Event Recap: Union Days '14

This post was written by Taylor Kosakoff, Director of Career Services for the Cornell Sports Business Society.

On Thursday, April 10th, I spoke on behalf of the Cornell ILR Sports Business Society for the annual event, “Union Days”, in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. “Union Days” is an event sponsored by the Worker Institute at Cornell, which addresses current labor movement issues in various industries. The event I spoke at was titled, “Fighting for Equality in Education, Sports, and the Fashion Industry.”

I was called upon to address the background of the Northwestern football players’ attempt to unionize and the ramifications of this historic event. The reason I was chosen to speak on the panel was because of the research I conducted on this topic for an article that I wrote for the Cornell ILR Sports Business Society’s magazine, Sports Inc., earlier this semester. Although there were many prominent figures in the labor movement on the panel, the speakers that participated in the Northwestern discussion were two players on Cornell’s football team, senior quarterback Jeff Mathews and senior outside linebacker Taylor Engstrom.

The Northwestern football players’ attempt to unionize is a significant development in the labor movement, and could have a meaningful impact on the future of the NCAA and its relationship with student athletes. Previously, students have not had success in their attempts to be treated as employees of their universities. This recent effort to organize demonstrates however, that a change may be on the horizon for student athletes. Led by Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter, the students achieved a significant breakthrough by receiving a decision from a Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board which gave the Northwestern football players employee status. 

Colter and his teammates are trying to gain representation for the student-athletes by the College Athletes Players Association (CAPA), in order to secure benefits that they believe college football players deserve. Specifically, Colter and the CAPA are seeking medical cost coverage for players who sustain injuries during games or practices. Other benefits that they are attempting to secure include ease on transfer restrictions and security of scholarships after injury. Compensation is not a topic of discussion currently and is not the main focus of this movement, but could be a goal in the future. Colter and the CAPA believe that the players deserve more than what they are getting, especially when compared to the millions of dollars the NCAA and universities are making off the efforts by these student-athletes.

The discussion of the Northwestern football players was the final segment of the event. I discussed how the attempt by Northwestern’s football team to unionize could revolutionize the NCAA. This initial step, with the leadership of Colter, may be the impetus for other teams to join this initiative to gain more rights for themselves on the football field. This attempt may even expand to other college sports and include women’s teams. If the student athletes are ultimately deemed employees, there could be a difference in what rights these players may have due to their enrollment in public and private universities, with different laws regarding public and private employees. While there is support for the players’ initiative, many people oppose the idea of unionization and believe that it may ruin the entertainment of the NCAA and college sports.

To see how college football players themselves feel about the Northwestern football team’s attempt to unionize, Jeff Mathews and Taylor Engstrom provided their perspectives as student athletes. It was especially interesting to hear college athletes from Cornell talk about the labor movement from Cornell because players are not allowed to receive athletic scholarships in the Ivy League. Both Mathews, who recently signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and Engstrom, held similar views about college football players trying to unionize.

Both were intrigued by the movement and believed that medical cost coverage for injuries is a benefit that the NCAA should provide for student athletes. However, both student athletes stated that they did not want to be compensated for their play because they think that this would diminish the enjoyment of college football and the relationship between students and the university that they cherish. Matthews and Engstrom both emphasized that they feel lucky to attend such a prominent university as Cornell, and that they play on the football team and devote more hours than expected because they enjoy playing football.

This event was an interesting way to see how a topic from the sports world could be such a major factor in a discussion of the labor movement. It was intriguing to hear the perspectives of two of Cornell’s most prominent football players who both agreed that they would never want to be compensated for their college play, although they do not receive athletic scholarships in the Ivy League. Their views are similar to those of Kain Colter and his teammates, who are pursuing employee status primarily to secure medical cost coverage. There is a long way to go before a final resolution of the matter, and it will be fascinating to see how this case impacts the future of the NCAA.

This post was written by Taylor Kosakoff, Director of Career Services for the Cornell Sports Business Society.

Event Recap: Team Side Innovation

On March 25, 2014, the Cornell ILR Sports Business Society presented “Team Side Innovation”, a digital panel featuring alumni sports executives Tim McDermott ’95, Eric Kussin ’01, and Jason Pearl ’91. The video of the event can be found below as well as on YouTube.

McDermott, Chief Marketing Innovation Officer for the Philadelphia 76ers, emphasized three major areas in his field— brand, fans and revenue. Kussin, Vice President of Ticket Sales for the New Jersey Devils, oversees the service staff along with working to increase ticket sales. As Managing Vice President, Sponsorship and New Business Development for the San Francisco Giants, Pearl is committed to solidifying a passionate fan base regardless of wins and losses.
 

Tim McDermott '95:

McDermott highlighted the importance of building a deep emotional brand.

“The best brands create a brand that is independent of wins and losses and is independent to a certain degree of players,” McDermott described. “That’s sometimes hard to do but players come and go. My perspective is to not necessarily build brands that are just about players.”

McDermott also touched on the growing use of digital platforms in the marketing field. According to McDermott, it is not about your digital strategy. It is about how you are marketing in a digital world.

For example, in the 1990’s companies created an online version of their business, putting an “e” in front of the company name. But it shouldn’t be like this, McDermott points out. “It’s about a new way of doing business in a digital paradigm,” he explains.

McDermott made clear that core business objectives must be maintained. Reshaping the brand simply because you are using a different means to market the brand is not the correct way to handle a situation.

Eric Kussin '01:
 

Kussin works to build a brand that will keep fans committed for the long run as well. Despite being successful on ice, the Devils have had consistent trouble selling out. Kussin is dedicated to rebuilding the brand and forming a new fan base by getting the word out about how passionate the new coaching staff is.

According to Kussin, fans want to know that even tough the team is at a difficult time selling, there are people within the organization who are committed to the long haul. In his perspective of the growing digital world, he stresses that social media should be used to collect information about fans.

