHL and NFL. NFL ratings have rebounded nicely setting up 2020 as the year to finalize the next cycle of agreements. The NHL also has a lot to gain. With streaming entities playing an increased role, it will be interesting to see how the leagues look at the long-term distribution plan.
Tanja Olano
Embracing new mediums, to meet the fans where they are.
Melissa Proctor
Creating compelling experiences for fans to buy tickets to come to sporting events vs. other entertainment options plus the fragmentation of the media landscape (which is also a huge opportunity).
Uzma Rawn
Getting more strong females in the industry.
Neema Sahni
Ensuring continued engagement given shifting priorities among younger viewers.
Brent Schoeb
Capturing the attention (and wallet) of today’s elusive fan/customer.
Adam Schwartz
Rising costs.
Russell Scibetti
Competing with the at-home experience.
Ari Segal
I would have said something about RSNs or OTT, but the answer now is probably the coronavirus.
Ryan Spoon
Maintaining and strengthening fandom in a world of shifting audiences, habits and platforms.
Jared Stacy
Connecting with young fans (also traffic to Staples Center and Dodger Stadium).
Ben Tario
The many options in front of our fans and consumers all vying for the same discretionary attention and dollar.
Shelly Wilkes
Finding ways to continue to grow women’s professional sports and driving a greater share of voice and wallet.
