The inaugural SEICon event in 2024 featured this large contingent from the Falk College and ���ϲ�����. Representatives will once again play prominent roles during SEICon II July 8-10 in Las Vegas.

The second annual Sports, Entertainment and Innovation Conference (SEICon)—named by Zoomph as one of the —will be held from July 8-10 at MGM’s iconic Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

SEICon is a partnership between and the , in collaboration with the Las Vegas-based guest experience agency , and it serves as a platform for professionals to discuss strategies and innovations shaping the future of the sports and entertainment industries.

SEICon II will bring together industry leaders from the public and private sectors and academia and feature fully catered lunchtime keynotes, insightful panel discussions and curated networking opportunities focused on emerging trends, digital transformation, and the future of fan engagement, media rights, sponsorships and entertainment technology.

All-inclusive registration for SEICon II is now open. Visit the to register and to find more information about SEICon II and satellite 2025-26 SEICon events in Houston, London and Atlanta. ���ϲ����� alumni will receive $200 off the cost of registration by using the code SU ALUMNI.

“This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, share insights and explore the latest innovations in sports and entertainment,” says alumnus and Circle CEO Shawn Garrity ’86. “We’re thrilled to build upon last year’s momentum, bringing together thought leaders for another unforgettable experience. Expect compelling content, intimate connections and top-notch hospitality that only Vegas can offer.”

Building on the success of its inaugural year, SEICon is moving to the legendary Bellagio Hotel, which is known for its fountains and world-class amenities. This year’s event will focus on key emerging areas within the industry, including women in sports and entertainment, motorsports and golf.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to host SEICon II at the prestigious Bellagio,” says Jay Vickers, COO of UNLV Sports Innovation Institute. “Returning to Las Vegas and partnering with such an esteemed venue, alongside the invaluable support of our partners, underscores SEICon’s growing influence and our commitment to providing an unparalleled experience for our invited guests.”

Vickers, Garrity, and Falk College of Sport Dean Jeremy Jordan appeared on the in late May to discuss the partnership between Falk College, UNLV Sports Innovation Institute, and Circle, and the present and future of SEICon.

SEICon will include nearly 30 panel conversations and two keynote speaker events. One keynote is with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who in June will become president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The second keynote features two ���ϲ����� alumni, veteran news and media executive Chris Licht ’93 and New York Post CEO Sean Giancola ’90, along with a representative from Gannett/USA Today, the presenting sponsor of SEICon II.

Several faculty members will lead panels, including David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management (The World Cup and the Rise of MLS: A New Era for Soccer); Assistant Teaching Professor of Sport Management (Women in Racing); Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor (Get with the Program: Entreprenuership); and Professor of Sports Law (Post House–The Future of College Athletics).

Growing Partnership

The connections between the Falk College and UNLV Sports Innovation Institute continue to grow beyond the annual SEICon event.

SEICon’s Business of Sport conference for the Australian National Rugby League featured Falk College faculty members Rodney Paul (middle row, left), Rick Burton (middle row, right) and Alexia Lopes (first row, second from right).

This past March, the National Rugby League (NRL) from Australia with men’s and women’s games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. In advance of those games, SEICon hosted a  conference for the NRL at the UNLV Sports Innovation Institute that included the signing of a partnership between SEICon and the . Burton, Lopes and Paul attended the conference, and Paul served as the moderator for a discussion on The Tech Playbook: Innovations for Shaping the Future of Sports.

“We are excited about the growing collaborations with UNLV Sports Innovation Institute and Circle for SEICon and the opportunities for our faculty to share their work and research from the programs in the new College of Sport: sport management, sport analytics, esports, exercise science, and nutrition,” says Paul. “We are most excited, however, to show off our greatest asset, our students, and provide them with an unparalleled experience in one of the most dynamic sports and entertainment markets in the world.”

Analysts predict the global sports market to reach $2 trillion, which is 2% of the $100 trillion world economy, bolstered by an influx of money from new sources, emerging technologies and growing demand. Already the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas has become an emerging sports destination and is perfectly positioned to host an annual conference focused on the intersection of sports, entertainment and innovation.

The inaugural SEICon in 2024 included 775 attendees and 183 speakers ranging from presidents and founders to venture capitalists and government officials. Visit the to learn more about the inaugural 2024 event and what’s planned for 2025 and beyond.

