1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. The world changing and 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: what are the things we can do to transform a 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: business and engage our fans globally in different ways. People 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: are using their name and likeness to create more opportunities, 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: more stakes and companies. In order to turn the organization around, 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: we had to turn it around not only just on 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: baseball operations side, but other business operations side well, and 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: any other sport is very difficult, but I like to 9 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: plug my horizons and be able to expand. Sports need 10 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: to be consumed a lot and not to the competitive 11 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: advantage for inartial property holders of sports content in the 12 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: media landscape. Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 13 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: I'm Michael barn and I'm Mike Lynch and I'm Scarlett 14 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: So welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show. We 15 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: are here each and every week with some of the 16 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: biggest names in sports. This week we sit down with 17 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: Jake Silverstein. He just became part owner of d C 18 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: United after exiting a position in the Houston Dynamo earlier 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: this year. He also partners with d C United majority 20 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: owner Jason Levian and is a co owner of the 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: Welsh soccer club Swansea City, and he's going to have 22 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: a lot to talk about with soccer, but we have 23 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: a lot to talk about also, And let's start first 24 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: of all, UH, the latest with the NBA, and it 25 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: involves now some players now are still saying, look, I 26 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 1: don't want to get vaccinated with this COVID shot. UH. 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: And you have others that are coming out and talking 28 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: about it. But what's more important is depending on the 29 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: city that you're in, like in New York for example, 30 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: you better be vaccinated because if you're not, you're not 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: going to be able to play in those games. And 32 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: that's something that we talked about UH during the show, 33 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: and it was in the news with New York City 34 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: Mayor Bill de Blasio. I was asked about Kyrie Irving. 35 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: I want to talk about this because it's really important 36 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: for I understand our home teams here they'll be playing 37 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: the Knicks, the Nets. Obviously they do fall under the 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: key to NYC requirement. UH. And obviously the vast majority 39 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 1: of players are going out and getting vaccinated. We want 40 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: all players vaccinated. So I'm a I'm a Brooklyn Knight, 41 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: I'm a Nets fan. I really want to see Kyrie 42 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: get vaccinated. I want to see the whole team stay 43 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: healthy and safe the whole season. We have a chance 44 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: to win the championship for Brooklyn. It's staring us in 45 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: the face. Let's go get it. Nice to be a 46 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: Brooklyn Nets fan. But Scarlett Kyrie Irving who says that 47 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: he is not going to get vaccinated, Uh, he won't 48 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: be playing if under the New York City rules. He 49 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: won't be playing in the Brooklyn Nets home games. He 50 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: wouldn't be playing at away games at MSG, which is 51 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: also in New York. He wouldn't play in San Francisco 52 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: either when they play the Warriors, because that city has 53 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: a similar mandate. So you're talking about a big chunk 54 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: of games that he wouldn't play and if he doesn't 55 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: get vaccinated. Would I find interesting, of course, is that 56 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: you do have some other big players like Lebron James, 57 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: who are starting to say that they're growing more comfortable 58 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: with the vaccine to proceed with getting vaccinated. So maybe 59 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: that is a shift. And that's the thing too, is 60 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: all the players that come to New York, you're not 61 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: gonna play if you are unvaccinated according to the rules 62 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: here in the city. Lynching and add Boston to that. 63 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: Last week, the t D Garden said the same thing, 64 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: the same rules as New York and San Francisco. Um, 65 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: we went back. In the spring, Roger Goodell of the 66 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: National Football League sent out a message to all the players. 67 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: He said, if you're not vaccinated and you cause a 68 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: team to forfeit the game, you will forfeit a game pay. 69 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: And that got everybody's attention, and all of a sudden, 70 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: the vaccination rate went up very very high. Now, same 71 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: rule applies in the NBA. If you're not vaccinated and 72 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: you don't play, you do not get paid. But I 73 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: think Adam Silver needs to come up with a similar 74 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: type of statement right now, and I think that might 75 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: wake up not only the players, but other people who 76 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: are to ending on the player's paycheck coming home every 77 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: other week. Yeah, the big ecosystem behind the different teams 78 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: and the league overall one thing that we should mention 79 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: before we get a little bit carried away with why 80 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: certain players are are not getting vaccinated. Most players have 81 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: gotten vaccinated, right because two weeks ago, an NBA spokesperson 82 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: told ESPN about eight percent the players were vaccinated. Uh, 83 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: the NBA players Association director Michelle Roberts confirmed that over 84 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: are fully vaccinated a few days later. Um, so you're 85 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: comparing that with a nationwide rate of for those who 86 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: are eligible, So most players buy and far are vaccinated. 