Skip to content
Toggle menu
SportsTravel SportsTravel

The Sports World's Event Magazine

Primary Menu
  • News
    • Sports Organizations
    • Sports Venues
    • Recently Awarded
    • Hosts & Suppliers
    • Sponsors & Media
  • COVID-19
    • Latest News
    • Case Studies
  • IN DEPTH
    • STORIES
      • Feature Story
      • Governing Body Dossier
      • Event Insider
      • Technology in Sports
      • On Assignment
    • Podcasts
    • Expert Advice
    • Downloadable Guides
    • Opinion
      • Winners and Losers
      • From the Editor
  • Sports
    • CATEGORY
      • Amateur Sports
      • Youth Sports
      • Collegiate Sports
      • Professional Sports
      • Olympic Sports
      • Paralympic Sports
      • National Governing Body
      • Motorsports
      • Sustainability
      • Water Sports
      • Winter Sports
      • Women’s Sports
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Bowling
      • Cycling
      • Football
      • Golf
      • Gymnastics
      • Hockey
      • Lacrosse
      • Pickleball
      • Rugby
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Swimming
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
      • Volleyball
      • Wrestling
  • Esports
    • Esports News
    • Esports Guide
    • EsportsTravel Summit
  • Resources
    • Bid Bowl
      • Bid Bowl Listings
      • Submission Form
      • About Bid Bowl
    • Partner Spotlight
    • Media Kit
      • Media Kit
      • 2021 Editorial Calendar
    • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • EVENTS
    • TEAMS CONFERENCE & EXPO
    • EsportsTravel Summit
    • SportsTravel Road Trip
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Sports Industry Bullish on Eventual Post-Coronavirus World

Sports Industry Bullish on Eventual Post-Coronavirus World

Executives discuss present and future during virtual event

Posted On : March 25, 2020 By : Matt Traub
HondaCenter

While the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life throughout the world, sports industry leaders remain optimistic that fans will flock to events once games on every level of action resume.

During the Sports Business Journal’s CAA World Congress virtual event, taking the place of a scheduled in-person event in California disrupted by the coronavirus, a series of topics on the broadcasting of events, ticketing, sports organizational structure and more were discussed.

In each session, the focus on a post-pandemic world was brought up. Scott O’Neill, president and CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment, brought up the experience of seeing fans react to Mike Piazza and the New York Mets playing their first game at Shea Stadium after the 9/11 attacks.

“We need sports more now than ever,” O’Neill said. “This is a place we come together as a family, as a community and as a nation. I feel proud and privileged to be part of this industry as we consider what a relaunch looks like, whether it’s the regular season or playoffs or next season when we have more time to play. We’d like to come back big and come back very representative of the fans and the cities which we’re privileged to be a part of.”

ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro, the first speaker of the day, said, “I completely expect that (fan) passion will remain even in the light of the moment that we find ourselves in right now. When live sports return, they’ll come back strong.”

Irwin Kishner, executive chairman of the Herrick law firm, said the coronavirus is different for the sports world than either the Great Recession or 9/11 because of the way the pandemic has evolved on an hourly basis.

“This too shall pass, there’s no doubt about it. The bigger question is when and how,” Kishner said. “… Slowly but surely, you’ll see venues filling up and being back online.”

News and Notes

• With ESPN’s reliance on live events complementing its series of studio talk shows and SportsCenter, there have been consistent adjustments to the network’s programming schedules. There has been expanded coverage of the NFL offseason as free agency started, and ESPN2 has aired many college basketball replays.

“I am in regular and constant contact with league executives in terms of our current partnerships and the focus right now is on short-term issues like replacement programming, innovative content ideas,” said Pitaro, adding they are talking with leagues about having access to athletes.

One other option, he said, is putting together theme nights for sports with a mix of classic games along with sports movies from the Disney Plus empire.

• With sports fans sequestered, esports is having another moment in the sun. NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula 1 each have started virtual racing series; NASCAR’s initial event on FS1 had more than 900,000 viewers, leading Fox to put the rest of the scheduled events on Fox instead of the cable sports channel.

“Esports has grown to a scale that at this point is pretty large to ignore,” said Naz Aletaha, Riot Games’ head of global esports partnerships and business development. “They are only behind the NFL and NBA and so, I think just the long-term potential, growth potential is enormous.”

