1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Even if you don't follow football. The Auckland FC story 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: is one for the ages brain. New team wins the 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: comp in the first season. The playoffs for the title 4 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: itself begin this weekend, of course, in a home and 5 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: away affair set up by Bill Foley, who knows a 6 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: bit about sport, being part of the Vegas Golden Knights 7 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: who have been playing the Edmondson Oilers and this year's 8 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: Stanley Cup playoffs, and Bill Foley is back with us. Bill, 9 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:19,959 Speaker 1: very good morning to you. 10 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, good morning to you. Actually afternoon here, but that's 11 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: nice to talk to you. 12 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: Make man, it's good to have you back on the program. 13 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: As far as the Golden Knights before we get to 14 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: Walkland the FC, As far as the Golden Knights are concerned, 15 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're well aware of these statistical probabilities of 16 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 1: coming back from three to one. How bullish are you? 17 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,599 Speaker 2: Well, we have a ninety two percent negative chance, So 18 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 2: it's not good. It's not good. We just in game two, 19 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,599 Speaker 2: I think we had like thirty five shots and they 20 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: had around twenty, and we had so many chances and 21 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 2: that goalie was unbelievable, and then it got to overtime 22 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: and we had more good shots and they got a 23 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: really a lucky break. And when I saw that in 24 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 2: game two, because we've lost game one, I thought, uh oh, 25 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 2: this is the problem. Because if we'd left Vegas one 26 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 2: and one, I knew we could win a game in 27 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 2: Edmonton and maybe back to two to two, and then 28 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: it's then it's a three game series in effect, and 29 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: with two two games at home for us. But now 30 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 2: we've got to the boys have got to fight back, 31 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 2: and they are. Then they're feeling good. I was. I 32 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 2: had lunch with the I went downstairs and had lunch 33 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 2: with them today and saw, I saw everybody, and I've 34 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 2: gotta went to one of our physios and I had 35 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 2: some treatment on my on my form, my back. They 36 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: kind of work on me once in a while. And 37 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 2: all the guys are down there and they all hang 38 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: out in the medical room and there they feel good. 39 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: They're confident, so I think they I think they they're 40 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: almost like what you said, it's almost like a challenge. 41 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: You know, everyone says, we have no chance. Let's go 42 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,559 Speaker 2: prove we let's go prove we can do this, which 43 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: is which is a great attitude. 44 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: Good well, good luck to die Auckland FC, I hope 45 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: from your disc since you've been able to see and 46 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: feel what's unfolded, because what a fantastic story. 47 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 2: Boy, what a great year we've had. You know, we 48 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: knew we had a very we'd have a very competitive 49 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: team based upon you know, bringing Terry mcflinn in and 50 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: Steve Corca and then the way they worked with our 51 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: scouts and so on at Bournemouth, and we really we 52 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: really collaborated on putting the team together, especially with the 53 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: with the Visa the Visa players and the Marquee players. 54 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 2: So we knew we were going to have a very 55 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: competitive team and we overachieved. So I am. I am 56 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 2: thrilled for Auckland f C. I really am. They've just 57 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 2: come together and you know, we had a little a 58 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: little kind of laps, I would say, when we started 59 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 2: tying a bunch of games and in February and March, 60 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: and but we came back and we won some games 61 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: and and one of you know, we got the plate 62 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: and we we did it with a good number of point. 63 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 2: It's the spare. But now it starts over, doesn't it. 64 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: Now I'm playing you know, Melbourne victory away and uh, 65 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: let me playing at home. Next weekend weekend after this, uh, 66 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 2: and then if we succeed in that in that then 67 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: we're playing then we're playing at home in the finals, 68 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 2: which is unbelievable. I'm gonna, I'm gonna come down. I'm 69 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: coming down to the game. 70 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: So you should is this, I mean, this is not 71 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: your first rodeo, as you say in America? Is how 72 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 1: much of this is a model in setting up a 73 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: business or a sports team or a competition, how much 74 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: of it's a moddel how much of. 75 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 2: It's not, Well, it's it's it's art in terms of 76 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: hiring the right really taking the time to hire the 77 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: right people on the business side and on the football side. 78 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: So and that's what I I really really spend my 79 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 2: time doing interviewing, talking to people, making sure we were 80 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 2: going to be a team of character. And you start 81 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: with the with the executives. If they're if they are, 82 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: if they have have strong character, then they're going to 83 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 2: create a situation where they create character around them. So 84 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: in that part of it, it's a it's an art. 85 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 2: But in terms of a model, you know that I 86 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: did it with the Golden Knights, and I did exactly that. 87 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 2: We became a team of character and we became a 88 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: desirable place for people to play and they want to 89 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: play here. And then we at AFC Bournemouth. We went 90 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 2: in there and we made a number of different changes 91 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: that they weren't obvious on the surface, but we knew 92 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:34,799 Speaker 2: what was going to happen as we made these changes 93 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: and it's worked out there, and we used the same 94 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: strategy in Auckland with with with the Black Knights. So 95 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: so I'd say it's a combination of art in a 96 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,799 Speaker 2: model where do you draw. 97 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: The line as as as the boss or the owner, 98 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: and once you hire the talent, you want what's your 99 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 1: line in what you say, do involve yourself in or not. 100 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: On the business side, I'm really pretty stand office as 101 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: long as things are going well. I'm really kind of 102 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 2: macro in my approach. Once we have the people hired. 