87 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 1: Just as a point of contrast, barn Lynchy the w 88 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: n b A, which is the Women's National Basketball Association 89 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: vaccination rate, how's that? Well, we all know women are 90 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: much smarter than men's scarlet, so that that's that's really 91 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: comes as no surprise, Um, but it is. It is 92 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: a startling number, and it's very equal, very much equal 93 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 1: to the National Hockey League. They're up around and they're 94 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: about to start their season. None of the four major 95 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: sporting leagues men's sporting leagues, UH players associations will allow 96 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: a mandate. They have rejected it, every single one of them, 97 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: and that is not going to change. So it's just 98 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: up to the individuals and just think of you know it, 99 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: it can be interpreted as a very selfish move because 100 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: you're not allowed to sit next to your teammates when 101 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: you come in. You could be affecting the ushers that 102 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: are right behind you. You could be affecting the UH 103 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: the security people that are in the arena, the concession people, 104 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: and you know, the list goes on and on and 105 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: on and on. So it's not just a personal decision. 106 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: Civil disobedience comes with consequences. You can go all the 107 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: way back to Jean Jacques Rousseau who wrote the book 108 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: Civil Disobedience. It comes with consequences. And if you don't 109 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: want to get vaccinated, the consequence could be that you 110 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: will not play and you will not get paid. It's 111 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: a public health issue. You know who came out and 112 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: said this. An NBA legend, Dreem Abduel Dabbar came out 113 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: and said, look, it's irresponsible for these players not to 114 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: get vaccinated. And he's saying, and look, take the shot. 115 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: Let's go. And to give you an idea, also here 116 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: in New York City, Uh, you can do everything right. 117 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: And I'm talking about a quick Broadway reference here Aladdin. Uh, 118 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: the show opens Tuesday. The next day they have to 119 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: shut down because they've had breakthrough COVID cases. I mean 120 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: it was only reopened now for one day, and that happens. 121 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,119 Speaker 1: So that was that's what happens when you do everything right. Now, 122 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: if you're not vaccinated, I can imagine what the heck 123 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: is going to happen? Speaking of women being smart? You 124 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: know my my mom, I know she's looking above is like, 125 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: how come you haven't mentioned that should be the name 126 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: of the show every day going week. Uh Uh. The 127 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 1: n C Double As March Madness basketball brand will now 128 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: include women and my thing is scarlett. Why wasn't this 129 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: thought of a long time ago? It's a really good question, 130 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 1: and I guess the way the n C Double A 131 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: defends it is that it was done in conjunction with 132 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: their contract with CBS and Turner, and so it was 133 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: a branding thing specifically for that competition. The numbers here, 134 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: Lynch and bar are what are staggering, because the n 135 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: C Double As contract with CBS Turner for the men's 136 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: tournament is worth eight hundred fifty million dollars this year, 137 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: and of course that generates the lion's share of the 138 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: n C Double as roughly one billion dollars in annual revenue. 139 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: As for how much the women's tournament is worth, That 140 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: and twenty eight other n C Double A championships were 141 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: sold and were bundled and sold to ESPN the broadcast 142 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: rights for an average of thirty four million dollars a year, 143 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: can you I mean eight hundred fifty million versus thirty 144 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: four million. So getting that March Madness branding for the 145 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: women's basketball will be a big game changer. We gotta 146 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: get off this thing. To some people out there in 147 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: the listening to us here is like will the reason 148 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: why because the women's mensketball is doesn't have the higher 149 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: viewership and none is exciting. You know, I don't want 150 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: to hear that anymore. It is just as exciting. The 151 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: ladies can pop the threes just like the men can. 152 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: It's a great product, lunching. It is a great product. 153 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: And if you're a pure of basketball fan, it is 154 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: basketball at its purest form. Uh, there's very few individual 155 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: plays and women's basketball. They passed the ball, they run 156 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: the fast break, they rebound, they boxed out. They do 157 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 1: everything you want to watch, and sometimes the men's game 158 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: is a little bit boring when it becomes a one 159 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: on one contest or a three point said. What's also 160 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: interesting is that initially the Wall Street Journal was reporting 161 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: on this and they had asked the n C double 162 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: A why the women didn't use them at March Madness branding, 163 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: and the explanation originally was that women's basketball leadership at 164 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: the time chose to pursue their own brand identity, and 165 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, some reporting and investigation actually revealed that that 166 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,479 Speaker 1: was not the case at all. You can see inequities 167 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: between the way women and men UH college basketball have 168 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: developed over the years forever. For instance, women's UH lift 169 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: weight lifting rooms are are kind of pathetic and and bear, 170 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: whereas the men get, you know, the best equipment, the 171 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: best facilities on earth. I thought it was interesting that 172 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: the n C Double A had to hire a law 173 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: firm to perform a gender equity review of the women's event, 174 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 1: which told them exactly what we kind of all suspected that, uh, 175 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: the n C Double A prioritizes Division one men's basketball 176 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 1: over everything else in ways that perpetuate gender inequities. See 177 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: I've always I'm sorry, I've and I'm sorry I didn't 178 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: mean it rough lent you, but I've always said this 179 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: and I and and I will get on, I will 180 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: get hot and heated, and the suits are here at 181 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: Bloomberg is calm it down, bar, But I am sick 182 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: and tired of this women inequality for paying it makes 183 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: no blasted sense to me Lynchi, Well, what opened