In its third iteration, The Assembly Leadership Retreat remains inspired by being member-led and member-driven. It is where PRO leaders who are influential in setting strategies for their organization and who are committed to creating a strong, healthy, and fair future across the industry gather to refine their own learning and leadership perspectives, celebrate and occasionally commiserate. Our focus this year is “Pro Sports Leadership Evolution & Innovation.” From rapidly evolving financial models to navigating unpredictable political and global influences, the best pro sports leaders strive to stay connected and ahead of the curve. By coming together and sharing a private space for such important conversations you will help speed up the rate at which we can mitigate threats and solve organizational and industry-wide issues.
As in the past, leaders from professional teams, leagues, unions, and venues work together to:
If you have received an invitation, please confirm today to reserve your room at the retreat center (limited to 150). Please note, days two and three are closed to media and attendees are asked to strictly follow Chatham House rules.
Key Details: What: Agenda When: June 5-7, 2024 Where: Austin, Texas (venue provided upon registration)
At The Assembly, leaders from professional teams, leagues, unions, and venues work together to:
Meet the Chairs and Committee:
Programming Co-Chairs - Crispus Gordon and Justin Bokmeyer Partnerships Chair - Jonathan White and Gene Tinner Medal of Leadership Co-Chairs - Chioma Atanmo, Kim Miller and Matt Goodman Marketing and Communications Co-Chairs - Stacy Ruiz and Kiri Bryant Operations Co-Chairs - Frantzer Le Blanc and Vanessa Ward
Pro Sports Assembly is honored to present the second class of Medal of Leadership Honorees. Celebrating PRO leaders who are advancing the professional sports industry, both inside their organization and beyond elevates standards of leadership excellence. Pro Sports Assembly strives to elevate leaders who are building strong, healthy and fair organizations and communities.
The Medal of Leadership Awards were inspired by two leaders who have lifted inclusive leadership to new heights: Jason Jenkins and Cynt Marshall. They have leveraged their positions of influence to benefit the greater good and epitomize what it means to be a PRO.
Meet the 2024 Honorees
Jessica Yavitz Chicago Fire
Kevin Demoff Black Sports Business Symposium & Los Angeles Rams/KSE
Morgan Cato Phoenix Suns
Alexandria Hill Los Angeles Rams
Read more about the four Medal of Leadership Awards presented on June 5, 2024. Limited individual tickets to the Medal of Leadership Awards Ceremony, click below.
2024 RETREAT AND WORKSHOP AGENDA
Wednesday, June 5: Annual Membership Meeting and Medal of Leadership Awards
AFTERNOON
- Annual Membership Meeting
EVENING
- Welcome Reception
- Medal of Leadership Awards Program presented by OVG Arena Alliance – Meet the 2024 Honorees
- To tip off The Assembly, the 2024 Medal of Leadership honorees will be celebrated for advancing the professional sports industry, both inside their organization and beyond by elevating the standards of leadership excellence. The opening celebration elevates PRO members who are building strong, healthy and fair organizations and communities. Inspired by two leaders who epitomize what it means to be a PRO and have lifted inclusive leadership to new heights: Jason Jenkins and Cynt Marshall. You are invited to attend and consider your position of influence to benefit the greater good.
- Hospitality Suite
Thursday, June 6, 2024: Leadership Conversations and Workshops, part 1
DAYTIME The focus of the third PRO Leadership Retreat and Workshop will turn attention to our industry’s leadership evolution and innovation. June 6th is when the "work" in the workshop begins. The discussions will be followed by workshops with practitioners offering tools to refine our efforts and impact.
- State of the Union in Pro Sports Leadership
- Perspective is important. Proximity is powerful. Bringing together top leaders with significant influence and perspectives to explore the extraordinary challenges and opportunities ahead enlightens and empowers PRO leaders to chart a path forward. From owners to commissioners, to top leaders at teams and unions - each leadership perspective is critical to understanding how we are collectively responsible for creating a strong, healthy and fair future in the professional sports ecosystem. In the opening keynote panel featured leaders share an overall analysis of the current status of leadership in professional sports; where we are headed, the major pain points, and what to prepare for in the next 10, 20, or 30 years. By sharing responsibility for industry-wide threats and business matters PRO leaders can gain perspective to strengthen their own organizations and establish a front line of defense to help safeguard the industry.
- Re(Design) Thinking the Pro Sports Business Model
- Necessity is the mother of innovation. From internal disruptors to external uncontrollables, such as evolving fan, staff, and athlete preferences and broadcast consumption options to unpredictable political and global markets - professional sports organizations are rapidly evolving. Valuations are growing. Private equity and Sovereign Wealth are entering the ecosystem. Challenger leagues and brands are disrupting the status quo. Here we will consider the sustainability of the current model and learn from those reimagining the framework for the future so we can be prepared to lead through shifts in market dynamics.
- Attracting, Developing, and Retaining Top Talent
- Players and coaches make up a high-profile and mighty 5% of the professional sports talent pool. The other 95%, an estimated 150,000+ full-time employees are responsible for running the business. With aggregate valuations of US-based professional sports franchises topping 500B (yes, that’s a B for billion), it’s incredible to consider what the other 95% are able to create and support for such valuations. In this conversation we will explore how improving cross-sport connectivity, collaboration and collective commitment to leadership development in pro sports helps to mitigate unnecessary vulnerabilities for owners/investors, top organization leaders, and the workforce.
