Professor Shirin Mollah sits down with Stephen Cheung, CEO of the LA County Economic Development Corporation, at the Intuit Dome during the LA Sports Council's innovation conference. Cheung breaks down the jaw-dropping numbers behind LA's sports economy—$12.1 billion in economic impact and 93,000 jobs supported by the sector in 2024 alone.
The conversation dives into how international superstars like Shohei Ohtani are transforming LA into a global sports destination, with Japanese tourism spiking 91% and 85% of those visitors attending multiple Dodger games. Cheung explains how LA's incredible diversity, with the largest Filipino, Armenian, and Korean populations outside their home countries, creates unique opportunities when international athletes arrive.
From facial recognition payment systems at the Intuit Dome to the SoFi Stadium drawing 73,000+ fans per Rams game, technology is reshaping the fan experience. Cheung emphasizes the critical need for education institutions to prepare the next generation for careers spanning sports tech, data analytics, and digital marketin
00:00 - Introduction at Intuit Dome
