Our History

The Foundation

Founded in 2009, the Villanova Sports Business Conference (VSBC) is a collaboration between:
- Villanova's Business in Entertainment Society
- Sports Analytics Club
- O'Donnell Center for Professional Development in the Villanova School of Business
2023 marked the first year VSBC expanded to a full-day event, open to:
- Villanova students
- Students and professionals from companies, colleges, and universities in the Baltimore-DC, New York Metropolitan, and Philadelphia areas
VSBC features:
- A keynote address
- Panels with industry professionals discussing trends in:
  - Sports media
  - Operations
  - Sales & marketing
  - Analytics
  - Content creation
- Roundtable rotations for attendees to engage in one-on-one discussions with professionals
- A closing keynote address

Overview:

VSBC is entirely student-run, showcasing the leadership and initiative of Villanova students.

Will Buettner (Class of '25) aimed to enhance and build upon the existing foundation of VSBC.
During his sophomore year, he realized the need to revitalize VSBC.
By that time, he had already spent three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club and was in his second season with the Villanova Men's Basketball Program.
His first job with the Brewers confirmed his passion for sports, aligning with his belief:
- “Loving what you do is the first step to success in any craft.”
Will’s peers and professors frequently asked him for advice on breaking into the sports industry.
He realized that Villanova lacked an academic program dedicated to sports business.
Wanting to help others discover the joy of working in sports, he saw an opportunity to fill this gap.

Will used his firsthand experience with the Brewers and Villanova Basketball to bring sports professionals to campus.
Year 1:
- 10 alumni speakers from professional teams and leagues.
- 150+ attendees discussing how to enter the sports business world.
Year 2:
- 30 industry speakers brought in.
- 275+ attendees engaged in networking and learning opportunities.
This Year:
- The team aims to expand even further, bringing together another cohort of professionals and hundreds of attendees.
- The goal: Make every participant at least 1% better at what they do or help them get one step closer to breaking into the industry.

The Next Chapter

The future of VSBC is bright, as it will continue to engage a diverse group of students and professionals and push them to succeed.
While Villanova students directly benefit from VSBC, the goal is to expand its reach nationally to students and young professionals across the U.S.
Long-term vision:
- Encourage Villanova University to establish an academic department dedicated to sports management.
- Provide students with a structured educational pathway in sports business that complements the professional opportunities at VSBC.
The ultimate dream:
- A future student telling a VSBC staff member:
  - “One of the reasons why I decided to go to Villanova was because I see a career in sports for myself, and their sports management curriculum, paired with the Villanova Sports Business Conference, gives me the best opportunity to turn that dream into a reality.”