SBJ On Stage

In this episode of On Stage, Arthur M. Blank, Chairman of AMB Sports and Entertainment, joins Abe Madkour, Publisher and Executive Editor of Sports Business Journal, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, ownership, and the continued growth of soccer in the United States. Recorded on March 26, 2026, at SBJ’s Business of Soccer conference in Atlanta, the discussion offers a window into Blank’s philosophy as an owner across multiple properties, including the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, and how he approaches building organizations rooted in culture, community, and long-term vision. Key themes include: - Ownership with Purpose: Blank’s approach to leadership, culture, and empowering people across his organizations. - The Rise of Soccer in the U.S.: How Atlanta United became a model for fan engagement and what it signals about the sport’s future. - Fan-First Philosophy: Why experience, accessibility, and trust are central to sustained success. - Community Impact: The role sports organizations play beyond the field in driving civic pride and connection. - Leadership Lessons: Insights from a career spanning entrepreneurship, retail, and professional sports ownership. It’s a thoughtful, values-driven conversation with one of the most respected figures in sports business—offering lessons that extend far beyond the game.

In this episode of On Stage, Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs and Chairman of FC Dallas, joins Coy Wire, sports anchor and correspondent at CNN, for a fireside chat on ownership, legacy, and the continued globalization of football. Recorded on Wednesday, March 25, at SBJ’s The Business of Soccer event in Atlanta, the conversation offers a unique perspective from one of the most influential ownership figures spanning both the NFL and global soccer. As the son of Lamar Hunt, a founding figure in the NFL and a pioneer of American soccer, Clark Hunt reflects on carrying forward a legacy while building for the future—across leagues, markets, and generations of fans. Key themes include: - Ownership Across Sports: How Hunt balances leadership between the NFL and MLS, and what each league can learn from the other - The Global Opportunity: Why soccer continues to expand in the U.S., and how international dynamics are shaping the sport’s future - Sustaining Success: Lessons from building a championship organization with the Kansas City Chiefs - Legacy and Responsibility: What it means to steward iconic franchises while evolving with the modern sports landscape - The Future of Football: Where the NFL and global soccer are headed—and how ownership will play a role in that trajectory It’s a thoughtful look at leadership from an owner operating at the intersection of tradition and transformation.

In this episode of On Stage, Howie Nuchow, Managing Director at Creative Artists Agency and Co-Head of CAA Sports, joins Abraham Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor of Sports Business Journal, for a conversation about the expanding role of capital, advisory, and global strategy in sports. Recorded on February 23, 2026, at SBJ’s National Sports Forum, the discussion highlights how firms like CAA are operating far beyond traditional representation by helping shape ownership structures, league investments, and strategic partnerships across the industry. During the conversation, Nuchow explores: - The Rise of Sports Private Equity: Why institutional capital is flowing into sports and what it means for teams, leagues, and investors. - CAA’s Expanding Role: How the agency advises ownership groups, investors, and global sports properties. - The Evolution of Representation: How modern agencies operate at the intersection of talent, media, capital, and strategy. - Global Opportunities: Where sports investment is growing and how international markets factor into the next wave of deals. - Lessons in Leadership: What it takes to navigate a rapidly evolving sports business landscape. It’s a sharp, strategic look at how the financial architecture of sports is changing and the executives helping shape that transformation.

In this episode of On Stage, Matt Hong, President of USA Sports at Versant, joins Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor of Sports Business Journal, for an insightful conversation on how the sports media landscape is being rebuilt in real time. Recorded on November 18, 2025, at SBJ’s Media Innovators in New York City, the discussion captures Hong at the center of a fast-evolving ecosystem. Versant operates at the intersection of content, technology, and distribution—helping shape how sports are produced, packaged, and consumed across platforms. Key themes include: - Media Disruption: How changing consumer behavior, platforms, and technology are redefining sports media models. - Versant’s Role: What Versant does, how it partners across the industry, and where Hong sees the greatest opportunity ahead. - Leadership & Strategy: Hong’s approach to navigating uncertainty, building teams, and making long-term bets in a volatile market. - Innovation at Scale: How data, distribution, and product thinking are reshaping how fans engage with sports content. - What’s Next: A look at where sports media is headed—and what leaders should be paying attention to now. It’s a forward-looking, practical discussion for anyone navigating disruption across sports, media, and technology.

