2022 AGENDA
Sunday, August 21 Wrigley
Rooftop, 3617 N
Sheffield
Directions to The Wrigley Rooftops
12:20 PM - 4:00 PM CST (Game Begins: 1:20 PM CST)
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ Wrigley Rooftops
Stadium tickets are not the same as rooftop tickets. For those who want a more social atmosphere during a Cubs game, including all-inclusive food and drinks, then this is the right place for you. Enjoy one of the many social areas, which include an air-conditioned bar, open-air shaded seating, stadium seats for watching the game, and a sundeck with wonderful views of the city. It's an opportunity you won't want to miss out on.
Location: Wrigley Rooftop - 3617 N Sheffield
Tickets are not guaranteed and are on a first
come first serve basis, limited tickets are
available. Last day to buy a ticket is August 14,
2022.
Frequently Asked
Questions:
For those that purchase a Cubs Game Rooftop Event ticket, you will be placed on the guest list at the Wrigley Rooftop - 3617 N Sheffield venue. Must bring your photo ID to enter the rooftop.
We will be meeting at the Wrigley Rooftop - 3617 N Sheffield venue.
Transportation will not be
provided from the hotel to
the game.
There
is easy access to the Grand
- Red Line train stop from
the hotel, it is a 24 min
commute from the hotel.
Uber, Lyft's, and Taxis are
also available from the
hotel to the game.
The Wrigley Rooftop is part of the Wrigleyville area with a view of the stadium, the rooftop is not inside the stadium.
The Rooftop Ticket is not included with your conference registration, it is an extra $160 ticket that is sold separately. You can purchase the ticket here.
Don't see any tickets available? Tickets are subject to availability, email the office at [email protected] to check availability.
You can purchase tickets here. Don't see any tickets available? Tickets are subject to availability, email the office at [email protected] to check availability.
Monday, August 22, 2022 Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile, Grand Ballroom
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM CST
Registration Opens for
Check-In
Come pick up your welcome packet/gear and learn about things to do around Chicago!
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST
ESTA Member
Townhall
ESTA Members, we invite you to share your ideas on how ESTA can best serve our industry in 2023.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM CST
Elevator Pitch
Check-In
Come check in and learn more about the Elevator Pitch Competition pre-events such as the Quick Pitch and Pitch class.
3:20 PM - 3:25 PM CST
Master Of Ceremonies
Lewis Johnson returns as masters of ceremonies for the second year. He recently celebrated 25 years in the television business, most notably as an Olympic Commentator and Sports Reporter. He is one of few sports broadcasters to have worked for all three major networks, which include college football and basketball for ABC, Notre Dame Football on NBC, and March Madness for CBS.
Lewis
Johnson
NBC
Sports
3:25 PM - 3:30 PM CST
Welcome to EsportsNext
Our
Board Chair, John Davidson, ESTA Founder and
Managing Director, Megan Van Petten, welcome our
attendees, panelists, and sponsors to the 2-day
conference, as we embark on the journey to get the
latest news on the topics covered in the event,
participate in various networking sessions, and
listen to chosen contenders present their business
ideas in our Elevator Pitch
competition.
John
Davidson
Esports
Trade
Association
Megan
Van Petten
Esports
Trade
Association
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM CST
Panel: Esports Executives
Leaders from a variety of verticals in the esports space share their individual perspectives on our industry's opportunities, challenges, and predictions for 2023 trends.
Moderator:
Sandra
L.
Richards
Managing
Director
Head of
Global Sports &
Entertainment
and
Segment Sales
&
Engagement
Speakers:
Jonathan
Anastas
Alpha
Esports Tech
Inc.
Rakia
Reynolds
Skai
Blue
Media
Kurt
Melcher
Created Varsity
Esports, Scholastic
Esports Expert,
Athletics
Administrator
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM CST
Speed Networking
Identify
and connect with potential clients and partners for
your business.
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM CST
Quick Pitch
Are
you signed up for the ESTA Elevator Pitch
Competition? This is the perfect opportunity to
highlight your idea in front of a live audience. One
lucky wild card winner will be chosen to present on
Tuesday's competition!
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM CST
Welcome Networking Reception Lakeshore Ballroom
Join
your fellow attendees and exhibitors for cocktails
and hot & cold hors d'oeuvre on a night your
won’t forget! Come network with the esports
community all while enjoying some delicious light
appetizers and beverages.
James
Hess
Encore
Hosted By:
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 Hyatt Centric
Chicago Magnificent Mile, Grand
Ballroom
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM CST, Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile, Lakeshore Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Networking Breakfast Hour
Enjoy
light breakfast and networking as we launch the
Conference.
8:55 AM - 9:00 AM CST
Master Of Ceremonies
Lewis Johnson returns as masters of ceremonies for the second year. He recently celebrated 25 years in the television business, most notably as an Olympic Commentator and Sports Reporter. He is one of few sports broadcasters to have worked for all three major networks, which include college football and basketball for ABC, Notre Dame Football on NBC, and March Madness for CBS.
MC:
Lewis
Johnson
NBC
Sports
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM CST
EsportsNext Day 2 Introductions
Our
Board Chair, John Davidson, ESTA Founder and
Managing Director, Megan Van Petten welcome our
attendees, panelists, and sponsors to the Day 2 of
EsportsNext.
