Tuesday, May 27, 5:30 pm
The upcoming “Scoring Big: Bringing the Pros to Hampton Roads” will serve three important purposes: it will tackle a timely subject for Hampton Roads, it will introduce two sports business people at the top of their profession and, finally, it will bring the Jewish community together in a fun and social way.
The event, sponsored by the Business and Legal Society of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, begins with a discussion in Hits at the Park at Harbor Park and will include a conversation with sports professionals Ken Young and Jeff Cogen, dinner, a ticket for the game (Norfolk Tides vs Lehigh Valley IronPigs), and a chance to throw out the first pitch of the game.
Kirk Levy, co-chair of the Business and Legal Society, says, “I don’t think we could have a more timely discussion on a topic that we read about in the paper on a monthly basis, and that has yet to be debated in public.”
Levy says this event is “not only for sports fans, but also for civic minded people—it’s not just about bringing professional basketball here, or building an arena, but everything that goes into it— including the Virginia Beach light rail discussion.”
The featured speakers will be able to offer unique insight into whether the Hampton Roads area is ready and able to support another professional sports team.
Jeff Cogen, who has more than 30 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry, is currently the CEO of the Nashville Predators and the Nashville Bridgestone Arena. A Peninsula native and Old Dominion University graduate, Cogen has also been president of the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers and the COO of the Florida Panthers.
Ken Young, too, has a long history of involvement with professional sports. Locally, he has been president of the Norfolk Tides since 1993, the year the team moved to Harbor Park. In 2004, Young and partners purchased the Norfolk Admirals, which are the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.
“This event gives us a chance to have fun and increase our knowledge exponentially,” says Levy. “Some of our events have a Jewish or Zionist component, but not all—like the one we held last year at the Norva, or when we learned about how apps are created from a Cape Henry Collegiate school student, or this one.
“The Business and Legal Society provides opportunities to broaden your horizons on whatever timely topic we have, and it’s a great way for Jewish business owners, or employees, or Jewish legal professionals to get involved in the community,” says Levy.
This event, which costs $10, is open to all Jewish business and legal professionals. For more information and to make a reservation, visit JewishVa.org/scoring-big, call Shayna Horwitz at 965-6124, or email shorwitz@ujft.org.
by Shayna Horwitz