NSGA Renames Annual Event to NSGA Leadership Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Marty Maciaszek, NSGA Director of Communications 
mmaciaszek@nsga.org 
(847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260 

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (November 7, 2023) – The National Sporting Goods Association today unveiled a new name and logo for the premier leadership, education and networking event in the sporting goods industry. The NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference will take place May 19-21, 2024 at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona. 

The renaming of the event to the NSGA Leadership Conference was sparked by renowned leadership speaker and former NFL quarterback Tom Flick’s speech on the differences between leadership and management, which he shared in his keynote at the 2023 event in Nashville, Tennessee. 

“Tom Flick’s message that leadership is about vision, strategy and inspiration and management is more about control really hit home with the NSGA team and our attendees,” said Matt Carlson, President & CEO of NSGA. “After careful consideration, we believe this is the perfect time to change the name of the event to the NSGA Leadership Conference from the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit. Our goal with the event is to give the leaders of our industry the tools to enhance how they lead their teams and the switch to NSGA Leadership Conference fully embraces that vision. 

“The name change to NSGA Leadership Conference is another part of the evolution of this great event since its inception in 1965. The NSGA team is always looking for ways to make the event better so attendees look forward to coming back year after year. What will not change are the efforts to ensure retailers, team dealers, manufacturers, brand ambassadors, sales agents and others affiliated with the industry have a first-class experience.” 

The NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference will continue the tradition of a mix of best-in-class leadership speakers from the sports and business worlds who have shared their success stories like Hall of Fame college basketball coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo, baseball Hall of Famer and iron man Cal Ripken Jr., Olympic swimming gold medalist Missy Franklin, Disney innovation speaker Duncan Wardle and motivational speaker Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman. There will also be sessions on hot topics impacting the sporting goods industry. 

The popular Speed Networking, which started in 2017, is a big part of the event’s networking component as it provides a set series of rapid-fire meetings between retailers and dealers with manufacturers and brands. The NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference will conclude with the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner will honor Class of 2024 inductees Glenn Barrett (OrthoLite), Cathy Pryor (Hibbett Sports), Karsten Solheim (PING Golf) and Mike Thompson (Rawlings). 

Registration for the NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference will begin in January 2024. For more information about the event, including sponsorship opportunities, go to www.nsga.org/conference2024/  

About NSGA 

The National Sporting Goods Association has served as the leading voice for the sporting goods industry since 1929. NSGA is devoted to providing a competitive edge to sporting goods retailers and team dealers through industry leading research, networking, advocacy, and unmatched customer support. For more information about membership or NSGA’s products and services, please visit nsga.org. 

About the NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference  

The NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference started in 1965 and is the longest-running and most successful leadership event in the sporting goods industry. Top executives and decision-makers from sporting goods retailers, team dealers, manufacturers, sales agencies and industry supporting vendor companies gather for education, best-in-class networking, dynamic speakers and industry recognition at the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame induction. For more information or to register for this year’s event visit www.nsga.org/conference2024/