Pro Sports Assembly and Impulse Partner to Elevate Member Experiences Across the 2026 Event Calendar

Members at all three 2026 PRO convenings received personalized event photos in real time, powered by Impulse

AUSTIN, TX - September 10, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly ("PRO"), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, and Impulse, an experiential technology platform, announce a year-round partnership that brought personalized, real-time photo delivery to PRO members throughout 2026. Impulse supported every PRO in-person convening held during the year, giving senior professional sports executives a firsthand look at an engagement platform they can evaluate for their own organizations.

Impulse supported the following PRO in-person events in 2026.

Introducing Cohort Four of the C-Suite Circle with Novus Global

14 Senior Executives Prepare Business Continuity Plans for Professional Sports Organizations in Crisis

AUSTIN, TX - September 9, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly ("PRO"), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, introduces 14 leaders selected for the fourth cohort of the C-Suite Circle with Novus Global.

The C-Suite Circle with Novus Global is an immersive leadership experience for senior executives on track to become a team President, CEO or Commissioner. Each cohort is comprised of leaders from a cross-section of disciplines, geographies and perspectives. The Cohort provides space for top leaders to work through the challenges that come with the move from success to significance, building trust through shared insights and mutual respect. Those who complete the experience join a fraternity of PRO leaders who share camaraderie, accountability, and are united in stewarding the industry forward. In 2025, 913 PRO members engaged in Learning & Leadership Development across 10 cohorts. Nine of the twelve who completed the first C-Suite Circle cohort have been promoted. Four into the top seat.

Pro Sports Assembly Announces the Inaugural PRO Hall of Fame Inductees

Five members recognized at The Assembly 2026 for their role in the establishment and growth of Pro Sports Assembly and the corresponding contribution to the professional sports industry

AUSTIN,TX - September 1, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly ("PRO"), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, announces the inaugural class of the PRO Hall of Fame, selected by the current and past chairs of the PRO Governing Board. The five honorees were recognized at The Assembly 2026, held August 17 to 19 at The Holdsworth Center Campus on Lake Austin.

The PRO Hall of Fame was created in recognition of PRO members who have been foundational in the growth and success of Pro Sports Assembly. This group of inaugural honorees started with a vision of what the professional sport industry needed, and built the industry association to help achieve it.  This honor is to recognize the effort behind the scenes, and to celebrate the contributions that might not be obvious yet are impactful.

Portland Cascades Win the VP Circle Capstone Competition at The Assembly 2026

Cohort 3 Nominations and Applications are open until September 4

Austin, TX - August 20, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly ("PRO"), the association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, celebrates the Portland Cascades, the winning team from Cohort 2 of the VP Circle with The Venn Collective. The Cohort, made up of 20 PRO leaders from across teams, leagues and unions, completed an immersive leadership experience that ran from November through capstone presentations on the final day of The Assembly 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Cohort 2 concluded with four teams acting as the executive leadership team of a fictional professional sports organization in football, basketball, soccer and hockey. Each team faced a different scenario across its franchise while adapting to evolving operational, financial and cultural priorities. Every team had ten minutes to present, then took questions from the judging panel and from the room.

Pro Sports Assembly and Navigate Launch Second Annual Public Policy Poll for the Professional Sports Industry

Owners, Investors and Full-Time Leaders at US-Based Professional Sports Teams, Leagues, and Unions are Being Polled on Public Policy Operations and Priorities

AUSTIN,TX - August 18, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, along with Navigate, the association’s research and insights partner, today launched the second annual PRO Public Policy Poll.

The industry-wide research initiative equips owners, equity holders, and senior leaders across U.S.-based professional sports organizations with valuable insights into how public policy, regulatory matters, and operational shifts are shaping the industry.

Pro Sports Assembly Partners with The Promotions Dept. to Bring Merchandise and Activation Expertise to Professional Sports Leaders

The partnership includes a collaboration on the PRO shop and presence at The Assembly 2026 in Austin.

Austin, TX | August 5, 2026 — Pro Sports Assembly ("PRO"), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders at teams, leagues, unions, and venues, today announced a strategic partnership with The Promotions Dept., a Certified B Corporation specializing in branded merchandise, experiential activations, and end-to-end fulfillment. 

