As a fundamental part of the Sport Administration Certificate Program, the York University Sport Administration Association is a student run organization that provides opportunities for members to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the sport industry through organizing sport-oriented events and building partnerships with sport-related organizations. Click Here for More Information on YUSAA.
About the Sport Business Conference:
The long-standing vision of all Sport Business Conferences (SBCs) held by the York University Sport Administration Association has been to "provide a forum for the aspiring sport industry leaders of tomorrow to build strong networks with today's leading organizations, business professionals, and students across Canada's sport business community."
The title for this year's event is Sport Business Conference 2010: Becoming the Top Prospect. The objectives of this conference are twofold:
Our conference this year will take place on Friday January 29, 2010 at York University's "Underground" restaurant and event centre. Unique to this year's conference is a format of multiple speaker panels focusing on specific segments of the sport industry.
We're very confident that this year's event will be one of YUSAA's best ever!
1999 - YUSAA begins one-day conference
This was an event for students studying sport administration/management. Inaugural keynote was former CEO of the Canadian Olympic Association, Carol Ann Letheren.
2000 - Competing in the Canadian Market
Conference boasts VP and General Manager of the Toronto Raptors, Glen Grunwald as its dinner keynote speaker.
Strategies for Success - Conference lines up another great keynote speaker, Paul Godfrey, President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays.
2002 - Challenges of the 21st Century
Conference re-named SBC (Sport Business Conference) and due to demand, conference extended into two days. Meal keynote speakers included Rick Davis (RDP Events and Design Inc.), Gord Hendren (Founder, Charlton Research Inc.) and Richard Peddie (President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd.) kicked off the conference with his dinner keynote address. Other speakers included TSN personality Michael Landsberg, host of “Off The Record,” Natalie Cook (IMG), Tom Pistore (MLSEL) and David Rashord (Sportsnet).
2003 - Convergence of Sport and Entertainment
Conference continued to expand the variety of speakers by including meal speakers such as Nancy Lee (Executive Director, CBC Sports), Mike Lipkin (President of Environics/Lipkin) and John Stanton (Founder, The Running Room) in addition to other speakers including, Carmella and Mark Gelgor (Sportball), Sam Galet (CFL), Tom Anselmi (MLSEL) and Olympic medallist Curt Harnett (Director of Development, Sportalliance and Canadian Sport Centre, Ontario)
2004 - The Globalization of Sport
Conference speakers including meal speakers such as Sarah Clappison (Senior Officer, Athlete Relations, Right To Play); Stacey Allaster (Vice President, Tennis Canada and Toronto Tournament Director) and Brian Cooper (President and COO, Insight Sports Inc).
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - This conference dealt with the different impact Media has on sports, sport fans and sport companies. The Keynote speaker was Keith Pelley and some session leaders included Chris Zelkovich (Toronto Star), Dave Haggith (IMG) and Pat Park (MLSE).
2006 - From the Classroom to the Board Room
Keynote speaker Lou Ragagnin, COO of the Canadian Olympic was one of many sport professionals to speak at the 2006 conference. Others included Wayne Embry (Toronto Raptors), Bob Stellick (Stellick Marketing and Communications), Chris Gibbs (Toronto Marlies), and Anton Thun (NHLPA Player Agent). The conference also featured a pair of representatives from IMG Canada in Jodi Clare and Stephanie Johnston.
2007 - Climbing the Ladder to Success
The 2007 SBC featured an impressive trio from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertianment, including keynote speaker Richard Peddie (President & CEO), Chuck Swirsky (Toronto Raptors Commentator), and Paul Beirne (Toronto FC). The conference also featured the founder of Right to Play, Johann Koss, Hockey Night in Canada's Elliot Friedman, among others.
2008 - Training Camp: The Playbook to Success
2008 saw SBC moved off York University's campus for the first time as the Days Inn Hotel in downtown Toronto hosted the event. Bob Hunter of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment spoke at the dinner keynote address, while a morning panel featured representatives from MLSE, Basketball Canada, Right to Play, and Angus Glen Golf COurse. Individual speakers included Daniel Steinfeld (Toronto Argonauts), Cesar Velasco (Toronto FC), and Kathrin Mertens (Canadian Olympic Committee).
2009 - Becoming the Top Prospect
Taking place at the Canlan Ice Sports facility at York University, 2009s SBC featured speakers from a wide array of sport industry fields, including Bob McKenna (Canadian Sports Media group), James Duthie (TSN), Julie Staples (Tennis Canada), Matt Sammons (NHL ), and Marc Petitpas (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment). The dinner keynote speaker was MLSEs Chief Operating Officer, Tom Anselmi.