Soccer Innovation Conference
1st Annual New Jersey Soccer Innovation Conference
Date: 21st November 2022
Location: Drumthwacket Foundation, 354 Stockton St. Princeton, NJ
Presented by: Archetype Football Group & Hertha Berlin
Powered by: Playfly Premier
Please click HERE to register.
Our most anticipated data science event of the year. Join the Archetype Football Group and Hertha for their 1st Annual New Jersey Soccer Innovation Conference. Representatives from Hertha Berlin, NJ/NY Gotham FC, the New York Football Giants, Playfly Premier Partnerships, Princeton University, and others will provide unique insights into today’s challenges and will discuss the dominating role of data analytics and how it impacts critical decision-making towards on and off-the-field performance.
Program
Bios (Data Analytics)
Master of Science in mathematics and completed his PhD at the University of Tubingen by applying various machine learning techniques to solve football problems. Worked for the German Football League (DFL) as the lead data scientist and helped to develop the Bundesliga Match Facts (including an proprietary expected goals model) which are now being broadcast live to a worldwide audience. In 2022 his research paper won the prestigious Best Research Paper Award at the MIT SLOAN Sports analytics conference.
As an Advanced Scouting Analyst, Steven uses data to help conduct day-to-day operations of the advance scouting process at one of the Yankees' minor league affiliates. Additionally, Steven provides statistical analysis and quantitative research to help support the affiliate coaching staff and players.
Russell oversees how the business side of the organizations leverages data and technology to drive ticketing, sponsorships and overall fan engagement. His team is directly responsible for such areas as CRM, lead scoring, predictive modeling, pricing, reporting, and more, while collaborating across all other departments for strategic planning and analysis.
Leads Playfly Premier’s Consulting & Valuation department, responsible for leading all client engagements in Commercial Strategy, Research, Valuation and Targeting. Developed and oversees Playfly Premier’s valuation methodology and has managed third-party sponsorship assessments throughout his career that, in total, have been valued in the billions. Under Sanchez, the Consulting & Valuation group sits at the intersection of several important internal and external business initiatives, including sponsorship consulting, strategic marketing, business intelligence, and sponsorship sales. Successfully built out commercial programs for teams across the MLB, NFL, NHL, EPL, Serie A and MLS. Gained expertise across global and national soccer properties including, but not limited to, TEAM / UEFA Champions League, FC Bayern Munich, Club America, Houston Dynamo & Dash, FC Cincinnati, Liverpool FC, Juventus, and AC Milan. Spent a decade at IEG, where Sanchez was responsible for the group’s Valuation and research products and services.
Manages Playfly Premier's latest and largest commercial strategy consulting projects with Houston Dynamo, Minnesota Twins, Rockefeller Center, and Seattle Mariners. Successfully built out commercial programs for teams across the MLB, NHL, MLS, and mixed-use developments. Gained expertise across global and national soccer properties including, but not limited to, TEAM / UEFA Champions League, Houston Dynamo & Dash, FIFA World Cup 2026 Financial Modeling. Prior to Playfly Premier, Abzug came from a background in busianess strategy consulting for Fortune 500 companies at Accenture.
Butch has been managing and operating Sports books in New Jersey since its legality in 2018. Butch currently officiates youth and high school soccer and baseball. Prior to his current position he spent 13 years in a team security and game day operations liaison with the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL). Butch retired after 28 years with the Philadelphia Police Department. He currently resides in Somers Point, NJ with his wife Cathy, has 3 sons, a daughter and grand daughter.
Bios (Soccer Panel Discussion)
During his playing career, Bobic made 285 Bundesliga appearances (108 goals, 34 assists). He also featured several Cup and Champions League games, winning the German Cup with VfB Stuttgart in 1998 as well as finishing as the league’s top goalscorer. Bobic was capped 37 times for Germany and won the European Championship in 1996.In 2016, Bobic was appointed as Sporting Director at Eintracht Frankfurt. During his tenure, the Eagles underwent a steady rise, winning the German Cup in 2018 and reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League the following season. Prior to that, Bobic was the Sporting Director of VfB Stuttgart, where Stuttgart not only qualified for Europe but also reached the Cup final in 2013.
Ernst Tanner became Philadelphia Union second-ever Sporting Director in October of 2018. Tanner is a native of Traunstein, Germany and moved to Philadelphia following 24 years of previous technical experience with three European clubs: TSV 1860 Munich, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Red Bull Salzburg. As the Union’s Sporting Director, Tanner oversees and guides all Union technical and soccer-related decisions, working closely with the Union First Team, Bethlehem Steel FC and the Union Academy. The Philadelphia Union is enjoying yet another successful season in the MLS, where they will face Los Angels FC in the MLS Cup Finals.
In 2018, Wayne was selected as one of 56 individuals to obtain the prestigious US soccer Academy Director’s License, US Soccer’s highest level of youth licensing. As part of his curriculum, Wayne was fortunate enough to do week long, all access philosophy-sharing stays with: Real Madrid, Paris F.C., AZ Alkamar, River Plate and the Dutch/Belgian federations. Prior to obtaining his license, Wayne served as an assistant coach and scout for the U-18 and U-20 United States National teams. Wayne has served as an advisor to US Youth Soccer and they still invite him to do development seminars all over the country for clubs and organizations on their behalf. He also served as the National Director of Rush soccer and the Academy Director for Cedar Stars (CSA).
Currently the General Manager for Gotham FC, the premier women’s professional team in the NJNY area. Former US women’s national team player
Princeton soccer legend, has been with the program for nearly 25 years and has enjoyed great success. 11 NCAA tournament appearances.