David B. Falk College of Sport

On July 1, 2025, ���ϲ����� will make history by launching the David B. Falk College of Sport—the first college on a high-research activity (R1) campus dedicated exclusively to sport-related disciplines. Named after visionary benefactor and legendary sports agent David B. Falk, this new college stands at the intersection of academic excellence and industry innovation. The college will unite our distinguished programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition and esports (offered jointly with the prestigious Newhouse School of Public Communications) under one dynamic academic umbrella.

During a recent visit to Falk College, Women Leaders in Sports CEO Patti Phillips (back row, middle with red jacket) met with ���ϲ����� students from Falk College and the Newhouse School.

One of the many benefits of the new partnership between the nationally recognized and the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics is the mentorship that Women Leaders in Sports executives are providing to Falk students.

That benefit was on full display recently in Falk College, where Women Leaders in Sports Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategy and Operating Officer met with Falk students for a networking and professional development session and hosted a lunch meeting with students from Falk and the .

We asked Falk College students Emily Gilbert, Lexi Katz and Allison Vims to share what they learned from Phillips and Turner at the lunch session, and here’s what they wrote:

Emily Gilbert ’27 (sport management major, political science minor)

“Meeting with Christina and Patti was a wonderful experience, and learning more about their professional journeys and how they got to where they are now was eye-opening. It was inspiring to hear how Patti started as a coach with mostly male mentors and that pushed her to want to create an environment where women had other women to lean on.

“I asked Patti why she was coming to ���ϲ����� and how the new partnership would be beneficial for female students, and her reply resonated with me. She said their organization is a hub for women to meet other women and learn valuable skills that will help grow their careers.

“Patti also explained how they will tell us the truth about the industry. She said that getting into the industry is not easy and sometimes putting in the work is not enough. There will be times that you will get overlooked, but the Women Leaders in Sports organization is there to help lift us. They will provide us with opportunities to grow, learn and adapt to make us the best candidates so that organizations will have no choice but to hire us.”

Emily Gilbert is the community outreach and fundraising chair for the Women in Sports and Events Club (WISE), vice president of community service for the Sport Management Club and vice president of philanthropy for the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

Lexi Katz ’27 (sport management major, Spanish minor)

“I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with Patti Phillips and Christina Turner and they shared valuable insights on how to be a successful woman in sports and break into the competitive industry. I enjoyed hearing their networking and interviewing tips such as making a good first impression, how to follow up and stay connected to build your network, what questions to avoid in an interview, and how women can support each other in different organizations.

Sport management major Lexi Katz (in striped sweater) says she hopes “more students learn about the partnership (with Women Leaders in Sports) and use their network to find other opportunities.”

“One valuable conversation we had was about how important it is to have a growth mindset. If you want to grow and progress in the industry, you need to try new things and push yourself while also being detailed and taking pride in doing the small things.

“We also discussed the partnership between Falk and Women Leaders in Sports and I mentioned how grateful we are to have a dean like Jeremy Jordan, who recognizes the lack of support women have in sports and encourages us to get our foot in any way we can. I hope more students in Falk learn about the partnership, take advantage of it and use their network to find other opportunities. I love all that Patti, Christina, and Women Leaders in Sports are doing, and I am so happy to be part of it.”

Lexi Katz is the communications chair for the Women In Sports and Events Club (WISE), a member of the Sport Management Club and a two-year member of the inventory team for the Sport Management Club’s Sport Charity Auction.

Allison Vims ’27 (sport management major, double minor in business and Spanish)

“My table’s discussion was led by Patti Phillips, who asked us each to individually share our goals and leadership aspirations. Patti made the time to get to know us as individuals and encouraged us to figure out ways that she could help us.

“Over our lunch, my fellow attendees and I began to share stories of our hardships and success stories in the industry. Patti listened first, then broke down scenarios and different ways to attack each situation to ensure that we would keep our seats at the table. The Women Leaders in Sports team ended the lunch with the advice to keep leading, because we, as students, are the future of the sport industry. I left the lunch feeling a sense of empowerment.

“Prior to this lunch, I knew that the partnership would make Falk College stand out from other sport management programs, but I didn’t see how students would be involved. However, being able to ask the CEO her opinions and having the opportunity to share my input as a student leader helped me see how the partnership will benefit students. The future is promising with such an incredible team of leaders backing us! Thank you to both Women Leaders and Falk College for giving me the opportunity to be a leader.

Allison Vilms is president of the Women in Sports and Events Club (WISE) and vice president of programming for the Sport Management Club.

