Webinar: Return to the Stands 1 by Sportico

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About This Webinar

With the sporting world looking ahead to venues packed with passionate and eager fans, SporticoLive is proud to present, “Return to the Stands.” Join us for this exclusive event on Wednesday March 17th at 1 PM ET as the Sportico editorial team sits down with health experts, technology providers, venue managers, front office executives and player personnel who are innovating for the new realities of fan safety and experience. With leagues, teams, arena’s and broadcasters focused on ensuring safe and viable experiences for fans, athletes, employees and partners - this is a can’t miss discussion for the sports industry at-large.

Presenters

Joe Lacob

Co-Executive Chairman & CEO, Golden State Warriors

In his role as co-executive chairman & CEO, Joe Lacob is the managing member of the Golden State Warriors’ ownership group. Currently in his 11th year in this capacity, he serves on the NBA Board of Governors and is a member of the league’s Planning Committee and Labor Committee.

Under Lacob’s guidance, the Warriors won three NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018) and made five consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals (2015-2019), becoming only the second team in NBA history to do so, joining the Boston Celtics of the 1950s and 1960s. Additional milestones during this journey include: an all-time NBA-best 24-0 start in 2015-16 and a 54-game winning streak at home, the longest in league history.

In December of 2019, the Warriors were named professional sports’ “Franchise of the Decade” by the Sports Business Journal (SBJ). The award-winning sports business publication also bestowed “Sports Team of the Year” honors to the Warriors in 2014 and 2016. Lacob was named the 2016 recipient of the Sports Executive of the Year award by Sports Business Journal. He was also named one of the Bay Area’s Most Admired CEOs by the San Francisco Business Times in November of 2015.

Lacob’s NBA and professional sports experience dates back over two decades, including a five-year tenure as minority investor of the Boston Celtics, where he served on the basketball committee.

In 1987, Lacob began his career at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. In his role as a venture capitalist, he led investments in over 50 start-up companies across multiple fields in life sciences and medical technologies, the internet and energy.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California-Irvine, a master’s degree in Public Health (Epidemiology) from UCLA and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

John Abbamondi

CEO, BSE Global

As Chief Executive Officer, Abbamondi is responsible for leading the overall business strategy and operations for BSE Global, the parent company of the National Basketball Association’s Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, the Long Island Nets of the NBA G-League and Nets Gaming Crew of the NBA 2K League. He is charged with advancing the company’s existing sports, media and entertainment businesses as well as identifying and executing on new opportunities for growth. He also serves as Alternate Governor for the Brooklyn Nets.

Abbamondi is a widely respected sports and entertainment industry veteran with deep experience across the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. Prior to joining BSE Global, he was Executive Vice President for Ticketing, Suites and Corporate Hospitality at The Madison Square Garden Company. He had previously served as Senior Vice President of Team Marketing and Business Operations at the NBA, where he was responsible for assisting NBA teams in growing their profitability through strategic consulting on all aspects of team business operations. Prior to joining the NBA, he spent eight years in MLB, including three seasons as the assistant general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Before beginning his career in sports, Abbamondi served nine years as a U.S. Navy flight officer and is a two-time recipient of the Navy Air Medal with 40 combat missions over Iraq. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Doug Behar

Senior Vice President, Stadium Operations, New York Yankees

Currently in his 24th season with the New York Yankees, Doug Behar holds the position of Senior Vice President of Stadium Operations. In his role, Mr. Behar directs the operation and overall management of Yankee Stadium and leads a team of nearly 70 full-time employees and more than 1,000 game-day staff.

In addition to the regular baseball season, Mr. Behar oversaw many major events at the original Yankee Stadium, including five World Series, the post-9/11 service, “A Prayer for America,” and the visit by Pope Benedict XVI. He was a point person for the Yankees for the 2008 All-Star Game and supervised the emotional closing of the original House That Ruth Built.

Mr. Behar was also an integral part of the team responsible for the strategy, design and construction of the current Yankee Stadium. In the 12 years since the building’s 2009 opening, Mr. Behar has developed and implemented key strategic elements that have impacted fan flow, safety, sustainability, and the overall functionality of the facility. He has also helped put in place programs that have made a significant reduction in the Stadium’s energy consumption.

Last season, under Mr. Behar’s stewardship, Yankee Stadium became the first sports and entertainment venue in the world to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management. The standards for this designation meet world-class criteria for health and safety and have provided a blueprint for best operating procedures to combat COVID as Yankee Stadium welcomes fans back in 2021.