In this episode of On Stage, Tom Ricketts, Chairman of the Chicago Cubs, joins Joe Leccese, Chairman Emeritus of Proskauer, for a wide-ranging conversation about stewardship, leadership, and the evolving business of baseball. Recorded on November 19, 2025, at SBJ Dealmakers Conference, the discussion explores how Ricketts balances the weight of tradition that comes with owning one of the most iconic franchises in sports while positioning the Cubs for long-term success in a rapidly changing industry. Key themes include: - Owning a Legacy Franchise: What it means to lead a century-old team with a deeply rooted fan base and global profile. - Long-Term Vision: How the Cubs think about competitive windows, financial discipline, and sustainable success. - Business of Baseball: Ricketts’ perspective on league economics, media evolution, and the forces reshaping MLB. - Leadership & Governance: Lessons from navigating change, aligning stakeholders, and making decisions with generational impact. - Wrigley Field & the Fan Experience: How the Cubs continue to evolve their ballpark and surrounding ecosystem while honoring tradition. It’s an insightful conversation with one of sports’ most dynamic owners — offering perspective on how legacy organizations adapt, endure, and evolve.

In this episode of On Stage, Minnesota Vikings Owner and President Mark Wilf joins Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, for a wide-ranging conversation that took place on October 1, 2025, at Leaders Week London. Wilf reflects on his journey as an NFL owner and the leadership principles that have shaped the Vikings’ long-term vision—both on and off the field. As the NFL accelerates its international strategy, the conversation offers a timely look at how ownership, culture, and global ambition intersect at the highest levels of sport. Key themes from the conversation include: - Leadership & Ownership Philosophy: The values that guide Wilf’s approach to team ownership, governance, and decision-making over the long term. - Building a Global NFL Brand: How the Vikings are expanding their international footprint, including upcoming games in Dublin and London, and what global growth means for the league’s future. - Legacy & Long-Term Vision: Balancing competitive success with organizational stability, culture, and sustained impact. - Community & Civic Responsibility: The role teams play beyond wins and losses, from local community engagement to international connection. - Cross-Sport Perspective: Insights from a conversation between leaders operating at the intersection of global sport, business, and culture. This episode offers a rare window into how one NFL ownership group thinks about scale, stewardship, and the future of the game—at home and abroad.

In this episode of On Stage, Richard Masters, Chief Executive of the Premier League, joins Karthi Gnagnasegaram, Presenter and Host, for an in-depth conversation on the evolving strategy behind the world’s most-watched sports league. Recorded on October 2, 2025, at Leaders Week London, this discussion explores how Masters and his team are steering the league through a period of transformation—balancing commercial success with the long-term integrity of the game. Key discussion points include: - Global Growth: How the Premier League continues to strengthen its international influence and deepen fan engagement around the world. - Financial Sustainability & Competitive Balance: Insights into new regulatory approaches, investment models, and how the league maintains parity while attracting global talent. - Media Rights & Innovation: How evolving technology and viewing habits are reshaping the league’s broadcast and digital strategy. - Governance & Independence: Masters’ view on maintaining stability and credibility amid increasing scrutiny and proposed regulatory changes. - The Future of Football: His reflections on the league’s broader responsibility to the sport, from grassroots development to global representation. This conversation offers a rare look behind the business of football—from one of the game’s most influential executives—providing valuable lessons for anyone navigating growth, regulation, and innovation in global sport.

In this episode of On Stage, BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman joins Sports Business Journal’s Publisher and Executive Editor, Abraham Madkour for an inspiring and candid conversation that took place on September 25, 2025, at SBJ’s Game Changers conference in New York City. Ackerman — a pioneer in sports leadership and one of the most respected voices in college athletics — reflects on a career defined by innovation, advocacy, and resilience. From helping launch the WNBA as its first president to guiding the BIG EAST through a time of rapid change, Ackerman’s insights illuminate how leadership evolves in moments of transition. Key themes include: - College Sports in Flux: Ackerman’s perspective on the future of NCAA governance, revenue sharing, and why she believes Congress must help bring order to college athletics. - Leadership Lessons: How she approaches decision-making, mentorship, and the challenge of staying grounded while leading through uncertainty. - Women in Leadership: Reflections on her pioneering role at the WNBA and what progress still looks like for women across sports business and administration. - The BIG EAST’s Future: How the conference is positioning itself in an era of consolidation, commercial pressure, and new opportunity. - A Life in Sports: What drives her after decades of service to the game — and what legacy she hopes to leave behind. It’s a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation that captures both the wisdom and candor of one of the most influential figures in modern sports.

