As the worlds of entertainment and sports continue to overlap, Variety held its inaugural Sports & Entertainment Studio in New York, featuring Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and ESPN studio analyst Jay Williams, as well as top executives from State Farm, PepsiCo and Teads.
On July 16, Variety reporters Joe Otterson, Marlow Stern and Brian Steinberg led conversations in the New York City studio about the players’ and executives’ respective careers, growing sport fandoms, and how networks and brands can collaborate and connect to better reach consumers during an explosive time for media.
Top players like Wilson are often tapped to provide commentary and expertise for weekly programs, such as CBS Studios’ “The NFL Today,” giving fans an inside look into gameplay strategy and the reality of playing in high-pressure games aired around the world. But they also recognize the current missed opportunities in the marketplace.
Read below for a recap of Variety‘s conversations with the leaders across sports and entertainment.
Russell Wilson, Super Bowl Champion Quarterback, Entrepreneur, Sports Owner and Philanthropist
