Bloomberg Business of Sports

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast they talk John Levy, Founder and CEO of the Score. The team discusses the current state of online gambling, as more municipalities open the doors to new revenue streams. We also preview masters ahead of Thursday’s first round. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast, they talk about a successful Opening Day weekend and Major League Baseball’s decision to relocate this summer’s All Star Game away from the state of George. We also preview Jason’s Quicktake series “How Atlanta Sports Changed U.S. Politics”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy joins us on the show. We cover all things Red Sox and Covid-19. He walks us though the new safety measures implement at Fenway Park, how the 2021 Sox look on the field and how they are recovering financially after 2020. Sam also demands that Lynchie start paying for a ticket if he wants to enter Fenway.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hall of Famer Derek Jeter has a lot coming across his desk as CEO of the Miami Marlins. Fresh off a playoff appearance last season, the Yankee great-turned-CEO is continuing to turn around what's happening on the field, and on the income statement. Jason Kelly speaks with Jeter and LoanDepot founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh about the deal to name Marlins Park for the lender. They also discuss marketing to the South Florida fan, changes in the game of baseball and what Jeter's learned moving from player to boss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast, they talk about the possible unintended consequences of an NFL 17-week season. Michael Barr’s “Sunday” Dayton 500 may be a causality. We also discuss the NCAA tournament’s success as they close in on the finish line, along with the prospects of those athletes earning a paycheck. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indiana and basketball go hand-in-hand, and a native son is now guiding his home-state's most versatile sports facility through the NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis. Lucas Oil Stadium Director Eric Neuburger explains how to safely hold March Madness during the pandemic, the local economy's reliance on major sporting events, and lessons learned from working inside the IU athletic department. Plus, Washington Football Team owner Daniel Snyder looks to consolidate his power, and an officiating controversy hits the NHL.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Devin Gordon joins the show to talk about his new book, So Many Ways to Lose: The Amazin' True Story of the New York Mets—The Best Worst Team in Sports. He talks about the inspiration for the book, the agony and ecstasy of rooting for an oft-losing, but sometimes winning, franchise and takes stock of the Wilpon era, the Madoff connection, and the prospects under new ownership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NCAA's biggest annual moneymaker looks and sounds different in its Indy incarnation, but the drama is still there. Thanks to Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago and Oral Roberts, lots of brackets are busted. And social media busted the NCAA for its dramatically unequal treatment of the women's tournament in San Antonio, when it comes to facilities. Plus, we pay tribute to the late Dick Hoyt, who brought heart, charity and attention to marathons in Boston and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's nothing quite like seeing a suplex along with thousands of roaring fans by your side. Well, the pandemic may have quashed that for awhile, but WWE WrestleMania 37 promises to bring some of that excitement back. Jason, Barr, and Lynch caught up with Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer, to discuss the business of sports entertainment during a health crisis, the new streaming deal with Peacock, and what's next for the wrestling organization under Vince McMahon's leadership. Plus, the NFL signs a $105 Billion television deal with various networks and Amazon takes Thursday night football. The team was joined by co-host of Bloomberg Markets and Bloomberg Surveillance Paul Sweeney to discuss this massive deal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nostalgia meets technology with a new way to trade sports cards -- a far cry from playground swaps or Lynchie's prized collection getting tossed by his dad. We check in with Alt founder and CEO Leore Avidar, who's won big-name backing (including Kevin Durant, Alexis Ohanian) for a platform meant to bring transparency and predictability to a booming market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madison Square Garden better learn to remember this man. Patrick Ewing made a triumphant return to his NYC home, taking his Georgetown Hoyas back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015. Drew Brees, the NFL's all-time leader in career passing yards, has retired, leaving a massive void for the New Orleans Saints to fill. Plus, Cam Newton returns to the Patriots. Mike Lynch suspends his disbelief, and breaks down the logistics of the quarterback's one-year contract.