Sports Business Journal

For more than 20 years, SBJ has highlighted the Most Influential People in Sports Business 🏆 This year, to mark the first 25 years of the century, we present 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟭𝟮𝟱—125 individuals whose impact over the past 25 years has been undeniable and whose influence continues to shape the future of sports business. From pioneering founders and high-stakes dealmakers to brand architects and media moguls, this group has transformed every corner of the multibillion-dollar sports economy—sponsorship, tech, media, venues, events, agencies, and leagues. See who made the list: https://ow.ly/zZrX50XFFJT

After Sunday night’s contentious CFP Selection Show, the spotlight is also on the agents behind college football’s biggest coaching names 💼 Creative Artists Agency and super-agent Jimmy Sexton continue to lead the industry, representing five of the 12 head coaches in this year’s CFP: Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning, Pete Golding, Brent Venables and Kalen DeBoer, with support from Ed Marynowitz and Davis Horton. Win Sports Group’s Clint Dowdle leads representation for Mike Elko and Jon Sumrall. Excel Sports Management’s Bynum Jaeger, with Bryan Harlan, oversees Mario Cristobal and Bob Chesney. Athletes First brings two coaches as well, with Trace Armstrong representing Ryan Day and Alex Hammond representing Joey McGuire. Rounding out the field, Patrick Strong of Balch & Bingham LLP represents Big Ten champion Curt Cignetti. https://ow.ly/1VnP50XFF0S

Just arrived in Orlando. Please let me know if you'd like to connect at the Major League Baseball (MLB) Winter Meetings this week.

Valerie Camillo’s appointment as the WTA’s new chairperson comes at a pivotal moment for women’s tennis. With nearly 30 years of experience across IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, the NBA’s TMBO group, the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Flyers/Wells Fargo Center, she brings a deep commercial background that aligns with the WTA’s growing focus on business strategy and WTA Ventures. Industry leaders describe her as analytical, integrity-driven and uniquely prepared to navigate tennis’ complex stakeholder landscape. https://ow.ly/Ocy150XASN3

Here's a look at some of those who were on the move around the sports business industry this past week 💼 ◽ Jim Donofrio // Joined LEARFIELD as a National Sales & Strategic Partnerships exec ◽ Nicky Schmidt // Joined the Colorado Rockies as SVP/Chief Revenue & Strategy Officer ◽ Sabine Feldmann // Named Head of Marketing at Boston Legacy FC ◽ Nick Zabriskie // Named SVP/Public Affairs at PrizePicks ◽ Cory Hilliard // Joined USA Swimming as CFO ◽ Joanna Stang // Named Sports Marketing Manager at Schwan's Company ◽ Ramesh Jayaraman // Will join Daktronics as its new president and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2026 ◽ Peter Jung // Joined TMRW Sports as CMO ◽ Sandy Cross // Appointed as PWHL's new VP/People & Culture Congratulations, all! SBJ subscribers can stay up to date on the latest executive transactions throughout the week here 🔻 https://lnkd.in/guxgcE7w

My initial takeaways from Saturday’s World Cup schedule release are up at Sports Business Journal. A few highlights: ⚽️Unsurprisingly, NY/NJ and Dallas — the U.S. stadiums with the largest capacity — received very strong group stage slates. NYC gets Brazil, France, Germany and England. Dallas gets two Argentina matches, plus Japan-Netherlands and England-Croatia. ⚽️ The schedule reduces exposure to the hottest parts of the day, even if it means giving up some European-friendly start times. ⚽️ East Coast host cities could have their hands full with fan fest logistics due to late start times for matches played on the West Coast, including two of the three U.S. group stage games. https://lnkd.in/eyrGavdB

Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs handed out more than 12.6 million game-day giveaways last season ⚾ These included 748 general admission and 1,145 specialty-ticket packages, according to Sports Business Journal’s 10-month analysis of each team’s full-season promotional schedule. Including non-giveaway promotions such as fireworks nights or the unveiling of a former player’s statue, there were over 4,000 fan activations designed to bring fans to the ballpark. This is the first time we've tracked MLB promotions since 2018, after conducting annual analyses from 2006. https://ow.ly/opn750XAVgl

The Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars have been 50-50 partners in Dallas’ American Airlines Center since it opened in 2001 🧑⚖️ From the beginning, the teams have operated with differing risk tolerance, financial security, and long-term strategy. A dispute over $𝟭𝟭𝟬 escalated in October 2024, when the Mavs sent the Stars a letter saying they had defaulted on the partnership by basing their offices in Frisco. The Stars responded, and the relationship has now led to a lawsuit filed by the Mavs asking the court to ratify their buyout of the Stars’ stake. https://ow.ly/MBF450XBVO3

Last June, Milwaukee Bucks Inc. hired two executives, one based in London and one based in Chicago, to focus on global partnership sales 🏀 Federico Pagliara splits his role 50% domestic and 50% foreign, and recently closed the team’s global deal with Swiss digital SIM provider Yesim after an hour-long call from a rental car in Sicily. Shivs Thevarr, based in London, brings experience from Chelsea FC and is developing international partnerships while introducing companies to Milwaukee and explaining the Bucks’ deer logo. According to Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer Matt Pazaras, the team is close to having more sponsorship dollars derived from outside the U.S. than inside. Read more from Tom Friend: https://ow.ly/c09F50XA4YI

Union Omaha reached an agreement with the city of Omaha to develop a soccer stadium-anchored mixed-use district for the men’s team and a future women’s team. The city-owned, HOK-designed stadium is part of a roughly $400 million, 20-acre project with Hines, JLL Sports, and RDG Planning & Design. Pending city council review, land purchase approval, and turnback tax funding, the club hopes to break ground in 2026 for a 2028 opening. MORE: https://ow.ly/xNSz50XC9vT