Is ICLA Souring on the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show?
October 9, 2025
Doug Kouba, Editor
A recently published ICLA Youtube video seems to point to some dissatisfaction with the Las Vegas location of the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show.
The video is a conversation between current member of the ICLA Board of Directors, Jason Harbison, and Kimberly Spino, Director of Licensing and Trademarks at Indiana University, to review the 2025 ICLA Winter Symposium.
After introductions Harbison asks Spino about the deepening ties ICLA has created with the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show. As part of Spino’s response, Spino notes the survery results they receive from ICLA members state that “people are getting a little tired of being in Vegas every year.”
“People are getting a little tired of being in Vegas every year.”
While that might be the case, it seems ICLA will have to manage being in Vegas for the forseeable future as Spino says further that “people (ICLA members) like to co-locate with a show in general.” And further, “the Tailgate show was really overall the best fit for us for the Association and we bring so much value as an Association to the Tailgate show.”
Later on in the discussion Harbison asks Spino about how they approach planning the networking side of the ICLA Symposium, and Spino replies, “I think its getting more challenging every year because we’ve spent so much time in Vegas.” And further noted, the rising cost of things makes it hard to plan an event for a group of over 200 people.
“I think its getting more challenging every year because we’ve spent so much time in Vegas.”
The converstaion concludes with Spino stating, “I’m just really excited to grow the booth, the networking opportunities and the education there, I think we’ve opened the door to some really great opportunities.” Harbison replies saying “I think you’re right, and we look forward to seeing how that relationship continues to grow and become stronger through the years.
So in all you might say the viewers of this video received some conflicting comments from ICLA about the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show. While the members might be tiring of the Las Vegas location, the Association sees the overall value of the Show.
If you would like to check out the video yourself, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiDnqnYj3KA