everyone's 184 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: eyes last year? Remember all the all the men's games 185 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: were played in the tournament in Indianapolis, and the women 186 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,439 Speaker 1: were in San Antonio and there was a woman, I 187 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: think she played for Oregon. She took some uh photos 188 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: on her phone of the weight room and it looked 189 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 1: like somebody went down to Walmart and bought like four 190 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: or five dumbells and just barbed and just left them 191 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 1: on the floor. And then they showed the women that 192 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: the men's weight rooms was the size of a field house, 193 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: the size of a football field. Then they showed the 194 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: meals that they were having and the men was like 195 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: a like a Smorger sport and the woman almost looked 196 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: like they were going through a summer camp. And so 197 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: that opened everybody's eyes, and that prompted the investigation, and 198 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: finally it took something like that to get where we 199 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: are right now. I've talked to professional women's hockey players 200 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: and they've said similar to that. When they go on tournaments, Uh, 201 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: the accommodations they get are comparable, if not worse than 202 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: peewee hockey tournaments. Um, they barely get a per d 203 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: m Uh you know, they're staying at the worst hotels. 204 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: They have to bring their own I mean basically, they 205 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: are their own. They have to do everything on their own, 206 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: whereas the men's tournament is a completely different picture. The 207 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: contrast that you just painted, Lynchi Is encapsulates it perfectly. 208 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: And we have just some time left, but we got 209 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: to talk about it. Tom Brady, Lynch is going to 210 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: phase his old team, the New England Patriots. Oh my, 211 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: that's gonna be some good watching this week. This will 212 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: be the largest regular season sporting event in the history 213 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: of Boston sports. And I am not exaggerating. I reckon 214 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: my brain ever since the schedule came out and nothing 215 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: even comes close. The local NBC affiliate in Boston usually 216 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: gets ten thousand dollars for a thirty second spot on 217 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: Sunday Night Football. This week they're charging up to seventies 218 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: to seventy five thousand for thirty second spot. Nationally, they're 219 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: gonna get a million per thirty second spot. Um, they're 220 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: talking about Super Bowl numbers. Here in New England. Tom 221 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: Brady has already TB twelve company already has T shirts 222 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,079 Speaker 1: but sold being sold for thirty five dollars. That's say 223 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: the reunion on them and that's all it has. Every 224 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: hotel has booked, every restaurant is booked. Fan duel has 225 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: already taken as of Tuesday, had taken over three thousand bets, 226 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: and them have been wags on Tampa Bay. Uh. This 227 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: is going to NBC is going to be a very 228 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: very happy company come Monday morning when the ratings come 229 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: in from this game Sunday night, and Scarlett, I don't 230 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: know if you had seen the globe, but there was 231 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: a picture of a guy on the globe and it's 232 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: a shot of him in a New England jersey. Uh, 233 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: and he's holding up a billboard that says, Tom, we 234 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: named our son after you. That's how much the New 235 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: England fan base still loves Tom Brady. You know, this 236 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: is going to be a mammoth game and I can't 237 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: It's gonna be must ETV, right because everyone wants to 238 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: see Tom Brady's faces expression, They want to see Bill 239 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: Belichick's face an expression when it's under the mask. I mean, 240 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a lot of um armchair psychology going 241 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: on during the game, and Twitter is going to be 242 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: on fire. He's gonna have the toughest job in this game, 243 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: is the director for see Yes, you know he's gonna 244 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: have a camera locked on Belichick, a camera locked on Brady, 245 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: a camera locked on Robert CRAI know what, they can't 246 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: go to commercials. They can't because they may they may 247 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: do what they do in golf. They just stay to 248 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: go side by side golf, just playing through. On the 249 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: right side of the screen is the spot. The left 250 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: side is what's going on during the when everyone's talking 251 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: to each other. That's when you get the drama. That's 252 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: when the stories build. That's when the narratives get formed, right. 253 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you cannot afford to go to commercial People 254 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: can't even get up to go to the bathroom TV. 255 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: We all know this. We call it the money shot. 256 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: You know who's going to come up with the money 257 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: shot in this game? Oh the memes that will come 258 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 1: afterwards too. You know. One of the things that intrigues 259 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 1: me about soccer is the value of the team. They 260 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: just go up and up and up, and this man 261 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: knows what it's all about. Earlier this week, Jake Silverstein 262 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: became one of the co owners of d C United. 263 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: He previously owned part of the Houston Dynamos and already 264 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 1: partners with d C United majority owner Jason Levian across 265 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: the pond in Welsh soccer club Swansea City. Jake, Welcome 266 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. My pleasure, happy to 267 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: be here and always love talking soccer. Well, let's get started. 