1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. COVID has been so 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: devastating and to see thirty eight thousand people of Funway 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: Park it was really emotional and rewardings on the business side, 4 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: from ticket sales to jersey sale revenues are up. Everything 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: was really good as well as solids there. I realized 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: that at the beginning of twenty nineteen would be a 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: very unique opportunity in terms of a lot of contracts 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: being up at the same time a lot of sighting 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: young wrestlers being available to go out to start a 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: wrestling company. The country is finally deeply getting the memo 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: about how amazing the sport is. I think the sky's 12 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: the limit for MLS. Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 13 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show, where we 14 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 15 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: Michael varn I'm Scarlett too, I'm Mike Lynch. Coming up 16 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: on today's show, we speak with former New Orleans Saints 17 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: QB Super Bowl winning Drew Brees. We get this perspective 18 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: on the rise of legal sports gambling and concerns over 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: maintaining integrity in the NFL. I don't think that there's 20 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: certainly any impropriety when it comes to you know, players 21 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: or coaches and as they approached their job. Every guy 22 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: who's out there is trying to catch the ball, right, 23 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: every guy who's out there is trying to score. They're 24 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: trying to win, They're trying to scores many points as possible. 25 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: They're they're not worried about what the line is on 26 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: the game, or what the bet is as far as 27 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: who's gonna score the first touchdown or whatever else. I 28 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: think they're just they're just playing the game they normally pay. 29 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for that conversation with Drew Brees, plus later 30 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,919 Speaker 1: in the hour, we catch up with Vinix Sports Groups 31 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: CEO Steve Griggs. That's the parent company of defending Stanley 32 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: Cup champs, the Tampa Bay and Lightning. In fact, they're 33 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: going for three in a row. That's straight ahead on 34 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business of Sports show. But first, let's look 35 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: at some of the top stories of the week, beginning 36 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: with the World Series, the Fall Classic and the ratings. Okay, 37 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: for our time today, the ratings aren't bad. It's not 38 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: old school ratings, but the ratings aren't bad. Well, right now, 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: the game one is in the head US rating of 40 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: six point one and ten point eight average ten point 41 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 1: eight million people watching the game. It's up from last year, 42 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: but last year that's, of course all the games were 43 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: played in Arlington, Texas. Their Dodgers played the Tampa Bay Rays. 44 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: But what you really have to measure it against is 45 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: two years ago when the Washington Nationals in the Astros 46 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: won seven games in a very exciting World Series, and 47 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: it's down six Other than the COVID season last year, 48 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: it is the lowest rated World Series opener since they 49 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: began keeping records, And that's discouraging. Got to be discouraging 50 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: for Rob Manford and baseball people. Yeah, but baseball is 51 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: in football? Is that what it comes down to? Yeah, 52 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: but it's there's their you know, ultimate sport. This this 53 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: is it. This is their NBA finals, Stanley Cup Finals, 54 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 1: this is their sort of Super Bowl week. I wonder 55 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: how much it as it has to do with the 56 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: fact that the Houston Astros are playing in the World 57 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: Series as well, how much residual anger is there among 58 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: baseball fans overall that this is the Astros who were 59 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: caught in that cheating scandal not so long ago. I'm 60 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: sure a lot of people are thinking, like it's TV 61 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: execs man, we wanted the Dodgers, and we wanted Boston. 62 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: Dang this, Now we got this, and it might be 63 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: a point you guys. Yeah, I think that thing was 64 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: so long ago. What happened in that it's really a 65 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: pandemic four times? Yeah, like you know, so many things 66 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: have happened since then. I think it's the late hour. 67 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, and for young kids, boys and 68 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: girls who are of high school or elementary middle school age, 69 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: it's a devastating news. I mean, none of them will 70 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: get to watch the World Series. They won't know what happened. 