Panel, Conference Presentation
Reinvigorating the American Dream through Sport, Celebration, and Education | Global Conference 2024
- The Milken Institute will open the Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington, D.C., in 2025, timed to coincide with the lead-up to the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026.
- Recent surveys indicate 70% to 90% of Americans believe they are on track to achieve or have already achieved the American dream, a sentiment that also holds strong globally, particularly in Southeast Asia (90-95% belief).
- FIFA and the U.S. have aligned the 2026 World Cup (hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) with the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.
- Gianni Infantino, Head of FIFA, projects 5 to 10 million attendees and a global audience of 4 to 5 billion people for the 2026 World Cup.
- The 2026 World Cup will feature 104 matches across 11 U.S. host cities, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada, with a scheduled match in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026.
- The 2026 World Cup is expected to draw larger average viewership per game (approx. 150 million) than the Super Bowl, driven by global engagement where populations in host nations of participating teams often stop work on match days.
- Rosie Rios, U.S. Treasurer and Chair of the America 250 Commission, confirmed the formation of state-level commissions in 46 states, all operating as nonpartisan entities with no political ideology allowed in their planning.
- The America 250 Commission reached a milestone of 150 members in the U.S. Congress, creating one of the largest bipartisan congressional caucuses, with the goal of raising private sector funds to match federal contributions.
- A pilot youth program called "America's Field Trip" has launched to engage grades 3–12, offering backstage access to national landmarks and history as part of the commemoration.
- Legislation passed in 2020 regarding women on quarters will result in a full coin redesign in 2026, with subsequent quarters (2027–2030) featuring youth sports to encourage physical engagement among children.
- The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee is preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, noting that most venues are already built, with no new major stadium construction required.
- Janet Evans announced a $160 million investment in Los Angeles youth sports programs for LA 2028 to subsidize athletic participation and introduce children to niche sports like fencing and squash.
- Lindsey Vonn is leading the bid to bring the 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City, leveraging existing 2002 Olympic infrastructure and planning to introduce a "family village" to support athletes' families.
- Infantino emphasized that women's football has driven global growth, with the last Women's World Cup reaching 2 billion viewers, surpassing the Super Bowl, and noted that 195 countries are now participating in World Cup qualifiers compared to 130 in 2015.
- The panel discussed the challenge of screen addiction among youth, with Vonn citing The Anxious Generation to highlight the need for sports to provide a more engaging alternative to smartphones to combat rising rates of depression and anxiety.
- Infantino proposed that private sector investment is crucial to reduce the high cost of youth sports in the U.S., aiming to emulate European models where local communities fund teams to ensure accessibility.
- The 2026 commemoration will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, aiming to use sports and history to foster national healing and unity, as referenced by the 2001 World Series opening pitch.
- Panelists identified the need to modernize the legacy of past athletes, noting that while historical figures like Michael Jordan are known for products, their stories and contributions to sport history require active revitalization for younger generations.
- FIFA and the IOC plan to maintain ticket accessibility for local populations by reserving low-price categories to prevent black market reselling and ensure broad community participation.
- The conversation highlighted the potential for WNBA stars like Caitlin Clark to drive viewership and investment that could trickle down to Olympic sports, provided television coverage increases.
- The panel concluded with a commitment to a long-term strategy spanning 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2034 to sustain the momentum of the American dream and global unity through sport and celebration.