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Next League
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Want to learn more about the most talked about topics and trends in the sports business industry from the sports business executives who run it? Join Next League’s CEO David Nugent, a sports technology industry veteran and thought leader with over 20 years experience in the ever-changing technology services business. Tune in every week for insightful and engaging discussions on everything from artificial intelligence and fan engagement to the changing media landscape and the growth of women’s sports with the sports industry’s leading executives.   For more on Next League, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

  1. 1D AGO

    The Gap Between AI Hype and What Actually Works in Sports with Scott Gutterman

    If you’re going to talk about generative AI in sports, don’t start with the tools. Start with the operating model. Are you structured to deploy it at scale? Scott Gutterman is back, drawing on two decades of experience inside one of the most complex sports in the world. His lens is operational. How do you prioritize? How do you govern? How do you create space for innovation without introducing chaos? From there, Scott and Dave get tactical on AI — including what sports leaders often misunderstand, why most organizations stall after early pilots, and what it actually takes to move from POC to a durable, production-grade system. Scott also shares what he believes is overhyped vs. underhyped right now, and how operators should evaluate emerging technology without chasing noise. In this episode, you’ll hear: How automation is reshaping the cost structure and scalability of content production in sports organizationsWhat it takes to connect internal data systems so AI outputs are accurate, secure, and usableWhy AI governance, monitoring, and security matters as much as model selectionHow headless architecture supports multi-platform fan distribution without rebuilding your stack every cycleThe gap between AI demos that impress executives and systems that actually integrate into daily workflowsResources and Links: Connect with Scott Gutterman on LinkedIn and connect with Shripal Shah on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    44 min

  2. FEB 17

    Inside Barclays Center’s Push to Scale AI and Facial Authentication with Keia Cole

    Digital transformation in sports only works when the fan journey is treated as a SYSTEM. And what does it actually look like inside a multi-team, multi-venue sports organization? In this episode, Keia Cole shares how Brooklyn Sports + Entertainment operates when one leader owns cybersecurity, data and insights, web and mobile, AND venue systems across the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and Barclays Center. We also dive into how they adopted Wicket facial recognition technology and why embedding AI into their daily workflows is reshaping roles faster than ever. In this episode, you’ll hear: How shifts in consumer behavior, from Waymo to biometric payments, are redefining what fans expect inside arenasWhat responsible AI governance looks like inside Brooklyn Sports + EntertainmentHow Keia’s career across cybersecurity, data, and digital shaped her approach to transformation at scaleWhen digital leaders should demand measurable ROI and when experimentation is a smarter betResources and Links: Connect with Keia Cole on LinkedIn and learn more about Wicket Facial Recognition. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    31 min

  3. FEB 10

    What It Takes to Modernize Youth Sports at Scale with Sameer Ahuja

    Youth sports operates at a scale few people realize, with millions of games, volunteer-run teams, and technology that has to work for everyone from coaches to grandparents. GameChanger CEO Sameer Ahuja is here to walk through how the company approaches those challenges, and how that thinking shaped their most significant product update in its 15-year history. He shares how GameChanger has leaned into a mobile-first, automation-driven approach to serve millions of teams, how AI is being applied in practical ways, the long-term vision for athlete profiles, and how privacy and trust shape every product decision. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Sameer’s background shaped his approach to building trust and making long-term product betsWhy youth sports creates a paradox of massive scale and tiny audiences, and how that reality forces different decisions How GameChanger thinks about reducing labor when building tools for volunteer coaches and familiesHow the company decides when AI-driven automation is “good enough” to shipResources and Links: Connect with Sameer Ahuja on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    41 min

  4. FEB 3

    Best Of: USOPC and Team USA on the Road to LA 2028

    What does it take to build Team USA in a rapidly changing global, political, and digital landscape? In this Best Of episode, USOPC leaders Sarah Hirshland and Katie Bynum Aznavorian are breaking down how Olympic success is engineered, the road to Milano Cortina and LA 2028, the role of storytelling and personalization, and how they’re evolving fan engagement.  You’ll hear from the following guests: (0:41) Sarah Hirshland, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee(16:17) Katie Bynum Aznavorian, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeIn this episode, you’ll hear: Why personalization and fan data infrastructure are critical to helping fans connect with 1,200+ Team USA athletesHow the USOPC allocates resources across 60 national governing bodiesWhy the organization views itself like a venture capital firmHow Making Team USA was built to simplify qualification pathways and create year-round fan engagement How the Olympic Games can unify countries and communities during divided momentsResources and Links: Learn more about Team USA and the upcoming Olympic Games. Connect with Sarah Hirshland on LinkedIn. Connect with Katie Bynum Aznavorian on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    28 min

