Sports Business Journal

20 hours ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Terry Lefton

SoFi CMO Lauren Stafford Webb said sports was a “big part of what helped accelerate our trajectory,” as the company has grown “from a relatively unknown brand to now a leadership brand in our category,” notes SBJ’s Michael Boylan. Webb, speaking during a Wednesday panel at the CAA World Congress of Sports, said as the company knew it had to “grow awareness,” there was “no better place to do that than to tap into sports.” Webb: “You have to go where people are, and people are watching sports.

1 day ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Terry Lefton

Topics diverse as consumer behavior, rationale behind property selection and aligning advertising were deliberated during a wide-ranging sports sponsorship panel at the CAA World Congress of Sports on Tuesday afternoon. Many of the biggest brands buying sponsorship assets have little need for greater consumer familiarity. That hasn’t dissuaded sellers from consistently trying to sell those companies branding assets.

1 day ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Austin Karp

“This might be the biggest move since getting the full season of the NFL.”That’s the importance Disney CEO Bob Iger is assigning to the launch of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product in the fall. Iger was interviewed on Day 1 of the CAA World Congress of Sports by ESPN Chair Jimmy Pitaro.

2 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Irving Mejia-Hilario

Excel Search & Advisory has hired former MLS VP/Talent Acquisition Tammy Castadot to become its head of recruiting operations and has promoted Kari Goodwin, who formerly served in Castadot’s role, to become an Excel Search & Advisory Principal. Catadot will be based out of Excel Sports Management’s headquarters in N.Y. and Goodwin will continue working from Nashville. Both will report to Excel Search & Advisory President Chad Biagini.

2 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Austin Karp

Sessions begin today for the CAA World Congress of Sports at the Grand Hyatt Nashville. World Congress Connect, a structured networking and information sharing session, starts things off in the morning, featuring Monumental Sports President of Business Operations & Chief Commercial Officer Jim Van Stone. After breakfast, SBJ Publisher & Executive Editor Abe Madkour opens things up with a chat with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, followed by the first panel of the event discussing key industry issues.