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Some insights and considerations from discussions and voting around the Sports Business Awards.
The process: We have increased the number of judges to increase visibility and more voices. This year we had about 50 (see full list); These nominees’ files and supporting information are provided two weeks later. When we met at SBJ’s offices in New York’s One World Trade Center, we went through the candidates by category; We discuss each of the nominees, what stood out and how the judges ranked them. Many come leaning one way, but swing and vote in a completely different direction. Debates can last for 30 minutes or up to 90 minutes per category and you will know when the general vote is called – and often it can take two or three votes before the winner emerges. Judges will not be told a winner. But due to the nature of the talks, they have an understanding of who was out and were committed to keeping the proceedings secret until last week’s awards.
Takeaways from the room: The category that took the least time was the best in sports media. Judge quickly lined up behind Fox Sports in a year that included the World Cup, the Super Bowl and a leading role in a Big Ten media deal, all while launching a new football league and successfully revamping its broadcast booth. While it’s often one of the most challenging categories to determine the best representation by talent, there was an early consensus behind Wasserman and the work’s pro-clientele. Brittany Greener While she was arrested in Russia.
Other categories were more challenging. Discussions began around the sports facility of the year, with the judges impressed by the majestic new buildings, Allegiant and Sophie Stadium, and moved on to the Moody Center’s exciting business model. But there were a number of voices returning to the building that seemed more — and more creatively — throughout the year, and that was the 111-year-old Fenway Park. Some jurors admitted they may have dismissed Fenway first, but when they saw the scope and breadth of what the institution accomplished, they felt he was the man the category stood for. … The Deal of the Year category was the first and the judges quickly wondered why the Chelsea acquisition was not among the nominees (the deal had to be in North America). They focused on three – the MLS/Apple deal, the Big Ten Media deal and Michelle KangFinding the Spirit of Washington. The complexities of each were understood, but several judges felt the difference was what Kang ultimately accomplished in taking down the team and how she redefined the evaluation of women’s sports teams. This is the result I heard that surprised me the most. … The team of the year was narrowed down to three. Golden State Warriors, who was nominated seven times in the category and won twice, could not ignore the continuous development and innovation around; Another was drawn by LAFC’s brick-and-mortar success and how the team captured a share of the LA market; But most convincingly point back to Angel City FC, and how the organization not only peaked in its inaugural season, but also had business results that mirrored or surpassed established teams in other leagues. … Finally, the league of the year continues its recent trend as one of the more passionate debates. The Big Ten had early support, and the WNBA had vocal defenders, while a few judges favored the NFL. Ultimately, as the jury spoke more about the league’s entry into Germany, the new Sunday ticket deal, a strong overhaul at the gate and the strength of its media product, it pushed the NFL to its first win in the division since 2010. .
Final Thoughts: Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of this trial next year. As the first judge Sampson ledMomentum Worldwide’s Senior Vice President of Sponsorship Consulting said on stage at the awards, “I encourage anyone who has a passion for the sports industry and enjoys talking about major business initiatives and strategies to judge the future. . It’s truly a fantastic learning and networking experience, and ultimately, the participation of diverse voices will continue to help drive equitable outcomes in our industry. And a tip for nominees: take your submission seriously. Judges want short, but specific details, data and accurate KPIs. Tell the story with photos and videos and, most importantly, show how you made a significant and tangible impact that went beyond what was expected and beyond the norm. Let me know if you have any ideas, questions or comments.
Abraham Madkour can be reached at amadkour@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
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