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Next League
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SPORTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

    What It Takes to Turn a Women's Soccer Club Around with Ryan Dillon of Gotham FC

    When Ryan Dillon joined Gotham FC as Chief Business Officer 2.5 years ago, he walked into what he describes as a distressed asset. A fully remote workforce, a league starved of investment, and a club with no real product discipline to speak of.  What followed was 2 championships in 3 years and triple the revenue, all built on a framework Ryan carried over from 6 years at Peloton: obsess over the product, track NPS, and make winning the foundation everything else sits on. In this episode, Ryan breaks down how they use first-party data and tentpole moments like the Queens Classic at Citi Field to punch above their weight, and why matching players to partners by genuine interest has changed the way they build sponsorships. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Ryan’s experience scaling Peloton informs his approach to building demand in a low-awareness sports marketHow Gotham FC uses Net Promoter Score as an operating metric to improve the fan experienceWhat it takes to operate a turnaround while rebuilding staffing models, processes, and in-market presenceWhat goes into executing a championship rematch at Citi Field that could set a New York City women’s attendance recordResources and Links: Connect with Ryan Dillon on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    36 min

  2. APR 28

    How CAA Sports Navigates Talent Value, Creators, and Streaming Platforms with Matt Kramer

    Sports media is becoming defined by the people who keep fans engaged between games: the insiders breaking news, athletes building their own platforms, and creators turning digital audiences into real media businesses. Matt Kramer, Co-Head of Sports Media Group at CAA Sports, shares how an unexpected call from Adrian Wojnarowski helped launch his career as a sports media agent, why he sees representation as a relationship-driven service business, and how CAA evaluates talent across broadcasters, athletes, streamers, and creators like Dude Perfect.  He also explains why the next wave of NFL media rights could reshape opportunities across the broader sports media ecosystem. In this episode, you’ll hear: What the day-to-day operating model of a sports media agent looks likeHow athletes and creators like Dude Perfect are entering the same talent market as traditional broadcastersWhy the same on-air talent can be valued at $4M, $12M, or $18M depending on the network’s rights portfolioWhy a 3 year rights deal vs. a 7 year deal can change how talent chooses between competing offersHow Netflix and Amazon are reshaping talent demand Resources and Links: Connect with Matt Kramer on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    45 min

  3. APR 21

    How the USGA Delivers Championships and Fan Experiences with Amanda Weiner

    The USGA operates one of the most complex models in sports, delivering global championships, media, and fan experiences without a fixed venue. Amanda Weiner, Managing Director of Global Media and Ticketing at the USGA, oversees a broad portfolio spanning championships, media rights, digital products, and ticketing.  She explains how these functions are coordinated to deliver consistent fan experiences across changing venues, including their new partnership with SeatGeek, while also sharing her perspective on leadership and the growth of women’s golf. In this episode, you’ll hear: The leadership philosophy Amanda applies across a multi-function roleHow the USGA builds and operates temporary “stadiums” each yearWhat it takes to create a consistent fan experience across 10-hour event daysHow the USGA’s SeatGeek partnership is shaping ticketing innovationWhy investment in women’s golf is accelerating through equal purses, expanded coverage, and ShotCastResources and Links: Connect with Amanda Weiner on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    39 min

  4. APR 14

    Best Of: The Business of Sports Technology

    This compilation episode brings together perspectives from senior leaders across leagues, teams, media, and technology, including the NBA, NASCAR, MLB, the USOPC, and emerging platforms like Cosm.  Plus, Dave’s book is out today. Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology for a practical guide to making smarter, ROI-driven technology decisions. This episode features the following guests: Shripal Shah, Next LeagueScott Gutterman, Next League (formerly PGA TOUR)Doug Perlman, Sports Media AdvisorsSarah Hirshland, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeDevin Poolman, CosmTim Clark, NASCARChris Benyarko, NBAChris Marinak, Playfly Sports (formerly MLB)John Martin, NASCARJeff Price, PGA of AmericaPerkins Miller, PlayON! (formerly Fandom)Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    48 min

