SMA Conference

Collaborating Clubs:

  1. Austin Sports and Social Club
  2. Beach City Sports
  3. Chicago Sport and Social Club
  4. Club Sport 
  5. Houston Sports & Social Club
  6. Milwaukee Sports & Social
  7. OSSO sports & Social
  8. Overtime Sports
  9. SportsLink
  10. Underdog Sports Leagues
  11. Volo Sports

 

In 2023, the SSIA sponsorship committee wanted to deliver high level educational sponsorship opportunities to members.  SSIA became a member of the Sponsorship Marketing Association (SMA) and one of the benefits that every SSIA member received from this membership was the ability to attend the annual Sponsorship Mastery Summit in Chicago, IL from Sept. 27-29 at a deeply discounted rate!  Each club received $ $400 off the conference, which typically runs $1600 per attendee.  In addition, the SSIA’s Executive Committee voted to provide an additional $400 in scholarship funding for 10 clubs. 

 

11 SSIA members came to SMA conference to represent the social sports industry and to learn how sponsorship is able to benefit their Clubs and the industry as a whole.  Everyone left learning something and someone(s) new, strengthened relationships among our group and with other attendees, and showcased how important social sports are to communities around the world to sponsorship industry heavy weights. 

 

This immersive learning collaboration among 11 SSIA member clubs resulted in 2.5 days of all things sponsorship, which included:

  • 25+ reputable speakers and 15+ sessions
  • 1-on-1 coaching sessions with internationally renowned sponsorship leaders
  • Learned about emerging trends, learned about winning strategies within the sponsorship sales process and sponsorship success stories from similar industries
  • Networked w hundreds of other attendees from all around the country and world!
  • Guided Tour of Wrigley Stadium that discussed the different sponsorship programs
  • In addition to the conference:
    • Opportunity to learn about and play at Big City Pickle in downtown Chicago
    • An evening on the Chicago River where everyone shared more about their professional and personal goals. 
  • Allowed SSIA to secured guest speakers for the SSIA conference and build on educational opportunities w SMA
  • Countless laughs and memories