1 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Hello, I'm Michael Barr. Along with Scott sash Nick and 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,639 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports reporter Evan Williams. This week will 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: explore the big money issues in the world of sports, 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: and we will talk to some of the biggest players 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: in the industry. On this show, we focused on the 6 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: most popular sport around the world, soccer. We will look 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: at how we can gain in popularity in the US 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: with the Deputy Commissioner a Major League Soccer Mark Abbott, 9 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: and we're also talking to president of the second most 10 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: valuable soccer club in the world, FC Barcelona's Joseph Barta Majo. 11 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: We will have those interviews in a few minutes, but 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: first let's look at the top business sports stories of 13 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: the week. And let's start with a big ten n 14 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: C double a football announcing new TV deals with Foxy, 15 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: ESPN and CBS. Yeah, and basketball as well. That's what 16 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: this is about. You're going to see so much big 17 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: ten content on this platform, never ending stream. I guess 18 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: in these days you can't say stream because that would 19 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: mean you're you're watching it on your iPad, but a 20 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: never ending amount of big ten games football, basketball, Evan, 21 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: is there a risk with all this that you get 22 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: tired of seeing it. I don't think you'll get tired 23 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: of it, but it does highlight the absolute inequality that 24 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: exists right now in college sports. The Big Ten reupted 25 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: tripled their their media rights price. It's four hundred and 26 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 1: forty million dollars a year. And you go around College 27 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: Football Conference USA, another FBS Division one conference, they get 28 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: two point eight million dollars a year. Four hundred forty 29 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: million a year for the Big Ten, two point eight 30 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: million for Conference USA. There is horrible inequality in college football. 31 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: It's only getting wider with deals like this UM, and 32 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: at some point something's gonna break. So does Jim Delaney 33 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: mean that when he says, and I quote college football 34 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: has never been healthier. It's also never been more fragile. 35 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: That's both of those are incredibly healthy if you're in 36 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: the Big Ten and you're cashing your your three thirty 37 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: five million dollar check, which is the distribution that the 38 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: Big Ten gives to all of its schools each year 39 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: largely as part of deals like this UM. But it's 40 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: fragile in the in the sense that, yeah, if your 41 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: Southern miss if you're Louisiana Tech in Conference Usa. You 42 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: can't compete with Michigan, you can't compete with Ohio State. 43 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: You just don't have the money to do it. So 44 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: it's Fox, ABC, ESPN for football, it's CBS is basketball. 45 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: In This partnership runs about six six years, so everything's 46 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: going to expire about the same time, and then we'll 47 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: see in that grand race for coverage, whether it's gonna 48 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: be Amazon or Google, whoever winds up showing this stuff 49 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: in the future. There's going to be in two time 50 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: frame a lot of stuff up for a bit. And 51 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: there was concern in this round for the Big Ten 52 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: that they might not get a huge rights increase. There 53 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: was concerned and might even go down. Obviously that didn't happen. 54 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: It tripled, so it went up a lot. Big sigh 55 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: of relief, I'm sure from Big Ten, A d S. 56 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: But you're right. The next round of negotiations across all 57 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: sports is going to be absolutely fascinating. I do enjoy 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 1: the fact that one of the things that held this 59 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: up from being announced was the Friday night programming Friday 60 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: Night Lights. There was a problem with these high schools 61 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: weren't too happy with the college game and infringing on 62 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: their time. Another story we're looking at in the business 63 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: of sports. This is near and dear to my heart. 