Sports Business Journal today announced the planned acquisition of the National Sports Forum, an organization known for its annual, marquee conference for sports leagues, teams and other segments of the sports industry. The acquisition will enhance SBJ’s event calendar, providing more opportunities for industry professionals to grow and improve their businesses.

Founded by Ron Seaver in 1996, the Forum has brought together team and league professionals from across North America to discuss the latest trends, ideas and innovations shaping the sports industry. The Forum leans on a Steering Committee of industry leaders that helps it offer relevant programming that impacts team and league attendees, and the Forum’s unique format allows attendees to participate in the content through numerous workshops and breakout sessions. In addition to the three-day forum, the annual event also includes an industry trade show and student case competition from sports business collegiate programs.

The National Sports Forum held its 2025 conference in Boston, MA, in February and will host its 30th annual conference February 22-24, 2026, in St. Louis, MO. The NSF adds depth to SBJ’s event calendar by bolstering its tactile conference content for industry professionals.

“Ron Seaver spotted a tremendous void in the market when he launched the National Sports Forum in 1996 and he has built an incredible asset for stakeholders across sports,” said Abe Madkour, publisher and executive editor at SBJ. “He is so well respected, and I’m excited to work with Ron more closely on the Sports Forum and leverage SBJ’s extensive resources to amplify this event for the industry.”

“When I founded the National Sports Forum, I wanted to create an event like no other for the sports community,” said Seaver, president of the National Sports Forum. “I’ve known Abe for decades and SBJ is the standard for journalism and conferences in sports business. I’m proud to grow the Forum with SBJ and deliver an even better experience for our attendees and sponsors.”

Seaver will join SBJ as Managing Director: SBJ National Sports Forum and continue to oversee the Forum. He will remain based in San Diego, CA, and report to SBJ Managing Director, Conferences & Events, Jim Sullivan. The acquisition is scheduled to close by the end of March.