Pioneering Partnership

, the partnership between Women Leaders in Sports and Falk College and was inspired after ���ϲ�����’s Women in Leadership Initiative hosted Women Leaders in Sports CEO Patti Phillips on campus in March 2024 for a series of meetings and presentations.

The partnership creates mentoring, learning, fellowship, internship and membership opportunities for Falk students, provides access to professional memberships to Falk faculty and supports faculty attendance at significant events such as the Women Leaders in Sports National Convention. In October, a contingent of Falk College students, faculty and staff attended the Women Leaders in Sports 2024 National Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

As part of the collaboration, Phillips serves as special advisor to Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan and an “executive in residence” at Falk. The partnership also calls for an exchange of relevant ���ϲ����� research and co-creates a Women Leaders in Sports Fellowship.

The and the program at ���ϲ����� have entered an agreement that will allow ���ϲ����� sport analytics students to complete statistical analysis and provide insights and visualizations to the UFL. The agreement marks the first time an American college or university has worked with the spring football league.

As part of the agreement, the UFL will provide ���ϲ����� students with experience in professional football and access to its employees, while ���ϲ����� will provide the data analysis skills of students from the leading sport analytics program in the country.

“The United Football League is proud to team up with the two-time national champion Sport Analytics program at ���ϲ�����,” said UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon, a member of ���ϲ�����’s Department of Sport Management . “Innovation is at the heart of the UFL, so it is only fitting that we seek out the creativity and the expertise of these students as we look toward a new approach to sports analytics.”

The UFL is the premier spring football league formed from the merger of the XFL and USFL in 2024. Under the combined ownership of RedBird Capital Partners, FOX, Dany Garcia, and Dwayne Johnson, the UFL features eight teams in key markets: Arlington, Texas; Birmingham, Ala.; Detroit, Mich.; Houston, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; San Antonio, Texas; St. Louis, Mo., and Washington, D.C.

The 2025 UFL season will kick off at 8 p.m. ET Friday, when FOX Sports debuts “FOX UFL Friday”—a new night dedicated to UFL action taking place each Friday during the 10-week regular season—with a matchup featuring the St. Louis Battlehawks against the Houston Renegades. The league’s second season will conclude on Saturday, June 14, when ABC presents the 2025 UFL Championship Game.

“The UFL envisions itself as a gathering place for innovative thinkers,” said UFL Vice President of Football Technology Brad Campbell. “Thanks to the contributions of the sport analytics team at ���ϲ����� we will be able to raise this vision to a whole new level.”

Under the leadership of Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor , ���ϲ�����’s sport analytics students captured back-to-back National Sport Analytics Championships in 2023-24, and they have won numerous player and team analytics competitions in football, basketball, and baseball. About 70 students are providing data collection and analysis for 13 of ���ϲ�����’s athletic teams, and the program’s other professional partners include the Kumamoto Volters’ men’s basketball team in Japan, the Farjestad BK women’s hockey team in Sweden, the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, Major League Soccer’s CF Montreal, and others.

Under the agreement with the UFL, the Sport Analytics program is coordinating student participation, and seven students have joined the first phase, with more to be added later. The UFL is assigning projects related to league operations and initiatives, and the parties are holding regular meetings to discuss projects, share findings through visualizations (charts, graphs, dashboards), and strategize on next steps.

“We are honored to partner with the UFL and look forward to providing insights and actionable items for the teams and league,” Paul said. “The experience and feedback our students will gain from this partnership is something that’s impossible to replicate in the classroom. Opportunities like this have been our dream since the start of the program, and we are so appreciative of all the wonderful people in the UFL and how their experience and expertise will benefit our students in so many ways.”

The project is the first step in a plan that could possibly make such screenings available at OFAs across New York.

Early recognition of memory changes that could indicate an early stage dementia is important in order to help older adults gets the medical attention they need to avoid a crisis.

“If we are aware of early signs of memory issues, we are able to connect the individual to health care professionals who can begin appropriate treatment, while taking steps to educate and support families to improve the individual’s quality of life,” says , MD, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and chair of the Geriatrics and director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease. “The ability to easily screen this segment of the population has the potential to significantly benefit both the individual and their families.”

Changes that might be caused by early dementia can include changes in memory, depression, anxiety, aggression or lack of interest, Brangman says.

Here’s how the program works: OFA case managers in the selected counties have been trained by Upstate staff to administer what is called the “Mini-Cog,” a three-minute screening tool to assess potential memory loss. The screening can be administered in an individual’s home during a routine visit by OFA staff or at the county office. OFA case managers will not make any diagnoses based on the screening results; they will only administer the screening.