Allen Hershkowitz, PhD

Environmental Science Advisor, New York Yankees

Dr. Allen Hershkowitz is an environmental scientist and strategic sustainability advisor. For 26 years (1988 – 2016) he served as a Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and is a global leader in the movement to make environmental responsibility understandable and achievable for every individual and institution –an accomplishment that earned him the name “The Godfather of Greening” by Yoga + Joyful Living magazine.

Dr. Hershkowitz serves as the Environmental Science Advisor to the New York Yankees, and serves as Co-Chair of the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL Health and Safety Advisory for Sports and Entertainment Facilities. He also advises the WELL Health Equity Advisory. He is Chairman of the Board and Founding Director of Sport and Sustainability International, and co-founder and past President of the USA-based Green Sports Alliance. He also co-founded the Broadway Green Alliance and the Environmental Paper Network.

Dr. Hershkowitz is among the nation’s progressive pioneers in market-based environmental responsibility and has helped created and guide the sustainability programs of numerous American icons in professional sports, the entertainment sector and major corporations including the NBA, the USTA, the NHL, NASCAR, MLB, MLS, The Ivy League, Roland Garros, ESPN, HBO, Disney, AEG, the IOC, the Warner Music Group, DuPont, Disney, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, FILA, Hugo Neu, Sims Metal Management, Citizen Group, Atmos Air Solutions and numerous other firms. Dr. Hershkowitz also served on the 2011 NCAA Final Four Sustainability Committee.

Irwin A. Kishner

Partner; Executive Chairman; Co-Chair, Sports Law Group, Herrick

Irwin Kishner is Herrick's Executive Chairman and co-chair of the Sports Law Group. He has acted as lead counsel on countless matters in the sports industry.

Irwin has been at the helm of some of the most novel and highly valued deals entered into by a panoply of sports legends –from professional teams, leagues, owners, broadcasters, media companies, concession companies, financial institutions, investment banks, private equity funds, bond insurers, marketing companies, players and other industry participants.

He has advised on high-profile team acquisitions and dispositions; media contracts; internet and intellectual property rights; joint ventures; credit facilities; advertising, concession and sponsorship contracts; wagering matters; naming rights agreements; franchise transfers and financings sponsorship; PSLs; concessions transactions; and executive compensation and employment matters. Irwin has acted as lead counsel on all aspects of fourteen major stadium transactions. His representations include sports dynasties such as MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS, teams, as well as college and minor league teams and international sports including surfing, parkour, thoroughbred racing, soccer, e-sports and formula one racing.

Irwin is a frequent lecturer in the sports world and is often invited to speak at law schools, universities, industry events, on sports panels and in the media.

Stephanie McMahon

Chief Brand Officer, WWE

Stephanie McMahon is WWE Chief Brand Officer, a publicly traded (NYSE: WWE) global media company. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring WWE’s global brand strength and growth across all lines of business. Stephanie oversees WWE’s Brand, Community Relations and Pop Culture strategies as well as WWE’s Global Sales and Partnerships Division. She also occasionally plays a character on WWE programming.

Among her many contributions, Stephanie has been the driving force behind WWE’s Women’s Evolution, which has given female performers an equal share of the spotlight both in and out of the ring. Prior to being named Chief Brand Officer in 2013, Stephanie was Executive Vice President, Creative and was the first woman to lead WWE's Creative Writing, Digital Media, Talent Relations, Talent Brand Management and Live Events businesses.

Over the years, Stephanie has been recognized by Forbes in the publication’s annual World’s Most Influential CMO list, and in 2020 she was named the world’s most influential female CMO and earned the #2 position overall. Stephanie was named a Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award Honoree at the 2017 ESPN Humanitarian Awards. Additionally, Adweek has included Stephanie in their list of the Most Powerful Women in Sports for the past five years and previously chose her as a 2019 Brand Genius honoree.

In 2014, Stephanie and her husband, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, established Connor’s Cure, a fund dedicated to fighting pediatric cancer. In partnership with The V Foundation and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Connor’s Cure has raised $3.5 million to date.

She is a Henry Crown Fellow within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute and also an Eisenhower Fellow. She is a member of the Board of Directors for WWE, The Ad Council, USO Metropolitan Washington and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation.

Stephanie received her B.S. from Boston University in Communications and has been named a Distinguished Alumni by the School of Communications.

She is a mother of three daughters ages 14, 12 and 10.

Shervin Mirhashemi

President & CEO, Legends

Shervin Mirhashemi, President and Chief Executive Officer at Legends, also serves as a member of Legends’ Board of Directors.