“There is a certain piece of social media where fans want to feel like they are getting special content, but they do not want to be hounded about ticket sales,” said Kussin.

Ticket sales must be done with outside of social media. However, social media can be used as an effective tool for collecting information on the types of people that are a part of the fan base. A unique way to learn more about the fans is to create contests so that the winners can be put in direct contact with the marketing department.

Jason Pearl '91:

Pearl has a similar take on the matter in that building a fan base should not only be about wins and losses.

According to Pearl, there is no doubt that numbers speak for themselves. However, it is imperative that fans leave the stadium feeling like they had a good time regardless of the score. Pearl works to build a partnership to leverage technology, sustainability, and philanthropy.

With this, Pearl is working on building a sustainable and edible garden in a sports facility. The garden will be less of a means to feed the fans, but more of a place fans can gather and where sponsors can “elevate their platform when it comes to wellness, ” claimed Pearl.

Event Recap: Bo Moon '99

On April 14, 2014, Bo Moon ’99 addressed the ILR Sports Business Society on the future of sports. A graduate of the College of Engineering, Moon currently leads sports and gaming initiatives at Samsung. He also co-founded Bloomberg Sports, several years after joining Bloomberg as a product manager. Before his tenure at Bloomberg, Moon had stints at PricewaterhouseCoopers, iCollection and Prudential.

During his discussion with the Society, Moon shared advice for students interested in entering the field of sports. Most salient was a point to show people in the field what you have done so far and what you can do in the future, as demonstrating value is absolutely essential to establishing oneself in this competitive industry. As an “intrapreneur” building up Samsung Sports and Gaming, Moon very clearly showcased how getting results matters, especially early on when establishing a venture like Samsung S&G or BSports.

Moon took time to listen to each club member’s future plans in the sport industry, providing insights into specific ways to start a career. He also emphasized that there were many ways to enter the sports world outside the traditional internships and jobs with teams, leagues, agencies, and networks. Increasingly, companies in every industry are attempting to carve out a spot in the sports landscape. In his role at Samsung, Moon hopes to take the company’s sports footprint far beyond being a jersey sponsor. He highlighted Samsung, and some competitors, as being non-traditional sports companies with significant and growing presences in the industry.

Moon also touched on how the industry was preparing for the possible legalization of sports gambling in the United States. The American sports betting market would be extremely lucrative, and many companies have begun maneuvering to take advantage of a change in policy. Moon stressed that leagues could miss out on large revenue streams if they do not embrace the gambling market, and mentioned the NBA as a league that has already begun to sell their in-game statistics to sports books.

Given his responsibilities growing both companies, Moon’s insights into the recent focus on sports data touched on topics ranging from predictive analytics and fantasy sports enhancement to broadcast packages and evaluation tools for teams. He also commented on a number of best practices pertaining to content and data, highlighting the advantages to properties emphasizing new media and strong technology. His main points focused on engaging the end user, something he made clear was a priority at Samsung. Moon predicted all user interface would become more targeted an personalized in the future, which has value to both companies and individuals.

As always, ILRSBS thanks alumni like Bo Moon who take time to speak to our members. The knowledge and experience they share are invaluable to students aspiring to work in the sports industry.  We greatly appreciated hosting Bo and we look forward to staying connected in the future!

Adam Kirsch contributed to this post.

Event Recap: Jim McFarland (4/16/14)

On Wednesday, April 16th, the ILRSBS hosted NFLPA Executive Committee member Jim McFarland. McFarland played college football at Nebraska University and enjoyed a six-year career in the NFL., and has spoken to the club on one previous occasion.  He graduated from Cornell Law School in 1980 and has been practicing as an attorney ever since.

In 2007, McFarland was named to the NFLPA former players Board of Directors, and in 2010, he was made a former player representative on the NFL Executive Committee. He spoke with the club about the myriad of problems facing the NFL, the NFLPA, the NCAA, and athletes everywhere.

McFarland wished to share his opinions, and hear those of club members, on many of the important issues facing professional and collegiate sports, particularly football. His experiences as a collegiate and professional football player, member of the NFLPA, labor and employment lawyer, and state senator allowed him to speak with distinction on many prominent controversies.

On Player Health and Safety

McFarland illustrated the change in philosophy regarding head injuries, sharing his personal experiences of concussions during his playing career.  He spoke about a particular occasion, where after being rendered unconscious on a kickoff, he returned to play later in the same game.

While McFarland was able to achieve off-field success after his playing days, and remains mentally sharp decades later, he laments the physical, mental, and emotional ailments affecting many of his teammates and opponents.  McFarland was critical of the NFL's response to these issues, pointing out the NFL's distribution of the "Greatest Hits" series at a time when the League was issuing suspensions and fines to players who initiated dangerous plays.

But the NFL was not solely to blame, as the NFLPA had also not done enough to protect its players, according to McFarland. In answering a club member's question, McFarland noted the difficult position the Union often finds itself when defending players against suspensions for dangerous plays. He said that although the NFLPA has a legal obligation to grieve complaints on behalf of its members, they also represent the players seriously injured by illegal hits. This issue, along with other similar contradictions, made the Players Association work very difficult.

On the NFL Concussion Lawsuit Settlement

McFarland discussed all aspects of the disputed settlement of a lawsuit between former players and the NFL.  While lawyers from both sides agreed to a $765 MM settlement, a judge has held up the agreement for further investigation.  Concerns about the settlement include whether there will be enough money to meet the needs of all who would qualify for benefits.

McFarland said that the settlement was good for the NFL, in that it would avoid costly litigation and even greater potential damages in a class action court battle.  Also, with no admission of guilt, the League could finally put the issue behind them.  The settlement would also benefit many former players who need benefits sooner rather than later.  The immediate help that the agreement would provide would help ease burdens now for ex-players struggling with health or financial difficulties.

But McFarland worries that the deal will fall short of providing substantive help to all that deserve it over the long-term.  He was skeptical of the incentives of the lawyers who negotiated the deal, stating that "one-third of $765 MM is  lot of money".

