AM25: The Business of College Sports

College athletics is characterized by loyal fandom, significant revenue generation, substantial expenses, and evolving opportunities and challenges. Name, Image, and Likeness rights and the transfer portal have added new dimensions to the landscape, in addition to continued movement among schools between conferences, creating both opportunities and complexities. Chief financial officers and treasurers must stay informed as they navigate how these matters may affect budgeting and cash flow. This session will delve into the key drivers of college athletics today, the rapidly evolving landscape, and the potential implications for schools going forward.

Learning Objectives

Explain the implications for student athletes and institutions. 
Outline changes in the business model of college sports and impact on institutions financially. 
Identify forms of outside investor capital (media, private equity, institutional capital) that may enter college sports in the future.

CPE Available: 1.5 Credits in Finance

Each individual must register and attend separately to earn credit.

NACUBO is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website www.nasbaregistry.org

Event Information

Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Minimum 1-2 years of experience as a professional in higher education or a related private industry.
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Mode: Group internet based
Field of Study: Finance
Length: 75 minutes

Steps to Earn CPE Credit

You can only earn credit for attending the session live. CPE credit cannot be earned for watching the recordings.

To earn CPE credit, you will complete the following tasks under the Content tab, after the session has ended:

Pass the CPE codeword quiz. Write down the codewords posted in the Zoom chat at random times throughout the session and complete the quiz at the end of the session.
Submit the CPE check-out code displayed at the end of the session.
Download your CPE certificate.

You have until 5 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 30, to complete these three steps or report technology issues with this site to online@nacubo.org.

For more detailed instructions, review the CPE Instructions page.

Ross Bjork

Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director

The Ohio State University

Ross Bjork became The Ohio State University’s Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director on July 1, 2024. With over 30 years in intercollegiate athletics, Bjork previously served as a Senior Advisor for Intercollegiate Athletics at Ohio State, working closely with outgoing director Gene Smith. His tenure included strategic meetings with university leadership and overseeing key coaching appointments. Before Ohio State, Bjork was the athletics director at Texas A&M University, where he led significant achievements in academics and sports, including record-setting fundraising campaigns and successful coaching hires. He also played a pivotal role in developing name, image, and likeness (NIL) legislation and initiatives. Bjork's career includes leadership roles at the University of Mississippi and Western Kentucky University, where he achieved notable successes in athletics and academics. He currently serves as the President of NACDA. Bjork holds degrees from Emporia State University and Western Illinois University. He and his wife, Sonya, have two sons, Payton and Paxton. Bjork is committed to leading Ohio State with innovative thinking and a focus on student-athlete success.

Eric Menell

Managing Director and Co-Head of Sports Investment Banking

J.P. Morgan

Eric Menell is a Managing Director and the Head of Media and Communications Investment Banking, Americas and the Global-Co Head of Sports Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in June 2008, he spent 11 years at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. where he began his career as an investment banking analyst in 1997 and primarily focused on large-cap media mergers and acquisitions. In 2017, Eric was profiled by Variety in its inaugural New York Dealmakers Elite list and named to the list again in 2018. Eric graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Frank Azzopardi

Partner and Head of Intellectual Property and Commercial Transactions Practice

Davis Polk & Wardwell, LLP

Frank is the head of Davis Polk’s IP & Commercial Transactions practice. He has extensive experience structuring and negotiating complex commercial transactions and counselling clients on sports-related matters, including matters involving professional baseball and international soccer teams; media companies; major universities with respect to their athletics programs; and major athletic brands on celebrity endorsement deals.