268 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: One of the things I love about it is that 269 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: these teams, and we were talking about this off air, 270 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: the team values just keep going up and up and up. 271 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: Why that's so that in my view, that's a pretty 272 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: clear testament to the explosive growth of soccer that we're 273 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: experiencing in the US. Uh. You know, the country is 274 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: finally deeply getting the memo about how amazing the sport 275 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: is UM. And I think when you pair that with 276 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: the the excellent business model that MLS has, the really 277 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: strong ownership around the table, uh, the very strong commissioner 278 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: with a clear vision for what he wants to build 279 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: UM and everyone rowing the boat together, I think the 280 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: sky's the limit for MLS. I'm I'm super excited to 281 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: stay involved in the league. And as Mike mentioned, Mike Barr, 282 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: that is mentioned you used to own part of Houston 283 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: Dynamo UM and then now you own a piece of 284 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: DC United. Was did you did you make any money 285 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: off of that investment in Houston or was is this 286 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: foray into soccer really a labor of love? I think 287 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: the best investments are both, right, UM. You know, we 288 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: we try to make sure that all of the investments 289 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: that we in our family office make are things that 290 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: we deeply believe in and take pride and are personally 291 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: and emotionally satisfied by by participating in this is this 292 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: is no different. Um. The Dynamo investment was a great one. 293 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: You know. We we we pardnered with another family in 294 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: to buy the controlling stake in Houston Dynamo now Houston 295 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: Dynamo FC, as well as the Houston Dash the NWSL club. 296 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: The last six years were an incredible journey. UM. I 297 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: loved being involved in the league, on the board of governors, 298 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: on several league committees, helping participate in the growth of 299 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: soccer in the US. UM. It was it was definitely 300 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: a very good investment. And you know, going back into 301 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: the league shortly after the transaction where I actually to Houston, UM, 302 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: I'm really putting my money where my mouth is that 303 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: I I believe that the future of the league is 304 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: super bright and there's a lot more room to run 305 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: from here. Soccer has been around for a long time, 306 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: but it's it's always been one of those great participants sport, 307 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: but in America it hasn't been a great um spectator sport. 308 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: But that seems to have changed the last few years. 309 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: Just taking a simple look at the at the increase 310 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: in value of like the the l A Galaxy of 311 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: worth sixty million dollars right now, the average MLS team 312 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: it's worth five fifty million dollars. Of course, that's a 313 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: little bit skewed because of the value of of the 314 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 1: l A franchise. So what is why, all of a 315 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: sudden is there a surge in value of these teams? 316 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: I know Michael asked that question. And why are people 317 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: gravitating towards the sport now after more than forty years 318 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: in this country. So I think there's a lot of reasons. 319 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,959 Speaker 1: I think in very practical terms, Uh, the last eighteen 320 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: months were scary for everyone in pretty much every business, 321 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: and I think MLS was really out in front in 322 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: the way we weathered the COVID storm. It was no 323 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 1: secret that that was hard for the league and for 324 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: the clubs, but there was very strong leadership and commitment 325 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 1: to doing things right and and we got through something 326 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: very scary as a league. Um and I think a 327 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: lot of people have sort of looked around and taking 328 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: a deep breath and said, Wow, these guys, they really 329 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: know what they're doing. The league is very strong, it's 330 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 1: well capitalized, it's well thought through. And if if MLS 331 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 1: was able to endure the code storm as well as 332 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: it did, that that helps, you know, that helps de 333 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: risk thinking about this from an investment perspective. Um On, 334 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: On the upside, we're gonna you know, the U S 335 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: is co hosting the World Cup in the caliber of 336 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: soccer is getting much better. We I'm also a co 337 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: owner of a club in the UK, Swansea City. We 338 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: played in English Championship and we're very close to getting 339 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: back to the Premier League last summer. Um, there's a 340 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: there's a and I can tell you firsthand there is 341 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: a lot of interest from broad talented players want to 342 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: come experience living in the US and playing in MLS. 343 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: The caliber of the soccer that we're playing is really 344 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 1: very good. Now, Wait, do they want to come during 345 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: their prime or do they want to come after they've 346 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: um done? What they want to do and I want 347 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: to accomplish in Europe and then come here as part 348 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: of their sunset years. I know that it is no 349 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: longer about coming here to sunset and sort of have 350 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: a grand finale. UM. These are these are talented guys 351 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: who are in their prime, who want to know what 352 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 1: it's like to live in one of the great American 353 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: cities d C, New York, l A, Miami, Seattle. UH. 354 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 1: They recognize that there are a lot of eyes on 355 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: the sport, that this is a very serious league, that's 356 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: that's competing UM and on a really rapid trajectory of 357 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: of getting better. So it's it's it's no longer just 358 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: you know, towards the end of the careers say goodbye, 359 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 1: farewell tour Scarlett. UM. These are guys who are still 360 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: in the part of their career where they want to 361 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: prove something UM and that's really that's exciting. I think 362 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 1: we're going to have more and more of that over 363 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: the next five to ten is too. I want to 364 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 1: talk more about Swansea City because, like you said, you're 365 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: very close to getting back in the Premier League. What 366 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: is it like when you own part of Swansea city 367 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: with the UK soccer market compared to owning a team 368 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: in the US, well, it's it's very different. But there's 369 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 1: probably no project that I'm involved in that's closer to 370 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: my heart than Swansea City. UM that I was fortunate 371 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: to spend some time their last month. I'll be back 372 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: for probably a full month around the holidays with my 373 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: my wife and my young son. UM. The that football 374 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: club is the beating heart of the community in Swansea. 