Val Ackerman
Commissioner
BIG EAST Conference

Chief Marketing Officer

Executive Director, Strategy

Director, AI Program Management

Director, Digital Product Marketing & Campaign Execution

Partner

Investor

SVP, Streaming Research & Insights

VP of Corporate Communication

Investor

Senior Vice President

Director, Strategy

Vice President

VP of Business Development

Director, Strategy

Investor

SVP, Product

VP of Corporate Communications

Chief Marketing Officer

Executive Director, Strategy

Managing Director, Media Strategy

Director, AI Program Management

SVP, Product

Director of Programming & Digital Media

Investor

Director of Advertising

SVP, Streaming Research and Insights

Vice President

Director, Digital Product Marketing & Campaign Execution

Director, Strategy

Director, Strategy

Investor

Partner
Anchored by powerful main stage keynotes and headline interviews with the biggest names driving change, the 2026 event will feature practical case studies, main stage interviews, and deep-dive sessions across three core agenda tracks:
Explore the forces reshaping sport’s financial landscape, from major deals and private equity plays to bold new ownership models driving the next era of growth.
No buzzwords and no big claims. See how artificial intelligence is actually transforming sport with practical insights on automation, personalisation, and decision-making at scale.
A deep dive into how content is evolving across platforms, partnerships, and business models. This track breaks down the new rules of monetisation, distribution, and rights.
Join SportsPro CEO, Nick Meacham as he covers the state of play in sports business. From the latest trends shaping sports media, to the collective challenges that need to be addressed as an industry, this keynote sets the scene for the two days ahead.




Join Pete Distad in this fireside chat as he details the strategic market analysis behind FOX One. Learn how this curated, streaming service targets the high-value cord-cutting audience to capture incremental revenue, all while strategically complementing the traditional cable partnership model.




Join us for a definitive session with Marc Allera, CEO of the newly formed private equity powerhouse, Global Sport Group (GSG), to explore the seismic shifts in global sports finance.
Topics include:




For over 50 years, the WTA has been a pioneer for equality in sports. Today, CEO Portia Archer is taking that legacy into the digital age. This session will discuss:




Conference realignment has caused seismic shifts to the college landscape. Hear from two conferences; one that is currently rewriting its future (Pac-12) and one that has come out on top of realignment (BIG EAST). We’ll learn how leadership, a clear strategy and long-term vision lay the grounds for a comeback.






This session dives into the technology and AI strategy of the NBA, one of the world’s most digitally progressive major sports leagues. We will examine how the NBA views technology as a crucial engine for global expansion and fan engagement in a streaming-first era.



