SPOBIS Conference 2025 – Gathering Hub for the International Sports Business Industry
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The SPOBIS Conference, Europe’s largest sports business event, returns to Hamburg on February 5th and 6th, 2025. With over 4,000 participants and 200+ speakers, it brings together top industry leaders from sports, business, tech, and media. Key topics include women’s sports, sustainability, and sports tech innovations. Notable speakers include Gary Bettman, Oliver Mintzlaff, Tatjana Haenni, and Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud.
In this Insight:
On February 5th and 6th 2025, Europe’s largest sports business event will once again take place in Hamburg. The SPOBIS Conference will bring together key players from the sports, business, technology, and media industries at the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH). With around 4,000 participants, 1,500 national and international companies, and over 200 speakers, it is Europe’s largest event in the industry and has become a major fixture in the DACH region. Alongside national icons like Jan-Christian Dreesen and Hans-Joachim Watzke, international personalities such as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, Robert Müller von Vultejus from SPORTFIVE, and Jon Ridgeon, CEO of World Athletics, have confirmed their participation. The proportion of international speakers and English-language program sessions is higher than ever, a clear indication of the growing global focus of the event and the international significance of the sports business as a whole.
A Packed and Inspiring Lineup
Participants can expect a wide-ranging program featuring renowned personalities and thought-provoking content. Topics such as Sponsorship and Brand Strategy, Media and Communication, International Sports Business and the intersection of Fashion and Sports Culture will be in the spotlight through lectures, panel discussions and masterclasses. Learn more about how sponsorship enhances brand presence and how brands can strategically integrate this into their marketing mix.
This year’s notable speakers at SPOBIS Conference include Oliver Bierhoff, Esteve Calzada, and Fernando Carro. Additionally, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family and responsible for Saudi Arabia’s esports strategy, has confirmed his participation. Tatjana Haenni, who oversees the National Women's Soccer League, the world’s strongest women’s football league, will also be in attendance.
It is well known that the power of women’s sports for societal change is still unfolding, and women’s football is attracting new target audiences. Tatjana Haenni will give insight into this in Episode 6 of the Playbook Podcast series Amplifying Women’s Voices in Sports Marketing, titled Why Women’s Football Is Different from Men’s. A study will also be released during SPOBIS Conference that specifically examines the development of women’s football in various markets, highlighting opportunities for brands and rightsholders.
Women's football and women’s sports are also a major focus for SPORTFIVE. The leading sports marketing agency has been a long-standing partner of the SPOBIS Conference and will once again be represented with a booth and speakers at masterclasses and panels. Among others, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, Christian Kothe, a member of the management board at SPORTFIVE Germany, Vivi Dimitriadou, Chief People Officer, and Jessica Stommel, Head of Women’s Football at SPORTFIVE Germany, will speak at the conference.
As part of SPORTFIVE’s commitment, a flagship campaign will grant 100 "Female Talents" free access to the conference. This offer is exclusively for female applicants who can win a participant ticket through a lottery, giving them an opportunity to gain insights into the sports business.
A recurring theme at the SPOBIS Conference is sustainability within sports business. In this regard, SPORTFIVE’s current sustainability report can be downloaded here.
Details on the SPOBIS Conference
Sports Tech Innovations in the New Tech Park
A special highlight of the SPOBIS Conference 2025 is the new Tech Park, showcasing the growing importance of technology and digital transformation in the sports business. Here, innovative sports tech solutions will be presented in a hands-on manner, covering everything from data-driven strategies to immersive fan experiences. Participants will have the chance to experience firsthand how digital innovations are shaping the future of the industry and unlocking new opportunities for clubs, businesses and fans.
Know-How and Networking: Meeting Point for the Global Sports Business
With its thematic diversity, top-tier speakers and innovative formats, the SPOBIS Conference has firmly established itself as a meeting point for decision-makers as well as young talents in the sports business. It attracts representatives from a wide variety of sectors: sports organizations, advertisers, digital providers, agencies, media companies, service providers and technology manufacturers. Many global players will once again be represented at SPOBIS Conference in 2025. These include sponsors such as Red Bull and Allianz, media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, as well as major sports associations such as UEFA. The participant list will also include international clubs and leagues, including the Dallas Cowboys and the Orlando Magic. Technology providers like Salesforce and renowned sports rights holders like FC Barcelona will also use the event as a platform for exchange and networking.
Thus, the SPOBIS Conference will remain a central hub for inspiration, knowledge transfer and networking in sports business in 2025.
For more information on SPOBIS Conference, please click here.