On College Athletics

McFarland stated his interest in the union organizing campaign at Northwestern. While he is mixed on the role of unions in college sports, the collective action taken by players is yet another sign of the flaws of the NCAA.  He also wondered how unionization could meet the needs of students in other sports, as well as those in public schools, especially in anti-union states.

He noted that a professional may be more appropriate for certain schools with large fan bases. But on the whole, McFarland preferred the "Ivy League system", where scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need rather than athletic prowess.

On Race and Inequality in Football

McFarland left the audience with a question regarding race in football.  He stated that the current  racial dynamics of the sport were "something to think about". When he began his professional playing career, McFarland said the league was approximately 50% African-American players.  The number has gone up dramatically since then, and he wonders what that says about our athletic and educational systems.  If you removed the positions of center, long-snapper, quarterbacks, kickers, and punters, African-Americans would make up 92% of the NFL players.

Again, we’d like to thank Jim McFarland for taking the time to speak with members of our club. It was an incredibly informative and insightful discussion, which we all truly enjoyed and appreciated.

Event Recap: Becky Sendrow '02

On Friday, November 8th, The Cornell Sports Business Society was pleased to welcome alumna Becky Sendrow ’02 of Creative Artist’s Agency (CAA). Sendrow, a former Cornell tennis player and government major in the College of Arts and Sciences, currently works as a Sports Broadcasting Agent at CAA. After graduating from Cornell in 2002, she attended Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she earned her law degree. During her time in law school, Sendrow, a native of Philadelphia, focused primarily on intellectual property and alternative dispute resolution. Her exuberance and charisma were the foundation for a great event.

Sendrow began her career upon graduating law school at William Morris Endeavor, one of the largest and most prestigious talent agencies in the world. In 2005, she had begun working full-time in the mailroom—where almost all aspiring agents start out—but before long her talent and work ethic moved her up the corporate ladder. From there she moved over to CAA, where the Sports Agency Department was just being started.

The Sports Broadcasting group at CAA may be young, but it has established itself as a leading team in the business. Clients of the group include the likes of Carl Ripken Jr., Warren Sapp, Jalen Rose, Linda Cohn, and Barry Melrose. CAA also represents coaches, such as Mike Krzyzewski, Erik Spoelstra, and Rex Ryan, and a plethora of athletes including Sidney Crosby, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Adrian Peterson.

Client Case Study: Michelle Beadle

Michelle Beadle is a sports reporter and television show host who is currently represented by Sendrow. With Beadle’s contract as host of hit segment Sports Nation set to expire, Sendrow was there to help her plan out her future, and take her career in a new direction. Beadle’s show was featured on ESPN2, but she expressed that she was looking to move away from the ESPN brand. By utilizing contacts in the industry, Sendrow was able to work with NBC Sports to create a position for Beadle. While NBC Sports was new at the time, the two sides believed that there were great opportunities for Beadle to advance her career. At NBC Sports, Beadle now works as both a reporter and host. She reported the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and is currently a co-host on Access Hollywood. Beadle also had her own show called The Crossover with Michelle Beadle, although it is no longer running. Sendrow advises Beadle in other facets of the broadcaster’s life as well. She helps arrange speaking engagements, finds endorsement opportunities, and books charity functions. Sendrow was integral in helping Beadle found her own charity through the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to—she is a dog lover—and helped secure her a sponsorship with Bridgestone Tires, which has led to her appearance in commercials, such as a recent ad with US Olympian soccer player Alex Morgan.

Audience Question: “What is she [Beadle] getting at NBC that she could not get at ESPN?”

Answer: Before, at ESPN she was on a cable network doing one show—there was no room for her to grow or develop her talent. Not only that, but she was also stuck on ESPN2, which has even less room to grow than ESPN. It was also her personal interests that could not be met; she wanted to do more entertainment and NBC gave her that opportunity.

Client Case Study: Nomar Garciaparra

Former MLB star Nomar Garciaparra, a six-time all-star shortstop over the course of a 13-year career, is best known for his tenure on the Boston Red Sox. Sendrow first came in contact with Garciaparra via cold call, an unlikely scenario. At the time, he already had an agent, but after almost a year of hard work, Sendrow was able to convince him that CAA could provide him with the best representation team out there. To convince Garciaparra to make the switch to CAA, Sendrow set up meetings with every division in the company, allowing him to to learn about everything from memorabilia to television opportunities.

Once he signed on, Sendrow immediately began creating opportunities, helping him secure work commentating baseball games. She helped him start his own charity as well, which focuses on solar energy.  Sendrow and her team are currently working on getting Garciaparra involved in a television documentary about solar panels. He is also currently a baseball analyst for ESPN. Sendrow explained that landing a former marquee player like Garciaparra was a huge moment in her career, and was a tribute to her hard work and determination.

Sendrow went on to explain the importance of getting close to players, and teaching them how they can extend their career via different avenues upon retirement, such as broadcasting. Creating relationships with players nearing retirement increases the likelihood of their signing with your agency. CAA’s Athlete Representation department does just that. By providing current athletes with assistance regarding endorsement deals, guest appearances on television shows, and so on, they build on that athlete’s brand. Once these players retire, CAA can help them transition into life after sports, which can entail broadcasting, coaching, or writing books, among countless other opportunities.

Audience Question: How do you use the entire company [CAA] to make clients happy?

Answer: They use all facets of the company to bring their clients in and prove to them that they have access to each and every part of the business, should their interests lie in those areas. CAA has a wide variety of departments spanning from music to theatre to video games, and more. Clients realize that whatever interests they may have, they are likely to fall under one of these categories. CAA has been involved in the creation of all of Netflix’s original series, for example, which could give clients the opportunity to make cameos. A pillar of CAA is that you are represented by the entire Agency, not just one single agent. Sendrow says that she always has an entire team around her, and clients feel a sense of security due to that fact.

