Staying Ahead: Must-Attend Sports Industry Events in 2024

• Posted: Jan 05, 2024

As the year progresses, the dynamic realm of sports events offers a spectrum of chances to learn, network, and delve into the latest innovations. From established conferences to trailblazing summits, 2024 presents a myriad of options for enthusiasts. 

The sports world continuously evolves, embracing new technologies and pivotal discussions on mental health, safety, inclusivity, and effective team management. Staying updated with these changes is essential, and attending these gatherings provides a unique platform to connect with industry professionals and gain insights from influential leaders.

Here, we've curated a list of the must-attend events in 2024 that should be on the radar of all aspiring and established startups, entrepreneurs, and sports business leaders.

January

CES 2024 – CES Sports Technology
9 – 12 January 2024 | Las Vegas, NV, USA
About: Experience the evolution of sports technology at CES, the global epicenter for tech innovation. Explore digital, wearable, and simulator tech transforming fitness routines into professional-level training sessions.

2024 United Soccer Coaches Convention
10 - 14 January 2024 | Anaheim, CA, USA
About: Join the premier event for soccer coaches and administrators at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Anaheim, California. Discover top-notch coaching education, networking opportunities, and an expansive Exhibit Hall, providing invaluable resources for coaches at all levels. Access to register is a prime benefit of United Soccer Coaches Membership, offering a wealth of knowledge, connections, and resources for soccer enthusiasts.

2024 World Baseball Coaches Convention
11 - 13 January 2024 | Uncasville, CT, USA
About: Attend the 2024 Mohegan Sun World Baseball Coaches' Convention at the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. This event gathers 1,000+ coaches from all levels, showcases 75+ exhibitors, and features 20+ top presenters including major league and collegiate coaches. Explore sessions covering both the physical and mental sides of the game, offering valuable insights to elevate coaching skills and enhance programs.

2024 World Softball Coaches Convention
12 - 13 January  2024 | Uncasville, CT, USA
About: This premier event attracts 1,000+ coaches and players, offering 75+ exhibitors and diverse coaching sessions for all levels. Players can also participate in tailored sessions, engage in interactive experiences, meet softball icons, and explore the latest gear in the Exhibitor Zone.

February

FSGA’s Winter Conference
14 – 15 February 2024 | Las Vegas, NV, USA
About: The Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association is the sole national body advocating for fantasy sports and gaming firms. Representing 60 million players in the US and Canada, along with companies offering services and news, our diverse membership ranges from startups to major media entities. We focus on offering crucial research, networking, and unified action to empower our members to thrive in this evolving industry.

Sports Industry Networking And Career Conference
23 – 24 February 2024 | Washington, DC, USA & online
About: SINC2024, the prime sports industry conference, brings together students, career changers, and industry pros. This 22nd edition offers a hybrid format, welcoming attendees both at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, and worldwide. With keynote talks, panel discussions, interviews, and networking sessions, it's a comprehensive event covering various sectors in sports.

National Sports Forum 2023
26 – 28 February 2024 | Pittsburgh, PA, USA
About: The National Sports Forum (NSF) is a key annual gathering uniting sports business professionals across teams, leagues, agencies, and corporate partners. With 27 years of successful in-person and virtual events, NSF provides a platform for industry discussions, trends, and community building. Join us at the upcoming NSF event in Pittsburgh, PA, to learn from top leaders and gain insights to impact your organization. 

March

MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference
1 – 2 March 2024 | Boston, MA, USA
About: The MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC) unites top figures in sports analytics, business, and tech, spotlighting analytics' growing influence in global sports. MIT Sloan prioritizes growth and innovation, offering a valuable platform to explore the sports business landscape. Open to all sports enthusiasts, the conference provides rich learning opportunities.

SBJ Tech Week
5 – 7 March 2024 | New York City, NY, USA
About: Tech Week unites innovative sports leaders, fostering innovation and community building. Executives delve into industry trends, learn from diverse perspectives, forge connections, and celebrate industry achievements. It's a platform unveiling new technologies and showcasing transformative ideas for the sports industry.

Everything in Sport – Women edition
7 – 8 March 2024 | Miami, USA
About: Everything In Sport (EIS) unites global sports and business executives, fostering networking and relationship-building. We connect thought leaders with industry intelligence and investors to drive sporting innovation. EIS specializes in creating premier sporting events, emphasizing collaborative partnerships to mitigate risks in emerging sports ventures.

