Game On: Sports, Business and the M&A Arena
Delve into the fast-evolving world of sports, business and M&A with a focus on the transformative power of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights in college sports and the art of building fan-centric organizations in professional and minor league sports. This fireside chat will explore how strategic opportunities in asset diversification and the current economic climate are reshaping the landscape for athletes, institutions and franchises. Whether you're an investor, business leader or sports enthusiast, gain insights into the trends and complexities driving this dynamic market.
Moderator:
Chief Content Officer
Smart Business
Dustin is an award-winning business journalist, bestselling author, and the chief content officer of Smart Business. Over the past 30 years, he has interviewed thousands of business and civic leaders, and helped more than 50 CEOs and entrepreneurs transform their ideas into books. A trained investigative politics reporter and former digital media entrepreneur, Dustin joined Smart Business in 1997 after serving as an editor at several daily newspapers.
Panelists:
Shield.AI - Chairman; Berlin Packaging - Chairman & CEO (Ret.)
Chicago Cubs - Partner/Investor; South Bend Cubs - Chairman/Owner
Andrew Berlin is Chairman at Shield.AI, a Partner/Investor in the Chicago Cubs, and Chairman & Owner of the South Bend Cubs. Berlin was the Chairman & CEO of Berlin Packaging for 33-years, growing from a small supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers to dozens of industries, into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Today, Berlin Packaging has over 60+ locations on four continents, worldwide.
CEO
Blueprint Sports
Rob is a seasoned marketing and revenue chief with over 20 years of experience in sports and live entertainment. Rob is a highly sought-after keynote speaker at top sports and entertainment conferences and has been recognized by the Sports Business Journal as a "Power Player in the Industry."
Throughout his career, Rob has worked with athletes, teams, and organizations in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, NCAA, NASCAR, WNBA, MLS, CFL, Pac-12 Conference, IMG, Endeavor, Learfield, and AEG.