Back to Hashtag Sports 2020 VRTL
Our series of back-to-back panels, presentations and interviews will address the most critical challenges and opportunities in fan engagement today. Sessions will be conducted via live stream video powered by Grabyo Producer and organized around five agenda themes.
This year's event has 5 agenda themes:
As sports betting continues to spread across the United States, digital marketing will become even more of a key differentiator for brands looking to cut through the noise and engage users. Those that leverage industry-leading innovations and solutions will be poised to excel as the market expands, leaving competitors in the dust. Join our panel of experts as they explore the current state of digital marketing in sports betting, common challenges, and acquisition strategies, as well as what’s to come next year and beyond.
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Today's streaming limits in-game betting to betting at the end of an inning or quarter thus, minimizing the amount of handle generated. What most people don't realize however, is that the technology now exists for "micro-wagering" - betting on every play in a game. Our panel will explore how broadcast companies and sports leagues are addressing sports betting and in-game or, micro-wagering, the latest in technology and product innovations allowing micro-wagering to grow not only betting revenues but engagement too and what the future will bring for an industry ready to explode.
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As the former President of Turner Sports, David Levy has seen firsthand the power of legalized sports gambling in shaping strategy for both legacy and new media companies. Now as an investor and advisor, he's helping to amplify new business ideas and modern sports content strategy in the space. Join us as Levy and prominent investor Keith Bank discuss the impact of sports betting on major media rights deals about to be up for grabs, opportunities to drive revenue and engagement through esports gambling, the future of personalized betting in-venue, the rise of SPACS, and other hot button trends and topics.
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As sports betting continues to grow, content remains the most effective driver of new bettors and deposits. Whether you’re a sportsbook, affiliate, or sports media company, your ability to cost-effectively scale content will determine how successful you’ll eventually be. Learn how industry leaders are leveraging automation to scale content production, reduce costs, and grow market share.
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Media companies, sportsbook operators and sports properties are in a race to join forces through formalized partnerships in the North American sports betting ecosystem. While each deal is different, one tenant remains the same: an emphasis on premium content and multi-platform media opportunities. Join this panel of marketing leaders to discuss how they're continually evolving brand strategy to engage as their organizations enter new markets; insight into driving revenue and user acquisition through digital media; and how they're shaping multi-platform, content-led partnerships to be the cornerstone of their marketing and revenue strategy.
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For years, ESPN has long recognized sports betting as becoming more and more endemic to the overall experience of the fan by delivering sports betting content across its platforms. Specifically, in the past year alone, ESPN has grown its presence in this space for opportunities to expand its brand and audience and increase fan engagement. Join ESPN’s Mike Morrison (vice president, business development & innovation) and Doug Kezirian (sports betting analyst and Daily Wager host) for a conversation on how ESPN has approached the sports betting opportunity to further innovate and deliver the best and most seamless experience for fans.
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Perhaps the only thing certain about the state of live events is how much uncertainty looms in 2021. Organizations of all types—from agencies and media companies to venues and leagues—are under immense pressure to deliver safe experiences for fans and value for clients, sponsors, and advertisers. Hear how a panel of entertainment and event experts are thinking about tentpole events like March Madness, the Super Bowl and Olympics; their approach to contingency planning for activations & experiences; and how technology is enabling new types of experiences in the interim.
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The way fans consume sports is changing - from live to streaming and back again. With increasing demand for multichannel entertainment and more personalized interactions with teams and players, fans are getting closer to the action and real-time engagement before and after sporting events. As startups build the next generation of tech, sports brands are looking to bring their fan base new and exciting ways to connect. Join us to discuss what it takes to bring ideas to the playing field. Hear from startup founder and CEO, Josh Bryant of Fangage, as well as serial startup founder and investor, Jose Vieitez, from Comcast SportsTech.
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The sports and entertainment industry is seeing a growing convergence of traditional and esports. From charitable streams to teeth-grinding competition - athletes, teams and leagues are becoming more involved in the gaming space than ever before. Gaming and esports offers entrants new sources of fan engagement, marketing and revenue opportunities. Join a unique group of experts to explore how sports and esports continue to evolve and innovate together.
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Trevor Bauer is one of the most outspoken players in Major League Baseball, and also one of the league’s top pitchers. In January 2019, Bauer launched an athlete-centric media company called Momentum aimed to change the way baseball is marketed to younger fans and to take fans behind the scenes of the lives, training, and game days of their favorite MLB stars. Momentum is the first-ever active player-owned media company credentialed by Major League Baseball. Trevor fully funds the venture and employs a full-time staff as well as a network of consultants for the company. His investment in content is also evident across his owned social channels, where he produces several weekly original series In less than 20 months Momentum’s YouTube alone has garnered 9.5 million views and over 1.1 million watch hours. Hear Trevor's no holds barred opinions on the future of content, media and engaging the next generation of fans.
