ISS '13: Round 1 Recap

The 8th Annual Ivy Sports Symposium will take place at Harvard Law School on Friday, November 22, 2013.  The Cornell Sports Business Society will be providing regular coverage before, during, and after the event.  

Our continuing coverage moves into Round 1.  The day's opening array of panels covers a diverse and interesting set of topics.  Here's our take on what was said:

Navigating a CBA

Moderator
Gregg Clifton

Panelists
George Atallah
Andrew Brandt
Steve Fehr
Joel  Litvin
Mike Zarren

Big Takeaway:

The CB process is always on going and the drastically changing league landscapes between times of peace and unrest require constant adaptation by both player and league management.

Key Quote:

"Certainty is the key to growth." - Andrew Brandt
 
In-Stadium Rennovations

Moderator
Pat Coyle 

Panelists
Doug Behar
Dennis Robinson
 John Sergi
Alex Sugarman

Big Takaway:

The main points covered were how to enhance the fan experience at the stadium, and give them something they can't get at home, and the food experience. Food was a theme throughout, as the panelist emphasized that having unique, high quality concessions is crucial for fan experience.

Key Quote:

"We want to make sure you can do more at a stadium than you do at home."- - John Sergi

Cornell Connection:

Centerplate Chief Design Officer John Sergi was able to bring his experience delivering premium stadium dining options to the panel.

College Athletics

Moderator
Jason Belzer

Panelists
James Delany
Walter Harrison
Amy Huchthausen
Heather Lyke

Big Takeaway:

College athletics has changed greatly over previous decades. The future offers both unpredictability as well as opportunity. Increased influence of both money and technology will continue to shape how schools, conferences, and the NCAA operate.

Key Quote:

"To say that media doesn't play a role in conference realignment would be disingenuous...to say that we made decisions solely based on media would not reflect the values of our institutions."
-James Delaney

10 Next Series:  Supercharging Your Career

David Oestreicher
Megha Parekh