Jeremy Tripp

Spent the last few days at The National Sports Forum. It was my first time attending and what an experience. It was exhausting coming right off St. Louis CITY SC’s home opener, but there’s something powerful about getting out of your daily operating rhythm and into a room full of people who care deeply about the future of sports. I had the honor of serving as a judge for the Case Cup. The case was tough, but students from across the globe rose to the occasion with creativity, composure, and professionalism well beyond their years. If that’s the next generation of sports business leaders, we’re in good hands. The judging panel alone made the long trip across the street worthwhile. Great to connect with new friends at the St. Louis Blues including Annie Wiacek and Maggie Drysch and to spend time with Lenny Goh, my fellow “tech guy” who generously showed me the ropes and made key introductions throughout the week. And spending time with Ron Seaver, one of the founders of NSF, was a reminder of how much intentional community-building matters in this industry and what it looks like to do it with grace and authenticity. One of the highlights for me was an impromptu lunch with Josh Barney, founder of SEAT (thanks for the intro Charles Curran!). We ended up deep in conversation about technology, youth soccer, and where this industry is headed. I’m excited to continue that dialogue and attend SEAT later this year in Charlotte. The breakout sessions were equally energizing. Conversations around AI from Derek Zhou, emerging sponsorship models from Travis Misner, and event innovation from Lindsey Sharp pushed me to think differently. It’s easy to get comfortable inside your own ecosystem, and I’m excited that those sessions have already sparked fresh cross-departmental dialogue and collaboration within CITY. I was also proud that we got to host attendees at CITY After Dark at Energizer Park and showcase what we’re building in St. Louis. The feedback on our venue, our tech, and the energy of our city was incredibly affirming and I’m loving seeing everyone’s photos from the event all over LI! The week wrapped with panels featuring leaders like Joe Buck, Gary Bettman, Carolyn Kindle, and others. Just incredibly thoughtful conversations about where sports has been and where it’s going. What stood out most for me wasn’t any single session. It was the feeling that this industry is full of people who genuinely want to build better experiences for fans, for communities, and for each other. Sometimes these conferences can make club employees feel like targets or sales leads. I didn’t feel that at NSF. Felt like a room full of friends I hadn’t met yet. Grateful to NSF for bringing that energy to St. Louis. P.S. I’m terrible at remembering to take pics at these things, so please enjoy these terrible ones from the back of the room. 😬