Press

This year’s conference is headlined by speakers and guests that include: Mike Morrison (VP of ESPN BET and Fantasy ), Robert Clayton (Partner at Goldstein & McClintock LLLP), Sarah Cookingham-Hollis (Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer at USA Track & Field), Doron Tamari (Director, International Marketing & Innovation at BSE Global), John Ourand (Sports Correspondent at Puck News), Wayne Kimmel (Managing Partner at SeventySix Capital), Rich O‘Reilly (Manager of Content for FC Bayern Munich), and many more that the student planning team continues to finalize.

The student leadership team is continuing to recruit speakers and will announce keynote speakers in the next month. Past headliners have included Ellen Zavian (G.W. Law, USA Lacrosse’s General Counsel), Joanne Pasternack (President/CEO, Oliver + Rose), Leslie Isler (Professional Athletes Foundation Manager, NFLPA), Brandon Gassaway (Director of Social Responsibility, Player Programs, and Diversity & Inclusion Communications, NBA), Dev Sethi (Chief Operating Officer, Athletes.org), Paola Argueta (Corporate Communications Manager, Miami Dolphins), and other notable names from all facets of the sports industry. As the presenting sponsor, Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment will have prominent representation during the conference, from branding to speaker participation in panels, to pre-conference financial education programming, and more.

“We are thrilled to return as the title sponsor of the Maryland Sports Business Conference in 2024 for the second consecutive year, supporting the talented and ambitious undergraduate students of Maryland’s Sports Business Society (SBS),” said Stephen Elmore, Assistant Vice President, Morgan Stanley. “Sandra (Richards) and our team are committed to educating and empowering the next generation of leaders, emerging talent, and aspiring sports business professionals. We look forward to collaborating closely with the SBS, University faculty and staff, and the Maryland Athletics Department to create an unforgettable experience for this year’s Conference attendees.”

The student leadership team is excited to host two keynote speakers for the 2024 MSBC. The opening keynote speaker, Dionne Koller, is a professor of law at the University of Baltimore. We will discuss with her the future of Olympic, Paralympic, and youth sports in the United States beginning at 10:00am. Rand Sacks, President of The Sacks Group, headlines our closing keynote. Mr. Sacks founded The Sacks Group, PLLC in 2007. His group specializes in sports and entertainment law. Mr. Sacks has previously represented notable clients such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Andre Agassi. Past headliners have included Ellen Zavian (G.W. Law, USA Lacrosse’s General Counsel), Joanne Pasternack (President/CEO, Oliver + Rose), Leslie Isler (Professional Athletes Foundation Manager, NFLPA), Brandon Gassaway (Director of Social Responsibility, Player Programs, and Diversity & Inclusion Communications, NBA), Dev Sethi (Chief Operating Officer, Athletes.org), Paola Argueta (Corporate Communications Manager, Miami Dolphins), and other notable names from all facets of the sports industry. As the presenting sponsor, Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment will have prominent representation during the conference, from branding to speaker participation in panels, to pre-conference financial education programming, and more.

Panel topics for this year’s conference will dive into the evolution of fan engagement, the globalization of sports, and the changes in the NCAA. New to this year is a recruiting expo with the goal of connecting students to teams, leagues, and other sports organizations. Featured recruiters include the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Morgan Stanley, and more. Additionally, this year there will be structured networking in which attendees will be broken up into groups based on their majors and interests. Professionals will lead discussions and workshops. Topics will revolve around careers in sports finance, analytics, communications, and marketing.

About Maryland Sports Business Conference

The Maryland Sports Business Conference was created in 2020 by undergraduate students in the Sports Business Society at the University of Maryland. They aim to increase awareness around sports business and educate students about the vast possibilities within the career field. They strive to foster a diverse and inclusive sports community and connect their students with sports business professionals and organizations. The 2024 Maryland Sports Business Conference will empower students to be innovative, be ambitious, and be fearless.

The past three Maryland Sports Business Conferences have been a dynamic platform for exploring a multitude of topics within the sports industry. One notable event was the RISE Critical Conversation on Athlete Activism, emphasizing how to tackle racism in college athletics. There was also a panel about the development of NIL in college sports, sponsored by Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment, featuring Jeremy Schwendeman, Financial Advisor and Global Sports and Entertainment Director at Morgan Stanley out of the Baltimore office. Other topics at the conference included mental health, the importance of mentorship, leveraging an athlete’s brand, and other diverse and engaging subjects.

These discussions, led by industry experts, have been instrumental in driving essential conversations and providing invaluable insights for sports business enthusiasts. As we anticipate this year's conference, expectations are high for an even more significant and impactful event. With a commitment to fostering meaningful dialogues and staying at the forefront of industry developments, this year promises to be bigger and better, pushing the boundaries of exploration in the ever-evolving landscape of sports business.

About Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment

Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment is a division of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management dedicated to serving the unique and sophisticated needs of elite and professional athletes, entertainers, executives, creators, and other top talent and professionals in the sports and entertainment industry. The division consists of over 250 Financial Advisors with the Global Sports & Entertainment Director/Associate Director designation, several of whom are former professional and collegiate athletes. To learn more, please visit www.morganstanley.com/gse.

About Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, retirement, and trust services.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management, and investment management services. With offices in 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide, including corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

Get Your Ticket!

The Maryland Sports Business Conference is an unmissable event, just around the corner, offering unparalleled insights into the dynamic world of sports business. Tickets are available for purchase at the conference’s Eventbrite page. You can also find them on the Maryland Sports Business Society Website.

Social Media:

To learn more about the Maryland Sports Business Conference, please visit our social media websites https://linktr.ee/marylandsbc. We hope to see you at Gossett Hall on April 12, 2024!