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Just as a shift in a younger generation of fan's habits began to take hold in 2020, a once-in-a-generation sports hiatus promised to shake up the industry even more. The games are the same, but the gameplans are changing. This session will examine how our new normal and the ushering of attempts to attract younger fans are converging. Join experts in discussing Ticketing 2.0 concepts, best practices in fan experience learned from the sports restart, and how sports organizations are working with partners to bring the in-arena excitement into fans' homes.
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With lean teams and limitations on fans in the stands, sports brands are leveraging compelling content and powerful AI technology to bring fans closer to the action. Find out how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing photography and social media workflows in sports.
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With the unique circumstances of the pandemic, we look back at how the NBA, Turner Sports and Twitter looked for new ways to engage with fans during this unprecedented basketball season in the NBA bubble through innovation. We'll discuss fan engagement across NBA Bubble, #NBATwitterLive, NBA on TNT and NBA TV and what lies ahead for the future.
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Sports organizations are preparing for the long-term financial effects of the pandemic. Without fans in stadiums, lost ticket and sponsorship revenue is placing a strain on organizations. To combat the current situation, creative innovation is key. From fan subscriptions, licensing, and e-commerce to branded content and digital activations, organizations are utilizing their digital assets to recoup lost revenue and maintain fan engagement.
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Two tenants of fandom that have not been casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on sports: original content and ecommerce—and the intersection of the two has made for a increasingly powerful way to generate needed revenue. From making DWade's World Tour a mainstay to collections for the NFL Draft and more, Bleacher Report is turning moments and memories into merchandise. Meanwhile, esports team FaZe Clan has formed apparel partnerships with teams and leagues like Man City and the NFL on its way to billions of video views (and potential for a billion-dollar business). Learn how ecommerce and merchandise can grow into a bigger piece of your revenue pie chart, and explore tips and tricks for partnerships from some of the best in the business.
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With (mostly) empty stadiums and fans stuck at home in front of their screens, the role of social media for sports organizations has grown in importance for both fan engagement and sponsor integration. All while internal resources for social content creation have been cut. We discuss how teams can take full advantage of the opportunities that exist on social media in the current environment to deepen fan engagement, sell sponsorships, and be ready to convert engagements into ticket sales when fans can return.
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NOTE: Technical difficulties prevented this session from airing in full on our live stream yesterday. We are re-airing a recording of this panel during this new time block.
Perhaps the only thing certain about the state of live events is how much uncertainty looms in 2021. Organizations of all types—from agencies and media companies to venues and leagues—are under immense pressure to deliver safe experiences for fans and value for clients, sponsors, and advertisers. Hear how a panel of entertainment and event experts are thinking about tentpole events like March Madness, the Super Bowl and Olympics; their approach to contingency planning for activations & experiences; and how technology is enabling new types of experiences in the interim.
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Athletes and brands are aligning more than ever before around shared values, creating united voices to make a positive impact. Whether supporting charitable causes and community opportunities or advancing social justice initiatives, values are coming first in athlete and brand partnerships. Get insight from NFL star Michael Thomas, EA Sports’ Ty Stover and the NFLPA’s Gina Scott on how you can create unique athlete partnerships with strong purpose.
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From your grandparents learning how and what zoom is for digital happy hours, to restaurants going to only delivery only, the world changed on a dime and brands/restaurants/corporations all had to make adjustments on the fly. Do we need to send employees on long distance flights + hotels for meetings now that Zoom is normalized? Do we need to pay millions of dollars in rent for expensive NYC offices? Taking a look at how the population was educated at scale and how the marketing world is forever changed.
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For those in social media and digital roles, the crafting, monitoring, and responding never stops—not even during a pandemic, sports pause, or period of national unrest and calls for social justice. This session will explore the mental health toll that 2020 has put on engagement experts in sports and entertainment, discuss resources used by peers to improve mental well-being, and examine how organizations of different types are empowering and engaging employees in these "always-on" roles.
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In an unusual and difficult year, fundraising, philanthropy and advocacy have risen to the forefront on social media. From fundraising for social justice and driving donations for the healthcare industry amidst the peak of the pandemic, to ensuring no nonprofit's needs go unnoticed during turbulent times, organizations who wish to remain steadfast in their commitment to charitable causes will be well-served if they are well-versed in working with athletes, celebrities, and influencers to spread the word and secure support. Join us to examine the intersection of athlete marketing, media and philanthropy, and hear how nonprofit The V Foundation for Cancer Research, celebrity video app Cameo, and players themselves are empowering fans to contribute to the causes they care about most.
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