The Assembly Pro Sports Leadership Retreat and Workshop brings together top leaders from across the professional sports landscape to learn, discuss, and ideate solutions to future-proof the industry.

The Art & Science of Navigating Ownership Dynamics

If history is an indication, the valuations of professional sports organizations will continue to rise moving forward – “to what degree?” and “for what purpose?” are the critical questions for new investors. Keeping owner and investor perspectives in mind is key to great leadership.

Yes, our industry often acts like an asset of the community, but there is real and significant investment by ownership and every wise business mind wants to know and establish the best return. That return on investment isn’t always monetary, yet with the entry of Private Equity into every major league, tracking and measuring returns is increasingly imperative. What are the driving priorities of your organization: property valuation, brand affinity, local revenues, community benefit, or pure on-court/field/rink competitiveness?  Framing and understanding these priorities and drivers will better align efforts to expectations: the foundation needed for reliable and effective leadership.

Whether you are at a team, league or union - what shifts should you expect with new owners gaining a seat at the table? What type of return works for all stakeholders? Would your colleagues answer the same way? The vision, purpose, and priorities set by ownership influence how every aspect of a professional sports organization runs. This ownership vision likely controls how you and your coworkers should think about fan engagement, talent attraction, consumer targeting, and overall allocation of time, energy, and money.    

During The Assembly 2025, our focus is on gaining perspective: ownership perspective to better discern alignment with customer and community perspectives. We will learn directly from the financiers, the valuators, and the investors. We will explore industry trends about what to expect in the future.  Whether your organization is a small family office with no plans of ever selling, or a highly structured investment vehicle with clear expectations of private equity returns – understanding the view point of each is critical to help you be a balanced, fair, and empathetic leader and contributor to your organization and our industry as a whole.

On June 17, 2025, the opening night of The Assembly, the Class of 2025 Medal of Leadership Honorees will be celebrated!  Learn more about the Medal of Leadership, current honorees, and past recipients here.

The Assembly 2025 registration is open to a limited number of PRO Plus, PRO Premier and PRO Organization Members.
Interested in becoming a member of PRO. Join Here!

Meet the Committee Chairs

Current Attendees Include:

Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena, Austin FC, Austin Sol FC, Baltimore Orioles, Boyd Sports - Knoxville Smokies, BRIDGE Sports & Entertainment, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Football Club, Los Angeles Rams, LPGA, Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, F1 Miami Grand Prix, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, National Hockey League, National Lacrosse League, NRG Park, Oak View Group, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Phoenix Suns, Pistons Sports and Entertainment, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Kraken, Seattle Sounders FC / Seattle Reign FC, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, and more!

Thank You, Sponsors!