71 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: Remember the guy who was trying to run for an 72 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: office in New York? The rent is too dang hag. Well, 73 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: the games are too dang long. We gotta do something 74 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: about this, Scarlett. What do we do? Well? You know 75 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: one thing that there's a really good story I read 76 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: about how Rob Manfred, the commissioner of the MLB, is 77 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: kind of caught in this awkward position because wherever the 78 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: game has played, whether it's Houston or Atlanta, the local 79 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: fans there are not fans of him overall or of MLB. 80 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: Given that they felt he scapegoted the Astros for the 81 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: cheating scandal when it was fairly common for people to 82 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: steal signs. Of course, that was ancient history, as Lynch 83 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: just pointed out. But more recently, of course, Uh, Manfred 84 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: had pulled the All Star game uh in response to 85 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: Georgia's new voting law. And so there are a lot 86 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: of people in the Braves organization who are not happy 87 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: with Manfred either, and ironically with World Series is coming 88 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: back to Atlanta, which was celebrating the Great Hank Aaron. 89 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: You can see the forty four mode into the lawn 90 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 1: out there, and and a lot of people lost a 91 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: lot of money white when they pulled the game out 92 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: of out of Georgia. UM, it probably politically was the 93 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: right thing to do, but economically, UH, it wasn't. Then 94 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: the people that work at that ballpark and count on 95 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: it to make their living and meet their rent and 96 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: meet the car payment didn't have a chance to work 97 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 1: that game all those three games because it's a big festival. 98 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: So he'll get booed by if it na wins in Uh. 99 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: He's hosting the trophy there. Well. Whoever, if if the 100 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: series ends in Atlanta, will get booed, or if it 101 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: bends in Houston, will get booed. I mean, I guess 102 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 1: that's that's the deal that you make when you are 103 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: a commissioner of a major sports league. Speaking of people 104 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: getting booed. Right now, as we talk about baseball, the 105 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: Cleveland roller derby team, they're booing MLB's Cleveland Indians. Now 106 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: the Cleveland Indians are going to change their name to 107 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: the Cleveland Guardians. So what's the problem. Why is this 108 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: Cleveland roller derby team suing because their name the Cleveland Guardian, 109 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: the original Guardians. Yeah, yeah, it's now, you know, And 110 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: and I hate that. I don't want to make an opinion, 111 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: but I gotta say it. The attorneys said, look, you 112 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: can't go into Chicago and then name of lacrosse team 113 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: and then name that team the Chicago Cubs. It's not 114 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: gonna work. And you know, they've got a point. I'm 115 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: not sure what to do here. I don't know how 116 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: New York got away with it. Years ago, when the 117 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: New York Giants had a football team and the baseball 118 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: team in the National League team would that played in 119 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 1: the Polo Grounds was the New York Giants. There were 120 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: two New York Giants teams players didn't get involved. Maybe 121 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: maybe that was you know what they did, They said, 122 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: we'll settle the problem. We're going to move to to 123 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: San Francisco. That's how they settled that. Uh. Since we're 124 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: talking about football. Uh, let's talk about Brett Farve. Now 125 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: he uh has reportedly paid his uh his debt. Uh. 126 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: It was he's paid six thousand dollars and and it 127 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: involved let's let's say he got money, uh for speeches 128 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: that he did not get. Hold on, hold on, I 129 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: don't understand this. He got paid money to make speeches 130 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: that he did not give and now he has to 131 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: give back that money. That's right. He didn't think it 132 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: was odd that he was getting paid money for things 133 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: that he didn't do. Hey, I didn't question where that 134 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: money was coming coming from. Hey, you get money. It suck. 135 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: But and he still has to pay interest on this. 136 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: But you know, he's got to pay about two dollars 137 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: on this. But what was really a sticking point is 138 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: that this money came from a welfare fund and and 139 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: then all you know what broke looks yep, there's no 140 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: excuse for that. First of all, if you couldn't pay 141 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: for something, show up for it. But it's despicable that 142 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: the mess Mississippi Community Education Center used funds from the 143 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: from the welfare fund that's supposed to go to help 144 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: people and feed them and clothe them and house them. 145 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: And they've given it to Brett Farve and he doesn't 146 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: even show up. But he cashed the check anyway, but 147 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,119 Speaker 1: he's paid it back, or he thinks he has. Who's 148 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: his agent, who's his accountant, who's his lawyer? These guys, Yeah, 149 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: well it's Bill Parcels once said, and I didn't don't 150 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: agree this, and always says, hey, we're not dealing with 151 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: choir boys here. Let's get straight to our conversation with 152 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: former New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees Lynchi. You and 153 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: Scarlett caught up with