375 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: It's an amazing place full of really passionate people who 376 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: absolutely love the Swans. Um And and you know, I've 377 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: been a sports fan all my life, but the way 378 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,160 Speaker 1: we engage with sports is a little bit different here 379 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: in the US. UM. You know that that too be 380 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 1: a part of a club you know that goes back 381 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 1: a hundred and you know, hundred and fift, hundred and 382 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: twenty years where I'll have a conversation on the street 383 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: with someone in Swansea who's great grandfather you know, took 384 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: them to games. This is this is an amazing, unique experience. UM. 385 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: They're very passionate, very committed and being part of that journey. 386 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: With the choices we've made, the new manager we've hired 387 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: the new sporting director. Um. You know, on on the 388 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 1: back of an extremely successful season last year that ended 389 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: at Wembley, you know, in in a loss in the 390 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 1: game that would have gotten us promoted. It caused us 391 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: to really look in the mirror and say, what do 392 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:50,879 Speaker 1: we want to do here? Do we want to try 393 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: and keep the band together for one more go round 394 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: or do we want to embark on the hard work 395 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: of a real values driven rebuild. We we chose the latter. 396 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: I'm proud that we chose the latter, Um because I 397 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: think what we're going to do there is going to 398 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: be interesting and beautiful and very special. So so watch 399 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,439 Speaker 1: that space as you're talking, Jake, I can't help but 400 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: think of Ted Lasso. Umph. Yeah. The Apple TV show 401 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: of course, where Jason szadekis is an American college football 402 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: coach who does really well with m the Witch State Shockers. 403 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: Then he is hired to coach a f C Richmond, 404 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: which is an English soccer team. Are you like Rebecca Welton, 405 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: the owner of Richmond? I mean, how active of an 406 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: owner are you in the teams that that you own? 407 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: Are you are you there making decisions? Are you they're 408 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: being consulted or are you working on the investments in 409 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 1: your family office most days of the week, like five 410 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: days out of the week, and soccer is something that 411 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: you can look at two days out of the week. 412 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: I'm I'm very involved in Sponsee. I was less involved 413 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: in Houston Dynamo when when I was an owner there. 414 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: I'm very involved in Swansea. That's when I say, you know, 415 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: it's it's a project that's as close to my heart 416 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 1: as any UM. Frankly, I'm surprised at how much time 417 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: and energy and love I've ended up wanting to invest 418 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: in Swansea. But it's just been, you know, a magical, 419 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: beautiful journey to be a part of UM. The folks 420 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 1: who are part of the club in every capacity, uh 421 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: all from the senior executives to the first team support 422 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: staff to the custodial staff at the stadium, the ticketing agents. 423 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 1: Everyone loves this place and I feel really really privileged 424 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: to get to play a part in in what we're 425 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: doing and the opportunity to undertake this rebuild that's really focused. 426 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:54,160 Speaker 1: As I said before, UM really focused on our values 427 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: and who do we want to be, what do we 428 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: want this club to stand for. What do we want 429 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 1: the impact on the community locally and and you know, 430 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: at large, what do we want the experience of being 431 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: a player who comes through the system uh to mean, 432 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: and the impact we want that to have on these 433 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 1: young men, um after they leave Swansea to go play elsewhere, 434 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: or to retire, or to become coaches themselves. UM, it's 435 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: been a really fascinating journey from the heart to get 436 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: to participate in the DC United can can similarly build 437 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 1: out to have that kind of impact on the local community. 438 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: I mean, soccer in the US, professional sports in the 439 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: US doesn't quite have that rich history the way that 440 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: the soccer clubs in the UK do. Yeah, I really do. 441 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 1: And that's that. That was why the decision for me 442 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: to exit Houston and join dc came together so easily 443 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: and beautifully. UM, my partners Jason Levy and Steve Kaplan 444 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: in d C United are my same partners in Swansea City. 445 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: I know what uh, I know what we're building in Swansea. 446 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: I know what they want to build in d C, 447 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: where at different stages of the journey. In many ways, 448 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: d C is further ahead and in some ways Swansea's 449 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: further ahead. Um. But the goal in both cases is 450 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: to build an organization that is a uniquely thoughtful, supportive, engaged, 451 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: um coherent and values driven and plays a huge, outsized 452 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,679 Speaker 1: role in the community. It's easy in Swansea, the small 453 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,920 Speaker 1: city where the club is part of the beating heart 454 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: and fabric of the community for the last hundred years. 