2026 AI Playbook II

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 · Private (NYC)

Youth sports has evolved from a collection of community-based programs into a ~$40 billion industry encompassing clubs, tournaments, training academies, technology platforms and purpose-built facilities.

JohnWallStreet hosted its inaugural AI Playbook Summit in March. We highlighted several of the teams and leagues at the forefront of the adoption curve and detailed what they were building, what was working, and where ROI was beginning to emerge. 

But the rapid pace of innovation and deployment in the space, combined with the growing number of organizations making AI a priority, has created the need for another intimate gathering focused on shared learning and practical application.

According to PwC’s 2026 Global CEO Survey, 56% of CEOs say their companies have yet to realize increased revenue or reduced costs from AI. Just 12% reported achieving both.

So, JohnWallStreet will host the AI Playbook II Summit on October 21. The event will focus on how some of the more technologically sophisticated companies and organizations are applying AI to real challenges and generating tangible business results.

We’ll bring together senior operators from across the industry for candid conversation and peer-to-peer learning. Attendees can expect to gain actionable insight into the applications and infrastructure enabling rights owners and holders to deepen fan relationships and drive incremental revenue.

We have four featured speakers confirmed for the AI Playbook II Summit. Several more will be announced in the weeks ahead.

• Krishna Bhagavathula (EVP and Chief Technology Officer, NBA)

• Saj Cherian (Head of Fanatics Ventures, Fanatics)

• George Hanna (Chief Technology and Digital Officer, Los Angeles Clippers and Intuit Dome)

• Alison Nabatoff (Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff, Spurs Sports & Entertainment)

Each will participate in an off-the-record, deep-dive fireside conversation, followed by audience questions and discussion.

Date: Wednesday, October 21
Time: 8:00 am-1:00 pm
Location: Private (NYC)

Below is an overview of the agenda. 

Using AI to Improve How Sport Is Watched, Understood and Officiated

The NBA is using AI to personalize how fans watch and engage with basketball, how teams extract new insights from player-tracking data and how it improves officiating accuracy. League EVP and Chief Technology Officer Krishna Bhagavathula will explain how the league has built the data, cloud and computer-vision infrastructure required to turn these emerging concepts into reliable products operating at scale. He’ll also discuss how the NBA is deploying generative AI internally to enhance productivity, workflows and creative applications.

Transforming E-Commerce with Physical AI and Robotics

Fanatics has grown from a $250mm e-commerce company into a $14bn merchandise, sports betting and trading cards giant. Fanatics Ventures’ Saj Cherian will join us to explain why data and supply chain are set to become its most important competitive advantages over the next 18-36 months. He’ll discuss Fanatics’ use of generative imagery and video to drive sales, and the company’s ongoing efforts to use physical AI and robotics to produce and personalize merchandise, on demand, inside U.S. fulfillment centers.

Turning Anonymous Audiences into Known —and Valuable— Fans

The Los Angeles Clippers are using individual ticketing, real-time behavioral data and AI to understand who is in the building, reward fandom and personalize engagement. LAC and Intuit Dome Chief Technology and Digital Officer George Hanna will explain how the team is using AI powered insights to convert anonymous audiences into season ticket holders, identify ‘energy spreaders’ that can be strategically placed throughout the arena, and influence fan behavior in ways that enhance the home-court advantage and create measurable value for commercial partners.

Moving From Experimentation to Measuring Economic Impact

The San Antonio Spurs were among the first sports teams to put AI tools into employees’ hands. The organization has since moved beyond experimentation and measuring efficiency gains and is now focused on quantifying the monetary value derived from the technology. Spurs Sports & Entertainment Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff Alison Nabatoff will join us to discuss where the organization has deployed AI and recovered revenue, how its AI Studio is creating new activations and commercial inventory for corporate partners and what is being done internally to transition to becoming an AI-native organization.

Attendance is limited.

To discuss partnering with us on this unique event, reach out to Jacie Brandes at [email protected].