64 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: Now I know here you go a racing thing, Dale 65 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: Earnhardt Jr. He will sign a multi year deal on 66 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: air with NBC. He's retiring after this season, which again 67 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 1: makes me cry. But you know what this is. Now 68 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: it's gonna be cool because Fox they have obviously Jeff Gordon, 69 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: and now NBC they're going to have Dale Learnhardt Jr. 70 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: You have two guys who are from the Rick Hendricks 71 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: stable and now they're going at it head to hit. 72 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: I love how you say, obviously I didn't know any 73 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: of that from this conversation. As the non gear head 74 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: to the left here, you know everything's left turns. I'm 75 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: cognizant obviously of Dale Earnhardt Jr. I know he's a 76 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: big star, so clearly he breaks through. He's he's beyond 77 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,839 Speaker 1: just that core base of NASCAR fans. But what else 78 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: is he gonna do that's interesting here that it's not 79 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: just auto racing. Maybe he's like a Charles Barkley type here. 80 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: They're looking for him to be a utility guy. He 81 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: could do Olympics. He likes football. Could we see Dayla 82 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: and Hurt on that Football Night in America show. Seems 83 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: as if NBC Edben has big plans for Dayla and Hurt. 84 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: You absolutely, and I say this without ever having heard 85 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: him in the broadcast booth, but I love the idea 86 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: of recent players and whatever sport it is, joining the 87 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: broadcast booth right after retiring. We saw it, and it's 88 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: gonna happen with Tony Romo. Here we see it with 89 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: Alex Rodriguez. There's something very enticing about athletes who are 90 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: have just on that sport that are able to kind 91 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: of take you through as a listener what these guys 92 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: are thinking about what it's like to be a NASCAR 93 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 1: driver in two thousand seventeen. And I think that he 94 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: there's this chance he's a huge success. Here Fox caught 95 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: lightning in that little snippet where you saw a Rod 96 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: talking hitting with Frank Thomas and Pete Rose, And it 97 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: wasn't even meant to be that. It was supposed to 98 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: be meant meant to be a shorter segment, but they 99 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: kept with it because they could tell Pete would find 100 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: this compelling. Maybe we're gonna see some of that, and 101 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: NASCAR is one of those sports, Michael, where I think 102 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: most people who watch it have no idea what goes 103 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: through the driver's mind, what they're feeling, what they're thinking, 104 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: what the conversations are like between their pit crew when 105 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: they're on the road. Those are all things that Dayle 106 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: and our Junior can can can illuminate. And NASCAR needs 107 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,679 Speaker 1: a boost because the attendance at some of the tracks 108 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: have been down, So hopefully this will boost things for NASCAR. 109 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: Another topic that we're looking at on the Business of Sports. 110 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: We're talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers and we're talking about 111 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving, and we're talking about I want to go 112 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: because I'm sick of Lebron, James and all of this 113 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: and blah blah blah blah blah. What is going on. 114 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: You're gonna like this, You're ready. The caution flag is 115 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: out in Cleveland, that the car is spinning, it's starting 116 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: to fish tail. I just don't know if it's going 117 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: to start flipping all over the place, because that's what 118 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: this is setting in motion. If Kyrie is out and 119 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: just goes to the knicks or the timber, whatever he wants, 120 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: they lose him. Lebron doesn't seem happy. Oh if I'm 121 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: Dan Gilbert. It's funny that we followed what was probably 122 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: a pretty boring NBA season and postseason with what has 123 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: to be one of the most intriguing off seasons in 124 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: recent memory. The NBA is now a full time, three 125 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: and sixty five days a year thing you need to 126 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: follow from the awards show to the draft to free 127 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: agency and out of this drama. Everybody's talking basketball all 128 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: the time. Adam Silver couldn't be happy. But this is 129 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: something that really pertains to the business of sports. If 130 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving leaves the Cavaliers and then later on Lebron 131 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: James leaves the Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, look out because your 132 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: value of your NBA team goes down big time. Yeah, 133 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 1: we're talking perhaps if the season tickets aren't there hundreds 134 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: of millions of dollars our Thanks to Bloomberg Business of 135 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: Sports reporter Evan Nobie Williams and now on the program, 136 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: we would turn our attention to the world of soccer. 137 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: In a few minutes, we will speak to the president 138 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: of one of the most valuable franchises in the world, 139 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: FC Barcelona's Joseph bart Tomayow. That's right, Michael. But first 140 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: let's begin with soccer in the US. Believe it or not, 141 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: Major League Soccer has been in existence for almost a 142 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: quarter of a century. Doesn't seem that long. Mark Abbett 143 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: was the first employee. He's the deputy commissioner. Mark, thanks 144 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: for joining us. I've lost track because of all the 145 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: expansion and the plans. How many teams do you have 146 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: these days? So you know, we're in our twenty second 147 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: season and we have twenty two teams this year, which 148 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: