Kirin Sports USA Attends Bloomberg Power Players New York Summit 2026

On September 10, Kirin Sports USA was honored to be invited by Bloomberg to New York to attend the 2026 Bloomberg Power Players New York Summit, a major gathering focused on the business, investment, and future of sports.

Held during the U.S. Open, the summit brought together athletes, team owners, league executives, investors, media leaders, and other influential figures from across the sports industry. Conversations covered a wide range of topics—from professional competition and sports investment to athlete branding, media, technology, and the changing landscape of sports.

Here are some of the highlights from the event.

The Growth of Women’s Basketball

One of the first featured conversations was with Swintayla “Swin” Cash, a Basketball Hall of Fame member and a commentator for women’s basketball on Amazon’s Prime Video.

The discussion focused on the rapid growth of professional women’s basketball in the United States and the opportunities ahead for the sport.

A New Landscape for Combat Sports

The summit then turned to combat sports, featuring professional boxer, entrepreneur, and investor Jake Paul, along with his business partner Nakisa Bidarian.

Together, they co-founded a boxing promotion company. Their conversation explored the business model behind combat sports and how the industry may evolve in the years ahead.

American Soccer After the World Cup

The soccer session featured J.T. Batson, CEO and Secretary General of U.S. Soccer, and Angie Long, co-founder and owner of the Kansas City Current. Long is also Chief Investment Officer of Palmer Square Capital Management.

Their discussion focused on an important question for American soccer: how can the momentum and attention surrounding the World Cup be transformed into long-term growth for soccer in the United States?

The Future of Sports Investment

Sports investment was another major theme throughout the summit.

Caroline Tisch Blodgett, founder and CEO of investment firm Next 3, New York Giants co-owner, and a governance representative for Gotham FC, joined Al Tylis, CEO of Apollo Sports Capital, for a conversation from the investor’s perspective.

They discussed investment opportunities in sports and the factors that can create long-term value across the industry.

The Next Chapter of Motorsports

The motorsports discussion featured Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR CEO, and NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick.

With one speaker representing the business and operational side of the sport and the other representing the athletes on the track, the conversation explored where motorsports is heading and what the next stage of growth could look like.

A New Era for Tennis

Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova joined Jeff Blackburn, Chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel, to discuss the future of tennis.

Topics included changes in the way fans watch sporting events and how the tennis industry can attract and engage the next generation of fans.

The Changing World of College Sports

The afternoon program turned to college athletics, featuring Randy Levine, President of the New York Yankees, and Candice Storey Lee, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at Vanderbilt University.

Coming from professional sports and the college athletics system respectively, the two leaders discussed the significant changes taking place across American college sports.

Athlete Brands and Business Beyond the Field

Another conversation focused on the growing business opportunities available to athletes beyond competition.

The panel featured Michael Strahan, Pro Football Hall of Famer, television host, and entrepreneur, together with Constance Schwartz-Morini, co-founder and CEO of sports and entertainment company SMAC Entertainment.

The discussion explored how athletes can turn their influence and personal platforms into brands, businesses, and careers beyond the playing field.

Where Sports, Media, and Investment Meet

The summit also featured a special live recording of The Deal podcast.

The conversation brought together Alexis Ohanian, founder of 776 and Athlos; Jason Kelly, co-host and executive producer of The Deal; and Alex Rodriguez, Chairman and CEO of A-Rod Corp. and co-host of the program.

Their discussion examined the intersection of sports, media, entrepreneurship, and investment.

A Conversation with U.S. Men’s National Team Goalkeeper

The summit concluded with Matt Freese, goalkeeper for the U.S. Men’s National Team and New York City FC.

His conversation brought the focus back to the athlete and the competitive side of sports, providing another perspective on the people who ultimately make sports possible.

Three Takeaways from the Summit

After attending the summit, one thing was clear: this was a remarkable gathering of leaders from across the sports business and investment ecosystem.

The range of speakers—from professional athletes and team executives to investors and media leaders—provided a unique look at where the sports industry is heading.

Three themes particularly stood out to us.

1. Sports Investment Is Becoming Increasingly Global

Investment in sports continues to attract significant attention from U.S. investors, and the focus is increasingly extending beyond the domestic market.

In recent years, American investors have become involved in international professional sports, including the English Premier League and other global sports markets. The conversations at the summit reinforced the importance of looking at sports as a global investment opportunity.

For the sports industry, this means that opportunities are no longer limited by geography. The connections between American sports, international markets, investors, media, and fans are becoming increasingly important.

2. Women’s Sports Are Receiving Greater Attention

Women’s sports were another recurring theme throughout the summit.

The event featured female athletes, investors, club owners, and sports executives, while conversations about the growth of women’s basketball, soccer, and tennis appeared across multiple sessions.

The growing visibility of women’s sports is creating new opportunities for athletes, teams, media organizations, sponsors, and investors. It is a part of the sports industry that deserves continued attention as the market develops.

3. Technology Will Change Sports, But People Remain at the Center

Perhaps the biggest takeaway for us was the role of technology—particularly artificial intelligence—in the future of sports.

AI can help teams analyze data, improve equipment, support training, and assist with tactical decision-making. Technology will undoubtedly continue to change how athletes and organizations prepare and compete.

But technology does not replace the human element that makes sports meaningful.

The discussion with NASCAR leadership particularly stood out. Motorsports is already highly dependent on engineering, machinery, data, and technology. Yet the fundamental competition still comes down to people—the drivers, engineers, mechanics, pit crews, coaches, and everyone working together as a team.

The athlete behind the wheel is only one part of the equation. The people responsible for repairs, tire changes, strategy, engineering, and real-time coordination are equally important to the outcome of a race.

That idea resonated strongly with us.

Sports are compelling because they allow us to see real people facing pressure, overcoming challenges, pushing their limits, and working together toward a common goal.

Looking Ahead

Our experience at the Bloomberg Power Players New York Summit gave us an even broader perspective on the future of the sports industry.

From professional leagues and women’s sports to global investment, athlete entrepreneurship, media, and emerging technology, the industry continues to evolve and create new opportunities.

For Kirin Sports USA, being part of this conversation was both an honor and an inspiration.

We believe the future of sports is not only about what happens on the field. It is also about the communities we build, the opportunities we create for athletes, the people who support them, and the connections that bring different parts of the sports world together.

We look forward to continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to the sports community—and to doing our part to help create more opportunities for athletes and families through sports.

Thank you to Bloomberg for inviting Kirin Sports USA to be part of the 2026 Power Players New York Summit.