In this episode of On Stage, Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs and Chairman of FC Dallas, joins Coy Wire, sports anchor and correspondent at CNN, for a fireside chat on ownership, legacy, and the continued globalization of football. Recorded on Wednesday, March 25, at SBJ’s The Business of Soccer event in Atlanta, the conversation offers a unique perspective from one of the most influential ownership figures spanning both the NFL and global soccer. As the son of Lamar Hunt, a founding figure in the NFL and a pioneer of American soccer, Clark Hunt reflects on carrying forward a legacy while building for the future—across leagues, markets, and generations of fans.

Key themes include:

• Ownership Across Sports: How Hunt balances leadership between the NFL and MLS, and what each league can learn from the other
• The Global Opportunity: Why soccer continues to expand in the U.S., and how international dynamics are shaping the sport’s future
• Sustaining Success: Lessons from building a championship organization with the Kansas City Chiefs
• Legacy and Responsibility: What it means to steward iconic franchises while evolving with the modern sports landscape
• The Future of Football: Where the NFL and global soccer are headed—and how ownership will play a role in that trajectory

It’s a thoughtful look at leadership from an owner operating at the intersection of tradition and transformation.

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In this episode of On Stage, Joe Buck, play-by-play announcer at ESPN, joins Eric Stisser, Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship for the St. Louis Blues, for a candid fireside chat about broadcasting, preparation, and longevity in one of the most visible roles in sports media. Recorded on Tuesday, February 24, at SBJ’s National Sports Forum in St. Louis, the conversation gives listeners a closer look at Buck’s career, his approach to the craft, and what he’s learned from calling some of the biggest moments in sports.

Key themes include:

• The Art of Play-by-Play: How Buck prepares, adapts, and finds the right tone for major moments.
• A Career in Broadcasting: Reflections on longevity, pressure, and evolving with the changing media landscape.
• Storytelling on the Mic: Why context, pacing, and trust matter as much as the call itself.
• Sports, Media, and Audience Expectations: How the job has changed as fans consume games and commentary differently than ever before.
• Lessons from the Biggest Stages: Insights from a broadcaster who has spent decades at the center of major sports events.

It’s an engaging and personal conversation with one of the most recognizable voices in sports.

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In this episode of On Stage, Howie Nuchow, Managing Director at Creative Artists Agency and Co-Head of CAA Sports, joins Abraham Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor of Sports Business Journal, for a conversation about the expanding role of capital, advisory, and global strategy in sports.

Recorded on February 23, 2026, at SBJ’s National Sports Forum, the discussion highlights how firms like CAA are operating far beyond traditional representation by helping shape ownership structures, league investments, and strategic partnerships across the industry.

During the conversation, Nuchow explores:

• The Rise of Sports Private Equity: Why institutional capital is flowing into sports and what it means for teams, leagues, and investors.
• CAA’s Expanding Role: How the agency advises ownership groups, investors, and global sports properties.
• The Evolution of Representation: How modern agencies operate at the intersection of talent, media, capital, and strategy.
• Global Opportunities: Where sports investment is growing and how international markets factor into the next wave of deals.
• Lessons in Leadership: What it takes to navigate a rapidly evolving sports business landscape.

It’s a sharp, strategic look at how the financial architecture of sports is changing and the executives helping shape that transformation.

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In this episode of On Stage, Karen Brodkin, President of WME Basketball, joins Rachel Axon, Staff Writer at Sports Business Journal, for a dynamic conversation on leadership, representation, and influence across the sports ecosystem. Recorded on September 25, 2025, at SBJ’s Game Changers event in New York City, this discussion traces Brodkin’s remarkable career—from senior leadership roles at Fox Sports and the NFL, to serving as Executive Vice President at Endeavor, to her current position overseeing WME Basketball.

Throughout the conversation, Brodkin reflects on:

• A Career Across Power Centers: Lessons from the NFL, Fox Sports, and Endeavor—and how those experiences shape her leadership today.
• Boardroom to Broadcast: How rights negotiations, distribution strategy, and talent representation intersect in modern sports.
• The Business of Basketball: The growth of women’s and men’s basketball and how agencies play a role in shaping the sport’s next chapter.
• Leadership & Advocacy: Her work across nonprofit and foundation boards, including youth sports and community initiatives.
• Navigating Change: How to lead through disruption while maintaining clarity of vision and purpose.

