Future of Sports: Leagues of Their Own

May 14, 2025 • 1:05 pm ET • Virtual Event

About The Event

The days of professional sports being so focused on the Big Four are long gone. Today’s sports fans are following far more than the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. The WNBA had its most successful season in history. The NWSL is expanding into new markets. Olympic viewership renewed interest in sports like track and field, rugby, and cricket. And there are esports on ESPN.

Tune in May 14 at 1 p.m. ET as Baker Machado, Front Office Sports’ Multi-platform Host and Producer, sits down with experts from emerging leagues and the brands that support them about what these leagues are doing to keep growing.

Agenda

Session 1 | 1:05pm ET

Challenger Leagues

Emerging pro sports leagues like the PWHL, PLL, UFL and USL are not just creating new opportunities for athletes but also are rewriting models for how leagues operate, engage fans, and generate revenue. From the PWHL’s take on women’s hockey to the PLL’s touring model, these leagues are proving there is more than one way to build a successful sports property.

Baker Machado

Moderator

Peter Murray

CEO

Professional Fighters League

Amy Scheer

Executive Vice President, Business Operations

Professional Women's Hockey League

Session 2 | 1:35pm ET

How Esports Are Changing the Game

Esports have evolved from niche gaming communities to packing arenas and garnering major brand sponsorships despite minimal traditional broadcast presence. Explosive growth in the industry has established a new blueprint for how leagues can build massive audiences and monetize engagement in this new media era.

Leo Matlock

Chief Business Officer

BLAST

Session 3 | 2:05pm ET

Big Growth for Global Games

International leagues are showing that global sports can capture new fans in America, as demonstrated by the U.S. success of Major League Cricket, Rugby, and European soccer clubs. As these leagues reshape the global sports landscape, they’re unlocking new revenue streams and fan bases in untapped markets.

Speakers