John
Davidson
Esports
Trade
Association
Megan
Van Petten
Esports
Trade
Association
9:05 AM - 9:15 AM CST
Message from our Title Sponsor:
Speakers (TBA):
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM CST
Panel: Scholastic Esports
Esports professionals across the educational ecosystem with different backgrounds share the opportunities and challenges they experience as they cultivate competitive and engaging esports programs on campuses and schools across the country. We will cover briefly how esports has evolved and where we all see it going in the upcoming years.
Moderator:
Jeff
Palumbo
Lenovo
Speakers:
Katrina
Adkins
SHI
International
Corp.
Gerald
Solomon
North
America Scholastic
Esports Federation
(NASEF)
Michael
Brooks
National
Association of
Collegiate
Esports
Jorrel
Batac
North
America Scholastic
Esports Federation
(NASEF)
Powered Up By:
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM CST
Panel: Impactful Trends
Analysts share significant trends measured through 2022 and insights on what you need to know for 2023.
Moderator:
Alex
Kerr
Trajektory
Speakers:
Alexis
Prousis
Blinkfire
Analytics,
Inc.
Joshua
Wong
JEGI
CLARITY
Terence
Burke
Kidsay
Roger
Payne
YouGov
Powered Up By:
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM CST
Networking Break
Visit our sponsors while enjoying some hot and cool beverages and open-play area.
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM CST
Panel: Executing Successful Partnerships
Leaders from teams, leagues, and brands share the strategies they have employed to effectively engage the esports audience to create fans and increase ROI.
Moderator:
Vinny
Minichiello
Zero
Code
Speakers:
Rebecca
Longawa
Happy
Warrior
Justin
Varghese
Panda
Charles
O'Donnell
CSL
Esports
Joe
Cox
The
Pop-Marketer
Powered Up By:
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST, Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile, Lakeshore Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Networking Lunch & Awards
Presentation
Enjoy some food and more networking during our lunch break, a short presentation from our sponsor Lightware Visual Engineering and an awards presentation for our Member of the Year and Game Changer awards.
Jason
Tirado
Lightware
Visual
Engineering
Mike
Ellsworth
Lightware
Visual
Engineering
Hosted By:
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM CST
Panel: Gaming for EVERYONE
How to identify, support and advocate for the underrepresented groups in esports.
Moderator:
Verta
Maloney
the*gameHERs
Speakers:
Jean
Marie Richardson
iFOLIO
Ryan
Johnson
Cxmmunity
Sonja
Stills
Mid-Eastern
Athletic
Conference
Lindsay
Poss
Holodeck
Media
Powered Up By:
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM CST
Fireside Chat
President & CEO of The Production Network, Allison DeLeone and Co-Founder and CEO of Odyssey, Reid SantaBarbara, share their innovative new platform which is enabling experiences for brands and their audiences in the metaverse.
Speakers:
Allison
DeLeone
The
Production
Network
Reid
SantaBarbara
Odyssey
Hosted
By:
John
Davidson
Esports
Trade
Association
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM CST
Elevator Pitch Competition
Do
you have an innovative idea, product, service, or
social enterprise solution? Do you believe it could
be the basis for a successful new start-up in the
esports community? Then the ESTA Elevator Pitch
Competition is the perfect opportunity to submit
your idea for the chance to present it to a crowd of
industry professionals. Open to ESTA members and
conference attendees only.
Hosted By:
Sharon
Gill
Esports
Trade
Association
Judges:
Carlos
E. Duque
Bailey
&
Glasser
Laura
Burkemper
The
Catalyst
Center
Jill
Williamson
Gravis
Law
Rohan
Bose
Teknos
Associates
Powered Up By:
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM CST
Networking Break
Visit our sponsors while enjoying some hot and cool beverages and open-play area.
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM CST
Panel: How to Fund Our Favorite Activity
Experts dig into ideas and tactics throughout the esports space to identify opportunities for teams and leagues to operate with financial success.
Moderator:
Jake
Hicks
The
Law of
Esports
Speakers:
Cory
Hollingsworth
ARterra
Brian
Wilneff
Alpha
Metaverse
Technologies
Inc.
Grant
Paranjape
Washington
Justice
Claire
Kaido
OS
NYC and The Emerge
Talent
Collective
Powered Up By:
4:30 PM - 4:45 PM CST
Networking Break
Visit our sponsors and open-play area.
4:45 PM - 5:30 PM CST
Panel: Fan Engagement
Regulators discuss how this nuanced facet of the esports industry is developing and how to interact responsibly.
Moderator:
Anthony
Gaud
Gaud-Hammer
Gaming
Group
Speakers:
Ari
Fox
Gameacon
LLC and the Casino
Esport
Conference
Adam
Weinstein
ThriveFantasy
Charles
Conroy
Unikrn
@
Entain
Eric
Weiss
Technical
Compliance
Powered Up By:
5:30 PM - 5:45 PM CST
Elevator Pitch Winner Announcement
The
long-awaited Elevator Pitch winner will be announced
here! Don’t miss out on this exciting announcement
celebrating only the best of the best in
esports.
Directions to The Wit
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST
ESTA Happy Hour
Join us at one of the finest night clubs in the World, ROOF on The Wit for Happy Hour, as we come together in discussion to share a beverage and stories about you, your experience with our conference, share highlights, ask questions. Take advantage of the opportunity to network, meet your fellow attendees and speakers, discuss the panels you have viewed, and find out more about ESTA!
Scott
Greenberg
Surge
Hosted By:
Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile, Grand Ballroom
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM CST
Networking Breakfast Hour
Enjoy light breakfast and networking as we come to a close of the EsportsNext 2022 conference.