While esports has not gone without interruption along with every other sport in the world, it does have the advantage of being able to hold its events virtually already. Riot Games’ League of Legends series has resumed online competition after a suspension in play.

“It’s a huge opportunity,” said Mark Coughlin, chief revenue officer of Envy Gaming, which among its esports holdings operates the Overwatch League’s Dallas Fuel. “There are a lot of people that are cooped up. Everybody is stuck at home.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email
Posted in: Coronavirus, Esports, Latest News, Sponsors & MediaTagged : Envy Gaming,ESPN,Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment,Irwin Kishner,Jimmy Pitaro,Mark Coughlin,Naz Aletaha,Overwatch League,Riot Games,Scott O'Neill,Sports Business Journal

Post navigation

How The Coronavirus Has Impacted Sports Events
Ironman Group Sold to Advance Publications

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Follow us on Instagram

  • NEW EPISODE: The latest episode of the SportsTravel Podcast is a chat with @braves legend Dale Murphy. We talk about
  • In Spartanburg, South Carolina, the fun doesn’t stop when the games are over. Plan your next tournament in this hidden
  • Once again, SportsTravel will honor the best in the sports-event industry at our @teamsconference in Atlantic City, September 27-30. We
  • The city by the sea … #PlayACSports #ExperienceAtlanticCity #AtlanticCity
  • Just a few more steps … paradise awaits ☀️☀️☀️ #PlayACSports #ExperienceAtlanticCity #AtlanticCity
  • The new U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs is an interactive experience where visitors can race against the
  • When you bring your event to Atlantic City, you’ll experience world class accommodations, critically acclaimed dining, tax‐free shopping, exciting entertainment,
  • Your wave is waiting… ‍♂️‍♀️ #PlayACSports #ExperienceAtlanticCity #AtlanticCity
  • Golf season is upon us! @playacsports is surrounded by more than 15 golf courses and rated the 6th top golf
  • The latest SportsTravel Podcast is a conversation with Bruce Rosenberg, president of @hotelplanner. Hear why the group booking company believes
  • The latest SportsTravel Podcast episode is a great discusssion with @nhra drivers @leah.pruett and @antronbrowntf, discussing what it’s like to
  • Long time no sea #PlayACSports #ExperienceAtlanticCity #AtlanticCity #atlanticcitynj #atlanticcityboardwalk
  • Esports continues to flourish in @playacsports as we have a variety of facilities with adequate bandwidth to support esports. The
  • Say yes to new experiences ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #PlayACSports #ExperienceAtlanticCity #AtlanticCity #AtlanticCityTakeover
  • Did you know? The Atlantic City Convention Center and @playacsports are proud to feature nearly 100,000 square feet of modular,
  • Atlantic City and @playacsports welcomes all events, not only within the large indoor facilities but in wide open outdoor spaces
  • The @ncaa’s Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament will be staged in and around San Antonio, resulting in new challenges for
  • For an inside look at the upcoming @ncaa Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, check out our recent SportsTravel Podcast episode
  • #PuertoRico’s tennis courts are surrounded by lush greenery and a perfect 80-degree weather. Best part? A refreshing piña colada will
  • Running a #marathon in #PuertoRico is every athlete’s dream. ✨ With endless ocean views, our Island has one of the world’s most

Recent Posts

  • NFL Reaches Sportsbook Deals with Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel
  • Colleen Wrenn Named Chief of Paralympic Games Delivery Officer
  • Move United Plans Virtual Conference on Adaptive Sports
  • Clermont, Florida, to Host Olympic Swimming Qualifier
  • The Latest on Sports and COVID-19:
    SailGP Gets Exemption to Stage Season Opener in Bermuda
Sports Travel Magazine

About Us

Since 1997, SportsTravel magazine has served the sports‐related travel and event industry. It is the only publication written and designed to serve the people who organize, manage and host sporting events of all types at all levels.

  • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • SportsTravel Foundation
  • Supplied Content
  • Privacy
  • Terms

NORTHSTAR TRAVEL MEDIA SITES

  • Northstar Meetings Group
  • Meetings & Conventions
  • Meetings & Conventions Asia
  • Meetings & Conventions China
  • Successful Meetings
  • Incentive
  • Meeting News
  • Retail Travel
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • See All Northstar Brands

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Sports ETA

Destinations International
Northstar Travel Media LLC Copyright © 2021 by Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 100 Lighting Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000
scroll to top
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.