What happens when you invite 30 employees from every corner of a sports organization to talk about what frustrates them most at work - and then actually build AI solutions around it? 

At the Portland Trail Blazers, it sparked an AI transformation that’s saving hours, surfacing sales leads, and bringing fans closer to the brand.

In this episode, Christa Stout and David Long share how they’ve embedded innovation into the DNA of the Blazers not just through flashy tech, but by empowering their people. From internal tools like “David Detractor” and “Kelly Kindness” to reimagined hiring processes and game-day feedback loops, they’re here to break down how they’re turning day-to-day inefficiencies into scalable wins.

You’ll also hear how their collaborative approach with the NBA and other teams is accelerating progress across the league, why AI success hinges more on behavior change than code, and how personal stories remind them what the work is really about.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How the Blazers formed a 30+ person cross-functional AI committee to co-create AI tools that addressed their pain points
• Why tools like David Detractor and Kelly Kindness are transforming post-game surveys into sales opportunities and deeper fan connection
• The framework the Blazers use to evaluate EVERY AI use case: drive revenue, cut costs, improve productivity, or elevate the customer experience
• How a fully automated hiring packet generator is shaving weeks off job posting workflows
• How a 12-year-old fan’s Pride Night experience became a defining moment for the Blazers

Resources and Links:

Connect with Christa Stout and David Long on LinkedIn.

Christa and David referenced these tools: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Qualtrics, and Zapier.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

Next League is partnering with Sports Business Journal for the Rising Woman of the Year Award. Nominations are now open! Learn more here.