SOURCE: Sports & Fitness Industry Association
Fleet Feet, WSS, BSN Sports, Nielsen Sports & many others to take the stage in September
SILVER SPRING, MD (Sept. 4, 2018) – The 6th annual Industry Leaders Summit, hosted by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), will feature a star-studded speaker roster for the premier sports and fitness event of the year on September 26-27, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The prime focus of this year’s summit is to analyze the rapidly-changing, technology-controlled, Millennial-driven market the industry currently faces, around the theme, Change | Challenge | Opportunity.
The future of retail and understanding the new consumer will be spotlighted. Jared Drinkwater, CMO of BSN Sports; Joey Pointer, CEO of Fleet Feet Sports; and Rick Mina, President of WSS will share views on the evolving retail landscape. “Breakfast with Matt” will return this year with Matt Powell, Vice President & Senior Industry Advisor at The NPD Group to provide assessments and sales tracking data for a deeper analysis and understanding of the overall sports, fitness and retail market. Andrew Lafiosca, Senior Vice President of Nielsen Sports & Entertainment, will address the drastic changes in the sports consumer market and the new opportunities provided by the new ways consumers are engaging with sports.
As opening keynote, Michael Schrage, critically-acclaimed author and business columnist from MIT’s Center for Digital Business, will bring an outside perspective and findings around how to be a “successful innovator” to best serve your consumer base. Tom Farrey, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program, will kickstart the conversation on the legalization of sports betting and what that means for the sports industry, youth sports and the overall physical health of the country. Merril Hoge, former NFL player and ESPN analyst and current author, and Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson will highlight the event as keynote speakers, both providing eye-opening and thought-provoking discussions regarding sports, strength and resiliency.
To top off a full and stimulating agenda, SFIA will also be hosting the 3rd annual Start-Up Challenge, showcasing the greatest innovations guiding today’s sports and fitness industry. The Challenge will kick off the two-day summit on September 26th. In addition to the list of renowned speakers, the audience will also be comprised of executives from various sports, fitness and retail leaders, including adidas, Amazon, CAA, Gildan, the NBA, New Balance, Nike, Under Armour, Walmart and many more. Click here to view the full agenda and list of attendees.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.