  5. JAN 27

    How to Design Better Digital Products in Sports

    How do sports teams achieve faster alignment, fewer reworks, and digital products that move from idea to launch more reliably? Bora Nikolic’s views of technology in the sports industry have helped shape many of the fan experiences you see from leading sports properties today. And today, he’s challenging the idea that design is about aesthetics, arguing instead that it’s an execution discipline. Dave and Bora look ahead at what’s changing, from accessibility, to AI accelerating how teams research, prototype, and align across functions. Bora also shares why the next phase of fan experience will be defined by connected, multimodal journeys that span platforms, environments, and moments that matter to fans. In this episode, you’ll hear: What allows digital products in sports to actually ship on time and at scaleHow teams can modernize digital experiences without losing fan trust What friction really looks like across the fan journey, and why clarity and predictability matter more than visual polishWhy accessibility needs to be embedded into design systems from the start How AI-enabled prototypes are changing how stakeholders evaluate and approve digital productsResources and Links: Connect with Bora Nikolic on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    41 min

  6. JAN 20

    Why the 360° Fan View Is Broken and How Jordy Leiser Is Rethinking Sports Ticketing

    If your organization is still talking about a “360° fan view,” chances are your technology stack is already working against you. Jordy Leiser, Co-Founder and CEO at Jump, argues most clubs are stuck with disjointed legacy systems that are blocking direct-to-fan experiences, especially in ticketing, identity, and mobile.  Jump was built to unify those layers into a single, seamless ecosystem so clubs can operate with the speed and personalization fans expect today.  Jordy explains what it looks like to move off legacy infrastructure using Jump’s Minnesota Timberwolves rollout as a real-world example: a full transition delivered in just 88 days from contract to first game at Target Center. He challenges the assumption that transformation requires an ownership change or a multi-year roadmap, and shows how teams can time meaningful change around ticketing renewals instead. He also takes aim at the ticketing business model itself, explaining how per-ticket fees and resale economics can work against team goals, and why unified data is the prerequisite for AI-powered personalization. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why most teams still cannot deliver a true 360-degree fan view, and what the missing layer isHow “rip and replace” technology transformations can actually happen in under 90 days, using an NBA deployment as proofWhy the traditional ticketing fee and resale-driven business model is misaligned with how teams generate valueHow artificial intelligence becomes practical in sports ONLY after data silos are eliminated and fan identity is unifiedResources and Links: Connect with Jordy Leiser on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    47 min

  7. JAN 13

    What esports and Creators Reveal About the Future of Sports with Pete Vlastelica

    Power in sports is becoming more distributed, and Pete Vlastelica has seen that shift from nearly every angle: early digital media, league operations, esports, and now venture investing.  In this conversation, Pete reflects on how operating through multiple cycles of disruption shapes judgment, partnerships, and long-term strategy in sports and technology. You’ll hear about the operating lessons he carried from building Yardbarker in the early days of user-generated sports content, scaling digital platforms at Fox Sports, and helping professionalize esports at Activision Blizzard. Pete and Dave also explore what those experiences signal for the industry today, including how creator-led distribution and NIL are changing where influence and leverage live, and what leagues, teams, and technology partners need to rethink as power continues to decentralize. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Pete reshaped his thinking on risk, identity, and leadership after losing his home in the Pacific Palisades fireWhy NIL and creator platforms are changing who controls distribution and monetization in sportsHow Yardbarker’s SEO-driven blog network anticipated the creator economy years before social platforms scaledHow esports introduced city-based franchises, global leagues, and fully remote broadcasts without centralized venuesResources and Links: Connect with Pete Vlastelica on LinkedIn and learn more about Elysian Park Ventures on their website. Check out Pete’s book recommendations: Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank and The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    39 min

  8. JAN 6

    How AI Is Changing the Way Sports Organizations Actually Work

    AI is hitting consumers faster in sports than almost anywhere else, and PGA of America GM Rob Smith argues that’s exactly why the industry has become a real-world testing ground for emerging technology. In this episode, Rob digs into how AI is already reshaping day-to-day work, what “anticipatory” AI could look like when it earns a seat at the event-ops table, and why the real shift is carving out time to train these tools. Rob also walks through how the PGA of America brought digital media rights in-house and built a modern digital org from scratch: websites, apps, social, YouTube, and championship coverage—into a lean team operating across major moments like the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup, and how their next wave of innovation centers on the attending fan journey. In this episode, you’ll hear: What AI is changing in day-to-day roles inside of sports organizationsThe ripple effects of bringing media rights in-house for the PGA of America’s digital teamHow the Ryder Cup pulls off a single digital experience across two continents, multiple broadcasters, and competing teamsWhy fan experiences are shifting toward a “concierge model,” powered by AI-driven planning and recommendationsWhat younger audiences expect from modern sports content, and how automation and short-form distribution are reshaping golfResources and Links: Connect with Rob Smith on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Want to learn more about the most talked about topics and trends in the sports business industry from the sports business executives who run it? Join Next League’s CEO David Nugent, a sports technology industry veteran and thought leader with over 20 years experience in the ever-changing technology services business. Tune in every week for insightful and engaging discussions on everything from artificial intelligence and fan engagement to the changing media landscape and the growth of women’s sports with the sports industry’s leading executives.   For more on Next League, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

Information

  • Creator
    Next League
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © Dave Nugent
  • Show Website
    Know What Is Next

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