Big days are approaching for the opening of the CAA World Congress in Los Angeles

Tony Flores

CAA World Sports Congress sessions begin today at the JW Marriott in LA Live. World Congress Connect begins in the morning with a structured networking and information sharing session. Then, after opening remarks by Branch and his SBJ publisher and executive editor, Abe Madkour, the event's first panel will discuss key industry issues.Speaking on the panel will be Arctos Partners TJ AdesholaKroenke Sports & Entertainment Kevin DemoffMariners katie griggsProfessional Tennis Players Association Ahmad Nassar and NBC Olympic Productions Molly Solomon.

NHL commissioner also speaks on the first day of the world conference Gary BettmanFanatics Chair michael rubinDraftKings jason robbins and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (Freshly out of the successful WNBA Draft in Brooklyn). Click here to view the full agenda.

The World Congress began Monday night with a welcome reception for approximately 250 attendees at the JW Marriott, hosted by Ticketmaster. Just before the event, many attendees were glued to the TV near the bar for ESPN's WNBA Draft.Proskauer was among those seen during the welcome reception. brad raskinAmerican PGA jeff priceAmerican Gymnastics lee li ryongof the elevator ben gumpert and Lara Toscani WeemsU.S.L. Court JeskeUSTA Dian PownallGMR Marketing Co., Ltd. tod fisherMariners Gina Martinez ToddUSA Fencing phil andrews,earthquake” Alison WhitsonTurnkey ZRG rick alessandriof the weak megan hughes allisonplayflies michael newman and Dan ParisLHB Sports” Lee BurkeVetTix steve weintraub and Rakuten's Rhea Wadia.

Events on the eve of the World Congress included DLA Piper, which met at the Soho Warehouse, and Innovative Partnership Group, which held cocktails and dinner at Saint Laurel at the Conrad Hotel downtown.