MLC Connect

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Real sports creatives. Real speakers. One community.

July 16, 2024 - July 18, 2024

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About
Connect

2023 Recap

MLC CONNECT is an exclusive gathering of major level creative minds & artists from around the nation in the pro sports creative media industry. The objective is to “connect” these professionals through an experiential digital community and annual gatherings. To learn, teach, share new techniques, ideas, concepts, philosophies, software & best practices – to inspire and challenge one another. To nationally network with creative leaders & artists within the field of pro sports and gather industry-leading knowledge that can be applied to individual sports markets. MLC CONNECT is a pro sports community that helps creative makers push the industry forward. Community members take their brands to the next level in marketing, advertising, entertainment and culture, while building creative value and directly impacting the core objectives for your pro sports organization.

Welcome to MLC CONNECT. A place to truly gather, learn, return, apply & share.

Last Year's Lineup
2024 Coming Soon

Check out our 2023 lineup below to see the caliber of talent to expect at MLC Connect.

Chris Garcia

Chris
Garcia

Founder & Creative Director at Major Level Creative

Ross Yoshida

Ross
Yoshida

Senior Director, Graphic Design at Los Angeles Dodgers

Surf Melendez

Surf
Melendez

Vice President & Executive Creative Director at Tennessee Titans

Jeremy Cowart

Jeremy
Cowart

Photographer & Digital Artist

Matt Lehman

Matt
Lehman

Designer & Illustrator

Austin Prahl

Austin
Prahl

Editor & Producer at Vevo

DJ Skee

DJ
Skee

DJ, Entrepreneur, & Cultural Icon

Nikki Erickson

Nikki
Erickson

Creative Manager at The Thunderbirds / Waste Management Phoenix Open

Lakia Bailey

Lakia
Bailey

Creative Director at University of Kentucky

Jackie Fisher

Jackie
Fisher

Director of Creative Services at Nashville Predators

Dane Storrusten

Dane
Storrusten

Vice President of Creative at NFL

Esteban Toro

Esteban
Toro

Photographer, Filmmaker, Sr. Community Relationship Manager at Adobe

Kelsey Slay

Kelsey
Slay

Graphic Designer, Content Creator, Community Relationship Manager at Adobe

David Port

David
Port

Creative Director at LEARFIELD

Lori Burgess

Lori
Burgess

Chief Operating Officer at Beasley Esports / Houston Outlaws

Warren Hypes

Warren
Hypes

Vice President of Creative & Brand at Tampa Bay Rays

Rob Zilla III

Rob
Zilla
III

Illustrator, Vector Art Monster & Art Educator

X

X

Founder, Artist & CEO at Absolutely Ridiculous

Speaking Inquiry

HOW TO
QUALIFY FOR MLC CONNECT

Are you a full-time creative for a pro sports team, college or sports-based organization? If yes, please continue to register. If no, unfortunately you do not qualify for MLC CONNECT. Although we respect everyone’s career, MLC CONNECT is an exclusive creative conference for the sports industry. Thank you for your understanding.

If you do not qualify, your registration is subject to further review and/or refund.

YES! I'm Qualified

The Connect Experience

An exclusive gathering of major league creative minds & artists from around the nation in the pro sports graphic design industry. The objective is to connect these creative professionals in one city for an annual three-day industry conference. To learn, teach, share new techniques, ideas, concepts, philosophies, software & best practices – to inspire and challenge one another. To nationally network with creative leaders & graphic artists within the specific field of pro sports design and gather industry leading knowledge that can be applied to individual sports markets.

Includes in your registration:

• Welcome Pack
• Workshops & breakout sessions with vetted industry experts
• Discussions related to design, photo, video, motion, illustration, social media, and leadership
• Private networking mixers
• Direct access to your sports creative peers

$995

Register

20

Speakers

6

Breakouts

3

Mixers

Location

FORD FIELD

Home of the Detroit Lions

2000 Brush St
Detroit, MI 48226

OFFICIAL HOTELS

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton
Detroit Downtown

525 West Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 963-5600

Click HERE to secure your room
Must book before June 17th
$220 per night

Courtyard by Marriott
Detroit Downtown

333 East Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 222-7700

Click HERE to secure your room
Must book before June 18th
$235 per night

Past
Speakers

Hear from our past speakers to see what makes MLC Connect an inspirational powerhouse.

Ben Jenkins

Ben
Jenkins

Founder at Warstic Sports

Dane Storrusten

Dane
Storrusten

Vice President of Creative at The NFL

Martellus Bennett

Martellus
Bennett

Former NFL Tight End; Founder at The Imagination Agency

Speaking Inquiry

2024
Schedule




TBD PM

Welcome Mixer | TBD location

8:30 AM

Registration


9:30 AM

Day 2 Kickoff & Welcome Message


10:00 AM

Session 1


10:55 AM

Breakout 1


11:50 AM

Session 2


12:35 PM

Lunch Break


2:00 PM

Session 3


2:55 PM

Session 4


3:50 PM

Closing Remarks


TBD PM

After Party | TBD location


STAY
CONNECTED

Have you heard about our new MLC Connect App? It’s your must-have membership that gives your twenty-four seven access to the same Connect Community that you know and love, now at your fingertips. This creative career development tool gives you full access to numerous networking and educational features to help you grow and develop as a creative professional, talk one-on-one with industry colleagues, stay up-to-date with sports creative content trends, and so much more.

Get The App

2023 Recap

Sponsors

Adobe
Vū
Clio Sports
Wrike
Printed Threads
HTX Sports Tech
Major Level Creative | Full-service sports and lifestyle brand studio
The Creative Athlete Podcast

Gain valuable exposure for your brand and help us ensure the success of our 9th Annual Conference by becoming a sponsor or exhibitor!

Want to build valuable connections with creatives from around the world? Become a sponsor for the 9th Annual Conference and join us in July 2024.

Why
MLC Connect

The value of Connect is and will always be our extraordinary community of pro sports creatives. A unique space that cultivates personal, professional relationships with kindred individuals and equips creative makers to collaborate, challenge each other, and ultimately push the industry forward. To put it simply, direct access to people who do what you do across the nation.

This community continues past the three days we are together in person and will support you throughout your entire career.

Get here and experience the cultivation for yourself.

Sports Innovation Summit

Imagine your designs and creative vision being brought to life with cutting-edge tech! The Sports Innovation Summit, happening alongside MLC Connect, showcases the exciting future of sports advancement.

Explore AI, VR, and data-driven strategies that reshape fan engagement, sustainability, and investment. Attendees will collaborate with sports tech leaders, investors, and founders at the Sports Innovation Summit and fuel their creative engine while redefining the future of sports with game-changing innovations.

It’s all happening at Ford Field in Detroit, MI this July. Remember, the Sports Innovation Summit requires separate registration.

Learn More