Sports Finance Leaders to Converge at Exclusive College Athletics Investment Summit

Leading figures from collegiate athletics and private capital markets are set to gather in Atlanta for an exclusive event focused on the transformative changes sweeping through college sports. The JohnWallStreet Live: Private Equity x College Sports conference will convene on January 20, 2025, at the W Hotel, strategically timed just hours before the College Football Playoff final between Notre Dame and Ohio State.

The event will feature a distinguished lineup of sports and finance executives, including Mark Dowley from RedBird Capital, Kevin Mayer of Smash Capital, and conference commissioners Brett Yormark (Big 12), Tim Pernetti (American Athletic Conference), and Gloria Nevarez (Mountain West). These industry leaders will explore the complex financial landscape emerging in collegiate athletics.

Corey Leff, founder of JohnWallStreet, emphasized the critical timing of the discussion, noting that new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules and potential player revenue sharing are creating unprecedented demand for strategic capital and innovative revenue generation strategies.

The conference will address significant challenges facing athletic departments, including underinvestment in critical areas such as human capital, real estate development, and intellectual property commercialization. Attendees will gain insights into how strategic capital can be effectively deployed and the potential risks associated with financial investments at university and conference levels.

The gathering represents a pivotal moment in collegiate sports, as traditional operational models are being rapidly disrupted by new economic realities. By bringing together key decision-makers from investing and athletic administration, the event aims to chart potential pathways for sustainable financial models in an increasingly complex sports ecosystem.

With major conference commissioners and private equity leaders in attendance, the event promises to offer unprecedented visibility into the future of college sports financing and strategic development.