I know I speak for all of the Front Office Sports team when I say that the Rising 25 has been one of the most special parts of our brand over the past two years.
Late in 2016, we put together the idea on a whim. The University of Miami was having a sports business conference and we thought that if we could put something on paper, we could celebrate the winners in a way that came with the added value of being associated with the conference and the ability to spend a day or two learning.
As college students at the time, we had seen how hard our peers, and those just above them, were either working to get into the space or to make their mark in it. As you may know, the first few years working in the sports industry are usually the ones where the hours are the worst and the tasks are the most time-consuming.
But, for as hard as those people were working, the opportunities were few and far between to shine a light on their accomplishments and celebrate their upward trajectory.
Thus, Rising 25 was born.
In 2017, the award’s first year, 90 people were nominated.
In 2018, 140.
While I don’t yet know how many people will be nominated this year, I can tell you that the award is set to become one of the best in the industry as we welcome Anheuser-Busch InBev aboard as the presenting partner of the 2019 Front Office Sports Rising 25 Award.
The goal of the award has always been to celebrate the rising stars of the industry — and celebrate is exactly what we will do.
Over the course of three days in April, the Rising 25 Class of 2019 will spend a day in the city filled with fun group activities, a day highlighted by an immersive learning experience alongside AB InBev executives, and finally, a black-tie gala to honor this elite group of individuals.
While Rising 25 has always been unique in its own right, we’re taking it to new heights in 2019 thanks to the support of AB InBev.
Nominations for the Rising 25 Class of 2019 open in January, so be sure to start thinking of who you would like to nominate!