The Big Game Ad Review: AMA Las Vegas Flagship Event

The Ultimate Marketing Playbook: Dissecting the Year’s Biggest Ads!

Get ready to score big! Join AMA Las Vegas for our premier annual event, The Big Game Ad Review. Held shortly after the championship game, this high-energy event brings together Las Vegas’s leading marketing minds to analyze the strategy, impact, and ROI of the biggest commercials aired this year.

This is a must-attend evening for any professional passionate about advertising, media strategy, and creative execution.

Event Format & Highlights:

Two Dynamic Panels: We are featuring an expanded format this year with two distinct, high-impact discussions:

1. SPORTS MARKETING DEEP DIVE (15 Minutes): A quick-fire panel focusing exclusively on the strategic use of sports platforms, athlete endorsements, and the evolving landscape of sports advertising leading up to the Big Game.
2. THE AD REVIEW DEBATE: Our traditional, main panel dissects the best and worst ads, breaking down the creative risks, media placements, and brand messaging.

• Audience Scorecard Interaction: During the initial networking hour, you’ll be invited to score your favorite and least favorite ads. The panel will then review and debate the Audience Scorecard results live!
• Elite Moderation: The main Ad Review panel will be expertly moderated by Arnie from R&R Partners, ensuring a candid and engaging discussion.
• Venue & Refreshments: Experience the event at the innovative StarBase Las Vegas! Your ticket includes food and one free drink ticket generously provided by our venue host.

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: StarBase Las Vegas

Meet Our Expert Panelists & Moderator

Sports Marketing Deep Dive Panel

This specialized panel will focus on the business of brand alignment and major sports events:

Moderator:

Reggie Burton –  PR Consultant & Founder of Avery Burton Foundation

Reggie Burton is the founder of Reggie Burton Communications, LLC (DBA RB Group – PR), a Las Vegas–based boutique agency where culture, creativity, and strategy collide. A 25-year public relations and marketing veteran, Reggie has held senior communications roles with Mandalay Resort Group, MGM Mirage, and the San Diego Chargers, where he worked two Super Bowls, one with the Chargers and another with the NFL’s PR Staff, learning how brands earn relevance in moments that matter.

In 2015, he was invited to the 30-Year Reunion of NFL Public Relations executives at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where he is also a Lifetime Member.

Today, RB Group helps consumer, entertainment, and sports brands turn big ideas into stories that travel. His current and past clients include Lexus of Las Vegas, Centennial Subaru, Clark County Las Vegas Urban League, and the Vegas Golden Knights, where he earned a Stanley Cup ring in 2023.

Reggie believes Las Vegas has become the unofficial second stage of the Big Game—where advertising and marketing lives beyond the screen, extends into experiences, and turns attention into impact

Sarah Haertl –  Senior Director of Marketing at Allegiant Stadium for Legends Global

Sarah Haertl has a diverse marketing background across live entertainment, finance, and creative agencies, with a career focused on building brands, driving engagement, and delivering results at scale. In addition to her professional work, Sarah is passionate about community impact and has supported organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs and Dress for Success.

Brianna Lester is a Premium Service Manager with the Las Vegas Raiders, where she focuses on high touch client relationships, VIP experiences, and premium fan engagement. Her work centers on how service and experience drive loyalty, brand perception, and long-term value in professional sports. With experience across sports operations, fan experience, and community engagement, Brianna brings a grounded perspective on the evolving expectations of today’s sports fans and the role service plays in building meaningful, lasting relationships.

Jason Soto is Vice President of Entertainment and Fan Experience for the Las Vegas Aces, overseeing in-game entertainment, live production, and fan engagement across all home games and marquee events. With more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of sports, live entertainment, and technology, he brings a data-driven, audience-first approach to building premium game-day experiences and integrated sponsor activations. A Las Vegas native and Founder of Vision Vegas, Jason has led large-scale entertainment and media initiatives for professional sports, global brands, and major live events, and is known for elevating fan experience as a strategic business driver within professional sports.

The Ad Review Panel

This discussion will be led by one of Las Vegas’s top strategic minds:

Moderator:

Arnie DiGeorge Executive Vice President

A throwback and a futurist. Nostalgic and cutting edge. An expert in history and pop culture. A collector of shoes (hundreds), wine, books and memorabilia (junk). Brilliant creative writer, from slapstick to heart-tugging, tear jerking prose. He has an innate ability to find, as he calls it, “the thing.” This enigmatic bundle led the legendary Las Vegas “What happens here, stays here.” brand creative. He wrote many of the award-winning executions and stayed true to the essence of “adult freedom.” He’s created for athletes such as Andre Agassi, and entertainers like Carrie Underwood. Call him for recommendations for the best new documentary; a new restaurant review; shoe trends; a moderately priced, but robust Cab; or better yet, if you’re looking for “the thing” for your brand.

Christine Maddela is a veteran broadcast journalist, media coach, and the founder of Storyville Road, a full-service video production and presentation coaching firm. A lifelong storyteller, her work has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including multiple Regional Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow® Awards. Recognized as one of Vegas Inc’s “40 Under 40” and a recipient of the 2023 Entrepreneurial Women of Impact Award, Christine is a sought-after speaker on storytelling, entrepreneurship, and professional development. She is deeply active in the Las Vegas community, serving on several boards including Teach For America Nevada and the Nevada Corporate Giving Council, and is a member of the Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2025.

Troy Gallo is an award-winning creative leader and brand strategist who has spent nearly two decades shaping campaigns for leading travel, hospitality, entertainment, consumer, corporate, and nonprofit brands. Based in Las Vegas, he has developed creative work for Nevada State Bank, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, Mirage Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay, Palms Casino Resort, BLVD, and Blue Heron, among many others. His portfolio includes the acclaimed Go Grimes Go campaign for Nevada State Bank and the Be Moved by Marley creative launch of the acclaimed strip show, Bob Marley Hope Road. Known for combining strategic clarity with creative flair, Troy has produced integrated campaigns across digital, OOH, print, broadcast, social, and experiential platforms. His work has earned multiple Addy Awards and Telly Awards while helping brands unlock their voice, inspire audiences, and achieve business goals. In addition to his agency and brand work, Troy also brings his charisma to live audiences as an in-arena host for the Henderson Silver Knights and Vegas Knight Hawks, showcasing his ability to connect with people in meetings and on stage.

Thank You to Our Partners

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for making this premier event possible: