📰 In The Arena Weekly
The go-to newsletter for sports, media & entertainment professionals. Each week, we curate the top events, insights & people to know to help you stay connected to new opportunities.
⚡️Headlines & Hot Takes
Media entrepreneur Byron Allen is acquiring a majority stake in BuzzFeed and will take over as CEO.
NFL and referees reach agreement on 7-year contract.
Sony Music Publishing acquired Recognition Music’s entire music catalog with over 45,000 songs from artists like Justin Bieber, Beyonce, and Fleetwood Mac.
Kwanza Jones is set to become the first Black woman to hold a majority ownership stake in an MLB team.
🗓️ Arena Events
Office Hours w/ Ashley Sia Ailes (Ticketing Strategy @ LA28)
🗓️ May 15 | Virtual | Register here
A conversation on sustaining a high-performing career alongside parenthood and competing priorities.
🗓️ Events to Know
Upfronts Week NYC | Hosted by major media brands
🗓️ May 11-13 | 📍New York, NY | Register here
Over three short days, from Monday morning to Wednesday night, eight companies will razzle-dazzle advertisers in a reassuringly familiar set of theaters across Manhattan. NBCUniversal will once again lead off at Radio City, with YouTube bringing down the curtain at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Theater.
Tribeca Film Festival | Hosted by Tribeca Film Festival
🗓️ June 3-14 | 📍New York, NY | Register here
A diverse New York City festival celebrating film, music, games, and immersive storytelling. One of the bigger cultural moments of the summer.
Women in Entertainment Summit | Hosted by Women in Entertainment
🗓️ June 9 | 📍Los Angeles, CA | Register here
A full-day event at the Skirball Cultural Center covering women's leadership, storytelling across platforms, and the next generation of women in entertainment.
Beyond the Pitch | Hosted by Sports Illustrated
🗓️ June 12-July 18 | 📍Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York | Register here
From the creators of Sports Illustrated The Party, Big Game Weekend’s most exclusive event which welcomed thousands of fans and a guest list that included Justin and Hailey Bieber, Travis Scott, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Jon Hamm, Ciara and Russell Wilson and more for performances by Ludacris and The Chainsmokers. Reinforcing SI’s position as the premier nightlife destination for guests who expect more than a ticket - they expect an experience.
Cannes Lions Festival | Hosted by Informa
🗓️ June 22-26 | 📍Cannes, France | Register here
Creativity comes to life at Cannes Lions. It’s where the world’s industry-leading work is awarded, influential thought leaders take to the stage and global connections are made.
💼 New Jobs This Week
👚 Lululemon | Senior Manager, Investor Relations | Vancouver, BC | $141-185K/yr
👟 Nike | Jordan Olympics Business Operations Manager | Los Angeles, CA
🏀 Madison Square Garden | Director, Knicks Basketball | New York, NY | $210-225K/yr
🎬 Tribeca | General Manager/Head of Live Events | New York, NY | $250-300K/yr
📺 NBCUniversal | Director, Growth Strategy | New York, NY | $155-185K/yr
👏 Welcoming our Spring Cohort!
The Arena just got a whole lot bigger.
Yesterday, we officially welcomed 275 new members into the Spring 2026 Cohort — and the energy was everything. Our virtual orientation and networking mixer brought together some of the sharpest leaders in sports, media, and entertainment, and honestly? The room (well, the Zoom) did not disappoint.
Over 500 people applied for a spot in this cohort. 275 made the cut. If you were one of them — welcome home. You're exactly who this community was built for.
If you missed this round, don't sleep on what's next. We're opening another cohort later this summer, and spots will go fast. Join the waitlist now at arenatalent.com so you're first in line when the doors open again.
The best rooms are the ones you have to earn your way into. We'll see you in the Arena.
That’s it for this week In The Arena of sports, media & entertainment.
-Arena’s founders | Parul Khosla, Adriene Bueno & Olivia Schwartz.
Want to partner, sponsor, or advertise? Get in touch with us.