the Super Bowl winning MBP earlier 154 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: this week. Well, we certainly did. Breeze has partnered with 155 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: online bookmaker Points Bet. He actually just has a new 156 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: commercial that's out. It's pretty clever. You should really catch it. 157 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: That's kind of curious how this whole thing started and 158 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: how we got involved. Let's start with this. Yeah, so 159 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: you know, obviously, uh, sports, sports betting and especially in 160 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: game betting has has become um, I think much more 161 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: embraced and accepted, you know, amongst professional sports and UM 162 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: Points bet UM signed a big partnership with NBC and 163 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: and I took a job as a broadcaster and uh 164 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: doing in studio work for for NBC Sports, and so 165 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: there was a very natural um connection there and opportunity 166 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: to be a part of a company that's doing a 167 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 1: lot of innovative things and has a h a great 168 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: technology when it comes to creating a betting platform that 169 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: allows for brain game betting and and kind of staying 170 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: at the forefront of the future of sports betting and 171 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: so um, you know, it was it was a m 172 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: good opportunity to be a part of that. And obviously 173 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: with the NBC partnership as well, um, you know, there's 174 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: there's there's a good partnership there. Yeah, everyone's invested in this. 175 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: NBC Sports is a minority stakeholder in Points. But um, 176 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: I wonder you're helping to develop original content for Points, 177 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: but there's gonna be a national rollout of advertisements. What 178 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: does that content look like sound like? What was that 179 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: process like? Yeah, it was actually it was quite a process. 180 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: We shot for about three days and it's Points Bets 181 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: first national ad campaign. U. The first of three new 182 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: ad spots UH for the campaign is going to come 183 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: out very soon and they're gonna be rolled out here 184 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: over the next few months. Um, it's very entertaining. It 185 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: was a lot of fun to shoot. Um. You know, 186 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: it talks a lot about um, you know, the market 187 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: leading technology infrastructure and um, you know, the betting capabilities 188 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 1: that are on the points bet platform, but but communicated 189 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: in a in a very fun and entertaining way. So 190 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: when you first came into the league and for mostly 191 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: a career, I mean the signage when you walk into 192 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: the locker room about no gambling, stay away from undesirables, etcetera, etcetera. 193 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: I know it's against the league rules to bet on it. 194 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: Are you surprised at how quickly that line has sort 195 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 1: of become blurred between the NFL and and legal sports betting. Yeah, 196 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: I mean obviously it's still um something that if you 197 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: are an active player or active coach, you know that 198 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: that's not something you can be involved in for obvious reasons, 199 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: right because they never they want to keep the integrity 200 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: of of of that. You know very clear, Um that Obviously, 201 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: the guys that are playing football on Sundays, UM, are 202 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,959 Speaker 1: out there to do the best to help their team win, 203 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 1: and by no means are they in fluenced by m 204 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 1: gambling or or or what have you. Um for those 205 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: who are no longer playing, like myself, UM, you know, 206 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 1: it's it's it's obviously a space that is growing incredibly 207 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: and like I said, has become certainly embraced by by 208 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: NFL teams and ownership and the NFL itself as you 209 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: see a lot of them having a stake in this, 210 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: and um, you know from a profitability perspective to obviously 211 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: that becomes something that um, you know, can really affect 212 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: a lot of things positively for the NFL. So UM, 213 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: I think that's why you've seen the the the the 214 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: mass attraction to sports betting and how that's going to 215 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: grow over the next few years. Here. Yeah, I'm so 216 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: glad Lynch you brought that up. And you could even 217 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: call it a U term really because in Roger Goodell 218 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: was quoted as saying, if gambling is permitted freely on 219 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: sporting events, normal incidents of the games such as bad snaps, 220 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: dropped passes, turnovers, penalties and play calling inevitably will fuel speculation, distrust, 221 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: and accusations of point shaving or game fixing. Clearly that 222 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: was almost a decade ago. Things have changed. But as 223 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: a broadcaster now, how do you think about that as 224 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: you discuss blown calls or controversial calls, or you discuss 225 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: plays that people will be hanging onto listening for uh possible, 226 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: I don't know, not wrong doing, but questionable acts, you know. 227 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: So for me as a as a broadcaster, or for 