From every angle the nearly $3-trillion sports industry is booming in unprecedented ways. Meeting this moment with innovation and leadership, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and USC Marshall School of Business are launching a highly interactive, day-long program to consider what’s ahead at the intersection of sports, media, business, technology, fan engagement, and storytelling.

On October 17, at the newly opened state-of-the-art Intuit Dome, the inaugural USC Next Level Sports Conference will bring together investors, entrepreneurs, media personalities, team owners, league leaders, influencers, athletes and students. With USC’s unique vantage point as an academic hub for the sports industry and its home in the world’s sports and entertainment capital of Los Angeles, participants will explore the power of sports to build community, drive commerce and shape culture.

Hosted by Deans Willow Bay and Geoffrey Garrett, and Bloomberg chief correspondent and long-time USC collaborator Jason Kelly, the conference will examine critical topics such as the new media ecosystem, the college sports revolution, the future of fandom, sports as an asset class and closing the representation gap across the industry. The event will also feature opportunities for industry leaders and USC students to gather, share insights and look to the future.

The at-capacity event is supported by donors and sponsors, including Michael Uytengsu, Bob and Sheri Best, Andy Howard, Ray Iwanowski, the Los Angeles Lakers and partners the Los Angeles Clippers and Bloomberg.