The inaugural SEICon event in 2024 featured this large contingent from the Falk College and 黑料不打烊. 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)鈥攏amed by Zoomph as one of the 鈥攚ill be held from July 8-10 at MGM鈥檚 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. 黑料不打烊 alumni will receive $200 off the cost of registration by using the code SU ALUMNI.

鈥淭his is your chance to connect with industry leaders, share insights and explore the latest innovations in sports and entertainment,鈥� says alumnus and Circle CEO Shawn Garrity 鈥�86. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to build upon last year鈥檚 momentum, bringing together thought leaders for another unforgettable experience. Expect compelling content, intimate connections and top-notch hospitality that only Vegas can offer.鈥�

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鈥檚 event will focus on key emerging areas within the industry, including women in sports and entertainment, motorsports and golf.

鈥淲e are incredibly proud and excited to host SEICon II at the prestigious Bellagio,鈥� says Jay Vickers, COO of UNLV Sports Innovation Institute. 鈥淩eturning to Las Vegas and partnering with such an esteemed venue, alongside the invaluable support of our partners, underscores SEICon鈥檚 growing influence and our commitment to providing an unparalleled experience for our invited guests.鈥�

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 黑料不打烊 alumni, veteran news and media executive Chris Licht 鈥�93 and New York Post CEO Sean Giancola 鈥�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鈥揟he 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 and women鈥檚 games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. In advance of those games, SEICon hosted a 聽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.

鈥淲e 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,鈥� says Paul. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�

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鈥檚 planned for 2025 and beyond.

David B. Falk College of Sport

On July 1, 2025, 黑料不打烊 will make history by launching the David B. Falk College of Sport鈥攖he 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.

 
The 2025 黑料不打烊 Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Summit was the first of its kind, but not the last.

The inaugural NIL Summit, which was first NIL event organized by students for student-athletes at 黑料不打烊, was hosted March 28 by the in partnership with the student-run 黑料不打烊 Sport Group and . The event brought 黑料不打烊 student-athletes together with corporate brands for networking, education, and NIL development.

The NCAA鈥檚 rules on NIL changed in 2021, allowing student-athletes to monetize their fame and popularity through endorsements, sponsorships, and other commercial activities. Since then, athletes who combine strong social media presence, business savvy, and prowess on the field have found partnerships with businesses from mom-and-pop stores to international brands.

鈥淚n this environment of collegiate sports, it鈥檚 critical that we provide student-athletes with as many meaningful NIL opportunities as possible,鈥� 黑料不打烊 Director of Athletics John Wildhack told the student-athletes and others gathered in Falk College鈥檚 Grant Auditorium for the NIL Summit. 鈥淏uilding the relationship between Falk College and athletics is one of the ways that鈥檚 going to benefit our student-athletes.鈥�

GEN Agency and GEN NIL founder and CEO Rachel Maeng Brown presents to student-athletes at the 2025 黑料不打烊 NIL Summit.

Starting July 1, Falk College will become the 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, the new college will unite Falk鈥檚 distinguished programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition, and esports (offered jointly with the Newhouse School of Public Communications) under one dynamic academic umbrella.

Led by students in Falk鈥檚 , the NIL Summit featured GEN Agency and GEN NIL founder and CEO , the 2024 CEO of the Year in Influencer Management and NIL Education who 聽presented brand deal case studies and led a content creation workshop with products from . Brown returned home to Central New York for the Summit as she is a 2014 graduate of C.W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville.

In addition to Brown鈥檚 content creation workshop, representatives from the sector of Morgan Stanley hosted a session to educate student-athletes about financial literacy.

As a result of the workshops and networking with corporate representatives, student-athletes gained valuable insight into NIL deal structures, financial literacy, personal branding strategies, and partnership opportunities. For example, every student-athlete who visited the content creation station left the event having activated a unique NIL deal with W by Jake Paul.

鈥淭he 黑料不打烊 NIL Summit demonstrated the impact and innovation of Falk College and its students,鈥� says Falk College Dean . 鈥淭his event was another example of the collaboration we have with 黑料不打烊 Athletics to provide Falk students with learning experiences beyond the classroom, and it connected 黑料不打烊 student-athletes with NIL industry leaders at a time when NIL is redefining collegiate sports.鈥�

Responsive to the MLBPA鈥檚 desire to expand opportunities for career growth to its thousands of players, the new cross-campus collaboration taps into the expertise of several of the University鈥檚 schools and colleges, including the new , the , the and the .

鈥淢y fellow deans and I are excited to partner with the Major League Baseball Players Association to provide the 黑料不打烊 experience to those interested in pursuing our vast academic offerings,鈥� says Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan, whose initial discussions with the MLBPA inspired the creation of this new initiative. 鈥淭his partnership reflects our collectively held value that higher education should be achievable for everyone, regardless of the demands of their profession or personal circumstances. For athletes and professionals with unpredictable schedules, our online programs offer the perfect balance of flexibility, robust academic support and real-world applicability鈥攁ll without compromising their careers.鈥�

“The Major League Baseball Players Association is thrilled to partner with 黑料不打烊 to provide our members with exceptional educational opportunities,鈥� says Chris Singleton, MLBPA special assistant for player resource programs and a former major league outfielder. 鈥淭his collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting players both on and off the field, ensuring they have access to world-class academic resources that empower their personal and professional growth.鈥�

The MLBPA represents the 1,200 players on major league 40-man rosters, as well as approximately 5,500 minor league players. This new partnership creates opportunities for these players to pursue several noteworthy objectives, including the following:

• Skill Development and Post-Career Readiness: The partnership will align market-relevant curricula and programming with players鈥� post-career aspirations and needs, ensuring they acquire meaningful skills and knowledge.
• Research and Innovation: The MLBPA and 黑料不打烊 will collaborate on research projects that inform progressive and advanced programming for professional athletes. These efforts may lead to the development of new technologies, products or processes, benefiting the MLBPA and other professional athletic organizations.
• Practical Experience: The partnership will provide 黑料不打烊 students with opportunities for internships, co-op programs and hands-on projects with the MLBPA. This practical experience will enhance learning, make students more competitive and serve as a potential pipeline for talent to the MLBPA and other professional athlete associations.
• Networking Opportunities: Players will gain access to professional mentors associated with 黑料不打烊 in sports, broadcasting and business, to aid them in post-playing career development and job opportunities.

Dedicated admission specialists and academic advisors will tailor academic pathways in support of the unique needs of each participant. These educational opportunities will be accessible through a number of formats, including online, on campus and at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 sites in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. The University will also offer an online academic English program to prepare non-native English speakers for success in their non-credit programs, courses and workshops.

Visit the 黑料不打烊 website to learn more about this innovative partnership.