Client Case Study: Ephraim Salaam

Ephraim Salaam is a retired 10-year veteran of the National Football League. Sendrow described how she helped Salaam, one of her favorite clients, develop his career after football. She noted that soon after retirement, Salaam was having trouble finding career opportunities, but she was not willing to give up on him because of his extraordinary personality and his backstory—Salaam had helped recruit a future NFL teammate from a grocery store during college, and had played football and basketball at San Diego State University. Eventually he got his big break with Fox Sports Live where he is now an analyst.

In an interview with Dallas Mavericks owner and self-made billionaire Mark Cuban on Fox Sports Live, the two spoke about Salaam potentially trying out for the Mavericks D-League team. After following up, Salaam did get the tryout, and he made the team. Salaam also participated in the hit television show The Amazing Race, which was a dream of his. Sendrow used his story as an example of the variety of clients that CAA represents. The agency takes all different types of people, coming from all different backgrounds, and helps them succeed—whether they have already grown to become household names, and have established careers, or are relatively low-profile retired athletes who have yet to make their mark on a new industry.

Sendrow gave a few examples of what her day-to-day life looks like, and how the company functions. Whether it is working on a deal with her client and a major network, helping current athletes land endorsement deals, or advising clients in their everyday lives, there is never a dull moment in sports representation.

Question and Answer Portion

Audience Question: How cutthroat do you have to be in this environment?

Answer: Everyone has his or her own style in the business, but it is important to have a backbone. Sendrow explained how she is naturally a very amicable person, but sometimes you have to be stern to get things done.

Audience Question: How do you react to a client like Shaun White taking a year off to go on tour with his band?

Answer: Shaun White is one of the biggest athletes in the world. He can afford to take time off during his offseason, or when he is injured, because he is the best at what he does. At the end of the day it is his decision, and even if she advised against such a move, he is very bright guy and knows what he wants.

Audience Question: What do you think the landscape of the sports agency business will look like in five years?

Answer: There are a lot of small agencies that are continuing to operate as “up-and-comers.” Larger agencies acquire smaller ones from year to year. Some others experience serious growth or dissolve altogether. Sendrow predicts that in the future, super agencies such as WME and CAA will become less and less common.

Audience Question: At what point in your career must you be in for CAA to represent you?

Answer: CAA takes on all different types of clients, sometimes building careers from the bottom up, and other times managing already well-established individuals.

Advice to those in Attendance:

Sendrow concluded the evening with some great advice to members of the club. She suggested always looking to utilize connections. She pointed out that while someone may not have something to offer you at the moment, that doesn’t mean they won’t have something in the future. She explained that coming out of school, no one expects you to know everything. However, take small experiences that you may have had and “make them seem big”. Leverage those experiences, as that can go a long way.

The agency world is hard to break into, so try to make yourself stand out from other applicants in any way that you can. As an agent, your main job is to find other people jobs, so you have to be able to find yourself one first. Once you get your start as an agent, one of the best ways to show clients that you are the right representative for them is to show them how you can provide value beyond that which they are currently receiving, and what you would have done better in their past.

As always, the Cornell Sports Business Society would like to thank alumna Becky Sendrow again for taking the time to travel up to Ithaca and speak with us. Her enthusiasm to share her knowledge and experience with the group was invaluable, and her lightheartedness created a great environment for discussion. We hope we can continue to benefit from the guidance of Ms. Sendrow in the future.

Dan Cappetta and Connor Riser contributed to this post.

SSAC Recap Day 2

For those of you that missed the 2014 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, I wished to provide a recap. Last week, I covered Day 1's Panels.  Here are some shorthand notes from Day 2:

Panel #1: Getting in the Game: Launching a Career in Sports 

Panelists: Moderator Matt Sebal, Jennifer Cabalquinto, Robert Gallo, Debbie Knowlan, John Hollinger, and Russell Scibetti 

Cabalquinto: Newly Appointed CFO of Golden State Warriors- Accounting background at EY (Like Me), this is my dream job!

- CFO is more of a financial and management role, is faced with challenges of new arena decisions (how many seats, floor plan,etc.) and how to use analytics with this 

Hollinger: Analytics are used for salary cap maximization, much of what his job entitles, how players from other leagues (D league, europe) would translate in NBA 

Scibetti- You do not always have to start in sports, "No shame in calling yourself a salesman" 

NFL has seen in rise of analytics and strategy groups 

NBA uses it for player development positions- basketball skills are becoming more useful for this job

Cabalquinto: Warriors are currently hiring and looking for people for their business analytics team, marketing analytics, and Innovation Lab 

- you must learn of how to differentiate yourself from others, primarily with your skill sets, its not just "I wanna work in sports" 

- way to set yourself apart is to demonstrate and find a niche of the business that is not served- Example: Darren Rovell 

Final takeaways: networking is important, translating your skill sets, skills you develop before entering sports world, persistence, and finding a good mentor 

Panel #2: Risking It All: Why Championship Athletes Dope and What It Means For Sport

Panelists: Moderator Bonnie Ford, Tyler Hamilton, and Travis Tygart 

Marked the first unique time that the CEO of the Anti-Doping Agency (Tygart) discussed with Hamilton 

- The Anti-Doping Agency is a non-governmental private organization 

Tygart: "analytics are only as good as their foundation" 

Hamilton: when competing, I was "more worried about getting caught than winning races" 

Event Recap: NHLPA's Alex Dagg and Mathieu Schneider

On Tuesday, November 12th The Cornell Sports Business Society was lucky enough to host Alex Dagg and Mathieu Schneider, from the NHL Players Association for an informal question and answer session. Dagg has been the Director of Operations for the NHLPA for the past two years, after working for 25 years in private sector unions. Schneider is a former NHL defensemen and Stanley Cup winner who was a player representative to the union and now works for the union after his retirement in 2010.