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans, like sports, have changed forever owing to the pandemic, and Angela Ruggiero, CEO and co-founder of Sports Innovation Lab, has the data to prove it. Plus join Jason Kelly, Mike Lynch and Michael Barr as they breakdown Dak Prescott's monster deal with the Cowboys, the NBA All-Star game's disappointing ratings and the Texas Rangers are opening their stadium to full capacity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans, like sports, have changed forever owing to the pandemic, and Angela Ruggiero, CEO and co-founder of Sports Innovation Lab, has the data to prove it. The Olympian and hockey Hall of Famer joins to talk about what her group has dubbed the 'Fluid Fan' and how teams are adapting to meet us where we are. She delves into why English football clubs out-innovate most American sports teams and an effort to up the profile and consumption of women's sports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NBA All-Star Game carried on this past weekend, despite push back from some top players. Jason, Barr, and Lynch discuss the economics of the star-studded event, amid opposition from some athletes. Meanwhile, it's International Women's Day, and Maia Chaka has made history as the first Black woman ever named to the NFL's officiating staff. Plus, there's a new platform elevating women's voices. World Cup champion Alex Morgan has teamed up with a bevy of decorated athletes to form TOGETHXR, a media and commerce company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professional sports across the board had a tough 2020. Well, it was no different for the Bronx Bombers, Major League Baseball's largest revenue generator. Jason, Barr, and Lynch caught up with the President of the New York Yankees, Randy Levine, to talk about what to expect for opening day, the financial situation coming into a fresh season, and the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. Plus, they talk about a Bloomberg Businessweek story that has the sneakerhead community buzzing over the resignation of a senior Nike executive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA Hall of Famer, gold medal-winning Olympian, and Georgetown Hoyas Head Coach Patrick Ewing joins the podcast to talk about the legacy of fellow hall of famer and Georgetown Hoyas coach, John Thompson. Ewing speaks with Jason and Lynch about the impact Thompson had on his career, professional sports, and society at large. They also talk about the difficulties of coaching and recruiting during the pandemic, and Ewing weighs in on the New York City Mayoral race.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stef Strack built a career at Nike and Rag & Bone understanding the intersection of sport, apparel, lifestyle and culture, especially for women. With Voice in Sport, she's taking it to a new level, combining membership and mentorship. On the first day of Women's History Month, Strack joins the show to talk about the broken economics of collegiate sports, the potential to unlock new markets at the youth level and lobbying Washington for new rules.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever stood on a youth soccer sideline with a whistle, befuddled? There's an app for that. Legendary media executive Ben Sherwood has launched a new company, Mojo, aimed at the youth sports market, leveraging his experience running TV networks into an all-too-familiar pain point. He joins Jason and Mike to break down the business case, and weigh in on the ever-changing media landscape. Plus, the guys catch up with Gerry Smith to talk about the business of Tiger Woods as the star recovers from his accident and hear from Alex Rodriguez about his new adventures in the world of SPACs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 11 years in the NFL, Ndamukong Suh finally has his championship ring, and his ambitions off the field are similarly super-sized. He's methodically built a sprawling portfolio of assets, notably in real estate and hospitality, carefully cultivating relationships with some of the best-known investors of our time. He talks with Jason Kelly and Mike Lynch about advice from Warren Buffett, shadowing Stephen Ross and teaming up with private equity and venture capital firms, all while thinking about the next contract negotiation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic just accelerated the way reporters and journalists gain access to athletes and coaches and changes how sports is now consumed. Jon Wertheim has seen his fair share of sports moments and stories working for Sports Illustrated. And this past year has been no different.He joined Michael Barr and Mike Lynch to discuss changes within the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Never in his wildest dreams could he have expected this. He trained and put the work in and Michael McDowell still can't believe it. Its a dream come true as he is crowned Daytona 500 champion. McDowell joined Michael Barr and Mike Lynch to discuss what its like winning the "The Super Bowl of Racing" and the long journey he took to get here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NBA All-Star and two-time champion Pau Gasol was never your typical pro ball player. Now, with lessons learned on and off the court, he's directing his attention to investments to make us better at being humans. He joins Jason, Mike and Michael to talk about his goals, getting back on the court and to the Olympics, and the deep influence Kobe had on him as a player and a man.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the Super Bowl comes the Super Bowl of racing. It's the Daytona 500! NASCAR President Steve Phelps joined the team to discuss the new season and lessons learned from 2020, when NASCAR was one of the first sports to return to action after shutting down due to the pandemic. He touches on the technology that has transformed the sport and how the sport continues to push to be more inclusive, at the fan level as well as with team ownership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASCAR was one of the first sports to return after COVID-19 struck last year. The sport has gone through numerous changes over the years as it relates to sponsorships and safety implementations. Driver Kevin Harvick joined Michael Barr to discuss how they were able to navigate last season and how he is preparing for Daytona 500 this Sunday. They touched on the 20-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s passing. He also discussed his sports agency KHI and its foray into MMA fighting and golf.