USC Marshall School of Business

The November 2009 Commissioners' Series held by the Sports Business Institute (SBI) of the USC Marshall Business School featured Peter Ueberroth.

David M. Carter, SBI's Executive Director, said the audience was engaged in Ueberroth’s presentation because the former Major League Baseball Commissioner is considered a luminary in both the worlds of sports and business.

Ueberroth organized the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and then led Major League Baseball as Commissioner from 1984-1989. He chaired the U.S. Olympics Committee and currently serves as the committee’s Honorary President. Ueberroth has owned the Pebble Beach Golf Course with Clint Eastwood and Arnold Palmer for the past 10 years and is the chairman of the Contrarian Group, a business management company based in Newport Beach. He is also a lifetime trustee of USC.

Ueberroth discussed three key issues facing the sports industry: Ethics and sportsmanship; violence on and off the sports field and the national obesity rate. He also addressed the challenges faced by major sports leagues in capturing audience and generating revenue by making game day experiences more family and TV-friendly.

More than 200 people attended Ueberroth's talk, which took place on campus at the Town and Gown on November 12. SBI Advisory Board member and San Diego Padres CEO and Vice Chairman Jeff Moorad introduced Ueberroth. In the audience were a cross-section of local business and sports leaders, along with USC alumni and students.