Keep Your Eye on the Ball
The Future of Sports
Thursday, April 7
7:30 a.m. –12 p.m.
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
1000 Broadway St.
The deadline to register is April 4, 2022.
Tickets at www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/event/the-future-of-sports.
In case you need a reminder, the Bengals went to the Super Bowl this year. That championship run generated an incredible $4.4 billion in media impressions of Cincinnati.
With the LPGA returning this Fall for the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G and a bid for the 2026 World Cup still very much in the works, Cincinnati is already seeing how a big game can lead to a big gain.
“Over the next year, the Cincinnati sports business landscape will continue to change. Legalized sporting betting will launch with sports books opening up all over the state joining our neighbors to the north and west who are already seeing millions of dollars in new tax revenue,” says Jackie Reau, a member of the 2026 Cincy Local Organizing Committee committee and one of the presenters at The Future of Sports.
The event, presented by the Cincinnati Business Courier, will focus on the future of athletics and what the city can expect for facilities, construction, and the economic impact in the Greater Cincinnati region.
The program will begin with a virtual Q&A with Cris Collinsworth, Reau and Jamie Smith, publisher of the Cincinnati Business Courier.
“Cincinnati will learn if it’s a Host City for the largest sporting event in the world in 2026 as FIFA will narrow its decision to those cities who will host World Cup matches in less than five years,” Reau says. “Esports will continue to grow in popularity and reach into mainstream media. NIL deals among collegiate athletes will also continue to grow in interest and popularity.”
The morning will feature three panels including high school athletics, college athletics, and professional sports teams game day experience. The panelists will be
Phil Castellini, chief operating officer, Cincinnati Reds
Bobby Straka, director of marketing, FC Cincinnati
Seth Tanner, director of content, Cincinnati Bengals
Ken Bothof, athletic director, northern Kentucky University
Greg Christopher, athletic director, Xavier University
John Cunningham, director of athletics, University of Cincinnati
David Sayler, athletic director, Miami University
Tony Bacigalupo, athletic director, Covington Catholic High School
Justin Bayer, athletic director, Moeller High School
Jabreel Moton, athletic director, Woodward Career Technical High School
Brian Phelps, director of athletics, Indian Hill Exempted Village School District
Brian Reinhart, director of athletics, St. Xavier High School
“The entire Cincinnati sports business community is coming together to discuss the Future of Sports,” says Reau. “Join the discussion.”