Commissioners and Executives from LPGA, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NBA, NFL, NHL, PGA Tour, WNBA Leagues Meet Privately to Discuss Social Responsibility of Sports

 

NEW YORK, March 14, 2016 — Earlier today, executives from nine major professional sports leagues came together on the campus of NYU for an unprecedented industry summit convened by the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYUSPS) Tisch Institute for Sports Management,

Media, and Business, which focused on the state and the future of Social Responsibility of Sports (SRS). The leagues in attendance were the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour, and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The commissioners of MLB (Rob D. Manfred, Jr.), MLS (Don Garber), NASCAR (Brian France), the NBA (Adam Silver), and the NFL (Roger Goodell), as well as several deputy commissioners and other high-level executives, assembled in direct response to an independent research project by the NYUSPS Tisch Institute.

The summit, which was facilitated by NYUSPS Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business faculty members, brought forth an exchange of ideas and priorities meant to further articulate the leagues’ collective and individual commitment to developing a definitive set of

best practices in the field of SRS. The objective of the summit, and ultimately the NYUSPS Tisch Institute, is to provide professional sports leagues with further tools and research, enabling them to create and evaluate social responsibility programs more effectively and efficiently—thus generating even greater impact on communities.

“We are grateful for the leagues’ open cooperation and encouragement throughout this initial research phase, said Arthur R. Miller, associate dean of the NYUSPS Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business. “With the information we have acquired, we hope to help them move forward in a constructive way in using Social Responsibility of Sports as a game changer for the industry.”

The morning summit preceded a public afternoon conference titled, “Social Responsibility in Sports: Where Doing Good and Doing Good Business Meet.” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered the keynote address at that conference. For a full agenda of the afternoon event, visit: sps.nyu.edu/tischinstitute/srs.

An unprecedented number of professional sports league commissioners and executives attended the Social Responsibility of Sports (SRS) Summit, which was convened by the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYUSPS) Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business on the campus of New York University during the morning of March 14, 2016. The Summit addressed this critical topic in a private dialogue and through the discussion of a white paper that was researched and written by the NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Institute for Sport Management, Media, and Business.

Participants included:

Top Row: Craig Harnett, chief financial officer for the NHL; Dennis Di Lorenzo, Harvey J. Stedman dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies; Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL; and Arthur R. Miller, associate dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business.

Bottom Row: Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA; Robert D. Manfred, Jr., commissioner of the MLB; Kathy Milthorpe, chief financial officer, LPGA; Don Garber, commissioner of the MLS; and Brian France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR.

Photo Credit: ©NYUSPS/Mark McQueen

About the NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business

Recent innovations in global sports consumption, the use of online and social media to engage and to build a fan

base, and the implementation of redesigned sports business models, have resulted in a range of issues and opportunities for individuals working in the sports industry. Successful professionals in this field now need to understand strategic business principles as they apply to different aspects of the global sports industry.

Through interdisciplinary curricula, field internships, alumni-student mentorship, applied research, individualized degree advisement, a dedicated and accomplished advisory board, and faculty members who are experts in their fields, the NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business provides the pathway to help students meet their professional goals in the sports business industry.

The Tisch Institute's graduate and undergraduate programs, and  Career Advancement courses provide a top-notch education and the opportunity to meet and to network with industry leaders. Its location in New York, home to more sports teams, leagues, and media outlets than any other metro area in the country, offers the perfect setting for gaining a comprehensive overview of the complexities of the business. The Institute’s renowned, highly attended professional conferences and events provide an unparalleled opportunity to learn from leaders in their fields. For more information, visit sps.nyu.edu/tischinstitute.

About the NYU School of Professional Studies

Established in 1934, the NYU School of Professional Studies (sps.nyu.edu) is one of NYU’s several degree- granting schools and colleges, each with a unique academic profile. The reputation of the School of Professional

Studies arises from its place as the NYU home for study and applied research related to key knowledge-based

industries where the New York region leads globally. This is manifest in the School’s diverse graduate, undergraduate, and noncredit programs in fields such as Accounting, Finance, and Law; Applied Politics; Creative Cities and Economic Development; English-Language Learning; Fundraising and Grantmaking; Global Affairs; Health Information Management; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Human Resource Management and Development; Languages and Humanities; Management and Systems; Marketing and Marketing Analytics; Professional Writing; Project Management; Public Relations and Corporate Communication; Publishing; Real Estate, Real Estate Development, and Construction Management; Social Entrepreneurship; Sports Management, Media, and Business; and Translation.

More than 100 distinguished full-time faculty members collaborate with an exceptional cadre of practitioner/adjunct faculty members and lecturers to create vibrant professional and academic networks that annually attract nearly

5,000 degree-seeking students from around the globe. In addition, the School fulfills the recurrent professional education needs of local, national, and international economies, as evidenced by close to 36,000 Professional Pathways enrollments in Career Advancement Courses, Diploma Programs, workshops, and seminars. The School’s community is enriched by more than 30,000 degree-holding alumni worldwide, many of whom serve as mentors, guest speakers, and advisory board members. For more information about the NYU School of Professional Studies, visit sps.nyu.edu.