has been uh growth from where we first began with 149 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: ten teams. We have a second team that's joining us 150 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: in LA next year l A f C, that Willy team, 151 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: And as I think you probably know, we've been working 152 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: to try and finalize the deal with David beck and 153 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: in Miami, which would bring us to twenty four. In December, 154 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: we announced that our goal is to go to twenty 155 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: eight teams, and we asked markets and interested owners to 156 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: submit applications by the end of January. So in January 157 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: of this year, two thousand and seventeen, at the end 158 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: of the month, we received applications from twelve markets to 159 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: be one of the next four teams. And right now 160 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: the timetable is to select two of those teams, which 161 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: would be teams twenty five and twenty six, by the 162 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: end of this year, and at that time we'll announce 163 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: the timetable for the selection of the next two teams, 164 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: which would be teams twenty seven and twenty eight. So 165 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: let's say one of our listeners like soccer and wants 166 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: to get in on this action. What's it costom to 167 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: get an MLS team these days? So the price for 168 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: its clubs and twenty six is a hundred and fifty 169 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: million dollars. Uh, and we haven't yet set the price 170 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: for twenty seven and twenty eight. Why in the world 171 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: has the US lag behind a sport that is popular 172 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: all around the world. In the US is slowly catching 173 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: on now to this sport, Yeah, it really has, you know, 174 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,359 Speaker 1: and in the last five or six years in particular, 175 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: there's been tremendous growth in the sand base. So you know, 176 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: just some rough stats, they are about eighty million people 177 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: in the United States and Canada who watch professional soccer league. 178 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 1: That's that's not just counting the world. The World Cup 179 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: is so much bigger number overion. But if you're just 180 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: talking about people who watch a league could be our league, 181 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: could be the English Premier League, could be the Italian league. 182 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: That's about eighty million people. That's a pretty sizeable group. 183 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: We are chatting with Mark Abbott, the Deputy Commissioner of 184 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: Major League Soccer, and Mark, you mentioned the World Cup. 185 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: We're bidding for another one. What are the implications. I mean, 186 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: the team's gonna one, the team's gonna qualify for the 187 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 1: next World Cup looks like it. The implications for MLS 188 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: on one, the team making it, and then if we 189 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: hosted another one, well in terms of making and it's 190 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: another opportunity to show the growth of soccer in the 191 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: United States and the contributions of the league towards that. 192 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,839 Speaker 1: So a lot of the players on the league I'm sorry, 193 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: on the national team are players that play, you know, 194 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: for their clubs here in Major League Soccer, and so 195 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: you can get more exposure when they're playing in the 196 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,079 Speaker 1: World Cup and people who might not be following the 197 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: league see those players and have an opportunity to really 198 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: see them in the next week in their hometown. Uh. 199 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: And so that's a opportunity for us in terms of 200 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: having the World Cup in the United States. It is 201 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: an opportunity again to really highlight how big the market 202 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: here is for for our sport and expose it to 203 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: people who may not otherwise have been exposed to it. 204 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: And so just as we use the World Cup in 205 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: to help launch the league we launched coming out of 206 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: the World Cup, I think having the World Cup in 207 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: six is another opportunity really to help continue to grow 208 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: the league. So much of the revenue streams when it 209 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: comes to pro sports is the media component of things. 210 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: Where do you see MLS media, whether it be traditional 211 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: TV or new streamers such as Google or Amazon, where 212 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: do you see it going from Major League Soccer? So 213 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: right now we have national agreements with ESPN and Fox 214 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: and Univision and those run through two and we're fortunate 215 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: to be partners who with some of the leading media 216 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: companies in the world. But we we view our league 217 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: as among that class of really premium content that whatever 218 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: the distribution channels of the future are as, we're going 219 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 1: to be in demand content for those distribution channels. So 220 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: whether the cable model remains or whether the digital distribution 221 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: shifts primarily to over the top type distributions, they're