103 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: On the sports side, I'm very involved. I reviewed with 104 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: Terry and Steve all the players were bringing in, why 105 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: we're bringing them in, what kind of support we had 106 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 2: in various positions. And I do the same thing at Bournemouth. 107 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: You know, we're constantly engaged and looking at looking at 108 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 2: players and figuring out our transfer window and who our 109 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,239 Speaker 2: targets are and when I was over there in April 110 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: for about ten days or so, I spent most of 111 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: my time with the with our president of football and 112 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 2: our and our technical director and some of our scouts 113 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 2: and our recruiting people, really looking through all the players 114 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 2: we were interested in because we know it born we're 115 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 2: going to lose some players because we've had a pretty 116 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: good year and there are some targets that people are 117 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 2: going to come for. And unfortunately in Premier League, if 118 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 2: you're a smaller club, you just accept the fact that 119 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 2: you're going to lose some players to bigger clubs, but 120 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 2: you've got to be able to restock. In Auckland, what 121 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 2: we've tried to do is really have to be the 122 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: best place to play football. And we're lucky because we've 123 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: got a We're in a terrific city. We don't have 124 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: a there's competition in down in Wellington, but other than that, 125 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: you don't have two teams in the city, or our 126 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: two teams in Sydney, two teams in Melbourne, another team 127 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: just outside the town, so we don't have that competition 128 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 2: from a like level professional sports team. And I thought 129 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: we did a really good job in terms of reaching 130 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: out to the community and making sure that we talked 131 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: to all the local football clubs, that we showed them 132 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: how we were going to help them in terms of training, 133 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 2: training and academy development. So I felt like we used 134 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: our Vegas model and I transported it to Auckland and 135 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: it's working. That's a great I'm proud. I'm proud of 136 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: I'm really proud of what we've done. 137 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: So, Bill, I reach somewhere the other day, you want 138 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: to get into NBA. If that's true. In buying in 139 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: as opposed to a startup, what do. 140 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 2: You look for? Yeah, so this is if the NBA 141 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 2: were to come to Vegas, it's probably going to be 142 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: an expansion franchise, So it will be it will be 143 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: a startup. I'm not really interested in being a minority 144 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: owner of a team that's not based in Las Vegas 145 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: because I want to be close to where my base is. 146 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 2: I don't want to feel obigated to have to fly 147 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 2: to x y Z City to watch games. So we 148 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 2: are we're very interested in the end coming to Las Vegas. 149 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 2: We haven't made any formal approaches to the NBA. We 150 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 2: know that they're interested in Las Vegas and they're interested 151 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: in other cities, and so we're here and we're the 152 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 2: NBA knows who we are, and they know that there 153 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: is a group that's being put together that be interested 154 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: in a franchise, and then we'll be competing with other 155 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: people in terms of whether we get the franchise or not. 156 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 2: We do have the advantage of being part owners of 157 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: T Mobile Arena and our partners with MGM and AEG 158 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 2: and SHO'ST the Entertainment Group, they're great partners, and we 159 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 2: would try and get a larger ownership position in T 160 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 2: Mobile and then really improve the arena. It would be 161 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: probably spend three hundred to three hundred and fifty million 162 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 2: dollars upgrading the arena to make it a world class 163 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 2: best arena, best arena in America. So that's but we 164 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: haven't made any formal approaches, and we don't like to 165 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: talk too much about the leagues. Don't like like people 166 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: speculating and so on, so we're just being we're being quiet. Okay, But. 167 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 1: I want to get to one business question if I can. 168 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: But before that, I got to know, if let's assume 169 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: you win Auckland f C win, they win the lot 170 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: opening season, fantastic. How do you maintain that level of success? 171 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 2: I will maintain it. I'm one hundred percent confident most 172 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 2: of our players are going to be repeat They're going 173 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 2: to come back. We have we have targets in mind 174 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 2: in terms of other in terms of other players from 175 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 2: other leagues that might come in and take the place 176 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 2: of some of our some of our marquee players, or 177 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 2: some of our PISA players. But this will be This 178 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: will be a winning franchise for for as long as 179 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 2: I'm around, we will. You know, my job is is 180 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: putting the team on the field and giving the giving 181 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 2: the players the resources to win, and we'll win. I 182 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,439 Speaker 2: can't say I can't. I don't want to say that 183 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 2: we're going to even win this league because if you 184 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 2: think back when we are national our inaugural season with 185 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: the Vegas Golden Knights, we went all the way to 186 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 2: the Stanley Cup Finals. In fact, we won the first 187 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: game and then proceeded to lose the next four four 188 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: games at Washington Capitals. So I remember that, and I'm 189 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 2: cognizant of that as we move into this playoff scenario, 190 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 2: and then if we are fortunate enough to get by 191 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 2: the Semis and then in the finals, so we're not 192 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: our people are taking nothing for granted. 193 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: I can guarantee it fantastic, lovely to catch up with you, 194 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: good luck this week, in the ensuing weekends and we'll 195 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: get you back on again and talk some more sports sometime. 196 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: Bill Foley, who is the owner of Auckland FC, as 197 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: you heard, the Vegas Golden Knights, Bournemouth in England. He's 198 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: got a couple of other operations around the world and 199 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: sport as well as hospitality of course, and one in 200 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: this country. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen 201 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,839 Speaker 1: live to News Talks at B from six am weekdays, 202 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.