Events
SFIA Super Regional Series
SFIA's Super Regional Series brings the sports and fitness industry together to a local city to help build community.
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The SFIA Super Regionals are a series of intimate, half-day conferences and receptions focused on the State of the Industry and critical topics for SFIA members and their regions
The Super Regional Series travels the country targeting regions with high SFIA member concentrations. SFIA will curate an afternoon of dynamic panel discussions with industry experts addressing the most relevant issues of the day, catering to the specific market and SFIA member focuses. Each Super Regional will include a State of the Industry Presentation, along with panels in subject areas including grassroots sports participation, consumer behavior, public policy, product innovation, women in sports, retail marketing, research, and people and culture.
Each Super Regional will conclude with a networking reception and, in some cases, a “fireside chat” with an industry leader.
Upcoming Super Regional
Advanced registration is required for these limited-capacity events. Registrations will be coordinated on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to SFIA approval. If you have any questions on registration, please contact Chandler Hoffman.
October 29, 2024 | Boston, MA: Babson College – SFIA Start-Up Challenge
*In coordination with the 2024 SFIA Start-Up Challenge*
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | 12:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
Babson College
Knight Auditorium
271 Wellesley Ave
Wellesley, MA 02481
Program Details:
New Balance Product Innovation & Design Session
Jared Goldman: Vice President, Innovation & Digital Design, New Balance
Bonnie Dominguez: Director, Creative Culture and Digital Storytelling, New Balance
Jinger Gottschall: Director, Sports Research Lab, New Balance
Patrick Streeter: Senior Project Manager, Innovation, New Balance
Drew Spieth: Director, Innovation Design, New Balance
2024 Start-Up Challenge Finalist Presentations
Hear pitches from the top four Start-Up Challenge finalists from this year’s competition, which highlights innovative entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing the industry through cutting-edge products, technologies, and concepts. Help determine the winner of the 8th annual event! Learn more about the Start-Up Challenge at sfiastartupchallenge.org.
State of the Industry – Sporting Goods, Fitness, and Participation
Gain insights into the trends and issues affecting participation and the economy with SFIA’s Senior Director of Research & Business Operations, Alex Kerman
Arthur Blank’s Value-Based Leadership
Scott Taylor: Professor, Organizational Behavior; Arthur M. Blank Endowed Chair for Values-Based Leadership, Blank School of Babson College
Boston Sports Trivia with Prizes
Prizes include Boston Bruins tickets & more!
Post-Event Reception & CEO Conversation
Join a post-event beer and wine reception to include the announcement of the 2024 Start-Up Challenge winner and a CEO Conversation with Jon Ram, Former CEO, C. & J. Clarks Shoes, and Adam Franklin, President, Franklin Sports
Pricing:
SFIA Members: $225 per person/$175 for 4+
Non-Members: $300 per person
Educators, Professors, Students: $125 per person
*Start-Up Challenge Judges contact [email protected] to register
Previous Super Regionals
Thank you to everyone who has attended one of our Super Regionals!
2024
St. Louis Super Regional
October 1, 2024: Rawlings Sporting Goods Global Headquarters
Click here to view photos from the St. Louis Super Regional
Chicago Super Regional
July 24, 2024: Wilson Sporting Goods Headquarters
Click here to view photos from the Chicago Super Regional
New York Super Regional/State of the Industry Premiere
May 28, 2024: Offices of Loeb & Loeb
Click here to view photos from the New York Super Regional
2023
Boston Super Regional
November 1, 2023: Warrior Ice Arena
Click here to view photos from the Boston Super Regional
Seattle Super Regional
November 9, 2023: Brooks Sports Global Headquarters
Click here to view photos from the Seatle Super Regional
New York Super Regional
November 15, 2023: Offices of Loeb & Loeb
Click here to view photos from the New York Super Regional
“Brooks hosted a Super Regional in Seattle, and it was a great way to engage the industry in local markets and in smaller groups. The SFIA team did a great job putting together an agenda and list of speakers that drove great conversations and even better networking opportunities.”
— Dan Sheridan, CEO, Brooks
“Attending a Super Regional was an eye-opener for me. It’s clear that the SFIA is leading the way in uniting the sports community during these transformative times. With the NHL’s support, these events are not just meetings; they are catalysts for meaningful dialogue on the pressing issues we face. This partnership underscores the importance of coming together to drive progress. I encourage anyone passionate about sports and fitness to experience the synergy and innovation at these super regionals firsthand.”
— Rob Wooley, Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Executive Director, NHL Foundation
“The Boston Super Regional provided a unique and local opportunity to indulge in some timely state of the industry information from a reliable source. The Super Regional agenda allowed for a nice mix of presentations, panel discussions, and breakouts that helped make the topics engaging and actionable. It was also good to reconnect with some old friends and make a few new ones at the networking reception.”
— Ray Hilvert, Vice President, New Balance
“Super Regionals provide a unique and local opportunity to indulge in some timely state of the industry information from a reliable source. The agenda allowed for a nice mix of presentations, panel discussions, and breakouts that helped make the topics engaging and actionable. It was also good to reconnect with some old friends and make a few new ones at the networking reception.”
— Ed Kinnaly, CEO, Bauer, Maverik & Cascade
“The Super Regionals are a great way to dive into relevant sports industry topics with colleagues from a variety of organizations. We found it invaluable for learning and networking and were quite pleased to bring a large contingent to the 2023 Boston event.”
— John Lynch, Vice President, Marketing, Franklin Sports
“Being part of the SFIA’s Super Regional was truly meaningful for me. It was great to speak up for girls’ and women’s sports, focusing on how we can all help remove the barriers that keep people from participating. SFIA is doing an awesome job at leading these important conversations as the sports world keeps changing. These super regionals are more than just get-togethers; they’re opportunities for us to come up with new ideas to make sports more welcoming for everyone. If you care about pushing sports forward, especially for women and girls, getting involved in these events can make a real difference.”
— Haley Skarupa, Olympic Gold Medalist, NHL Foundation Ambassador, Head Scout of the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team
Thank You Super Regional Series Sponsors
For more information or for questions on SFIA’s Super Regional Series, or if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Glenn Horine at [email protected] or (203) 814-7307.