always 222 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: has been and there always will be a demand for 223 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: premium content that people want to pay for, and Major 224 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: League Soccer is going to be in that group of content. Well, 225 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 1: you mentioned those agreements, So what are Major League Soccer 226 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: fans supposed to make a Ricardo Silver's offer to you 227 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: four billion dollars for a system of relegation. If people 228 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: don't know what that is, that's when the bottom half 229 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 1: of the or the bottom teams in the league go 230 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: down to another league. I mean, seemed like very self 231 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: serving because he knew you couldn't negotiate a deal. But 232 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: what are we supposed to make from that? Well, I mean, 233 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: I think you you just said it right. I'm I've 234 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: seen other commentary that I think it was kind of 235 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: a an opportunity need that he was trying to take 236 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,719 Speaker 1: to get some publicity. As you said, we have long 237 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: term contracts, and our partners have rights of first negotiation 238 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: and uh exclusive rights to extend those agreements, and so 239 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: we weren't in a position to react to the proposal. 240 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: It's uh, it's difficult to even think about how you 241 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:19,959 Speaker 1: would react to a proposal that takes place six or 242 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: seven years from now anyway, and and so and lastly, 243 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: and we said this, uh, in some of the comments 244 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: we made around the time that this was reported about 245 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: is you know, we would never sell our rights to 246 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 1: a third party broker. Uh. We we have direct relationships 247 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: with our broadcast partners. That's really the way that you 248 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: want to do it to ensure that not just that 249 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: you have the right sees in place that you need, 250 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: but that you have the right schedule and marketing and promotion, 251 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: editorial coverage, all of those types of things. And so, 252 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: you know, I think you correctly characterized it as just 253 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: a play to try and get some publicity for this idea, 254 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 1: but not something that we could or were interested in pursuing. 255 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 1: What will it take to get more major cities involved 256 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: in MLS soccer? I mean, it's a big sport and 257 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: the more cities you have, obviously, and the more major cities, 258 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: the better for the sport. So, you know, it's a 259 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,079 Speaker 1: good question. And by the end of next year or 260 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: shortly thereafter, we'll have twenty four and we're in some 261 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: of the most major markets. Now we're in New York, 262 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: and we're in l a and we're in Atlanta. We 263 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 1: have almost all the top twenty markets covered at this point. 264 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: There are a few few that we don't yet, but 265 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: we have twelve markets uh and some really big markets 266 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: that were not yet in Tampa, Detroit, Phoenix, just to 267 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: name a few, that are competing to be the next 268 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: four uh. And so what these markets really see is 269 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: what the current owners in the league see, which is 270 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: this is a sport that has achieved a lot in 271 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 1: a relatively short period of time, but continues to have 272 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: a lot of upside. And so there's both a reality 273 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: to our current success, but people believe a lot of 274 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: rooms still to row, and I think that's what's attracting 275 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: really some of just the great owners and professional sports 276 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: wanted to get involved with us. We're talking to MLS 277 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott. Another key component about this sport 278 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: the stadium. Well, we see more standalone stadiums for MLS. 279 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: We will, you know, we started that and like a 280 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: lot of things. Lamar Hunt, which one of our original owners, 281 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: a pioneered that you may know. He was one of 282 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: the founders of the Football League and one of our 283 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: original owners, and he built the first what we call 284 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: soccer specific stadium, purpose built stadium for professional soccer in Columbus, 285 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: Ohio nine and since then we've built fifteen more so 286 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: sixteen of our teams playing these and those that don't 287 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: other than with a couple of exceptions where we're getting 288 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: attendances over forty thousand already, there's no need to build 289 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: a new stadium for them. Everybody will and as part 290 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: of our expansion requirements, you're required to have a stadium 291 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: plan to build a soccer specific stadium. So it ange 292 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: a key part of the strategy and one I think 293 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: that's really helped propel the growth over the last well 294 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: almost twenty years since Lamar built the first one. Mark 295 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: my son is eight years old. He likes all sports. 