Before taking questions, the two gave a brief history of the NHLPA. The union became relevant in 1992, when the player's went on strike for the monetary rights to the their names. The strike only lasted 10 days, as the playoffs were approaching and the league could not afford to lose the important revenue.

The first major battle between the union and the league came in the 1994 lockout, where the major conflict was the owner's desire for a salary cap. Despite the owners getting the cap, Schneider noted that the period after this lockout "was a great time to be a hockey player" because average incomes rose from $100,000 to $1.5 million.

The next lockout came ten years later, and the entire 2004-2005 season was lost. Because the average hockey career is 4 years, one lost year is incredibly damaging to the players, and the union ended up fairing poorly in negotiations. Two years before the last lockout, Donald Fehr was hired as the NHLPA. 

Schneider said that Fehr has been an incredible leader, and lauded his ability to "break down most complicated issues so that young kids coming into the NHL could understand them". After the last lockout, last season, Schneider said that the NHLPA was in a great place, and Dagg added that a goal of theirs was a "more mature bargaining relationship" with the league. After this brief discussion of the union's history, the two took questions from our members.

What is your daily interaction with the league in a period, like now, where there is a long period of time before the CBA expires?

Dagg explained that, in the last CBA negotiations, a number of committees were formed that facilitate constant interaction between the league and the union. These committees force the two parties to work together and find common interest. Dagg recognizes that interests will not always intersect, but added that relations between the two have been largely positive of late. Schneider added that the working relationship between Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, and Fehr is terrific, which keeps the relationship between the union and league positive.

How does the union keep its member educated during this dead period?

Dagg explained that the union regularly meets with its young members to keep them educated about all the nuances and complexities of the CBA, an document that she noted was over 500 pages long. She also added that the union and players must think about life after hockey, and the union teaches players financial responsibility to prepare them for retirement. Schneider added that the union holds rookie orientation each year, which helps it connect with new players. He said this was necessary because the union was "much better when we have players actively participating".

What is the difference between working with low-wage and higher-wage workers?

This was directed at Ms. Dagg, who spend 25 years working with low-wage workers before joining the NHLPA. She said that working with low-wage workers felt more "real", since gains made by a union can affect the workers' lives far for greatly than it can for pro hockey players. 

She does really enjoy working for the NHLPA, saying that she loves working with the people, and that it's great to work for a union where disputes are major media stories. Schneider quickly added that “we’re working for the lower half of the league, no one’s worried about the Crosbys or Ovechkins”, saying that the top-tier players will always be paid well.

As always, the Cornell Sports Business Society extends its sincerest thanks to Alex Dagg and Mathieu Schneider, who took their own time to educate our members about working for a professional sports union. Alex and Mathieu provided invaluable insights into the nuances of NHL labor relations, and we would love to have them back should they find themselves in Ithaca again.

ISS '13: Social Media Recap

The 8th Annual Ivy Sports Symposium took 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.

Everyone was extremely engaged in Twitter before, during, and after this year's Ivy Sports Symposium. Luckily, we have used Storify to recap all of the social media activity surrounding the biggest event of the semester.

ISS '13: Links and Notes

The 8th Annual Ivy Sports Symposium took 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.
It was an incredible couple of days surrounding this year's IVY Sports Symposium.  In edition to the main event on Friday, the Cornell Sports Business Society was fortunate to partner with the Cornell Entrepreneur Network in presenting "The Business of Sports" panel and networking opportunity at the Zero Nine Hotel in Boston on Thursday evening. The preview and recap of that event are available below:

Event Preview: "The Business of Sports"
Event Recap: "The Business of Sports"

Additionally, Alex Gimenez and Reed Longo were able to put together a collaborative post from many of the alumni involved in both events:

"Why the Cornell Experience Matters"

Finally, we were able to cover the actual event came on Friday.  Starting with a preview and working towards the keynote panel, every panel was chronicled and analyzed by our student reporters.  Below is the list of ISS '13 posts. Look for this to grow in coming days with further pieces relating to social media and first-time attendees.

ISS '13 Preview: Top 10 Guide
ISS '13: Opening Recap
ISS '13: Round 1 Recap
ISS '13: Round 2 Recap
ISS '13: Round 3 Recap
ISS '13: Round 4 Recap
ISS '13: Closing Recap
ISS '13: Social Media Recap
ISS '13: First Impressions

ISS '13: Closing 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.  

The closing panel was a big one.  We stayed around to hear what some high profile speakers had to say:

"Behind the Teams: Keys to a Successful Organization"

Introduction
Sam Rubinroit

Moderator
Scott Rosner

Panelists
Brain Bilello
Rich Gotham
Dave Howard
Amy Latimer
Dennis Mannion

Big Takeaway:

Sports properties today are run like businesses, for the most part.  The complications of running a team or arena require a great culture, great people, and a great deal of work.

Key Quote:

"I want to find people who are passionate about doing their job." -Rich Gotham

ISS '13: Round 4 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.  

This final round of panels featured some always-popular topics.  Here's our Round 4 Recap:

"Dealmakers: Sports Finance"

Moderator
Chris Lencheski

Panelists
Jeff Bennett
Daryl Jones
Andrew Kline
Lynette Slater Crandall

Big Takeaway:

More money and complexity is involved in the sale of sports properties than ever before.  Cutting nine-figure or more deals for teams or stadiums involves satisfying many parties: the buyer, the seller, the public, and more. 

Key Quote:

"The biggest thing for us in (Phoenix), was that the fans and sponsors had to know we were there to stay." -Daryl Jones, Co-Owner, Phoenix Coyotes

"Athlete Marketing and Representation"

Moderator
Michael McCann

Panelists
Jennifer Keene
Kimberly Miale
Jordan Schlachter
Lowell Taub
Jeff Schwartz

Big Takeaway:

Trust is still a pillar of this marketing and representation.  Both brands and athletes must trust the agents. And while the industry will continue to grow in the future, it will likely be in some different form.  Analytics and an emphasis on non-traditional representation have increasingly shaped the industry.

