Inside Lacrosse is excited to announce the first-ever Lacrosse Industry Summit set for Friday, May 27 in Philadelphia with the National Lacrosse League serving as a partner and luncheon sponsor for the event.
Open to all professionals in the lacrosse business community, the Summit will be a gathering of the industry’s most influential people to share insights and spark discussions that will help shape the future of the sport. The event will take place at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel and coincides with the NCAA Championship Weekend, also held in Philly this year.
“I’ve routinely had leaders from the manufacturing, media and retail sectors of our sport say ‘We need a place to come together and talk,’” IL Publisher Terry Foy said. “I think the Lacrosse Industry Summit can accomplish this, and the concept is very much in keeping with the fabric of IL’s parent company, American City Business Journals. It seems like a good fit for us.”
“Since most of the industry leaders and lacrosse business associates will be in town for the championships over the weekend, it is a perfect opportunity to capture the audience during the pinnacle of the lacrosse season. I hope it’ll invigorate the event for industry leaders, and I’m very excited by the Lacrosse Industry Summit’s potential impact on the sport.”
The Summit will feature two keynote panels of top executives and major influencers within the sporting industry. The morning keynote “Lessons for Lacrosse from Peer Sports” will examine how sports with similar demographics and markets developed their growth strategies. The afternoon keynote “Maximizing Lacrosse’s Growth Potential” will feature executives familiar with lacrosse looking at ways that the sport can deliver on its promising growth potential.
Panelists
Lessons for Lacrosse from Peer Sports
Jeff Price, CCO of PGA
Howard Handler, CMO of MLS
Maximizing Lacrosse’s Growth Potential
Nick Sakiewicz, Commissioner of NLL
Sean Bratches, Former EVP of ESPN
Woody Thompson, EVP of Octagon Marketing & Events
The schedule of the Lacrosse Industry Summit will also include topical breakout sessions divided with broad and specific appeal based on particular interests and feedback from industry professionals. Finally, time and space is blocked for category-specific meetings. In these sessions, for example, event organizers, manufacturers or retailers can convene in one room to share insights, discuss trends and learn best practices to improve their businesses.
Members of all facets of the lacrosse business community are invited to attend. Modeled after popular conferences and conventions seen in various industries, the Lacrosse Industry Summit program will include something for each vertical (i.e. manufacturer, retailer, media member, professional team staff member, event and camp director, club program director, facility operator, etc.). In addition, students and young professionals interested in employment opportunities within the lacrosse industry are invited to attend and learn about the business of lacrosse while meeting industry executives.
“We’re excited to launch what we believe will be a valuable annual gathering for our professionals in our sport,” said Dan Flynn, IL’s Director of Business Development and Events. “The impressive panelists on the two keynotes bring a wealth of experience and perspective from which every attendee will benefit. The smaller breakout sessions, the category meetings and the Networking Reception are all opportunities to learn and share ideas. We all succeed when the game of lacrosse grows.”
To register for the event, visit www.InsideLacrosse.com/Summit. The Professional registration rate is only $295, and includes admission to the Lacrosse Industry Summit, access to industry leaders and influencers, a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, refreshments throughout the day, the networking reception happy hour and a subscription to Inside Lacrosse Magazine. A special Student rate of $100 is available for students and job seekers.
