Stadion Sports Introduces Gold-Standard Professional Network

Bringing together a team with unmatched expertise and perspective across sport, media, marketing and higher education, Stadion Sports is today introducing its Professional Network of content providers and subject-matter experts.

The Stadion Sports Professional Network will help deliver customized education programs for university and corporate clients focused on preparing student-athletes for the opportunities, and challenges, resulting from changes in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) guidelines in intercollegiate athletics.

Launched earlier this year, Stadion Sports works with its university partners to deliver strategic plans built upon proactive education, on-line and in-person training, the unique conditions of each university market, and the real-time perspective and insight of its team of experts to help universities and their student-athletes prepare for, and thrive, in the complex NIL landscape.

The Stadion Sports Professional Network includes:

Rishi Narayan

Founder & Managing Owner, Underground Printing

Lecturer, University of Michigan

Co-Owner, Association Football Club Ann Arbor

Topics: Entrepreneurship, Licensing, Apparel Industry, E-commerce

Steve Raquel

President, IOV Media Agency

Adjunct Lecturer, University of Illinois

Marketing executive - McDonald's Corporation; U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Topics: Social Media, Digital Media, Advertising, Brand Marketing, Athlete Marketing

John Register

CEO, Inspired Communications International

Paralympic Silver Medalist

Combat Veteran

Keynote & TEDx Speaker

Track & Field athlete at the University Arkansas

Topics: Public Speaking, Change Management, Leadership, Overcoming Adversity

Robert Smith

SVP/Chief Operating Officer, Old Hat Creative

Topics: Sports Marketing, Strategy, Market Research, Data Analytics

Katie Thompson

Sports & Ticketing, Google

Former Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing, University of Tulsa

Former Director of Marketing, University of Maryland

Topics: Brand Marketing, Search Marketing, Online Marketing

Joanna Todd

Head Worldwide Business Development, Accommodation and Lodging -- Amazon Web Services

Former Vice President Global Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, Marriott International

Board Member, Children's Miracle Network Foundation

Topics: Sponsorship, Partnership Marketing, Athletes, Artists and Celebrity Influencers/Brand Ambassadors (What a Sponsor Wants), Branding, Marketing Strategy

Jamaal Walton

Associate Athletic Director for External Operations, College of Charleston

Former Director of Marketing, University of Alabama

Former Assistant Director of Marketing, University of Oklahoma

Topics: Sponsorship, Brand, Revenue Generation

The Stadion Sports Professional Network is an extension of the company’s Advisory Board, which was introduced during the company’s launch last month: decorated Olympians Cameron Myler and Summer Sanders; National Championship coach Bob Stoops; and highly-respected athletic administrator Dr. Brandon Martin.

The Stadion Sports Professional Network will continue to grow to meet the changing requirements and interests of our clients.

“In assembling our Professional Network, we listened carefully to leaders throughout intercollegiate athletics, along with our Advisory Board, to determine how best to meet the needs of universities and their student-athletes in the rapidly-evolving NIL environment,” said Matt Farrell, a Founding Partner of Stadion Sports. “The background and expertise of this team, combined with that of our Advisory Board, gives our clients a major advantage in preparing their student-athletes for success in this dynamic — and challenging — new world. We are proud to deliver this expertise and put it into action for our clients and their student-athletes.”

The Founding Partners of Stadion Sports are:

Matt Farrell, President of Farrell Sports Worldwide, who has worked with some of the most successful brands in global sports and entertainment including Golf Channel, USA Swimming, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Warner Bros.

Zac Logsdon, CEO and Founder of Old Hat Creative, one of the nation’s preeminent sports design and branding agencies. Old Hat has partnered with more than 200 sports organizations to help build brands, drive attendance at events, amplify the gameday experience for fans and increase fundraising and capital campaign efforts.

Darryl Seibel, Chief Brand and Communications Officer for World Lacrosse and the former Chief Communications Officer for the United States Olympic Committee and the British Olympic Association. Seibel has also held senior-level positions in intercollegiate athletics with UNLV and the Mountain West.