455 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 1: In DC are challenges a little bit different there. There 456 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 1: are lots of other games in towns. Uh. We're sort 457 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: of the new sports on the block. Um. But our 458 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 1: our goal there is to be the you know, the 459 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 1: leading the leading citizen, I guess UM. From a sports perspective, 460 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: we want to be one of the best organizations culturally 461 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: in the city, not just the best sort of sporting 462 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: organizations in the city. We aspire to be the place 463 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: that people want to come work, um and participate and 464 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 1: you know, be stakeholders, be fans, come to the games. Uh, 465 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: feel what it's like to be part of this. That's 466 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: our long term goal. That's a twenty thirty year vision, right, Um. 467 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: That is not something you do in three years. But 468 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: I'm really really excited to be to be part of 469 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: building it. Here's another reason, as I was saying about 470 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: I love d C United, and as I'm reading the 471 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: press release, uh, the expanded ownership and that includes multi 472 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 1: platinum musician and record executive Yo Gotti. And I'm thinking 473 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 1: of a guy like me who's is taking his Glenn 474 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 1: Miller records off the record player and you're introducing the 475 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 1: for the younger audience, all of these people. What does 476 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 1: it mean when you have Yo Gotti in this investment 477 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: in soccer? I think this is you know, this is 478 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: not a one off publicity stunt. This is a reflection 479 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: of dc use commitment, real commitment to walking the walk 480 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: around having diverse perspectives at the table we have, uh, 481 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: you know, I'm proud to say that we are the 482 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: most diverse team in MLS from from a club perspective, 483 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: in terms of the ownership voices around the table, the 484 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: senior executives all through the organization. We have a female 485 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: gm um our, our chief executive is a black woman. 486 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: We are really, really, really trying not to pay lip 487 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: service to checking a box around diversity, but instead to 488 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: get the value that comes from having varied perspectives that 489 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: are not just Jason and Steve, Eve and me and 490 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 1: you know, uh, a couple other white Jewish businessmen. We 491 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: we really want to have this be a community asset 492 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: that represents a super diverse city, UM and a very 493 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:15,679 Speaker 1: diverse fan base. And the only way you're able to 494 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: do that with any integrity or authenticity, in my opinion, 495 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: is to really include diverse voices. So you know that 496 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: that's this is this is a That's what I think, Jake. 497 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: I love your stadium, Audi field. Uh, twenty people, you 498 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 1: know it? Uh? Is this the way to go for 499 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: for MLS. It's appears to be more intimate than some 500 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: of these Kavner stadiums like RFK Stadium playing there where 501 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: it's forty empty seats, but this almost has the feel 502 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: of an indoor hockey or basketball arena yet its outdoors. Yeah, 503 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: it's the best. It's great. I've been to. I'm proud 504 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: to say I've been to you know, more than half 505 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: the stadiums in MLS UM in my opinion, with rare exception, 506 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: the ones that feel the best are the ones that 507 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: have been designed to reflect where the support is at. 508 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: You know, in the US today, maybe we're not going 509 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: to have sixty people in a stadium, but we will 510 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 1: have twenty. UM. Of course, you know, the exceptions being 511 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 1: Seattle and Atlanta, where they pack their NFL stadiums um 512 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: the environmentality is terrific. The environments at Bank of California 513 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: where l a f SE plays is terrific. The the 514 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: environment in Portland is second to none. Uh I personally 515 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: would much rather be in a soccer specific stadium that 516 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: understands how people watch the game and where the supporters 517 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 1: section needs to be relative to the rest of it 518 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: to maximize the experience and be there with twenty thou people, 519 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: um then than be in a stadium with twenty five 520 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 1: thousand people that was really designed and oriented for an 521 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: NFL game meant to hold seventy You know, that's that's 522 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: not what this is about to me. And just to 523 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: follow up with that, where where do you stand right 524 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: now with your partnership with fan Duel. I understand you're 525 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: kind of going to be able to have a facility 526 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: inside the stadium or adjacent to it. Is that right? Yeah, 527 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: it's part of this. It's part of the stadium we 528 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 1: we were, it's want. One of the innovative things that 529 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: d C United has done is a sports betting partnership 530 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: with fan Duel at the stadium. It's terrific. Yeah, speaking 531 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: of innovative, A couple of Premier League team owners wanted 532 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: to create this European Soccer league. Um, not so long ago. 533 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 1: And and this was just a couple of months out 534 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: of your buying a minority state in Swansea City. What 535 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: were your initial thoughts when when that first came out. Uh, 536 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: my phone was blowing up that day with all of 537 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 1: my friends in soccer saying w tf can you believe this? Um? 538 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: You know, maybe I was, um it so and I 539 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: don't want to speak disparagingly in any way of other 540 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 1: team owners. This is a hard gig and there are 541 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: easier ways to make money than to own a professional 542 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: sports club. That really is the truth. You're um, You're 543 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 1: forced to be pretty public about your sort of your 544 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: your business ventures, and um, it's easy to be misunderstood, 545 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 1: and you know everyone wants to second guess. And you 546 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,280 Speaker 1: know your your intentions and your motivations and who you 547 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,959 Speaker 1: are as a human being. So with with that caveat 548 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: um it felt tone deaf to me. It felt like, ah, 549 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: it did not It did not speak to or understand 550 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: what the fans or supporters really