296 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: Can you guess how he follows soccer. My guess is 297 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: he might play the FIFA game. You got it. He 298 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: loves the FIFA game. How can you take advantage of 299 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: kids loving this game? He has learned about Bayern Munich, 300 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: he knows outlet they go. How do you take advantage 301 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: of that? It really is amazing. And so there's there's 302 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: a couple of things. One is we're in the FIFA 303 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: game and so there's an opportunity for kids who play 304 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: it to play with their favorite major league soccer club. 305 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: And then in addition, you know, we're involved with the 306 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: A as a partner of ours, and we get involved 307 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: with them on the gaming side also, so great relationship 308 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: for us and great opportunities to to use that game 309 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: to to continue to educate people about Hourly and the sport. 310 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: But as you say, that's not a unique story. Kids 311 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: across the country are really engaged with that game and 312 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: it's a it's an exciting way for them to get 313 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: exposed to the sport. Yeah. I have a twelve year 314 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: old son and I tried to play FIFA soccer with him, yes, 315 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: and it did not work out well, not at all. 316 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: After he was done laughing. It was just ridicouser. They 317 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: say two left feet, he's got two left coms and 318 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: and I'm right there with you, man Mark, I'm gonna 319 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: let your peacock for a little bit, a little bit Seattle, 320 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: Portland's Atlanta. I know some owners and some commissioners would 321 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: be awfully jealous of the number of people you're putting 322 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: in these stadiums every week. Well, you know, I appreciate 323 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: you highlighting that. So let's just take Atlanta new team 324 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: launch this year. They're gonna play in the new Mercedes 325 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: Band Stadium. But that's not gonna open up for a 326 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: few weeks here yet. So they've been playing at Georgia Tech. 327 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: You know, we're averaging forty seven thousand people a game, 328 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: which is the largest average attendance for any professional sport 329 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: United States outside the NFL. I'm wondering if MLS would 330 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: it benefit them to maybe go to schools to help 331 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: promote the sport in a way. Well, we're very involved 332 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: in youth soccer in two ways. One is, all of 333 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,959 Speaker 1: our clubs have development academies and so, uh, they're an 334 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: opportunity for kids who potentially could be professional players or 335 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 1: be a top level college players to be in a 336 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:30,359 Speaker 1: top class training environment, uh, from relatively early ages. And 337 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 1: so all of our clubs do that. And then secondly, 338 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: they are all involved in the youth soccer communities in 339 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: their particular towns and cities, and a lot of it's 340 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: involved with helping coaching, some of it's involved in helping 341 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 1: get the kids out in the stadium to see a game, 342 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: and so it's a big part of what our clubs do. Now, hey, 343 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: mark your employee number one at MLS number one employee, 344 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: I mean you get a cool paperweight back anything, maybe first, 345 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: we should use the word first, right, Yeah, were the 346 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: first employee. But also for those who don't know you, 347 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: you were born in England it Burnley supported, yes, yes, 348 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 1: but also a Red Sox fan because you also grew 349 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 1: up in Boston. Yes, John got over the six six 350 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: game of the World Series. Oh, I thought I thought 351 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 1: you were going to say when they came back against 352 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: the Yankees, that was going to be a tough one here. 353 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: Well that was in but that was my kids, And 354 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: I'll tell you quick story. My wife actually made a 355 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: painting of the Green Monster of that moment with the 356 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: box score right when that was happening. So I have 357 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: that hung up in my study. Nice. But but John 358 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,880 Speaker 1: Henry owns Liverpool. Any thoughts of such, I mean, how 359 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: can you be Burnley in Red Soxes. I mean you 360 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: should just stick in the in the Liverpool. You know, 361 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: my father was from a little town outside of Burnley, 362 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: and so Burnley we have always been in Burnley, we 363 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: will always be and there we'll have it, We'll leave 364 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 1: it there. Mark Abbott, Deputy Commissioner of MLS, Thank you 365 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: very much, good to chat with you. Thank you. And 366 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: now the found Out our soccer theme show. This week, 367 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: we welcome in Joseph Aru Tomayo, the president of FC Barcelona. 