China's Booming Sports Market: Challenges and Opportunities

In 2014 the Chinese State Council launched "Policy 46" with the goal of reforming sports in China, and growing the total annual value of the China sports industry to at least US$800 billion by 2025. This policy and accompanying consumer trends have resulted in a nationwide drive to improve and expand domestic sports properties, events, media, venues, training, and participation; along with a rapidly growing demand for sports content, marketing and technology.

Join us for a lively discussion with Mark Fischer, CEO of Eastbridge Sports Management (and former head of NBA China, and subsequently of UFC Asia), and Richard H. Young, Managing Director, NFL China to discuss all the new opportunities, as well as various challenges, generated by this boom in China's sports market. Chong Koh Ping of the Straits Times will moderate.

12:00- 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 22nd

Doors Open 12:00 p.m., Event Starts 12:30 p.m.

FCC members 50rmb / non-FCC members 150rmb

price includes lunch

Venue details:

The Camel Sports Bar

1 Yueyang Lu,

near Dongping Lu

岳阳路1号, 近东平路

TEL: 6437 9446

5 mins walk from Changshu Rd Metro Station

About the Speakers:

Mark Fischer has enjoyed more than two decades of building successful sports and media businesses in China and other key markets in Asia.

Mark now runs Eastbridge Sports Management, providing sports advisory and business development services to brands, rights-holders, and related entities seeking to exploit the growing power and popularity of sports in China and vicinity.

From 1997-2009, Mark held a series of leadership roles at the National Basketball Association (NBA) in Asia, including as Managing Director of NBA China from 2003-2008, when he grew the team and revenues each 40-fold to lead that division from a two-person startup to a valuation of $2.3 billion.

As EVP & MD Asia for the Ultimate Fighting Championship / Zuffa LLC from 2010-2014, Mark established the UFC's operations in the Far East, drove 10-fold increases in both audience and revenues, organized Zuffa's first six live events in the region, and produced the first Ultimate Fighter China reality TV series.

Proficient in Mandarin Chinese, the Boston native holds a Master's degree from Harvard's Kennedy School and a Bachelor's from the University of Michigan. In addition to other non-profit pursuits, Mark serves as Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, and member of the University of Michigan's Sports Management Advisory Board.

Richard H. Young, Managing Director, NFL China

Richard joined the NFL as Managing Director of NFL China on December 1st 2010. He has more than 25 years of experience in sports event management, sales, and marketing with a strong focus in media rights and market strategy.

His previous work experience in China includes driving a Chinese media joint venture partnership responsible for launching China's first nationwide HD sports channel; and founding The Young Company, which provided consulting services in production, distribution and media rights in China for leading sports leagues, broadcasters and commercial sponsors.

Prior to living in China, Richard worked at ESPN STAR Sports as Vice President of the Event Management Group and Programming Development, where he managed over 100 events in 13 different countries over 8 years across Asia. His management experience also includes a number of years in Taipei managing Sports International, Entertainment Plus Ltd when it was the largest professional sports management group in Taiwan.

Richard was an exchange student at Beijing Normal University in 1990. After graduating Cum Laude from Boston University with a double major in International Relations and East Asian Studies, Richard earned his MBA from the University of Chicago. He speaks, reads and writes Mandarin Chinese.

A native of Sedona, Arizona, Richard currently resides in Shanghai with his wife and two children.