want European football to 551 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 1: be about. Um, and you know, with with so many 552 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: people suffering economically and personally during the last eighteen months, UM, 553 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: it just seems it felt like a very clumsy time 554 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: to unilaterally announced a breakaway super League. You know that's 555 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: that's you know, that's just one man's opinion. But do 556 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: you think it's it's gone forever or are there still 557 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: remnants of it that could um be revived and someone's 558 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: going to try to make another run for it? You 559 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: know what, what do I know? Um, I'm not in 560 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: those rooms. Uh. And my view is that there there 561 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: were some elements of the super League that could have 562 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: been rational if if differently. Um. You know, the European 563 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: football is very top heavy now. It's really tough. You know, 564 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 1: it's it's really tough to compete against clubs where their 565 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 1: budget is functionally unlimited, you know, ten times fifteen times 566 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: what smaller club is able to pay. You know, there 567 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: there is an element of uh, frustration I think for 568 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: fans of smaller clubs who recognize it like these big 569 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: trophies are more or less out of their grasp kind 570 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: of forever. Um, that's not the way it used to be. 571 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: That's not the way it is meant to be, and 572 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: that's not really the way it is in US sports 573 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 1: right there. We we we because of the structures and 574 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 1: the salary caps and and the other things that make 575 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 1: the US leagues different from the European leagues. Um, there 576 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 1: there is a closer tracking towards parody, which can make it, 577 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:40,480 Speaker 1: you know, much more engaging for for fans of small 578 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 1: market clubs. So, you know, I don't have any answers 579 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: for what the folks of this at the proposed super 580 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 1: League or thinking, or what they may want to do. Uh. 581 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 1: And I thought it was a terrible tone deaf idea. 582 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: I want to be clear. I thought it was a 583 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: terrible tone deaf idea. But you know I do think 584 00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 1: that that. You know, no one really intended to end 585 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: up in a world where there are only seven or 586 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 1: eight clubs in the world, um, who have a real 587 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 1: shot at winning the Champions League year in and year out. 588 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 1: That's that's not what the Champions League was was conceived 589 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:17,840 Speaker 1: to be about. Um, it makes for interesting football. Super 590 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:20,760 Speaker 1: teams are fascinating and fun to watch, the global appeal, 591 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 1: but there's no denying that. Um, you know, you can 592 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 1: you can it's not as much. You know, March Madness 593 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,880 Speaker 1: is terrific because you have all these amazing upsets and 594 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,520 Speaker 1: all of um and and you can end up with 595 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 1: some really crazy stuff happening, and looking at a Champions 596 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:44,239 Speaker 1: League bracket, you know, you can kind of pick who's 597 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 1: going to be there at the end. It doesn't take 598 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:49,000 Speaker 1: a lot of sophistication to to to know Byron and 599 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:54,560 Speaker 1: ps G and Man City. They're amazing organizations. But um, 600 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:55,759 Speaker 1: you know that takes some of the fun out of 601 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:58,960 Speaker 1: it to me. As we start to wrap this up, 602 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:02,440 Speaker 1: as we mentioned, you used to be part owner of 603 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 1: the Houston Dynamo and I was just curious about your 604 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: return on investment. Now, with the three of us and 605 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 1: the audience, we're pretty tight lips, so we we won't 606 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:15,879 Speaker 1: give anything away. So if you just want to tell us, 607 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 1: we'll keep it down low and keep it quiet so 608 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 1: you can tell us. But did you get appreciate well, 609 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 1: you know, I appreciate the cone of silence that we're 610 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:31,240 Speaker 1: all in here, but I'm not Yeah, I'm not able 611 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,320 Speaker 1: to talk in any specifics except to say that we 612 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:39,360 Speaker 1: we did very well. We did well enough that we decided, 613 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:47,120 Speaker 1: you know, really immediately upon exiting Houston to turn back 614 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,600 Speaker 1: around and join another MLS club, So that you know 615 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:53,959 Speaker 1: that that I think ought to speak to how how 616 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 1: productive the investment was for US, UM and to our 617 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,520 Speaker 1: conviction that we're where we want to do this again, 618 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,360 Speaker 1: UM in a bigger way for you know, for for 619 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:07,719 Speaker 1: a longer term. Hole. I knew you weren't going to 620 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 1: talk in any business at the dinner table, but I 621 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 1: was going to go for the mashed potatoes anyway. So 622 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: I'm pretty I'm pretty low carbon. Jake Silverstein, part owner 623 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: of d C United, also part owner of Swansea City 624 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:27,239 Speaker 1: English Football League, Championship League. Thank you so much for 625 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 1: joining us, Jake, Yeah, my pleasure. That was a great interview. 626 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 1: And if you are not a soccer fan before this interview, 627 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: you will be after this. Scarlett and he brought out 628 00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 1: so many points. What did you take away from all 629 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 1: of that? I just kept thinking of the parallels between 630 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,839 Speaker 1: what he's doing with ted Lasso, I you know, and 631 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,680 Speaker 1: that's because I'm a big TV fan in general, but um, 632 00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:51,879 Speaker 1: ted Lasso really opened up I think a lot of 633 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:56,520 Speaker 1: non soccer fans eyes on what European football is all 634 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,439 Speaker 1: about and you don't really need to understand the game 635 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 1: to be of game in order to understand the dynamics there. 