368 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: He held roles and earlier served as vice president of 369 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: the team. So you're spending a lot of time in 370 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 1: the United States these days, way more than you used 371 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 1: to explain the philosophy of Barcelona, exporting its praying to 372 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 1: the US. Well, not not only these this Barcelona. Well, 373 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: few years ago we started to come to US US 374 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: for US is one of the biggest countries, big market. 375 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: Also were soccer is not still one of the main 376 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: sports and what we do Barcelona, but so we had 377 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: What we're trying is really to come to us to 378 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: try to explain, to teach, to talk about our football 379 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: or philosophy of football, and trying of course to involve 380 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: every time more and more people that would like to sport. 381 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: That's why we did summer tours in the past. But 382 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 1: one year ago we started really seriously opening our office 383 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: in New York. We have right now several schools around 384 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,719 Speaker 1: the US. We are just opening now in Long Island 385 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: and in a few in a few days. And of 386 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: course one of our objective is to be to settle 387 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: in the US as as one of the brands of 388 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: one of the clubs. Seriously, that's why we are really 389 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: talking already to open a professional women's soccer team in 390 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: California and those days also we are going to continue 391 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: talking about this and let's see if we can achieve this. 392 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: Objects it's not often had success here women's professional sports leagues, 393 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: especially soccer. Why do you think that's a good investment. Well, 394 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: we as a club, we we have around fifteen different 395 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: sports and people may not know that it's not just 396 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: FC Barcelona. Barcelona is a big club. Just to explain 397 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: about this own my hundred forty people. The members are 398 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: really active and democracies there in the club. We have 399 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: our assemblies, we have to present the president as I 400 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: we are elected for six years period. So it's different club. 401 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: It's a unique club that different from other clubs where 402 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: it's that they are owned by one or two or 403 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: two or two persons. So that's what Barcelona. We have 404 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,640 Speaker 1: all the other sports. We have a basketball team, professional 405 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 1: basket team plays in Europe, basketball, handball, foot sale, but 406 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: also we have a boy rugby. We have plenty of 407 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: sports at the total of fifteen. But for us, every time, 408 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: more and more women is more important and that's why 409 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: we started a project in a few years ago that 410 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 1: women could be more active in our in our club. 411 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: And right now we have around two thousand, five hundred 412 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 1: audits that play in our club and seven of them, 413 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,959 Speaker 1: seven hundreds of them are women. That's why to start 414 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: professional soccer women team in the US. It's cure also 415 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: for us not only to promote soccer, but also that 416 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 1: the women's every time more and more important in our club. 417 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. So 418 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: the rest of the world has been telling the US, well, 419 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 1: where have you been because this sport it's it's huge 420 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:06,399 Speaker 1: all around the world. Why is the US lagging behind 421 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: in soccer? Well, you know, I've been traveling to US 422 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 1: since I was fourteen fifteen years old, and I know 423 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: very much your country. And of course baseball, basketball, American football, 424 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 1: highs hockey at the biggest sport. But well, little by 425 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: little since the seventies when some of the players came 426 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: to play in the Cosmos New York Cosmos soccer Pelly 427 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: for example, So little by little soccer is being introduced. 428 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: It's important for us also that there's a large community 429 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: from Latin America in the US living here. That they 430 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: come from other countries where football or soccer is already 431 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: a key sport for them now. So I think the 432 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: way we do the things is like opening schools to 433 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: teach the people, the young people from six to fourteen 434 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: years old about soccer. It will help us to do it, 435 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: and that's why we want to help to lead to 436 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,160 Speaker 1: help it. The introduction of soccer in the US, which 437 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: is not of course right now, it's quite important every 438 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: time more and more important. And there is one data 439 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: it's the soccer national US team. It's a it's a 440 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 1: national team which is admired all over the world because 441 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: they're not doing bad when there is a World Cup. Well, 442 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: television too is getting more coverage for soccer, Yes, in 443 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: the US, and