If the Mini-Cog shows any sign of memory change, the individual will be referred to Upstate University Geriatricians for a comprehensive geriatric assessment.

School of Social Work Associate Research Professor Maria Brown (right) speaks with reporters following the news conference announcing the partnership between ���ϲ����� and Upstate Medical University.

To evaluate the merits of this screening approach in community settings, , Ph.D., associate research professor in ���ϲ�����’s and will analyze screening information over the yearlong project to identify the number of clients screened, number of clients with scores indicating memory changes, number of clients who receive follow-up comprehensive assessments and their diagnostic results.

“We are excited about improving the ability of OFAs to identify older adults across the Central New York region who could benefit from geriatric evaluations and connection to services to address their changing needs,” Brown says.

Officials say they expect to screen about 3,750 individuals. Based on statistical analysis, they project that about 975 of those individuals will have scores suggesting some memory concerns.

If results of the evaluation show this screening approach with OFA to be a success, Upstate will create an online training manual and companion videos for use by the New York State Office for the Aging that could be included in the training of OFA staff throughout New York. The training resource also has the potential to be used by Offices for the Aging nationwide that have similar missions, programs and staffing.

In an earlier Upstate/���ϲ����� pilot program that looked at Onondaga County residents, Brown found that over a nine-month screening phase, 18 (26%) of the 69 mostly African American adults over the age of 65 who were screened had scores suggesting cognitive impairment.

Project officials say OFAs are appropriate entities to participate in this project as they already conduct standard assessments for clients. Called COMPASS, for Comprehensive Assessment for Aging Network Community Based Long Term Care Services, this assessment addresses issues such as housing, nutrition, psycho-social status, medications, daily activities, support network and health, but it does not currently screen for memory issues.

“Early detection of a memory problem such as dementia is vital for timely medical intervention and, just as importantly, to begin connecting individuals and families to the many community-based supports available through local offices for the aging,” says , the New York state director of the .

“These offices for the aging are ideally suited to support detection efforts because of their experience assessing individuals holistically, screening for targeted areas of concern, and delivering on the services and supports necessary to help a person age in place, whether it’s case management, home adaptations, personal care supports, nutrition, or other programs. I applaud SUNY Upstate’s Department of Geriatrics and ���ϲ�����’s Aging Studies Institute for this innovative collaborative effort with offices for the aging in their region.”

It’s noteworthy that Upstate and ���ϲ����� have joined forces to address this issue. The Upstate/���ϲ����� collaboration leverages significant resources and expertise on aging issues. Upstate is home to a Department of Geriatrics and a state (CEAD). CEAD currently has a staff that includes geriatricians who work in conjunction with geriatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and nurses with expertise in geriatrics. Social workers provide caregiver support with a particular emphasis on older adults at risk, especially those who live alone or with frail caregivers.

���ϲ����� is home to the Aging Studies Institute, which includes dozens of faculty working on age-related research and education issues, including age-based public policy; the causes and consequences of population aging; health and functioning across the life course; family, care work, and intergenerational support; and aging design, engineering, and technology.

Funding for the Upstate/���ϲ����� collaboration was made possible by the and the .

“The Health Foundation is proud to support this important initiative as part of our ongoing work on behalf of older adults,” says , Ph.D., president of the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York. “This program will break down barriers to bring earlier screening for memory issues to more people, meaning they’ll have the resources and treatments they need and deserve. Because those barriers to access often occur in communities of color or among people with lower incomes, this is a crucial health equity effort as well.”

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) detailing the agreement signed this past May was celebrated at a ceremony during the ICMA’s annual conference held in Pittsburgh from Sept. 21-25. ICMA President Lon Pluckhahn, past President Jeff Towery and past Executive Director Bob O’Neill were in attendance, along with Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke.

Dean Van Slyke receives a proclamation from ICMA’s Lynn Phillips honoring the school’s commitment to training local government public servants.

At the conference, Van Slyke was also presented with a resolution from ICMA recognizing the school’s longstanding commitment to investing in the next generation of local government public servants and strengthening democratic governance, with a special focus on supporting veterans transitioning into public service and on global engagement activities.

“It was an honor to receive this recognition and to formally announce and celebrate our expanded partnership,” said Van Slyke. “We have long found a strong partner in ICMA, and we are proud of the many Maxwell alumni who served as members and leaders of this important organization. This memorandum of understanding further strengthens that relationship and sets the school on a course for continued collaboration, in the name of good governance.”

