Olympiacos FC and Nottingham Forest FC owner Evangelos Marinakis was among a select group of notable figures invited to the “First Annual Exclusive UEFA Champions League Dinner,” a high-profile event held in Budapest on the sidelines of the UEFA Champions League final, scheduled for Saturday in the Hungarian capital.
The private dinner, marked by both discretion and symbolism, brought together leading figures from sports, media, technology, investment and the global entertainment industry. Among those attending were Evangelos Marinakis and Miltiadis Marinakis, in a gathering that underscored the international influence of the participants across the business and sport sectors.
The event was hosted by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, European Club Association and Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and Michael Rubin, founder and chief executive of Fanatics. According to reports, the dinner functioned as a strategic networking summit focused on shaping the future direction of the global sports business industry.
Prominent figures from the US sports and entertainment sector also attended, including Fox Sports Chief Executive Eric Shanks, Nike President and Chief Executive Elliott Hill, Adidas Chief Executive Bjørn Gulden, Disney Parks President Tassia Filippatos and CBS Chief Executive George Cheeks. The meeting highlighted the growing convergence between association football and the global media economy.
Evangelos Marinakis’ presence at such an exclusive, top-flight gathering was seen as another confirmation of the international position he has built not only through Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest, but also through his presence and activities in shipping, media and international investments.
Other guests included Formula 1 Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali, rapper Travis Scott, former football legends Zlatan Ibrahimović and Luís Figo, NBA superstar Kevin Durant and NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, alongside executives from the emerging digital sports economy, such as Whoop founder and chief executive Will Ahmed and Relevent Sports Chief Executive Danny Sillman.
According to reports, discussions extended well beyond football, focusing on issues expected to shape the next decade of the global sports ecosystem, including media rights, streaming, artificial intelligence, fan engagement, ownership models and strategic investment.
In an environment where the boundaries between football, investment, technology, media and entertainment are becoming increasingly blurred, Marinakis’ participation went beyond that of another influential club owner. Positioned in the upper tier of the international sports business industry, Marinakis is increasingly regarded as one of the few figures with broad, multi-sector influence.
The broader message that emerged from the Budapest event was that Marinakis is no longer merely participating alongside the global sports and business elite but is now considered part of its inner circle.
