This Day in Sports Business History - September 10th

he Bloomberg Sports Business Summit, held on September 10, 2013 in New York City, brought together some of the most influential figures in the sports industry to discuss the rapidly evolving business of sports. The one-day event featured a powerhouse lineup of executives, team owners, league commissioners, athletes, and media leaders who examined topics ranging from the future of broadcasting and sponsorships to stadium financing and international growth strategies. Among the high-profile attendees were Gary Bettman (NHL Commissioner), Adam Silver (then NBA Deputy Commissioner and soon-to-be Commissioner), Don Garber (MLS Commissioner & CEO of Soccer United Marketing), Randy Levine (President of the New York Yankees), Jon Litner (President of NBC Sports Group), Tracy Dolgin (CEO of YES Network), Tim Leiweke (CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment), David Checketts (CEO of Legends Hospitality), and Brett Yormark (CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center). On the player side, Carmelo Anthony represented the athlete’s perspective, while Stephen Ross (owner of the Miami Dolphins) and Stephen Pagliuca (co-owner of the Boston Celtics) provided insights from ownership.

The summit underscored several key themes shaping the sports business landscape at the time. Media rights were a central focus, with executives from NBC, YES Network, and other broadcasters discussing the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms—a trend that has since transformed how fans consume sports. Expansion and globalization were also hot topics, with league commissioners like Bettman and Garber exploring strategies to grow fan bases internationally. Additionally, panelists addressed innovations in sponsorship, event management, and stadium experiences, emphasizing how technology and data were beginning to reshape fan engagement and revenue models.