  5. APR 7

    The Next Chapter of the New York City Marathon with Juliette Morris

    The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, drawing more than 50,000 runners and millions of spectators annually. As the race approaches its 50th anniversary, it’s evolving into a year-round platform spanning digital engagement, community programming, and global scale. Juliette Morris, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at New York Road Runners, talks with Dave about how the organization is aligning brand, technology, and content to support runners and spectators across the full lifecycle. She outlines the integration of digital products, the role of personalization and AI, and how media and storytelling are extending the reach of the marathon. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why the marathon’s charity engine has become a $700M fundraising platform and strategic leverHow oversubscription and capacity limits force new thinking on access, virtual participation, and growthHow brand identity and logo design reflect governance priorities around inclusion and communityWhat it takes to build an in-house content studio that functions as both media and mission infrastructureHow Gen Z behavior is reshaping participation models, with run clubs emerging as a new social layerResources and Links: Connect with Juliette Morris on LinkedIn and learn more about New York Road Runners on their website. Watch the 26.2 documentary on YouTube. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    39 min

  6. MAR 31

    Inside US Soccer's 300% Growth Ahead of the 2026 World Cup with David Wright

    US Soccer is heading into a defining stretch, and David Wright is helping shape what comes next. As Chief Commercial Officer, he sits at the center of it all, from partnerships and media to events, marketing, and business ventures.  In this conversation, he breaks down how US Soccer has grown its business more than 300% in a short period of time and why its nonprofit structure has become a real differentiator in the market. David also shares how they’re preparing for the 2026 World Cup, the commercial strategy behind US Soccer’s partner roster, the evolving media landscape, and the kind of leadership and risk-taking that has defined his own career path. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why the 2026 World Cup represents a structural inflection point for fan growth and market expansionHow US Soccer built a partner portfolio of 23 major brands by thinking long term and saying no more oftenWhy David believes the future of sports leadership belongs to people who can embrace risk and develop intangible skills AI can’t replaceHow one national training center could change the way players, coaches, and referees are developed in the USResources and Links: Connect with David Wright on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    41 min

  7. MAR 24

    How the Sports Industry Is Rethinking Its Talent Pipeline with Scott Rosner

    Scott Rosner collected hundreds of rejection letters he got trying to break into sports. And it shaped exactly how he thinks about the candidates knocking on Columbia's door today. Private capital has rewritten ownership, NIL and conference realignment have blown up college athletics, and AI is changing how every function operates. The curriculum can't look the same as it did ten years ago. As Program Director of the Sports Management program, Scott believes the industry needs people who can think across disciplines, absorb disruption, and figure things out when there's no playbook. His graduates are stepping into roles across agencies, media, and betting — often inside organizations navigating that complexity in real time. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Columbia structures a 40+ adjunct faculty model to deliver practitioner-led instruction at scaleWhy career outcomes are increasingly skewing toward agencies, media, and betting over ticket salesWhat Columbia’s 60-second video essay reveals about candidate decision-making under pressureWhat curriculum changes are required to keep up with AI adoption and disruption in college athleticsHow Columbia evaluates grit, failure response, and long-term potential in admissions decisions Resources and Links: Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Connect with Scott Rosner on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    40 min

  8. MAR 17

    Why San Diego FC Treats Its Academy Like a Capital Investment

    San Diego FC is only a few years old, but COO Bill Miles and his team are already taking an ambitious approach to building a modern soccer club.  In this episode, Bill shares why San Diego FC is betting on a long-term, academy-first model, what makes the club’s ownership structure so distinctive, and why San Diego is uniquely positioned to become one of the most important soccer markets in the United States. You’ll also hear what it takes to build a fan base from scratch, how technology and AI can help clubs create a stronger view of the customer, and why the future of ticketing is going to look a lot more personalized. In this episode, you’ll hear: How a Native American tribe and global private equity ownership is shaping the club's long-term visionWhy San Diego FC believes removing pay-to-play is critical to developing elite talentHow Bill is building an academy-first development pipeline instead of relying on expensive star signingsWhat it takes to launch an MLS club from scratch and turn it into a civic brand How AI and experience-based ticketing are redefining fan engagement and revenue strategyResources and Links: Connect with Bill Miles on LinkedIn. Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future. Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 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
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © Dave Nugent
  • Show Website
    Know What Is Next

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