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Super Bowl LV is in the books and our crew breaks down the big game. Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Richard Trueman discuss the winners and losers of Super Bowl LV, Tom Brady’s legacy and how the NFL made it through the covid-19 season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of Super Bowl LV, host city Tampa finds itself in all sorts of uncharted territory. There's the global pandemic and the extraordinary measures the city and the NFL are taking to ensure player and fan safety. There's the economic consequences of a scaled-down run-up. And there's the happy matter of having the home team playing in the game for the first time ever. We break all of that down with Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl, we catch up with Mike Tannenbaum, a front office fixture in the National Football League who now works at ESPN. The former Jets GM goes deep on the economics underneath the recent blockbuster trade, the drama around the Texans and their unhappy quarterback and talks about his early days as a Saints intern learning the vagaries of the salary cap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arizona has hundreds of millions of dollars flowing in each springtime, when half of Major League Baseball shows up for spring training. But health concerns are outweighing economics in 2021 and the Cactus League has called for a delay. Bridget Binsbacher, executive director of the Cactus League, joins the show to talk about the gravity of the decision, and how an eventual spring training could look in her backyard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Boston's former favorite adopted son preps for another Super Bowl with a different team, we check in with Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe for his take on Tom Brady, Curt Schilling and a lot more. He and Lynchie go deep on the big moments across the decades of Boston sports, and discuss a fan base that's created some of the most valuable franchises in all of sports. Plus, part of Jason's interview with Olympian Katie Ledecky, who discusses the state of college sports in an uncertain time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world will (virtually) descend on Tampa in a couple Sundays and Tom Brady could add some more hardware if the home team can claim a win. With reigning champs in the NHL and a World Series runner-up (not to mention a recent NBA champion from Toronto camping out), the Florida city is taking the sports world by storm. Jason, Michael and Mike discuss the economic ups and downs of winning and hosting in a pandemic, an empty Hall of Fame ballot and some more barrier-breaking in both pro basketball and football.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a sports world of giants, few stood taller than the late John Thompson, Jr., long-time Georgetown coach, activist and agitator. Jesse Washington co-authored Thompson's critically acclaimed autobiography, published after the coach's death last year. Like the man whose story it tells, it's a complicated, funny, insightful and moving work. Jesse joins Michael, Mike and proud Georgetown Hoya Jason to explore the book's themes of education, race, loyalty and fairness and discuss little-known aspects of the coach's life, his work with Nike and his advocacy for his players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the NHL back on the ice -- albeit realigned, geographically restricted and enforcing reams of health rules -- Commissioner Gary Bettman joins the show to discuss the economics of another strange season of hockey. New, novel sponsorship deals (naming divisions, helmet decals) are all about "revenue retention" as half the normal money is coming in -- since fans have to stay home. Still, the longest serving commissioner across the major sports -- who's seen revenue grow from $400 million to more than $5 billion during his tenure -- says growth is only interrupted, not evaporated.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world awash with content but missing in-person sports, FITE has expanded beyond its combat sports roots into a broad array of pay-per-view content. Mike Weber, FITE's chief operating officer, joins the show to talk about leveraging his experience in pro wrestling and other sports. Streaming services have reintroduced the debate around who will pay how much, for what, and when, and the pandemic has accelerated some of the most disruptive elements of how we distribute and watch sports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To commemorate MLK Day, we go deep on The Players Alliance. It's a group formed by current and former Black baseball players to educate and mobilize around issues of social justice and economic inequality. Curtis Granderson, Chris Young and Chris Dickerson join the show to explain the founding values, the state of the game and reflect on their own experiences as pro athletes of color in 2020. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thirty Five Ventures is the very model of a major athlete's ambitions well beyond the court. Rich Kleiman, co-founder with Kevin Durant of Thirty Five Ventures. The day after Durant got a new partner on the Brooklyn Nets with James Harden, his long-time manager and business partner Kleiman joins for a wide-ranging conversation on where the Nets go from here, Kleiman's roots in the music business, learning from Jay-Z and building an empire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Burns watches NFL a little differently: He's got a lot of business riding on the GOAT. The CEO of TB12 is building an empire around what makes Tom Brady keep going, bringing the secrets of training and nutrition underpinning an all-world, still-going career to the rest of us. Burns and Lynchie swap Brady stories and the group explores how the pandemic has made the wellness business both more difficult and more important.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch our breath after a weekend full of high-octane NFL playoffs, including the games that set the stage for next week's Drew Brees/Tom Brady showdown -- a network programmer's dream. On deck, the College Football Playoff championship, itself a product of business-driven negotiations that contemplated all the TV money, and Justin Fields' future prospects as a pro. Plus, the NBA postpones a game and the first real sports fallout from last week's violence at the Capitol -- the PGA says it won't play next year's championship at the President's club.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few athletes have the perspective of Paul Rabil. The best-known lacrosse player in history has evolved into both an entrepreneur and activist, using his platform to elevate the game, its players and a new way of thinking about sports. In his latest visit to the show (where he first announced the creation of the PLL in 2018), Rabil talks about the recent historic merger with Major League Lacrosse (where he started his pro career before launching the PLL), what's next for the game, his philanthropic work and the age of the empowered athlete.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than a year into his tenure running the Arizona Coyotes, Xavier Gutierrez is on the cusp of another unusual season. The former private equity investor is applying lots of business metrics to ensuring a safe season -- with a limited number of fans as the NHL season looks ahead to the first pucks dropping next week. He talks to Jason, Mike and Michael about innovations in ticket sales, as well as leaning into his young, diverse market to find "fans in waiting."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Football dominates the conversation as the trio reunites for the first time in 2021. The NFL limped to the finish of its regular season, and Jason, Michael and Mike muse about how head coaching vacancies may be filled in light of the social justice issues reckoned with throughout 2020. And Barr and Lynchie sit back and watch as Jason goes off about the nearly $25 million the University of Texas is paying to get rid of its winning coaching staff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr and Mike Lynch sit down with Harvard University athletic director Erin McDermott. We talk about what it’s like to switch jobs during a pandemic, how her on the court experience influences her new role and the many “hats” a modern athletic director must wear. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg’s Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, Damian Sassower and special guest Charlie Vollmer, discuss the results of the 2020 Fantasy football championships. We break down the booms and busts from week 16 and the effect those had on the final week of the season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr and Mike Lynch break down some of the biggest sports business stories of the week. Today the duo chats about the first week of NBA action, the AP’s athletes of the year and the NFL’s plan to expand the season to a 17 game schedule in 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Opinion columnist (plus bestselling author and podcaster extraordinaire) Joe Nocera stops by to talk NCAA, plus Jason, Michael, and Mike Lynch discuss the Rose Bowl, the upcoming NHL season, and Peloton’s acquisition of Precor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 15 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 16. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Soccer Federation has agreed to revise its policies on working conditions for members of the National Women's Soccer team, after part of a long-running legal battle was settled early this month. Following last week's conversation with USWNT lawyer Cardelle Spangler, this week we catch up with Jamie Wine, partner at Latham and Watkins, which represents U.S. Soccer in the litigation. We discuss the details of the settlement, arguments over fair pay, and common misconceptions associated with the case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NBA returns next week, just two short months after the Lakers captured the 2020 title in the Orlando bubble. Jason and Mike get a sneak peak with NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum. They discuss the importance of a quick turnaround for the business of basketball, the organization's relationship with corporate sponsors, and the challenges ahead for a season with teams at home and on the road.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich Trueman and Damian Sassower reflect on week 14 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 15. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Something went wrong across the history of the NCAA, as college football took all the oxygen and attention away from the notion of student athletes. The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics has made it a mission to help fix it, and CEO Amy Privette Perko joins the show to explain how it could be a fair system -- when it comes to both economics and race -- for the 90+ percent of college athletes who don't play football.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.