Through the partnership, PRO members gain access to The Promotions Dept. expertise across merchandise strategy, creative development, sourcing, logistics, and on-site execution. The collaboration will help members create effective branded merchandise and experiences that strengthen their brands, engage their audiences, support business goals, and make a positive impact in their communities.

PRO SPORTS ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCES 2026 MEDAL OF LEADERSHIP HONOREES

The Medal of Leadership Honors Four Leaders for Their Commitment to Excellence and Lasting Impact on the Industry

30 Professional Sports Organizations Represented in Spring 2026 Leadership Cohorts

AUSTIN, TX - April 29, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders at teams, leagues, unions and venues, announced the leaders selected for four 2026 Learning & Leadership Development (L&LD) cohorts. Demonstrating their commitment to individual growth, organizational impact and industry-wide influence, the leaders selected are engaging with colleagues across pro sports to grow relationships and gain resources of material interest.

The four cohorts offer exclusive experiences for PRO members committed to elevating their leadership impact and refining their influence across leagues, regions, and roles, to prove the value of informed and inclusive leadership shaping the future of professional sports. Through shared learning, research, and opportunities to pressure-test their development efforts, the members are better prepared to lead the next trillio-dollar industry. The full cohort rosters are included below.

Class of 2026 Medal of Leadership Nominations Now Open Through May 15, 2026

Pro Sports Assembly is Accepting Nominations for Four Prestigious Honors, Including the Marshall Award for Values in Sport and the Jason Jenkins “Victory for Humanity” Award

AUSTIN, TX - April 7, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders is accepting nominations for the 2026 Medal of Leadership honorees through May 15, 2026. The celebration for the fourth class of recipients will take place at The Assembly: Pro Sports Leadership Retreat in Austin, TX on August 18, 2026. It will begin with a gold carpet reception presented by Oak View Group Arena Alliance and the program will feature “Late Night Cynterviews” with the honorees, hosted by Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, former Dallas Mavericks CEO.

Pro Sports Assembly and Populous Partner to Advance Excellence in Professional Sports Leadership

The strategic partnership provides professional sports leaders with insight and connections to support informed decisions about venue design, fan experience and community engagement.

AUSTIN, TX - January 27, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders at teams, leagues, unions and venues, has announced a new strategic partnership with Populous, the global design firm behind the world’s most iconic sports and entertainment destinations.

New Directors Elected to Prepare Members to lead the next trillion-dollar Industry

Pro Sports Assembly Elects Marina Carpenter of the Arizona Cardinals as 2026/2027 Board Chair and Announces New Executive Committee Leadership

AUSTIN, TX - January 6, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports business organizations and leaders, announces today that Marina Carpenter, Senior Vice President, Legal for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, has been elected to serve as the 2026/2027 Board Chair. Carpenter steps into the role at a time when the organization’s influence and impact is accelerating across teams, leagues, unions and venues. Over the last five years, PRO has prepared members to lead the next trillion-dollar industry.

Marina joined the Cardinals in early 2025 and brings over a decade of experience in professional sports, public affairs, and organizational governance. She served as Vice-Chair for the Governing Board in 2025, has been a Co-Chair of The Assembly: Pro Sports Leadership Retreat and has been active in efforts to strengthen standards that prove the value of informed and inclusive leadership. Carpenter succeeds Oracio Galindo, Head of Employee Experience at the Los Angeles Rams, who served as Board Chair during 2024/2025. Moving into the role of Immediate Past Chair, he will serve as Chair of the Annual Nominations Committee.

Pro Sports Assembly Announces 2026 Q1 Leadership Summit Co-Chairs, Location, and Topic

“Navigating Politics in Leadership: When to Expend Political Capital”

Austin, TX - December 3, 2025 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports business organizations and leaders, is pleased to announce the first Leadership Summit of 2026, “Navigating Politics in Leadership: When to Expend Political Capital,” will be hosted on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, CA.

The Leadership Summit provides professional sports leaders across leagues, geographies, and disciplines with a secure space to exchange insights, pressure-test new ideas, and collaborate on common challenges, providing leaders with the relationships and resources to succeed. Events like this Summit highlight the impact of informed and inclusive leadership on the industry as a whole, embodied through the leadership of this year’s Co-Chairs:

Pro Sports Assembly Announces Transformative Partnership with Bloombase

The collaboration equips experienced leaders with new relationships and resources to maximize their potential at the leading edge of performance and purpose.

