Variety and Sportico Announce Second Annual Co-Branded Sports & Entertainment Summit

Variety and Sportico will host the second annual co-branded Sports & Entertainment Summit presented by City National Bank on July 12 in Los Angeles. The day-long summit will feature keynote conversations and panel discussions highlighting trends across programming and storytelling, multiplatform game coverage, athlete branding and representation, NIL dealmaking and more.

Programming will include a conversation with the LA Rams 2023 rookie class with offensive lineman Steve Avila, wide receiver Puka Nacua and defensive tackle Kobie Turner.

A Spotlight Conversation features Rich Eisen, host of “The Rich Eisen Show,” and Andrew Thau, COO at United Talent Agency and co-head UTA Sports.

Todd Burach, SVP and team leader and head of sports and family office banking at City National Bank, will also be featured.

Further programming will include a panel “The Future of Watching Live Sports,” an exploration into the fast-evolving business of live sports programming and viewing as this compelling content becomes increasingly important to engage and retain audiences. The panel will discuss the opportunities as platforms see sports as a way to boost their own brands, identity and original content, which new innovations are helping drive fans to sports content, strategies to stand out and succeed in this competitive landscape and more. Panelists include Craig Barry, EVP and chief content officer at Turner Sports, Charlie Neiman, head of sports partnerships at Prime Video, and Shannon Willett, CMO at Peacock.

Additionally, the Sports & Entertainment Summit will include a panel “Breakthrough Sports Storytelling Across Platforms,” an exploration into how sports are inspiring TV, film, docs, podcasts, video games and other entertainment projects. The panel will discuss what content is proving compelling to audiences, how sports storytelling can attract casual and hardcore sports fans alike, creative journeys across sports storytelling, and more. Panelists include CJ McCollum, host of “The CJ McCollum Show” and shooting guard for New Orleans Pelicans, Therese Andrews, head of production for Omaha Productions, Angela Ellis, VP of original content and entertainment at NFL Media, Marc Gilbar, president of Imagine Brands and Imagine Entertainment and Dave Easton, head of sports, comedy, topical and alternative programming at Wondery.

The event will also host a roundtable on “Women’s Sports Rising,” a look at the rise in women’s sports where attendees will hear about the business opportunities in tying into these sports’ growing fan bases, the leaders expanding women’s sports, the challenges for women’s sports in achieving parity with their counterparts in men’s athletics, what comes next, and more. Speakers will include Diana Flores, quarterback for Women’s Flag Football, Mexico and sports analyst; Constance Schwartz-Morini, co-founder and CEO of SMAC Entertainment; and Bethany Donaphin, head of league operations for the Women’s National Basketball Association.

The panel Ultimate Co-Lab – The Athlete and Fan, will take a look at the fierce bonds between athletes and their fans that help jump start new businesses features such speakers as Samantha Tan, driver and team owner; Samantha Tan, racing and global ambassador for BMW M Motorsport; and Austin Ekeler, running back for the Washington Commanders.

“City National Bank works closely with each of our clients in the sports and entertainment industry to grow their businesses and wealth in alignment with their unique goals and aspirations,” said JaHan Wang, executive vice president of entertainment banking at City National Bank. “We are honored to once again be a part of the Variety and Sportico Sports & Entertainment Summit, as it brings together a fascinating group of veteran and rising stars from the worlds of sports, marketing and entertainment for thought provoking conversations around how those worlds continue to converge and collaborate.”

“We are excited to again have City National Bank as a presenter for this one-of-a-kind summit,” said Dea Lawrence, chief operating and marketing officer, Variety. “As leaders in their respective spaces, Variety and Sportico can create unmatched event programming that provides unique industry insights.”

“Only Sportico and Variety can bring together best-in-class journalism and unrivaled access to deliver the biggest names in global sports and entertainment. We’re beyond excited to join forces on a can’t-miss event.” said Sportico co-editor-in-chief Scott Soshnick.

To register, please visit: variety.com/sportssummit.

Additional panelists to be announced. Delta is an official partner of the summit.