Cornell Connection:

Jennifer Keene, Senior Directo, Personality & Property Marketing, Octagon
Lowell Taub, Global Head, Sports Endorsements, CAA Sports

"Digital Media"

Moderator
Tom Richardson

Panelists
Laura Gentile
Frank Golding
Chris Wagner
Eric Winter

Big Takeaway:

The maturation of the digital media industry may be almost upon us.  Innovation will likely cause continued growth, but creative thinking and hard work are required to make products financially successful.

ISS '13: Round 3 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.  

Some real heavyweight panels took the stage in Round 3.  Here's what we noticed as the afternoon gets rolling:
"Going Global: International Expansion"

Moderator
Charles Baker

Panelists
Jay Coppoletta
Eric Guthoff
Mark Reeves
David Wright
Michael Zavodsky

Big Takeaway:

Sports leagues and teams must expand internationally if they are continue to grow at such a high rate.  While American sports entitities look abroad, foreign groups are looking at America's untapped potential. Understanding your partners oversees, while staying true to your strengths are critical elements of international expansion.

Key Quote:

"We get fans in two ways...we get them before they're 21, or from 'Fanbassadors'." -Mark Reeves

Cornell Connection:

Charles Baker, Partner, Global Sports, Media and Entertainment Group, DLA Piper

"Ticketing"

Moderator
Andrea Pagnanelli

Panelists
John Forese
Jessica Gelman
Barry Kahn
Danielle Maged

Big Takeaway:

While many clubs struggle to compete with living rooms as the best place to watch a game, using technology and dynamic pricing have become essential for winning at the gate.  While ticketing is a quickly maturing industry, innovation and opportunities continue to be the norm.

Key Quote:

"The emphasis is on controlling the way that venues fill up." -Barry Kahn

Cornell Connection:

Barry Kahn, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Qcue

"The Future of Sports Television"

Introduction
Rick Horrow

Moderator
Ray Katz

Panelists
Tracy Dolgin
Rob Freeman
Steve Hellmuth
David Preschlack
Mark Silverman

Big Takeaway

Astronomical prices for live sporting events have driven the value of sports media companies to new heights. Controlling the growth of digital in a way that is profitable for the television companies is the key challenge.  The industry has a great profit model in the status quo, but it must adapt quickly or become obsolete.

Cornell Connection

Tracy Dolgin, President & CEO of YES Network

ISS' 13: Round 2 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.  

The day kept getting better and better.  Here's our notes from the second round of panels:

"Sports Marketing Strategies"

Moderator
Terry Lefton

Panelists
Brad Brown
Torrey  Gallida
 Lacey Goodwin
Steve Tseng
Greg Via

Big Takeaway:

Sports marketing is a quickly evolving segment, with nearly unlimited possibilities.  Having a creative, but data-driven strategy is vital.  Working hard to execute the strategy is often what defines successful sports marketing.

Key Quote:

"The road from here to there (sports marketing) is never a straight line" - Torrey Gallida

 "Preparing for the Worst: Crisis Management"

Moderator
 Pete Thamel

Panelists   
Thomas Grilk
Matthew Hiltzik
 Shawn McBride
John Skinner 

Big Takeaway:

Some times there are no game plans for crisis. But whether its a national tragedy or a national scandal, focusing on what's important is essential.  Prevention and preparedness are foremost in the minds of those who deal with crisis. 

Key Quote:

"Starve a controversy unless it benefits you; then eat it."
-Matthew Hiltzik

 Cornell Connection:

Matthew Hiltzik, Founder, Hiltzik Strategies.
Thomas Grilk, Executive Director, Boston Athletic Association

"Sports and Social Impact"

Moderator
Romola Ratnam 

Panelists
Harrie Bakst
Mike Geddes
Todd    Jacobson
Shellie  Pfohl
  
Big Takeaway:

Sport for development is often misused. There are many possibilities for what is one of the greatest unifiers of all time. Finding common ground through sports, and aligning business interests with social impact were some of the key lessons from this great panel.

Key Quote:

"Sports are unifying umbrella that brings us together to all hammer the same nail of increasing physical activity."
-Shellie Pfohl

 Cornell Connection:

Todd Jacobson, Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility at the NBA.

"Sales Workshop"

Uzma Rawn
John Younger
  

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

ISS '13: Opening 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.  

Here's the first of many updates from an exciting day at Harvard Law School.  Check out what was said in the opening remarks, the 10 Next Class of 2013 Award Ceremony, and the opening panel, "Brazil: the Business and Politics of the New Frontier"...

Opening Remarks

Rob Dearborn
Peter Carfagna
Alex Rosen
 
Big Takeaway:

The focus of this event remains individual and industry-wide development.  It will be increasingly future focused, with narrative oriented panels that fit the interest of attendees.

Key Quote:

"This completely student-run Symposium stands out from other sports industry events"
-Alex Rosen
 
10 Next Class of 2013 Award Ceremony

Keith Baulsir
Emily Gardner
Maurice Levy
Megha Parekh
Romola Ratnam
Uzma Rawn
Dave Robertson
Isra Villalpando
Keith Wan
Chris Watts  

Big Takeaway:

Next 10 Award Winners represent the next generation of sports industry leaders. Through a partnership with SportsPro, these honorees are honored annually at the Ivy Sports Symposium.

Key Quote:

"Three out of the ten honorees are from the non-profit or social impact segments.  This reflects a focus of the committee."
-Chris Chaney


 "Brazil: the Business and Politics of the New Frontier"

Moderator
Jimmy Lynn

Panelists
Jérôme de Chaunac
Leonardo Gryne
Jose Hawilla
Silvia Pierson
Aaron Davidson (translator) 
  
Big Takeaway:

With Brazil already a growing economic and sports force, the combination of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics symbolize that Brazil is ready for the next step.  It is no longer a country of the future, but a country of now.

