In a much-anticipated development for the Southeast Asian football community, the second edition of “The Business of Football” conference is set to return to Manila on 10 November 2023. Organized by MMC Sportz, the prestigious event will once again convene industry leaders at the Raffles Makati, offering a platform to deliberate on critical topics related to league development, sponsorship, technology, and overall growth. The conference will recognize and celebrate noteworthy contributors and high achievers within the football industry.
Anticipating an impressive turnout, over 200 delegates and senior industry experts from various facets of the football ecosystem, including federations, leagues, clubs, rights holders, brands, organizers, agencies, and media, are expected to converge in Manila. The event has already secured key partnerships with renowned entities such as LALIGA, Blocksport, ASN, and Raffles Makati, with more collaborations set to be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are proud to have The Business of Football return to Manila, the first of its kind after the pandemic. There has been so much happening in the football arena that it’s time to shed light on some of the recent developments which have a direct impact on SE Asian football in general. As compact schedule will feature topics related to the recent FIFA Woman’s World Cup and the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifications, discuss the upcoming presidential election in the Philippines and other regional federations, take a closer look at the impact of crypto & blockchain in regards to new revenue streams for rights holders and the endless opportunities for successful fan engagement. Youth and talent development are key for any federation, so we will also look at the importance of academies, development pathways and the need for more competitions in SEA. And my personal highlight will be the recognition of some of the key contributors to the development of Asian football in recent years, as there is always a need to celebrate the achievement of some of the great performances and initiatives from around the region,” according to Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz.
The conference itinerary promises a wealth of insightful sessions. LALIGA, a returning partner to the event, will highlight its significant support for local development initiatives across diverse South-East Asian markets. Asia Sponsorship News will launch the Asia football sponsorship report, shedding light on the sponsorship landscape in the region. Blocksport will delve into the transformative power of blockchain technology, emphasizing the manifold opportunities it presents for creating new revenue streams and innovative fan engagement strategies for clubs and leagues.
Ivan Codina, Managing Director for SE Asia, Japan & Korea at LALIGA, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the conference, saying, “‘The Business of Football’ conference is an important platform for LALIGA as well as for the Southeast Asian football community. It’s a get-together to share and exchange knowledge and ideas for the greater good of our sport. This also falls in line with LALIGA’s objectives around its Glo-cal strategy, focusing on hyper-localized engagements, activations and content. We look at different ways to raise the profiles of our clubs and the league through strategic partnerships on a global, regional and local level As well as a constant commitment to be at the forefront of the football industry, as we have recently demonstrated with the launch of our new brand and the pioneering strategic agreement with EA Sports.”
The one-day event, running from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Raffles Makati, will feature a diverse program including presentations, keynotes, panel discussions, and ample networking opportunities. Tickets, priced at PHP2,850.00 (US$50.00) per person, will soon be available through MMC Sportz’s online portal, covering access to all conference sessions, networking breaks, and lunch.