that's a big place. Well we as 444 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: a club as Barl well you are one of the 445 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: more active clubs in the world. Just a few days 446 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: ago Blockbird, Uh sorry, and um, we had some good 447 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: news because we are probably the second largest club on 448 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: on value that what Forbes says. And also we are 449 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 1: one of the clubs with more probably the club that 450 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 1: we have more social followers. We have three hundred ten 451 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: million social followers in in our networks. So that gives 452 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: us the pact and and how big is that bars 453 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: at this club for the for the world and the US. 454 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: Of course, people follow our team because television. Every time 455 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: more and more are offering in life our games, and 456 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: that's was one of the objectives of course, that people 457 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: see the games on live, you know. And games are 458 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 1: very interesting because for someone, we have Leo Messi, which 459 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: is the best soccer player of the history in our 460 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:25,399 Speaker 1: in our team and people like to see how we play. 461 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,239 Speaker 1: It's a unique way of playing. Sometimes it's different from 462 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: other clubs, so we are working very hard for this. 463 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 1: We are chatting with Joseph part of A, the CEO 464 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: of r C Barcelona and John Seph you mentioned soccer 465 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: gaining and popularity. What is the view of Major League 466 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: soccer around the world. Well, the Major League Soccer, Uh, 467 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 1: we know they're improving. We know they are working very 468 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: hard and it's really and we know they are competing 469 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: with other leagues in the U s which are very 470 00:24:56,080 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: very very very strong. But soccer is coming every time 471 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,439 Speaker 1: more and more popular in the US and some players 472 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 1: from Europe, you know that they are traveling to play 473 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: here in the US and that gives that importance. For example, 474 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: one of our best players that was with us is 475 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: David Media and yeah, right now is probably one of 476 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 1: the more well known and one of the players of 477 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: the key players of the LS. So well that that 478 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: gift confident that little bit little. Of course, the soccer 479 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 1: in the US are going to be more popular, but 480 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: of us. My interest also is that people not only 481 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: see the games of the MLS. I wonder the people 482 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 1: that live here see the games of Barcelona. And that's why, 483 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: for example, those days we are coming for this American tour, 484 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:41,239 Speaker 1: we have a game in New York and other game 485 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: in Washington and Miami. Forbes magazine recently ranked Barcelona as 486 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: the fourth most valuable sports franchise all over the world. 487 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: You are the second behind United Chester United in football soccer? 488 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:04,159 Speaker 1: Exactly what is it gonna take You may be surpassed. Well, 489 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: what do I'm very happy is because Barcelona a few 490 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,479 Speaker 1: years ago we were much much bob behind United United 491 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: has been in the in the last maybe ten twelve 492 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: years the number one, following them very closely every time. 493 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: More and more so my agency is one day that 494 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: Barcelona could be the best. Of course soccer club as 495 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: performs magazine. We're working on it. We're working how we 496 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:32,679 Speaker 1: can do it well. At the end, this is not 497 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: an adjective. The adjective, of course is to play, to 498 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 1: show people about soccer, to do good games, to win, 499 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: of course, to have food players and if we do 500 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 1: all those things correctly, I'm sure that in the future 501 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: we could be number one. But being number two, thinking 502 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,439 Speaker 1: from where we are coming, which was very far behind, 503 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 1: we are very proud of it. But we cannot be relaxed. 504 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: And she said comfortable. We cannot be comfortable. We have 505 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: to work. And that's why this project of Barcelona being 506 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: in North America. It is very important for us, but 507 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: mainly not only on football because people talk about football 508 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 1: at it, soccer about soccer, our academies, but also through 509 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: our foundation. You know, we have a foundation that we're 510 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: helping a lot of children in the world. Last year 511 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: was around one million children in the world. We have 512 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: partnerships with units, have with the Olympic International Committee, within 513 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 1: the United Nations High Commissioner, Refugees with Bill a million, 514 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: the Gate Foundation. So we are we are having partnership 515 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: with a lot of entities which they are very very 516 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 1: important and we help them on on the project, on 517 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: the social projects. Is your business model based on winning? 