NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference will bring together industry leaders to discuss the future of college basketball on Monday, October 20, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Empire State Building in advance of BIG EAST Basketball Media Day on Tuesday, October 21, Commissioner Val Ackerman announced.
The five-panel event – soon to be held at the BIG EAST Conference’s new headquarters – will focus on key topics related to college basketball, beginning with a one-on-one conversation with the NCAA president. Charlie Boulanger. Throughout the afternoon, the panel discussion will include perspectives from BIG EAST and NCAA administrators, former coaches, members of the media, sports law experts and sports business executives.
“The BIG EAST Conference has long been synonymous with excellence and national prominence in college basketball, and we are deeply committed to advancing the dialogue around the evolution of our operating environment and its implications for basketball programs across the country,” Ackerman said. “As we prepare to host BIG EAST Media Day at Madison Square Garden, the addition of our panel discussion provides a timely and meaningful opportunity to bring together some of the industry’s most influential leaders to help shape ongoing national conversations around the future of sports.
The second panel will discuss the current climate on campus with a conversation with St. John’s University President Fr. Brian J. ShanleyUConn athletic director, David BenedictExecutive Director, National Basketball Coaches Association, Craig Robinsonand special assistant to the president of Villanova University, Jay Wright. The panel will be moderated by Dana O’Neil and will cover topics related to the ever-changing landscape of the NCAA and the impacts on student-athletes, coaches and athletic departments.
The third panel will focus on the business of college sports. Jordan Bazantexecutive vice president of FOX Sports, with Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President of Events and Brand Operations at Madison Square Garden, and Will crackpresident of On3 Sports, will be joined by the moderator Ben Portnoy from the Sports Business Journal to discuss the financial evolution of college basketball from three distinct perspectives: network television, facilities and media.
The fourth discussion will focus on the financing of university sports. Panelists will understand Michael Schreiberfounder and executive chairman of Playfly Sports, Jonathan MarquesSales Director at Elevate College and Global Marketplace, and Ted Oberwagerpartner of the world’s leading investment firm, KKR. Moderated by Joe Leccesepartner and co-leader of the athletic group at Proskauer, this conversation will explore considerations associated with alternative athletics funding models as schools adapt to the changing name, image and likeness landscape and the introduction of new Home revenue sharing model.
Gabe Feldmanassociate professor and director of sports law at Tulane University, and Dawn Buthgeneral director of government relations at the NCAA, will be joined by the moderator Ross Dellenger from Yahoo! Sports for the final panel of the day to discuss the ongoing legal and public policy challenges facing the college athletics model.
BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Roundtable: The Future of College Basketball
Date: Monday October 20
Location: Empire State Building
Time: 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on the Empire Lounge basketball court
Panel 1 – Full press
- A conversation with NCAA President Charlie Baker
Moderator: Bonnie Bernstein, Founder/CEO, Walk Swiftly Productions
Panel 2 – Campus and coaching climate
- Rev. Brian J. Shanley OP, President, St. John’s University
- David Benedict, Director of Athletics, University of Connecticut
- Jay Wright, special assistant to the president, Villanova University
- Craig Robinson, Executive Director, National Basketball Coaches Association
Moderator: Dana O’Neil, author, “The Big East: Inside the Most Entertaining and Influential Conference in College Basketball History”
Panel 3 – The Business of College Basketball
- Jordan Bazant, Executive Vice President, FOX Sports
- Joel Fisher, executive vice president, marquee events and operations, Madison Square Garden
- Will Crall, President, On3 Sports
Moderator: Ben Portnoy, journalist, Sports Affairs Journal
Panel 4 – Funding of university sports
- Michael Schreiber, Founder and Executive Chairman, Playfly Sports
- Jonathan Marks, Chief Commercial Officer, Elevate College and Global Marketplace
- Ted Oberwager, Partner, KKR
Moderator: Joe Leccese, partner and co-head of the sports group, Proskauer
Panel 5 – Legal landscape and public policy
- Gabe Feldman, associate professor and director of sports law, Tulane University
- Dawn Buth, Executive Director of Government Relations, NCAA
Moderator: Ross Dellenger, journalist, Yahoo! Sporty