Austin, TX - November 18, 2025 –  Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders at teams, leagues, unions and venues, has announced a new partnership with Bloombase, a nationally recognized leadership development firm relied on by Fortune 500 companies. Together, PRO and Bloombase introduce The Growth Edge, a transformative, 7-month experience for a select cohort of experienced leaders in professional sports.

This partnership prepares members of PRO to stand out, drive value, and create a strong, healthy and fair future for the next trillion-dollar industry.

Twenty Exceptional Professional Sports Leaders Selected for the Second Cohort of the VP Circle with The Venn Collective

Elevating Performance, Innovation, and Strategic Influence Across the Industry

Austin, TX - November 6, 2025 –  Pro Sports Assembly ("PRO"), the association for professional sports organizations and business leaders is proud to introduce 20 leaders selected for the second cohort of the VP Circle with The Venn Collective.

The VP Circle with The Venn Collective is an elite cohort-based leadership experience for Pro Sports Assembly members. Through the VP Circle, the Cohort gains new relationships and resources to maintain their trajectory as high-influence leaders. Together they will drive impactful outcomes, and elevate their organization within the professional sports industry. The Venn Collective supports professionals in honing their leadership skills and refining their individual leadership styles. Through initiatives like the VP Circle, Pro Sports Assembly is preparing members to lead the next trillion-dollar industry.

Winning Team of the VP Circle with The Venn Collective Pitches PWHL Expansion Franchise to Industry and League Leaders

Cohort 2 Nominations and Applications are open until September 5

Austin, TX - August 12, 2025 –  Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, celebrates the winning team from Cohort 1 of the VP Circle with The Venn Collective. The Cohort made up of 20 PRO leaders from across teams, leagues and unions completed an immersive 8 month leadership experience, culminating in capstone presentations that challenged each team of five to solve complex, real-world business scenarios.

The Cohort 1 concluded with four teams acting as the executive leadership team of a fictional sports franchise facing multifaceted challenges. Working in teams, participants developed strategies to address operational, financial, and cultural priorities while adapting to evolving circumstances.

First-of-its-Kind Public Policy Poll for the Professional Sports Industry Launched by Pro Sports Assembly in Partnership with Navigate

Owners, Investors and Full-Time Leaders at US-Based Professional Sports Teams, Leagues, and Unions are Being Polled on Public Policy Operations and Priorities

Austin, TX - June 17, 2025 –  Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, has launched a nation-wide, US-based public policy poll designed to equip owners, equity holders, and senior leaders with a powerful new tool that provides valuable insights into how public policy, regulations, and operational shifts are shaping the future of the professional sports industry.

In partnership with Navigate—a data-driven consulting firm serving top brands and organizations across the sports and entertainment industries—the poll aims to:

Pro Sports Assembly Announces New Partnership with Mercer

Featuring exclusive offers for PRO Organizations and an Expert-led Learning Cohort Focused on People, Purpose & Pay  

Austin, TX - June 4, 2025 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, has announced a new partnership with global HR consulting leader Mercer. The multi-year, multi-faceted partnership provides PRO Organizations with exclusive benefits that include discounted rates on consulting services and research and offers PRO members an opportunity to participate in an annual leadership cohort focused on People, Purpose & Pay; a six-part virtual learning series that supports professional sports leaders in aligning compensation packages with evolving organizational goals, industry trends and workforce expectations.

The new leadership cohort brings pro sports leaders together from across teams, leagues, unions and venues to gain perspective and deepen their understanding of financial recognition, benefits, and talent development from Mercer’s experts and each other. Through a mix of live virtual sessions, interactive case studies, and a collaborative capstone project the select “People, Purpose & Pay” cohort members will gain skills to lead with clarity, advocate for people-centered initiatives, and build more inclusive and value-driven workplaces.

Pro Sports Assembly Introduces 2025 MEDAL OF LEADERSHIP HONOREES

Pro Sports Assembly Members Honor Four Leaders for their Exceptional Contributions and Impact on the Industry

Pro Sports Assembly is Accepting Nominations for Four Prestigeous Honors, Including the Marshall Award for Values in Sport and Jason Jenkins “Victory for Humanity” Award