SXSW – Sports
9 – 11 March 2024 | Austin, TX, USA
About: The SXSW Conference offers a global platform for professionals to engage, network, and grow their careers. With 24 tracks and diverse formats like Keynotes, Featured Speakers, panels, and workshops, it's an extensive opportunity for learning and connection.

SportsPro OTT Summit USA
12 – 13 March 2024 | New York, NY, USA
About: SportsPro New York 2024 continues the debate on industry-shaping topics in the largest sports broadcast and streaming market. Explore content, monetization, tech, and distribution themes with industry innovators, gaining insights and tactics to thrive in the new age of sports media.

Sports Events Marketing Experience
22 – 23 March 2024 | Washington, DC, USA
About: SEME provides insights, career development, and industry opportunities in the sports marketplace. This two-day conference is for motivated young professionals and students aiming to advance in the sports and events industry, offering education and career launch options. Staying updated on business trends and relevant management skills is vital for success in this dynamic market.

April

2024 NABC Convention
04- 08 April 2024 | Phoenix, AZ, USA
About: The NABC Convention, the top professional development event for basketball coaches nationwide, offers access to keynote sessions, Professional Development Series clinics, the NABC MARKETPLACE trade show, and more!

Pennsylvania Sports Business Conference
12 April 2024 | Indiana, PA, USA
About: The Pennsylvania Sports Business Conference at Indiana University of Pennsylvania features speakers from professional sports, collegiate athletics, sporting goods, health and fitness industries, and other sectors within sports management.

2024 SFIA Team Sports Conference
15 – 16 April 2024 | Indianapolis, IN, USA
About: Co-hosted with NFHS and the NCAA, this conference unites major organizations and governing bodies for a comprehensive dive into youth and school team sports. Featuring SFIA Council meetings, industry updates, and sessions covering equipment, rules, data analytics, societal influences on team sports, and more.

2024 CAA World Congress of Sports
16 – 17 April 2024 | Los Angeles, LA, USA
About: After record-setting attendance last spring, the CAA World Congress of Sports returns to the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE in 2024. This premier sports business conference on April 16–17 hosts top industry figures, offers insights from leaders transcending sports, and serves as a prime networking hub for deals and discussions.

2024 Sports ETA Symposium
22 - 25 April 2024 | Portland, OR, USA
About: The Sports ETA Symposium, hosted by the Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), is the annual meeting of industry professionals since 1992. Join top executives in the sports events and tourism sector for professional growth, idea exchange, and enhanced business opportunities.

May

SBC Summit North America
7 – 9 May 2024 | New Jersey, NJ, USA
About: SBC Summit North America is the key conference and tradeshow for the growing online betting and gaming industry in the U.S. and Canada. Held in New Jersey, it convenes top executives to explore emerging opportunities and tackle industry expansion challenges.

2024 4se
21 – 22 May 2024 | New York, NY, USA
About: The two-day gathering unites leaders across industries to navigate the competitive landscape for attention and spending. In an era where attracting new fans is challenging, the evolving landscape offers opportunities to connect with broader ecosystems from various industries, engaging new audiences and non-endemic brands.

Coliseum Summit US
21 – 23 May 2024 | Kansas City, MO, USA
About: Coliseum brings together stadium and arena leaders worldwide through concise, interactive conferences, limiting sponsorships to focus on quality discussions. With a deliberate exclusion of sales pitches, these summits provide valuable insights from industry projects and lessons learned, offering a unique networking platform for business enhancement and fan engagement.

SBJ Sports Business Awards 2024
22 May 2024 | New York, NY, USA
About: Sports Business Journal's Sports Business Awards: Tech celebrates innovation and leadership in several categories including AI, Athlete Performance Technology, Extended Reality, Fan Experience Technology, Technology Collaboration, Executive of the Year, Venue Operations Technology. The 'Best in Sports Technology' accolade crowns the ultimate winner from these categories, honoring the entity that made the most substantial technological impact on the sports industry in 2023.

June

Hashtag Sports
4 – 5 June 2024 | New York, NY, USA
About: Hashtag Sports 2024 stands as the top event for brand marketers, content creators, and engagement experts shaping the fan experience and catering to today's consumer. Engage in intimate networking, workshops, fireside chats, panels, roundtable discussions, and the annual Hashtag Sports Awards show, a night of celebration and recognition.