It’s a compelling look at how one executive has influenced sports from multiple vantage points—league, media, agency, and governance.

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In this episode of On Stage, Matt Hong, President of USA Sports at Versant, joins Abe Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor of Sports Business Journal, for an insightful conversation on how the sports media landscape is being rebuilt in real time. Recorded on November 18, 2025, at SBJ’s Media Innovators in New York City, the discussion captures Hong at the center of a fast-evolving ecosystem. Versant operates at the intersection of content, technology, and distribution—helping shape how sports are produced, packaged, and consumed across platforms.

Key themes include:

• Media Disruption: How changing consumer behavior, platforms, and technology are redefining sports media models.
• Versant’s Role: What Versant does, how it partners across the industry, and where Hong sees the greatest opportunity ahead.
• Leadership & Strategy: Hong’s approach to navigating uncertainty, building teams, and making long-term bets in a volatile market.
• Innovation at Scale: How data, distribution, and product thinking are reshaping how fans engage with sports content.
• What’s Next: A look at where sports media is headed—and what leaders should be paying attention to now.

It’s a forward-looking, practical discussion for anyone navigating disruption across sports, media, and technology.

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00:00 - Intro

01:16 - Assessment of job 3 years in

04:17 - Post-House reality for NCAA

04:59 - NCAA would have been bankrupt

05:20 - Prop bets

07:58 - Commercial appeal of NCAA

10:29 - Growth sports around the country

11:06 - SCORE Act update

12:30 - Private equity caution

14:38 - Issues that keep Charlie Baker up at night

17:00 - Reaction to fans complaining about CFP

19:27 - Is college sports too professionalized?

22:40 - USOPC and NCAA relationship

23:57 - Sports Broadcasting Act changes

24:59 - Hope for changes 1 year from now

27:01 - Does Charlie Baker like the job?

28:48 Closing remarks

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In this episode of On Stage, Tom Ricketts, Chairman of the Chicago Cubs, joins Joe Leccese, Chairman Emeritus of Proskauer, for a wide-ranging conversation about stewardship, leadership, and the evolving business of baseball. Recorded on November 19, 2025, at SBJ Dealmakers Conference, the discussion explores how Ricketts balances the weight of tradition that comes with owning one of the most iconic franchises in sports while positioning the Cubs for long-term success in a rapidly changing industry.
Key themes include:

• Owning a Legacy Franchise: What it means to lead a century-old team with a deeply rooted fan base and global profile.
• Long-Term Vision: How the Cubs think about competitive windows, financial discipline, and sustainable success.
• Business of Baseball: Ricketts’ perspective on league economics, media evolution, and the forces reshaping MLB.
• Leadership & Governance: Lessons from navigating change, aligning stakeholders, and making decisions with generational impact.
• Wrigley Field & the Fan Experience: How the Cubs continue to evolve their ballpark and surrounding ecosystem while honoring tradition.

It’s an insightful conversation with one of sports’ most dynamic owners — offering perspective on how legacy organizations adapt, endure, and evolve.

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In this episode of On Stage, we take you inside a panel conversation unpacking the launch of one of the most ambitious new properties in sports: TGL. Recorded on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the SBJ World Congress of Sports in Nashville, this discussion brings together leaders from across sports, media, technology, and investment to break down the vision, execution, and early lessons from TGL’s inaugural season.

Moderated by Sports Business Journal staff writer Chris Smith, the panel features:

• Mike McCarley, Founder & CEO of TMRW Sports and TGL
• Rosalyn Durant, Executive Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions at ESPN
• Don Cornwell, Co-Founder & CEO of Dynasty Equity and TMRW Sports investor
• Alexis Ohanian, Founder of Seven Seven Six and founding control owner of Los Angeles Golf Club

Together, they explore:

• The TGL Vision: Why this new format was created — and how it aims to modernize golf for today’s fan.
• Media & Distribution Strategy: How ESPN approached programming, storytelling, and audience development for a new league.
• Capital & Ownership: The role of strategic investors in building credibility, momentum, and long-term value.
• Season One Learnings: What worked, what surprised the group, and what they’d approach differently going forward.
• What’s Next: How TGL fits into the broader evolution of sports entertainment and next-generation fan engagement.

It’s a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how a new league comes to life — from idea to execution — told by the people who built it.

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