Key Quote:

"The last time a World Cup and Summer Olympics were hosted in the same country back-to-back was in the United States in 1994 and 1996. It's a perfect storm in Brazil."
-Jimmy Lynn

Event Recap: The Business of Sports

In partnership with the Cornell Entrepreneur Network, the Cornell Sports Business was pleased to present "The Business of Sports."  The event will took place on Thursday, November 21 at the  Nine Zero Hotel, in Boston, MA. 

The 8th Annual Ivy Sports Symposium will reflect Cornell's growing presence in the sports industry.  The school will boast the greatest number of both alumni panelists and student attendees at the event, hosted at Harvard Law School.  The combination of the "The Business of Sports" Panel" and the Symposium promise to make this a memorable experience for the Cornell sports business community.

The Cornell exclusive event involved a moderated discussion with additional audience Q&A.  Each speaker was asked about the biggest storyline facing their segment of the industry.  Here's what we were able to take from them:

Moderator:
 
Charles Baker JD ‘85, Partner, Global Sports Practice, DLA Piper

One thing very important going forward for sports leagues and franchises is the quality of the game-day, in-stadium experience.  Teams are losing a great deal of people to their living room couches.
 Panelists:
 
Andrew Daines '10, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, PrePlay Sports

Negotiating precedent-contracts is an important challenge, as PrePlay is the first leader in its space.  Since clients have a very different view of PrePlay's value, selecting only the contracts that make sense going forward is critical.

Tom Grilk ‘69, Executive Director, Boston Athletic Association

Continuing to promote running as part of a healthy lifestyle is critical.  It's about sticking to core calues for the Boston Athletic Association.

Matthew Hiltzik '94, President & CEO, Hiltzik Strategies

Dealing with an increasingly aggressive sports media is the biggest challenge.  The press can be very hostile and it can be difficult in out business.

Barry Kahn ‘03, Chief Executive Officer, Qcue

Transitioning from a "founder" to a "CEO" is something that has only occurred in the last six months are so.  Building Qcue as a company, rather than as a concept is the ongoing process.

Jennifer Keene '95, Senior Director, Personality and Property Marketing, Octagon

Finding a way to bread through the clutter is our biggest challenge.  Whether it's though new or traditional media, how the find opportunities for the mid-level client is imperatives.  The frontline stars will always be able to find outlets for their services.

Bo Moon '99, Co-founder, EVP of Business/Products, Bloomberg Sports

New products, technologies, and corporation pose the biggest threats and opportunities to Bloomberg Sports.

Lowell Taub '96, Head of Global Sports Endorsements, CAA Sports
Twitter and social media are honestly the biggest issue for CAA.  How to train and manage athletes use outlets, and also how to make money from followers, is vitally important.

Event Recap: Tracy Dolgin ('81)

 

On Thursday, October 22, 2013, the Sports Business Society partnered with the Big Red Sports Network, to host Tracy Dolgin (’81), a Cornell ILR graduate and current President and CEO of the YES Network.

Tracy Dolgin began his visit by sharing the unique path that he has taken in various industries on his way to becoming the powerful sports business influence that he is today. He began his post-undergraduate career by enrolling in Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Despite being offered a respectable job upon graduation by Atari, the video game company, Dolgin turned it down for a simple reason: he wanted an opportunity of employment that would provide education, too.

“They were offering me these incredible jobs, yet I really didn’t know what I was doing. So it was obvious if I had taken their offer to this glamorous jobs, I wouldn’t have really learned anything. I didn’t know anything.”
 

Dolgin continued by explaining that despite having been through six years of school and learning applicable material to his career field, he had no experience, didn’t “actually know anything,” and needed to learn on the job. Eventually, Dolgin found himself as a General Foods employee where he learned an important life less than he stresses to everyone to this day:

“If someone presents themselves as a mentor to you and you like them and they’re smart and you think they’re in the value system that you have and you respect them, then just cling onto them for the rest of your career.” 

Fortunately for Dolgin, his mentor gave him an opportunity to lead the marketing department of the brand new HBO home video division. “If at any point in your career you see something as a growth industry, it’s a great place to go into if you already have the knowledge and can add value,” he said. The point he was trying to emphasize was that it’s much harder to go into an already established company with hopes of a quickly growing career as opposed to starting higher up in a new company that can grow beneath you.

 

Dolgin continued his career in media when he became the Executive Vice President of Marketing for FOX Broadcasting where he lead the FOX Sports initiative of obtaining National Football League rights, along with NASCAR, Major League Baseball, and College Football, all in an effort to improve ratings. The project expanded into a determination to garner a prominent position in cable television by creating a group of regional sports networks.

 

This was only the beginning of his time working in regional sports coverage as after a brief stint in investment banking, Dolgin signed on to lead the YES network, a tri-state regional broadcasting company known for their coverage of the New York Yankees. The piece of the offer that really drew Dolgin in was that of a piece of ownership of the network. “Eventually you’ll learn that owner is better than employee,” he remarked.

 

At YES, Dolgin used creative strategy to turn the network into the US’s number one watched regional sports network. Generally companies practice the Peter Principle, a concept in which people are promoted until they’re not good enough at their job to be promoted any higher. “You have a company where people aren’t good at what they do,” he stated. Dolgin decided that at YES, the opposite would be the case: he would take people from managerial level positions and make them into “do-ers” again.
 

“I went back to these companies and looked for these people who were in managerial jobs that probably weren’t any good at the job, maybe they were okay at it, and I said to them, ‘I have a product you’re passionate about, come work for me and I’m going to make you do that function you’re great at for the product that you love.’ If they do that, then we’re going to have the best do-ers in the world, we’re going to have executional advantage.”

 

Before taking questions from members of the group, Dolgin concluded by giving his advice on the attributes that needed to be evaluated in choosing one’s first job out of school. His most important emphasis was that despite normal thinking, “the product is the least important thing you should consider in an early job,” he said. “Just because you’re passionate about the product, doesn’t make your job any better in a day-to-day functionality.”

