Portland Sports Business Summit

Name: Portland Sports Business Summit
Start: 2026-03-13T13:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-03-13T17:00:00-07:00
Location: University of Portland ~ Dundon-Berchtold Auditorium

Schedule

Fri Mar 13 2026 at 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

University of Portland ~ Dundon-Berchtold Auditorium | Portland, OR

The inaugural Portland Sports Business Summit will bring together thought leaders from across the sports industry
About this Event

About the Portland Sports Business Summit

The inaugural Portland Sports Business Summit will bring together thought leaders from across the sports industry for a half-day of powerful conversation, networking, and student engagement.

NETWORK, SHARE, LEARN, INSPIRE. The Portland Sports Summit is a collaboration between The Sports Leadership Institute and the University of Portland Sports Business Program.

Who's Attending

75+ attendees, Sports Executives, Business Executives, Students, Faculty and Thought-Leaders

Current Speakers Include:

LARRY MILLER, Chairman, Jordan Brand
PAXTON BAKER, Co-owner and Founding Partner, Washington Nationals
ALAN MILLER, Owner & CEO, Portland Pickles, Bangers, Cherry Bombs, and Official League
KARINA LEBLANC, EVP of Strategic Growth Development, RAJ Sports (Portland Thorns & Portland Fire)
KEVIN KINGHORN, EVP, CMO, Portland Trail Blazers
MIKE JOHNSTON, President & GM, Portland Winterhawks
ROBERT KELLY, PH.D., President University of Portland
MIKE DeVAUGHN, PH.D., Dean, School of Business, University of Portland
More to be announced!

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About the Sports Leadership Institute (SLI)

Established in 2011, SLI is a relationship-driven organization that hosts exclusive, invitation-only gatherings where sports and entertainment leaders share best practices, exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships and address key industry challenges in a confidential, collaborative setting.

SLI produces annual summits for top leaders across professional, collegiate and youth sports—always with no media, no fans, no job seekers and no admission fees. Best known for the Global Sports Summit, which convenes owners, C-suite executives, GMs, investors and national leaders, SLI has earned a reputation as a trusted connection hub and deal-flow engine for the industry.

Designed “by Sports Leaders, for Sports Leaders,” SLI events inspire community, elevate leadership and create the space to shape the future of sports.

About the UP Sports Business Program

The Sports Business program at the University of Portland prepares students for careers in the $600B global sports industry through a modern, multidisciplinary curriculum.

Offered as an undergraduate minor, graduate certificate, and MBA focus, the program combines core training in sports marketing with electives spanning analytics, law (including NIL), finance, product strategy, and media.

Located in one of the world’s leading sports and outdoor business hubs, UP provides direct access to global brands, professional teams, and industry leaders, positioning graduates for careers in marketing, partnerships, product, and team operations.