LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 20, 2026— A joint venture was announced today between LiS: Latinos in Sports™, a multi-strategy platform connecting the global sports industry with the powerful Hispanic community; and AVANCE Sports, a non-profit membership association advancing the professional and economic mobility of Latinos in the sports industry. The two organizations will collaborate on curating the sports conference at Avance Global Proximo, the single-largest business and media gathering for the Latino mega-market, which will attract nearly 7,000 executives, entrepreneurs, and luminaries to Las Vegas this September.
“We’ve always held that true success comes through collaboration, and the mission of advancing Latino impact is too important to pursue in isolation,” said Xavier A. Gutierrez, Co-Founder of LiS: Latinos in Sports™ and Founder, Chairman and CEO of ImpactX Sport Group. “I’ve long respected Gary Acosta’s entrepreneurial achievements and vision for our industry, and we’re excited to partner more formally at the upcoming Avance Global Proximo event.”
The two organizations maintain distinct focal points in their approach but have found areas of common ground to elevate a shared mission. In broad strokes, LiS and Avance arrive at similar goals with different methods:
- Industry Spotlight – LiS illuminates the positive impact of Latinos, with emphasis on engaging C-Suite leaders in seats of decision making across leagues, teams and brands. The organization’s three-pronged approach of Convenings, Content and Community has produced proprietary research studies with Nielsen, McKinsey & Co. and the NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport, as well as partnerships with BODYARMOR, CNBC, ESPN, Genesis Motors, Heineken, MLB, Morgan Stanley, NFL, USA Soccer, USTA and YETI.
- Community Impact – AVANCE Sports is a (501) (6) membership organization that focuses on advocacy, education, and mentorship at the community level. Having executed events both nationally and internationally, it recently launched local chapters in top markets across the country. AVANCE Sports widens the net to include next-generation leaders, students, and like-minded local groups. Past and current brand partners include BSE, MLB, NBA, Nike and Octagon.
“AVANCE Global will convene global luminaries to discuss Latino capital, leadership and prosperity, with sports playing an increasingly critical piece of the puzzle,” said Gary Acosta, CEO of AVANCE Global and CEO of NAHREP. “We have great respect for Xavier Gutierrez and his team at LiS, and truly believe this partnership will produce something groundbreaking for the sports industry.”
AVANCE Global Proximo will take place at The Bellagio, Las Vegas from September 14th – 16th, and include multiple verticals across capital, construction, real estate, and more. This year’s sports track, called LiS at AVANCE, will be jointly curated, managed and promoted by both organizations.
For more information or to reserve your place now, please visit: https://avanceglobal.com/proximo/.
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Mike Valdes-Fauli
President
Chemistry Cultura
[email protected]