 

 Dolgin’s most important attributes are:
 

1. Staff versus line jobs/companies

2. Is the organization a political organization or a meritocracy?

3. Does the organization follow best practices?

4. Does the organization reward teaching and employee development?

5. Will the job open or close future opportunities?

6. How well does this job compensate you versus other similar jobs?

7. Is there a path within the company to get where you want to be?

 

Dolgin concluded by offering some closing remarks for the SBS attendees;

“Find out what you’re good at, like to do, and find a place that does it the best,” he advised. “Enter a business when you can bring something more than passion. Differentiate yourself by being the best at something. It gives you a better bargaining position.”

As always, the Cornell Sports Business Society extends its thanks to alumni like Tracy Dolgin who take time to share their experiences with our members. The information and insight people like Dolgin provide to our group is unique and indispensable.

Event Recap: Molly West ('97)

On Friday, October 25th The Cornell Sports Business Society was fortunate enough to host Molly West ('97) for an alumni speaker event. West currently serves as the Senior Director, Global Ad Sales Operations for ESPN. She graduated from the School of Human Ecology, playing Field Hockey during her time here, and was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

West started her career working as a Sales Assistant for The Family Channel, known now as ABC Family. She quickly moved to a managerial role with a goal of managing other TV Sales Assistants during the expansion of Digital business in media. After 4.5 years, she moved into Ad Sales Planning team with a goal of maximizing commercial inventory. In 2004, she moved to ESPN to oversee all Ad Sales Support staff in NY.  In 2006, she was promoted to her current position, and in three years, her and her team helped improve the company's cash flow by $34 million.

She delivered a wide-ranging presentation which included an explanation of advertising sales in the media business, her "top 10 things I wish I knew when I was your age", and answered questions from our members. Read all about it after the jump.

When describing the advertising sales process in the media business, West explained that it was easiest to understand the system as four groups interacting. These four groups are: the client, any firm that wishes to buy advertising time, the media company, such as ESPN, the media agency, which acts a middle man between the client and the company, and the consumer.

The process starts when a client approaches the media agency, specifically the media-planning branch of the agency, with a desire to market their product. The media-buying branch of the agency then approaches the media company with a plan to bring their client exposure, whether it is through ads, sponsoring an event, or any other means to raise consumer awareness about a product. The company and the agency will then negotiate an agreement that allows the product to be showcased.

The consumer is connected to: the client through their exposure to the product, the company by watching their content, and indirectly the agency, because the agency is the expert on consumer trends and tastes. Brands want to be tied to a media company that reaches their desired demographics, West stressed, so it is the duty to of the media agency to be up to date on which demographics are reached by certain companies and programs. For example, as West said, ESPN has such high viewership amongst males, that any company wishing to reach that demographic would be very interested in The Worldwide Leader in Sports.

After her thorough explanation of the advertising sales in media, West offered ten pieces of advice she wished to offer us. Without further ado:
 

• "Money isn't everything"-While West said that she certainly appreciates her paycheck, money cannot buy happiness, and "when you're evaluating jobs, and a career, don't choose just for money". Be sure to review your package as not just salary, but also, company culture, time off, other benefits. You are looking for what is the best fit for you.

 

• "Ask for help"-She added an extra layer to this common piece of advice, to "find people who you can be vulnerable around and be yourself". In other words, don't ask just anyone for help, but find a few mentors with whom you're comfortable asking anything. Build a “board of directors” that you trust to share yourself with. These people could be friends, spouses, significant others, family, or coworkers.

 

• "Work smarter, not harder"-West stressed efficiency, saying that the person who works smartest and the most efficient will be given more responsibility and is more likely get more chances to shine with management which only helps with your career growth.

 

• "You don't know everything"-West advised that no one should be afraid to simply admit that they don't know and ask for help.

 

• "Be respectful and humble"-Confidence, not arrogance, is what West advised us to have, "show your personal brand across the entire organization", she said. NEVER underestimate that each person in your work environment is important. Be respectful to everyone around you, showing people that you aren’t only nice to the people you have deemed “important” but to everyone.

 

• "Be coachable, feedback is a gift"-If you're actively engaged in improving yourself, West said, you will inevitably succeed. When someone gives you feedback , especially when you are working so hard at making what you do perfect, it can be very frustrating. But hearing what someone says to you, is important to your growth personally and professionally.

 

• "Know thy self"-Self awareness is key, as West explained. What are your strengths & weaknesses, (we have a hard time identifying these in an interview because we are afraid people will not be impressed, but always being able to articulate what you are working on is a sign of growth and maturity). 

 

• "Perfection doesn't exist"-We should only be concerned with bettering ourselves, not striving for unattainable perfection. Also perfection is subjective, your “perfection” is different than mine. So how can you determine what the goals are supposed to be?

 

• "Attitude is everything"-If you don't go in with a positive attitude, success is impossible, West noted.

 

• "Have fun and enjoy the ride"-West closed her list of advice with the simple and key point to step back once in awhile and enjoy yourself. Being goal oriented is important in life, but the journey looking back is more the story than the goal itself.

To close her presentation, West answered a few questions about the rise of digital media and how that has affected her work. She said that digital media has indeed changed the business, although not radically. The main difference she noted was the way ads are presented in digital media versus television. On TV, commercials are linear, the consumer watches one ad, then another, and so on, until the content returns. Online, this is not the case, adverts can come from anywhere, the sidebar, the top banner of a website, before a video, or in the breaks of a live event. She calls this system of ads non-linear. Although digital media is growing, TV is still the "cash-cow", she explained, "people want to watch the big game on the big screen".

As always, The Sports Business Society extends its sincerest thanks to alumni like Molly West, who take their own time to come to campus and help educate our members about the nuances of the sports industry. Not only did Molly provide valuable insights into the business of advertising sales within sports media, but also provided fantastic advice that any of our members can use to help themselves and their careers. Molly's advice is truly invaluable to our members, and we hope to have her back again soon.