636 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:04,640 Speaker 1: One thing I should mention is that, um, Jake is 637 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,560 Speaker 1: almost like the Diamond Dogs, Um Lynchy, have you seen? 638 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 1: Have you seen Ted Lasso? The Diamond Dogs are the 639 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:13,080 Speaker 1: group of people that Lasso like gathers to sort out 640 00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:16,400 Speaker 1: relationship problems within the group. It's Ted Lasso, coach, Beard, 641 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:20,359 Speaker 1: Nathan the equipment manager, and Higgins. Well, I opted out 642 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:22,879 Speaker 1: of ted Lasso earlier on. But but it's in my 643 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 1: in my bullpen and my bucket list. Yes, too many. 644 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:27,239 Speaker 1: He has too many live games he needs to watch. 645 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 1: That's why I just think that I loved that what 646 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 1: Jake said. Also because you know, no, I'm getting a 647 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:44,399 Speaker 1: reference to being hip along with record executive Yogatti, who 648 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 1: is also now part of d C United. Uh. And 649 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: I like what Jake said. He's like, look, this isn't 650 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:54,560 Speaker 1: a publicity stunt. Uh, We're in this for the long haul. 651 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,080 Speaker 1: And and he's in it for the long haul. And 652 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:00,000 Speaker 1: I thought that was really cool. Yeah, he's a huge 653 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:03,719 Speaker 1: soccer fans, self proclaimed soccer fan. Uh. I suppose he 654 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 1: was first with the Houston Dynamo, now d C United, 655 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:08,960 Speaker 1: and now he's got the Swansea City team. And I 656 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 1: thought he said something really interesting that I never really 657 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:14,280 Speaker 1: thought about. I know, people are very passionate about soccer 658 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:18,160 Speaker 1: slash football over overseas, but he said, when you go 659 00:38:18,239 --> 00:38:21,440 Speaker 1: over there, there's no NFL, there's no NBA, there's no 660 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:25,440 Speaker 1: National Hockey League, there's no Major League Baseball. Football slash 661 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,399 Speaker 1: soccer is it. And some of these teams have been 662 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:31,120 Speaker 1: around for over a hundred hundred, twenty a hundred and 663 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: fifty years, and you know, the generations of generations have 664 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:37,279 Speaker 1: passed it down through their family and that's something you know. 665 00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:41,160 Speaker 1: Over here soccer is like the fifth major sport. And 666 00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:43,200 Speaker 1: so that I thought that was you know that I went, 667 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:44,960 Speaker 1: you know, you're right. I never really thought about it 668 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 1: that way. Soccer is like a religion in Europe. It's 669 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:50,600 Speaker 1: it's your local church. Yeah, yeah, good way to put it. 670 00:38:54,160 --> 00:38:56,160 Speaker 1: Feels better to be than one than number five. I'll 671 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:57,959 Speaker 1: wear a number because of mine. We have a chance 672 00:38:58,000 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 1: to go for three and around. Good numbers are a 673 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:01,839 Speaker 1: good time. When I first started wearing the number, how 674 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:04,720 Speaker 1: we just have the improud bloom bird business of sports. 675 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:10,000 Speaker 1: The number of the week, speaking of something that comes 676 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:17,439 Speaker 1: here weekly on the show. I just love to see 677 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:20,760 Speaker 1: their faces. It's time for the Number of the Week. 678 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:24,520 Speaker 1: So this one pertains to something we talked about earlier. 679 00:39:24,719 --> 00:39:27,920 Speaker 1: This is about the n C Double A March madness 680 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 1: with the women involved. The ends of the Double A 681 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:34,560 Speaker 1: bundled and sold the ESPN the broadcast rights to the 682 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 1: women's tournament twenty eight other n C Double A championships 683 00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:44,200 Speaker 1: for an average of this amount a year. And Scarlett, 684 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:46,600 Speaker 1: I'll start with you, all right. This conversation happened a 685 00:39:46,640 --> 00:39:49,399 Speaker 1: while ago, so I can't remember what we had said 686 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:51,399 Speaker 1: about it earlier, but I know that since we're talking 687 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 1: about this is for women, this is for women, it's 688 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:57,319 Speaker 1: going to be an embarrassingly small number compared to what 689 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 1: it is for men. I'll say it's somewhere in the 690 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:06,040 Speaker 1: I don't know, uh, fifty million dollars a year range. 691 00:40:10,040 --> 00:40:13,319 Speaker 1: Ticks tick tick tick, No, you gotta sing the Jeopardy song. 692 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:18,440 Speaker 1: Scarlett may have answered this earlier in this program. I 693 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 1: want to say, thirty four million, Holy smokes, how do 694 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:27,640 Speaker 1: you do it? Got it right, and he nailed it 695 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:31,520 Speaker 1: right on the how do you do this? Man? All 696 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:34,000 Speaker 1: three of us, all four of us. Now with Charlotte, 697 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:36,080 Speaker 1: we need to go to the Vegas this come on, minchi, 698 00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:39,920 Speaker 1: let's go your golden ticket, spend the roulette wheel and 699 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,759 Speaker 1: let's see. Oh man, this pick a number. Man, you 700 00:40:42,880 --> 00:40:45,440 Speaker 1: got it going and and see that's the thing Scarlett 701 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 1: and you and you set it up right. It's like 702 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:50,400 Speaker 1: it's an embarrassingly low number. And it was fifty million, 703 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:56,040 Speaker 1: and it's Lord was being generous. Wow, God, I can 704 00:40:56,120 --> 00:40:59,399 Speaker 1: keep going on and I just you know, mixed my eyes. Bug. 705 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:02,320 Speaker 1: But does the point of contrast whether that number was 706 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:05,439 Speaker 1: fifty million, what I guess or thirty four million what Lynch? 707 00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:07,640 Speaker 1: You got on the nose? The n C double as 708 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:11,360 Speaker 1: contract for the men's tournament is worth eight hundred fifty 709 00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:17,120 Speaker 1: million in a year, exactly exactly that that. Okay, I 710 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:19,120 Speaker 1: will get into trouble every when I started to get 711 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:21,239 Speaker 1: boiled up like this teen is coming out of his ears, 712 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:26,280 Speaker 1: it is it's like listen, thank you all for listening, 713 00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:28,520 Speaker 1: and we having a good time here. This is the 714 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:31,239 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of sports, where you are each and every 715 00:41:31,239 --> 00:41:34,000 Speaker 1: week at the same time. And don't forget you can 716 00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:38,120 Speaker 1: check out our podcast page where You can find extended 717 00:41:38,239 --> 00:41:41,680 Speaker 1: versions of this show, as well as our Monday and 718 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 1: Wednesday podcasts. I'm Michael Barr on Twitter at Big Bar Sports, 719 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:48,319 Speaker 1: and I'm Mike Lynch. You can follow me at Lynch 720 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:52,120 Speaker 1: e w CBB, and I'm Scarlet Foo at Scarlet Foo. 721 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 1: You are listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports and 722 00:41:56,040 --> 00:42:01,160 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio around the world. Four