518 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: What would happen to the bars are brand popularity if 519 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: you were not up there in La League and playing 520 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: in international competitions at the top level. Let's see winning 521 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:51,400 Speaker 1: to win, of course, everybody wants to win, but Barcelona 522 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: since nine when we started Lamasia. Lamasia is a very 523 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: nice project. It is our football academy we called Lamassier 524 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: because it's a where we started this project. And Lamasia 525 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: is a project based on teaching football in our unique 526 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 1: way of looking at soccer, how we see soccer. Sometimes 527 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: it's different of other clubs. And we teached him to 528 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:16,359 Speaker 1: this to the to our young players since they are 529 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 1: eight nine years old, with the objecty of being in 530 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: our professional team. At the end, you have to play 531 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: well and he and to and to win. But first 532 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 1: of all it's played well, play as as we we 533 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 1: think football should be played, as we see in U sports. 534 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: Nothing is more global than superstars Lebron James, Steph Curry, 535 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 1: Messy will name or be a part of your future. 536 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: Well namer Is right now has a contact with us 537 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: for the next coming four seasons. Is a very good player, 538 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: young player, very talented player and we want him to 539 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: continue with us. So Namer is for as very important 540 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: as as a player as the rest of the team, 541 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 1: of course, because you know that soccer is is a 542 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 1: team work. It's not a work of one only player. 543 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: Of course, we have Leo Messi, which is the best 544 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: player of the world for the history of soccer, but 545 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: also he needs around to have good players and name 546 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: he is one of those. Joepto, CEO FC Barcelona. Thank 547 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 1: you very much, no, thank you very much for inviting us. 548 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: Thank you to join us and see you soon. You 549 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: got it. Thank you. My takeaway, Michael, all the naysayers 550 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: about soccer may have to reevaluate that position. The number 551 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: is growing in terms of number of fans. You can't 552 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: deny forty five thousand a night in Seattle, in Portland's 553 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: in Atlanta. You can't deny the stadiums are coming. You 554 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: can't deny the interest is growing. Yes, in the greatest 555 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: teams in the world, that they're coming here for a 556 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: reason because there's lots of money to spend. However, taking 557 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: their time us born stars pulic sitch some of these 558 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:50,479 Speaker 1: other guys. If they stay here, there will be interest 559 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: and Another big takeaway video games and soccer is popular 560 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: with kids on video games. FIFA that World Cup, they 561 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: love it and that is something that Mark Abbott said 562 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 1: is a key to getting more younger people into playing soccer. 563 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 1: Time for the number of the week. It feels better 564 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: to be number one than number five. I'll wear a 565 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: number because of mine. We have a chance to go 566 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: for three in a row. Kids numbers in a a good time. 567 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: When I first started wearing the number, I would just 568 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 1: have the floomberg business of sports. The number of the week, 569 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: and it is number two. It's number two, but soccer 570 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 1: is the number one game in the world and one 571 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: of the reasons is all the stars. The number two 572 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 1: means only the second Classico. Do you know what That 573 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: game is? Classico Barcelona and Messi against Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo. 574 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: They're going to play this weekend in Miami. Bien sa Miami. 575 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 1: That game is sold out. You cannot get a ticket. 576 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: Two of the biggest and I'm gonna say two of 577 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: the two biggest stars is in soccer in Miami. What 578 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: a venue. Steve Ross is putting this together? What star power? 579 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: This This is an event only the second time this 580 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: game the two biggest clubs in Spain will play an 581 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: exhibition outside of Spain. What a spectacle. I'm gonna listen 582 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 1: back to that again, just to hear you begin then 583 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: eis Miami cor Leon, no Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo. You are 584 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: so versatile. I like it. You've been listening to Bloomberg 585 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:34,120 Speaker 1: Business of Sports. We are here each and every week 586 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 1: at the same time, exploring the world of money and sports. 587 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Barr and I'm Scott Sashnik. Thanks for joining us. 588 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: Please tune in next week when we speak with some 589 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: of the biggest names in the world of sports.