2024 Brand Innovation Summit
11 – 12 June 2024 | Chicago, IL, USA
About: At the Brand Innovation Summit, discover how leading brands are revolutionizing sports marketing, guided by innovative CMOs reshaping consumer experiences. Explore unconventional strategies, bold moves, and the fusion of sports and brands, drawing a diverse array of marketing leaders from corporate brands, leagues, teams, media, and agencies.

Campus Athletics Facilities Summit 2024
23 – 25 June 2024 | New Orleans, LA, USA
About: Experience the Campus Athletics Facilities Summit (CAFS), the foremost conference for Division I college and university Athletic Directors dedicated to elevating facilities and event operations. Gain practical insights through collaborative sessions, organic discussions, and networking opportunities. Join a movement driving change in supporting college-level athletic facilities.

July

National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition
9 – 11 July 2024 | Phoenix, AZ, USA
About: The National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition is a vital gathering educating safety and security pros on protecting participants, spectators, and staff. With 500+ annual attendees, it brings together professionals from sports venues, entertainment, collegiate and interscholastic athletics, and endurance events.

ALSD Conference and Trade Show
14 – 16 July 2024 | Indianapolis, IN, USA
About: Three days of extensive education, venue tours, access to the premium seating tradeshow, keynote speakers, league meetings, and nearly fifty sessions with industry leaders. Connect and network with premium seating pros, tech leaders, design experts, and F&B executives from across North America and beyond.

August

Rally Innovation 2024 – Sportstech studio
27 – 29 August 2024 | Indianapolis, IN, USA
About: Join the foremost cross-sector innovation conference and explore the future of sports technology. At Rally's SportsTech studio, witness the convergence of traditional sports, esports, training, data, and technology, revolutionizing experiences for teams, athletes, broadcasters, and fans worldwide. 

September

2024 SBJ Drive - Driving Revenue & Innovative Venue Experiences
16 – 19 September 2024 | Frisco, TX, USA
About: DRIVE focuses on leveraging business analytics to optimize revenue, streamline operations, foster innovation, and enrich fan experiences. Attended by team leaders, C-level executives, VPs, and directors across key functional areas, the event also draws facility and ticketing vendors, architects, design firms, agencies, and tech companies.

2024 Game Changers Conference
23 – 24 September 2024 | New York, NY, USA
About: Established in 2013, the Game Changers Conference delves into the diverse roles of women in sports, spanning athletes, executives, and consumers. Covering topics like investing in women’s sports, leadership, athlete profiles, consumer behavior, and the state of women’s sports leagues, this event provides inspiration and education for those passionate about advancing women in sports.

2024 Teams Conference & Expo
23 - 26 September 2024 | Anaheim, CA, USA
About: TEAMS: TRAVEL, EVENTS AND MANAGEMENT IN SPORTS is the premier conference and expo for the sports-event industry, hosted by SportsTravel magazine. Since 1998, this event has drawn over 1,000 attendees, including CEOs, executive directors, event managers, sports commissions, convention bureaus, corporate sponsors, suppliers, and hospitality leaders.

October

No Sports Events have been scheduled for October 2024 yet.

November

2024 Media Innovators
20 November 2023 | New York, NY, USA
Main Topics: Sports media is evolving rapidly. Big Tech's deals challenge traditional media rights. Networks adapt to market changes, while struggling RSNs force content distribution shifts. Amid evolving consumer habits, SBJ’s Media Innovators unite industry leaders to discuss strategy and innovation. Join them in November for insights and networking to stay ahead in the dynamic sports media landscape.

2024 New Voices Under 30
21 November 2024 | New York, NY, USA
About: SBJ's New Voices Under 30 showcase the rising influencers shaping the next generation of sports business. Recognizing diverse, impactful leaders and disruptors redefining the sports experience and business norms, these individuals, with varied backgrounds and fresh perspectives, are catalysts for change in the traditional sports industry.

2024 Forty Under 40 Awards
22 November 2024 | New York, NY, USA
About: Forty Under 40, SBJ's prestigious awards event, honors leaders who now helm top sports entities. Join them on November 22 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, Manhattan, for a glamorous black-tie gala. Celebrate this year's winners and mingle with past awardees and industry supporters at the industry's most exclusive night.

December

2024 AVCA Convention
18- 21 December 2024 | Louisville, KY, USA
About: Join the AVCA Convention for 100+ education sessions, division-specific meetings, vast networking opportunities, a premier volleyball exhibit, Career Center services, specialized recruiting events, and the excitement of the NCAA Women’s Division I Championship crowning the national champions.</