- Public Policy in Pro Sports
- In 2024, twelve Commissioners from US-based Major Leagues met for the first time as a collective group to consider leadership for the industry and the power of our collective platform to impact cultural, political and economic factors across society. From public financing to the systematic disassembly of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to regulatory amendments and laws around alcohol consumption, bearing arms, land use, labor relations, sports betting, AI, etc public policy and pro sports are ever intertwined. In this conversation, we will learn from those who are guiding the tactical strategies for professional sports organizations to navigate the complexities of public policy at various levels of government - from municipal to state and federal.
- Navigating the Implications of an Election Year
- As much as some might like to see a “Church and State” like separation between sports and politics, if 2019 taught us anything, it’s that pro sports leaders care deeply about how elections impact their personal and professional endeavors. Seen as community leaders, professional sports executives actions (or inactions) are sought from a variety of stakeholders and influencers. Managing the demands and expectations of such requires savvy stamina - and a well-equipped team. Here we’ll learn insights from the experts.
EVENING
- Fireside Chat with a Friendly Family Fued
- Hospitality Suite
Friday, June 7, 2024: Leadership Conversations and Workshops, part 2
DAYTIME Day 3 will challenge the way we think about key operations in our business. Dynamic sports leaders are concerned with what happens far beyond the competition; we will explore how to leverage our leadership influence for lasting impact on front offices, our community, and the industry of professional sports.
- Workshop: Personal Leadership Brand Development
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In this workshop facilitated by the visionary Founder of BREAKTHRU Brands, Laura Barnard, you will be introduced to The Spectrum of Leadership EmpowermentTM (SLE) — an innovative and inclusive leadership development model designed to inspire you to think internally, in terms of identifying your motivations to lead, as well as externally, in terms of stepping into your greatest power as a leader.
Prior to the workshop, we invite you to explore and chart your own unique Leadership Type through BREAKTHRU’s self-guided, online Leadership Types Quiz. At the end of the workshop, Barnard will provide you with recommendations on how to apply these learnings to build a strong, authentic Leadership Brand, which can enable the confidence, clarity, and visibility required to drive business and organizational development, career advancement, and connectivity with your audiences and stakeholders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: – Learn about The Spectrum of Leadership EmpowermentTM — an innovative and inclusive way to understand and think about leadership styles, stereotypes and biases. – Chart your own Leadership Type through BREAKTHRU’s self-guided, online quiz. – Understand how your Leadership Type can help you best communicate and relate with others, setting you on the path towards building a strong, authentic Leadership Brand and enabling you to achieve your greatest impact.
- Business Case for Inclusive Leadership - ownership mindset
- Where do we go from here?
As an Assembly of PRO leaders, what will we do individually and collectively to build organizations that thrive with intentional, inclusive leadership across professional sports? This isn’t a rhetorical question. Everyone is invited to share and support the work ahead. – Oracio Galindo – Dr. Jamil Northcutt – Alexis Roe
AFTERNOON
- Recreation and Departures
Curious about past agendas? 2022 Programming Summary 2023 Programming Summary
Programming Narrative
Over the years, professional sports have consistently expanded by capitalizing on established policies, structures, and media outlets. Traditional practices involved attracting and retaining top talent, with corporate partnerships sustaining investments in in-game creative displays, out-of-home branding opportunities, and broadcasting stations serving as primary platforms for game viewing. TV ratings and cookies played pivotal roles in understanding sports enthusiasts' media consumption and purchasing behavior, respectively. Ticket sales often relied on exclusive partnerships with industry giants, allowing certain platforms to maintain a monopoly in the live-ticketed event industry.
However, the advent of technology, AI, post-pandemic considerations, and shifts in local economics have triggered a significant transformation in how sports teams conduct business. This includes reevaluating fan engagement, talent attraction, consumer targeting, and overall financial health. The prevailing theme now revolves around evolution, innovation, and agility. In anticipation of the future, pro sports organizations are reassessing revenue models, recruitment and retention strategies, facility enhancements, and reimagining spaces for community engagement. Locally, they closely monitor economic trends to gauge community spending capacities.
In the era of social media influencing conversations, marketing teams are strategically planning viral campaigns to sustain consumer engagement. Collaborations between corporate partners and sports organizations aim to establish deeper connections with fans through community activations. The rise of streaming services has disrupted traditional live content consumption, intensifying competition for broadcast companies. These challenges, combined with the complexities of retaining top talent, surges in player and coaching salaries, and a national election season, present formidable hurdles for the sports industry in the times ahead.
During The Assembly, our focus will be on assessing professional sports's current state of affairs, exploring future opportunities, and considering the necessary evolution and innovation in our organizations' strategies that could lead to a sustainable future.
Who’s Attending:
Arizona Coyotes Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena Austin FC Buffalo Sabres Chicago Bears Chicago Fire FC Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Guardians Dallas Cowboys Dallas Mavericks Houston Dynamo Houston Dash Ilitch Sports and Entertainment Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Football Club Los Angeles Rams LPGA Miami Dolphins Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Monumental Sports and Entertainment Major League Baseball National Basketball Association G-League National Hockey League National Women’s Soccer League NRG Park Oak View Group Pacers Sports & Entertainment Philadelphia Eagles Phoenix Suns and Mercury San Francisco 49ers San Francisco Giants Sporting Kansas City St. Louis Cardinals Tepper Sports and Entertainment Ultimate Fighting Championship U.S. Soccer Federation United Soccer League And more!
Who Attended 2022 Who Attended 2023
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Thanks to The Assembly 2024 Sponsors
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