marc bryan-brown
We are pleased to present the 90 nominees for the 17th annual Sports Business Awards, recognizing excellence over the past year. The winners in 14 categories will be determined by a group of industry executives.
Award winners in two categories — Athletic Director of the Year and Executive of the Year — will be selected solely by Sports Business Journal.
Award recipients will be announced during our live event on Wednesday, May 22, at the New York Marriott Marquis Times Square. The McLendon Foundation will be recognized with the Celebration of Service award. Arthur M. Blank, chairman of AMB Sports + Entertainment, will be presented with our Lifetime Achievement Award.
For more information on the event, please visit www.Sports-Business-Awards.com.
BEST IN SPORTS BETTING
DraftKings
ESPN Bet
FanDuel
Genius Sports
U.S. Integrity
BEST IN SPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA
Atlanta Falcons Birds Eye View Series
Formula 1 Las Vegas: Inaugural Race Week
The Larry O’Brien Trophy’s NBA Finals Bucket List
WWE WrestleMania XL Kickoff
Washington Wizards DMV Music Portal
BEST IN SPORTS MEDIA
CBS Sports
ESPN
Fox Sports
NBC Sports
Prime Video
YouTube TV
BEST IN TALENT REPRESENTATION
CAA Sports
Excel Sports Management
Klutch Sports Group
Octagon
Wasserman
WME Sports
BEST IN PROPERTY CONSULTING, SALES AND CLIENT SERVICES
AEG Global Partnerships
CAA Sports
Legends
OVG Global Partnerships
WME Sports & IMG
AGENCY OF THE YEAR: BRAND CONSULTING
160over90
CAA Brand Consulting
Genesco Sports Enterprises
MKTG Sports + Entertainment
Octagon
Optimum Sports
Wasserman
BRAND ACTIVATION OF THE YEAR (agency of record)
Gainbridge x Parity Week
Grant Thornton x Two Tours. One Competition (Wasserman)
Humana x National Mall of Pickleball (GMR Marketing)
Johnnie Walker x Watch Women’s Sports (Wasserman)
Marriott x Manchester United Summer Tour (160over90)
Pop-Tarts Bowl (Weber Shandwick)
DEAL OF THE YEAR
Inter Miami CF signs Lionel Messi
Josh Harris-led group acquires Washington Commanders
NASCAR signs media deals with Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Prime Video and TNT Sports
NCAA signs media deal with ESPN
NWSL signs media deals with CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps Sports
UFC/WWE merge to form TKO Group Holdings
SPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR
Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix
NASCAR Chicago Street Race
NHL Stadium Series
Super Bowl LVIII
U.S. Open Tennis Championships
World Baseball Classic
SPORTS FACILITY OF THE YEAR
Allegiant Stadium
CityPark
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Gillette Stadium
PGA Frisco
SoFi Stadium
SPORTS LEAGUE OF THE YEAR
Major League Baseball
Major League Soccer
NASCAR
National Football League
National Women’s Soccer League
Women’s National Basketball Association
SPORTS SPONSOR OF THE YEAR
Ally
American Express
Diageo
Kia America
MGM Resorts International
T-Mobile
SPORTS BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
ESPN Creative Studios/Beyond Sports: For Toy Story Funday Football/Big City Greens Classic
Professional Women’s Hockey League
The Inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament
World Champions Cup
SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Inter Miami CF
Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota Timberwolves
Texas Rangers
Vegas Golden Knights
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Trev Alberts, formerly University of Nebraska; Texas A&M University
Jeff Bourne, James Madison University
Chris Del Conte, University of Texas
Desiree Reed-Francois, formerly University of Missouri; University of Arizona
Carla Williams, University of Virginia
SPORTS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Jessica Berman, National Women’s Soccer League
Josh Harris, Washington Commanders; Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Jorge Mas, Inter Miami CF
Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball
Mark Walter, Los Angeles Dodgers; Guggenheim Partners
Brett Yormark, Big 12 Conference
CELEBRATION OF SERVICE
The McLendon Foundation
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Arthur M. Blank, chairman of AMB Sports + Entertainment