Under the MOU, the school and ICMA will explore expanded opportunities for workshops and other training activities to support local governments throughout the world. The partnership will also support veteran and military personnel interested in local government by offering an opportunity to connect ICMA’s Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship with courses at Maxwell.

“ICMA’s core mission is to support the growth and development of public servants who are committed to local government administration,” said Ray Baray, acting CEO/executive director. “We are proud to partner with ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in our shared interest to increase access and participation in the profession of local government management and administration—especially for our U.S. veteran service population, and local government professionals globally.”

Daniel Nelson, director of accelerated learning and global engagement, will serve as a point of contact between the University and ICMA. Nelson received a master of public administration (M.P.A.) from the Maxwell School in 2004 and leads the state and local initiative, frequently collaborating with ICMA for programming and mentorship opportunities for students and alumni.

Originally founded in 1914, ICMA is the world’s leading association of professional city and county managers and other employees who serve local governments. With over 13,000 members, ICMA offers professional development programs, education, data and information, technical assistance, networking opportunities and training to thousands of city, town and county chief administrative officers, their staffs and other organizations around the world. ICMA is based in Washington, D.C., and hosts an annual conference in a different city each year.

The Maxwell School has enjoyed a longtime partnership with ICMA; including the sponsorship of students to attend annual ICMA conferences, where students network with many working in the state and local government sector. Since 2012, M.P.A. students have run the Maxwell ICMA student chapter, which provides programming, information, fundraising and activities on campus and in the local community, and attends the ICMA conference every year.

Story by Michael Kelly

It’s the first partnership of this kind between an American college or university and a Japanese professional sports team. As part of this agreement, sport analytics students and faculty will work in different capacities with students and faculty from , which is located on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

Kumamoto Basketball Co., Ltd., President and Chief Executive Officer Satoshi Yunoue says partnering with ���ϲ�����’s prestigious sport analytics program will improve the team’s performance as it seeks to move from the Japanese B.League’s B2 league to the B1 league. The Volters open their season on Oct. 7.

“In recent years, the importance of data has been gaining attention, and we are confident that together with Kumamoto University, (���ϲ�����) will support us in the analytics portion and contribute to improving our winning percentage as we accumulate know-how in data analysis,” Yunoue said in a statement on the team’s website that was translated into English.

“We are excited to be able to work with ���ϲ�����, which is leading the way in data analysis in the field of basketball in the United States,” Yunoue added.

The Falk College’s partnership with Kumamoto is the next phase for sport analytics students, who already provide data analysis for 11 of ���ϲ�����’s athletic teams. In this photo, sport analytics major Dan Griffiths reviews performance data with track and field student-athlete Elizabeth Bigelow.

In serving as the Volters’ de facto analytics department, seven undergraduate and graduate students in sport management will remotely collect and analyze a variety of data, including player performance statistics, live game video, information from wearables that track performance data, and business and operations data.

“We are honored and excited about the partnership between Kumamoto University and ���ϲ����� Sport Analytics,” says Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor . “We look forward to providing statistical insights, building visualizations and models, and doing everything we can to help with the success of the Volters as we build what we hope to be a lasting collaboration with our wonderful partners at both Kumamoto University and the Volters.”

Under Paul’s leadership, sport analytics students have captured back-to-back National Sport Analytics Championships, and they have won numerous player and team analytics competitions in basketball, football and baseball. About 70 students are providing data collection and analysis for 11 of ���ϲ�����’s athletic teams, and other partnerships such as the one with Kumamoto are in the works both nationally and globally.

Previously, the Volters utilized staff members to analyze data on a limited basis. In addition to analyzing the Volters’ data, the ���ϲ����� students will help analyze data from opposing teams, and the collaboration with ���ϲ����� and Kumamoto University will help the Volters build their own data analysis team.

“We would like to use the Volters as a hub to connect university students in Kumamoto and America,” Yunoue says. “We are grateful for this connection, and we will become a team and work together as colleagues working toward this goal.”

Paul says this partnership speaks to the uniqueness of the sport analytics program because ���ϲ����� students will apply the skills they’re learning in the classroom to a variety of areas for the Volters that will benefit from data analysis.

“This is the next step in the evolution of our program where our students are working in a practical laboratory with a professional team in another country and all that goes with it,” Paul says. “These are the ways they can show off their skills, and with the different time zones they can wake up in the morning and see the score of the game and the results of what they did.”