The economy's impact on college sports budgets will be a hot topic at the IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum in New York City on December 9 and 10.

The event is sponsored by SportsBusiness Journal, SportsBusiness Journal and IMG. Former National Football League Pro Bowl Quarterback Archie Manning will participate in a one-on-one interview.

Panel discussions will cover sports budgets in the current economy, driving revenue through new media, college television deals, maximizing facility revenues, and corporate partnerships and sponsorship agreements.

The forum should be of interest to anyone in a college sports career or anyone interested in moving into college sports.

If you're interested in advancing in a sports career focusing on auto racing, or getting your foot in the door, the Motorsports Marketing Forum could provide some opportunities.

For that matter, if you're interested in sports marketing, the forum also could be useful.

Hosted by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, the Motorsports Marketing Forum will be held on December 1 and 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

SportsBusiness Journal said the forum will allow participants to hear from officials from top corporate sponsors, teams, and leagues. They will talk about marketing plans in the current difficult economy. Hundreds of officials are expected to attend.

I recently was talking with a friend about the dramatic changes to sports web sites in the last few years, with many of them adding more video and offering fun features that may mix video, graphics, and print.

Newspaper sports sections often led the way on visual type features and I think the same type of trend is occurring on sports web sites, offering fans information in an entertaining fashion. Of course if you work in this field, it's important to keep thinking ahead and staying on top of new trends.

Some industry leaders will discuss their thoughts at the Fantasy Sports Association Sports Media and Technology Conference on November 12 and 13 in New York.  Fantasy sports have become a big part of many of the leading sports sites. The event is sponsored by SportsBusiness Journal, SportsBusiness Daily, and the Fantasy Sports Association.

According to information about this year's program, it will feature a media power panel which will include leaders in broadcast, cable, and online space.  In addition, participants will have the opportunity to hear from those who are leading the way in wireless distribution, social media, and fantasy sports.

 According to SportsBusiness Journal, the event is expected to draw more than 400 of the industry's top executives from broadcast and cable networks, online properties, professional leagues and teams, media members, as well as technology and service providers.

If you're working in a sports career, you often will hear friends suggest they wish they were in your shoes. While it's true most people employed in sports careers find their work enjoyable, the positions still face the same challenges of other jobs.

Typically sports career jobs include very busy periods that require employees to be at their best. For instance, if you're an athletic director, the time before the busy fall season can become taxing. Sports information directors may face tough stretches before deadlines for media guides. It is important to be able to be at your best during these times.

Recently, many people employed in sports careers have faced the added challenge of performing top-level work with a smaller staff. A September survey by Watson Wyatt/WorldatWork revealed the layoffs brought on by the economic decline have brought a sharp decline in morale in remaining employees. With these ideas in mind, I did some research and used my own experience to suggest some ideas for increasing productivity and dealing with stressful times at work.