As President and CEO, Shervin has spearheaded the company’s initiative to redefine structure, culture, operations and sales strategy, through its Global Sales, Global Planning and Hospitality divisions—employing a 360-degree service solution across all business verticals. He has cultivated an array of best-in-class services, which include market feasibility; project development; premium suites and ticket sales; naming rights; sponsorship; hospitality; retail and special events; and technology solutions. Legends operates across marquee industries including professional sports, collegiate properties, attractions and entertainment globally, with Shervin setting the long-term strategic vision of the company and leading day-to-day business operations for Legends.

Since he joined the company in 2013, Shervin has increased Legends portfolio, developing new avenues of business globally, which has led to unprecedented growth across all divisions. Total revenues have increased more than 500% and the company’s portfolio has grown tenfold. Additionally, Shervin has created several new divisions across the company that have become key drivers of the integrated business platform.

Shervin joined Legends after more than two decades in the sports and entertainment space. Most recently, he held the position of President of Global Partnerships at a leading sports, entertainment and music company, where he oversaw the management and operation of the company’s global revenue streams including sponsorship, naming rights, premium and partnership sales, servicing and activation. Earlier in his career, he held various roles in business and legal affairs across various industries.

Shervin received his J.D. from the University of Southern California and holds a B.A. in Biomedical Engineering from University of California San Diego. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Alex, and their two children, where he is an active member of his community serving on behalf of several organizations.

Danny Sillman

CEO, Relevent Sports Group

Daniel Sillman, Chief Executive Officer of Relevent Sports Group, is passionate about media businesses that lie at the intersection of sports and entertainment. Sillman leads the largest privately-owned soccer company in North America, focused on growing the popularity of the sport in North America and Asia. Relevent owns and ooperates the International Champions Cup (ICC), the summer’s premiere international club tournament. The tournament has sold 5 million tickets and draws over 100 million viewers annually.
Sillman’s initial foray into soccer was leading the strategy to bring the famed soccer rivalry, El Clásico, to the U.S. for the first time in 2017 creating a week of events and entertainment activities, marketing the match to be the highest grossing soccer match in recorded history. Sillman has been named to the 2019 Sports Business Journal’s forty under 40 list and Forbes’ Sports 30 under 30 for 2018.
During his time as CEO, Sillman has led the company through a period of exponential growth, creating new properties and completing the landmark deal, a first-of-its-kind 20-year deal with LaLiga, an equal joint venture to promote soccer in the U.S. and Canada.
Prior to joining Relevent Sports Group, Sillman served as the Director of Business Development at RSE Ventures, responsible for sourcing, structuring, and executing on new investments at RSE Ventures, including NextVR, Student Sports, Krossover and PureWow, among others.
Sillman is a business partner and advisor to NBA star, Draymond Green, with whom he co-owns Blink Fitness franchises that encompasses the state of Michigan and Chicago area.
Sillman, who lives in New York City, holds a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business. He currently serves as Chairman of the NextGen Council at the University of Michigan.

Justin Wood

Sports Practice Director, Dimensional Innovations

Justin Wood brings an unparalleled range of experience to Dimensional Innovations as the Sports Practice Director. Justin feeds his passion for developing matchless, engaging experiences by focusing on dynamic environments primarily in the sports and entertainment industries. For the last five years, Justin has led the charge on building DI’s sports portfolio through developing immersive sponsorship activations, halls of fame and branding experiences. His leadership in projects help sports brands improve the fan experience by connecting their story to the interactive and physical environments. With over fifteen years of experience at DI, Justin’s resume also boasts seven years of running his own design-build consulting company.

Luke Cyphers

Reporter/Editor, Sportico

Luke Cyphers, an award-winning reporter and editor, joined Sportico as a Reporter/Editor in November 2020, coming over with Daniel Libit from the investigative website, The Intercollegiate. He has covered the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the World Cup, the World Series, March Madness, and a state high-school championship game featuring Stephon Marbury and Lamar Odom. He has worked as a journalist for Dow Jones, the New York Daily News and ESPN The Magazine, and as a journalism professor at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Jacob Feldman

Sports Business Reporter, Sportico

Jacob Feldman is a sports business reporter with a focus on technology, media and fan experience. He was previously a staff writer at Sports Illustrated, where he wrote multiple cover stories while reporting on the NFL and the media industry. His work has also appeared in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Popular Science. Jacob is a graduate of Harvard University and a co-founder of The Sunday Long Read. He currently lives in Boston.

Eben Novy-Williams

Sports Business Reporter, Sportico

Eben Novy-Williams is a sports business reporter and podcast host at Sportico, a news venture launched earlier this year by Penske Media.

Prior to joining Sportico, Novy-Williams spent nine years covering the intersection of money and sports at Bloomberg News. His writing has appeared online, in Businessweek magazine and in newspapers across the country. He was also co-host of the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast.