First Pitch Case Competition
Objective
The First Pitch Case Competition gives graduate students a dynamic, competitive learning experience focused on real sports business challenges, culminating in a live presentation at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
Description
Overview
The First Pitch Case Competition is an MBA style case competition held as part of the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC), giving graduate students exposure to real sports business issues.
Eligibility and Teams
- Open to all graduate students
- Teams of up to three students
- All team members must be from the same university and full time enrolled at the time of the conference
Format
- Round 1: registered teams receive a case question in early February and submit a written presentation (PowerPoint and PDF, max 15 slides) by mid-February
- Organizing committee and sponsors evaluate submissions and select three finalist teams
- Round 2 (Final): the three finalist teams present live at the SSAC conference in Boston to a panel of sports industry judges
Notable Details
- The 2026 edition case is presented by sponsor SponsorPulse
- Non ticket holders may register but must purchase a student priced ticket if selected as a finalist
- Past cases have been developed with organizations such as Ticketmaster, the NFL, Sony Sports Businesses, and NASCAR
Final round at SSAC26, Boston, MA
February 15, 2026
Public
Business School
Management
Networking
firstpitch@sloansportsconference.com
MIT Sloan School Of Management
MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, SponsorPulse
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes awarded; specific amounts not publicly disclosed