Lessons from sports leaders

Academics Business

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen [email protected] 04-14-2026

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 just months away, energy surrounding the growing U.S. soccer landscape was evident at the 11th annual Global Sport Industry Conference last week.

Hosted by the University of Miami Sport Administration program at the School of Education and Human Development, the conference took place at the Donna E. Shalala Student Center and drew students, faculty, athletes, and professionals from a variety of sports and related businesses.

The event opened with a keynote from Lisa Bhathal Merage, governor of the Portland Thorns, one of the most closely-watched women's professional soccer teams in the United States, and concluded with remarks from Jose R. Mas, who, along with his brother Jorge and David Beckham, own Inter Miami CF, the city's first professional soccer team.

Throughout the day, leaders from organizations including the Miami Heat, Florida Panthers, TNT Sports, and Under Armour joined sports agents and NFL players to discuss entrepreneurship, community outreach, and social media strategies in sports. The conference was planned by an executive board of students, along with the guidance of associate professor Erin McNary, who serves as director of the event.

Many students said they valued hearing from Merage and learning about her path.

"It's interesting to hear from someone like Lisa who is so high up in the sports industry, but who can have so much impact on a franchise," said Hannah Mackie, a senior studying sport administration and broadcast journalism.

Merage began her career working for her family's swimwear business but was always interested in the sports industry. After selling the swimwear company, she partnered with her brother Alex to acquire the Sacramento Kings in 2013.

Two years ago, she pursued an opportunity to invest in women's sports. After attending a Portland Thorns game, she was struck by the size and enthusiasm of the crowd.

"At this particular game, there were about 25,000 people," said Merage. "To put that in perspective, the Thorns average attendance is just under 20,000. If you were to go see a Miami Heat game or an NHL game, most arenas in the country hold about 17,000 people, so we decided to make that investment in the Thorns."

Soon after, she learned that the WNBA was planning to expand to Portland and moved to secure that opportunity as well. Her family business is now preparing to launch the Portland Fire next month, alongside plans for a new shared facility.

"We are building the first professional women's dual sports performance center in the world," she said.

Although Merage said she once delayed entering sports because of its masculine culture, she believes the industry is becoming more inclusive.

"This is 2026 and everybody deserves to have a seat at the table," she said. "So just have that confidence … Nothing comes easy, but it makes it all worth it when you know you have a seat at the table to impact change for generations to come."

She noted that while women's sports are gaining momentum, pay disparities remain, in part because leagues like the NFL and NBA benefit from large broadcasting deals. Still, she emphasized that social media is helping close some of those gaps by giving athletes direct access to fans.

Mas, proud alumnus, co-owner of Inter Miami FC, and member of the University's Board of Trustees, speaks to a packed room of students, faculty, and professionals.

Mas echoed that point, describing how Inter Miami has used social media platforms to expand its reach.

"We are now the third most followed U.S. soccer club on social media with 12 million Instagram followers and 10.5 million on Tik Tok," Mas said. "Social media drives the business model for our club and helps us gain revenue."

He added that the club's online presence played a role in attracting Lionel Messi. After Messi posted to congratulate Beckham on the franchise in 2018 and expressed interest in possibly joining the team, the leaders at Inter Miami maintained contact, which eventually led to his signing.

Mas also reflected on his family's journey to success and how it allowed the brothers to invest in Inter Miami. Their global telecommunications company, Mastec, provided the financial foundation for the venture.

"For us to be able to bring the team and the biggest sport in the world to the city that we call home, that's what drove us to the decision to buy Inter Miami," he said.

He described the opening of the team's new stadium as a meaningful milestone, particularly given his background as a University of Miami alumnus and the son of Cuban refugees.

Mas credited Mastec's growth-beginning with rebuilding telecommunications infrastructure after Hurricane Andrew and evolving through each wave of new technology-with shaping his approach to business.

That adaptability, he said, is essential for students entering the sports industry. He encouraged them to pursue available opportunities, stay persistent, and make use of their networks.

"Demonstrate to [leaders] that you're hungry, that you want to learn, and that you want to do more," he said. "See what you can do different than nobody else is doing, that they're going to recognize and remember you. That's what matters, and that's what differentiates you, but you've got to want it."

He also urged students to understand how emerging technologies are reshaping the field.

"As you're growing up in this industry, you have to understand the landscape," he said. "You have to figure out how is the business changing, and how to take advantage of the market because the world of sports is changing and it's changing fast, so if you can bring those attributes to the table, you become a lot more competitive."

Students at the conference appreciated the wisdom from Mas and many other speakers, as well as the chance to speak with panelists after the sessions.

"The willingness of these people to talk with us really struck me," said Spencer Montero, a first-year student studying sport administration. "And for people who are afraid to reach out via email or by phone, this provides a way for us to do so and to network for internships or jobs."