LAS VEGAS (Feb. 6, 2026) – It’s always good to end on a high note, and such was the case for the fourth and final day of NADA Show 2026. From legendary speakers to engaging educational sessions and countless opportunities to forge business-building connections, Friday’s agenda didn’t disappoint.
Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez was the big draw on the Main Stage on Friday morning, providing inspiring insight about sports, life and business — with much of his message tailored to retail automotive professionals, fueled by his involvement in the industry as the former owner of a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Texas.
Jason Stein, managing director of The Presidio Group and host of "Cars & Culture with Jason Stein" on SiriusXM, led a lively conversation with Rodriguez that touched on everything from his baseball career to the 2025 HBO documentary that explored his complex career. Rodriguez is the chairman and chief executive officer of A-Rod Corp, an investment firm that backs world-class startups and partners with leading global companies across real estate, sports and entertainment.
Rodriguez maintains strong interest in retail automotive. “I love this space,” he told Jason. “I love the community — very colorful group of people. What’s interesting is the tremendous resemblance to great athletes in sports, because you can start from the bottom, you need hard work, long hours. You need a great team, perseverance.”
“Ultimately, it's about people and energy,” he added. “Some of the best people I've met have come from the auto industry. This is a really fun, great space.”
His involvement in retail automotive may ramp up again soon, Rodriguez noted, explaining that he’s looking for opportunities again, now that he understands the industry better and has more time. “I'm really excited now with what I've learned, and where the auto business is today. It's a great time to get in.”
Rodriguez praised attendees for their resilience against formidable challenges. “You guys have been through a lot of ups and downs, and thank goodness that ‘25 was more stable,” he said. “It takes perseverance, and it's not always easy. Nothing is predictable — just like sports.”
He used an acronym — VCP, which stands for vision, capital and people — to describe what he learned from George Steinbrenner of New York Yankees fan about what’s necessary for success in baseball — and other professional endeavors. “Those three letters are the foundation to any great business,” he said.
Constant success isn’t the point, Rodriguez added. “Business is about failure,” he said. “You're not going to sell a car every time you approach a client. You're not going get the right deal. But how do you get back up? Getting back up is not just getting back up: it’s getting back up with the right attitude and energy and optimism and excitement. That you own, and you can't let anybody take that away from you, because the world will try to take that away from you every chance they get.”
The Main Stage session also provided a sneak peek at NADA Show 2027, which will take place February 17-20, 2027 in Orlando. NADA chairman Rob Cochran and the NADA Show 2027 show chairman Matt Laughridge shared a video of Universal Epic Universe, which opened in 2025 and will serve as a venue during the event. “We will have exclusive access to Universal Epic for our welcome reception,” Cochran said. “How great is that?”
Wrapping up the final Live Stage session, Michael Joe Cannon, 2026 Nada Show committee chairman, encouraged attendees to complete a survey that will be shared via email next week. “Your feedback helps us make each year’s show even better,” he said.
A New Day, New Opportunities
Friday’s agenda was filled with a lineup of high-energy, forward-thinking activities and sessions designed to drive the retail automotive to the next level in formats that included Live Stage sessions, Workshops, Exchanges, the Dealer Learning Lab and EV Solutions Center. From non-monetary benefits to retain employees and sourcing pre-owned inventory, the range of compelling topics addressed was ideal for a variety of industry professionals.
Among the events drawing an impressive turnout was the Super Session, “Fueling the Future: What’s Next in Vehicle Sales,” which featured a panel of industry experts discussing the changing landscape of automotive retail. In addition, the Live Stage hosted yet another array of noteworthy sessions, including a presentation called “The Truth About Car Dealers and How the Industry Can Tell a Better Story,” with Kyle Mountsier and Paul J. Daly of More than Cars.
At the Dealer Learning Lab, meanwhile, attendees learned tips for improving visibility for fixed ops, attracting star talent, and shifting from reactive decisions to proactive leadership.
Exchange sessions provided expert tips for addressing a variety of issues, including how to source preowned inventory in creative ways, building lifetime loyalty beyond the sale and how to manage controllable expenses in all department.
Franchise meetings on Friday included Acura, Genesis, Honda, INEOS Grenadier, Kia and Mazda.
As NADA Show closed at 1:30pm PST, attendees wrapped up another successful event designed to empower them with knowledge, fresh ideas and connections to help them navigate the challenges and opportunities of this fascinating industry in the coming year.
Didn’t make it to Las Vegas this year? Read a recap of day three, day two and day one.