In this episode of On Stage, we take you inside the L.A. Dodgers with CEO & President Stan Kasten and Executive Vice President & CMO Lon Rosen. This conversation, recorded September 17, 2025 at SBJ’s AXS DRIVE event in Los Angeles, explores how one of the most iconic franchises in sports continues to set the standard on and off the field. Kasten and Rosen—two of the most respected leaders in professional sports—share candid insights on how the Dodgers combine tradition with innovation to grow their global brand. The conversation covers: - Championship Business Model: How the Dodgers approach team building, fan engagement, and operations with a long-term vision. - Marketing & Partnerships: Rosen’s strategy for brand collaborations and keeping the Dodgers at the forefront of sports marketing. - Ballpark & Fan Experience: From stadium innovation to community initiatives, how Dodger Stadium continues to evolve as a world-class venue. - Global Reach: Expanding the Dodgers’ presence beyond Los Angeles and into international markets. - Leadership & Legacy: Reflections from Kasten and Rosen on what it takes to sustain success in one of the most competitive markets in sports. It’s an exclusive, wide-ranging look at how the Dodgers are building a championship brand for today and tomorrow.

In this episode of On Stage, two visionary leaders—Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments, and Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment—share the stage at SBJ’s Dealmakers Conference in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2023. Hobson, a nationally recognized financial executive and advocate for financial literacy, speaks candidly about how Ariel Investments approaches long-term value creation, why patience is critical in both markets and leadership, and how she’s worked to open doors for underrepresented groups in business. She also reflects on lessons from serving on the boards of major companies like JPMorgan Chase and Starbucks, and the importance of making investment decisions that align with values as well as returns. Leonsis, a longtime entrepreneur, sports owner, and investor, brings the perspective of a dealmaker who has navigated growth across technology, media, and sports. Together, their conversation touches on what makes partnerships endure, the responsibility of leaders to connect business with community impact, and how innovation is reshaping both finance and sports. This dialogue is both practical and inspiring—grounded in real-world lessons while offering a vision for how business and sports leaders can drive growth with purpose.

This episode of On Stage takes us deeper into the SBJ archives than ever before, revisiting a keynote interview from the 2016 Intercollegiate Athletics Forum with Paul Tagliabue, the longtime former commissioner of the National Football League. Tagliabue, who led the NFL from 1989 to 2006, oversaw one of the league’s most transformative eras: four expansion franchises, high-profile franchise relocations, and landmark decisions that reflected the NFL’s influence on culture and society—from postponing games after 9/11 to moving a Super Bowl over Arizona’s refusal to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, his impact continues to shape the sports landscape today. In conversation with SBJ’s Publisher and Executive Editor Abe Madkour, Tagliabue reflects on leadership, governance, social responsibility, and the business of sports during his time at the helm. Listening now, nearly a decade later, provides unique perspective: a reminder of how far the industry has come and how timeless lessons in integrity, vision, and adaptability remain. This is the beauty of On Stage: giving important conversations from SBJ’s archives new life, showing how they continue to inform the issues and debates of today.

In this special episode of On Stage, actor, comedian, and LAFC co-owner Will Ferrell joins Larry Freedman, the club’s co-president, for a fireside chat moderated by SBJ’s Abe Madkour. Recorded on February 27, 2023, at the National Sports Forum in Los Angeles, this session offers a rare glimpse into how one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures became a driving force behind one of Major League Soccer’s most dynamic franchises. Ferrell shares his origin story with LAFC—from being recruited as an owner to embracing the culture of the club—while Freedman pulls back the curtain on how the team has built one of the most passionate fan bases in American sports. Together, they discuss: - Why Will joined the ownership group and what he’s learned about sports business. - The rise of LAFC as both a soccer powerhouse and a cultural brand. - The mix of humor and humility that Ferrell brings to the boardroom and the locker room. - What other franchises can learn from LAFC’s community-driven growth model. As Abe Madkour later noted in his SBJ column, the session blended humor with real insight—a conversation that was equal parts entertaining and illuminating.

In this episode of On Stage, Rich Paul—CEO of KLUTCH Sports Group and Head of Sports at United Talent Agency—joins Zach Leonsis, President of Media & New Enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, for a compelling one-on-one conversation that spans business, brand, representation, and long-term influence. Recorded on October 29, 2024, at SBJ’s Dealmakers conference in Washington, D.C., this session came just as Paul and Leonsis announced a new partnership between KLUTCH and Monumental—aimed at unlocking new revenue streams and strategic collaborations as Monumental prepares to reimagine Capital One Arena. In this conversation, Paul shares hard-earned wisdom from a career spent building one of the most influential firms in sports—and shaping how athletes think about ownership, leverage, and impact. Highlights include: - The Rise of KLUTCH: How Paul built a platform grounded in trust, truth, and cultural relevance. - Navigating Power & Partnership: What it takes to stay independent while scaling with purpose. - Modern Representation: Why being an agent today means managing media, brand, and opportunity all at once. - Long-Game Thinking: Paul’s take on influence, equity, and the difference between relevance and legacy. - Real Talk: How the business works behind closed doors—and why he’s playing chess, not checkers. Candid, sharp, and evergreen—this is required listening for anyone shaping the future of sports, media, and entertainment.