228 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: you know, someone who's who's doing in studio analysis, Um, 229 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 1: I'm providing my honest and objective opinions as it pertains 230 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: to teams, as it pertains to players, and um, you 231 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: know the obviously, you know, predicting certain outcomes, you know, 232 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: in what's going to happen in the days of events 233 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: or with Sunday Night football or you know, just any 234 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: number of things, right. I mean, that's my that's my 235 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: job for NBC Sports is to provide that analysis based 236 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: on my experience, you know, playing the game, playing quarterbacks 237 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: for twenty years in the NFL, and my knowledge of 238 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, teams and players and you know, I think 239 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: human psychology in a lot of ways to you know, 240 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 1: from the perspective of, you know, why one team is 241 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: going to be able to go in and compete against 242 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: another team, you know, based on you know, certain circumstances 243 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: that hey, I know what that feels like by being 244 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: in the locker room, having that level of experience. So 245 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: bottom line, I'm I'm just providing my opinion based on that. Now, 246 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: people who are in you know, participating in the points 247 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: bet platform or any gaming sports betting platform for that matter, 248 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: you know, they're they're accumulating their knowledge base, they're educating 249 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: themselves based on you know, any number of different circumstances. 250 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: They're probably studying their own statistics, they're listening to commentators there, 251 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, Um, they probably maybe are influenced as well 252 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: by certain biases, you know, for for certain teams or players, 253 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: you know, and and they're kind of taking all of 254 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: that information and then compiling it into what they're going 255 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: to use to you know, for their own you know, 256 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: in game betting. Um. But I don't you know, again, 257 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: I don't think that there's any certainly any um uh 258 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: impropriety when it comes to you know, players or coaches 259 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: and as they approached their job, right, I mean, every 260 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: guy who's out there is trying to catch the ball, right, 261 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: every guy who's out there is trying to score. They're 262 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: trying to win, They're trying to score as many points 263 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: as possible. They're they're not worried about what the line 264 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: is on the game, or you know, what the bet 265 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: is as far as who's going to score the first 266 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: touchdown or whatever else. I think they're just they're just 267 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: playing the game they normally they would normally play. True 268 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: ratings are are up across the board for every single game, 269 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: and one of my theories is that there are so 270 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: many in game prop bets that you can make right 271 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: down to the to the final play of the game. 272 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: I mean, how many first downs will the team make? 273 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: Will so and so catch six passes, et cetera. Do 274 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: you see a correlation there between attendance up this year 275 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: and people sitting there with their apps and their bets. Yeah, 276 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: I mean it's it's it's kind of like fantasy football, right. 277 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,119 Speaker 1: You know. Um, back when fantasy football was first introduced, 278 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: there was a big spike as well, you know, and 279 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: uh it made it to where everyone had more of 280 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: a vet vested interest in all the games as opposed 281 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: to maybe just the game of their favorite team or 282 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: their favorite player. Um. You know, now all of a sudden, 283 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: they've got these players spread across a number of different 284 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: teams that they want to follow and they want to 285 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: pay attention to. And so I think it's similar with 286 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: the the in game betting and the prop betting, is 287 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: that you you know, people have a much more of 288 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: a vested interest in some of the things that are happening, 289 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: and you know, it makes the game even more exciting, 290 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: you know for some people. And and so I think 291 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: that's the that's the point. Do you offer analysis and 292 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: perspective on the game to an audience that perhaps doesn't 293 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: understand football and doesn't isn't loyal to any one team 294 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: or anyone player because of some of the trends we've discussed, 295 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: the popularization of fantasy football or um sports gambling. You 296 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: play much more of a larger role in educating them 297 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: about the sport and explaining things in a way that 298 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: perhaps twenty years ago you might not have had to. Well, 299 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: you know, I think you have fans who watched the 300 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: broadcast for any number of different reasons. Um, I've been 301 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: a huge fan of Mac Jones for the New England 302 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: Patriots ever since they drafted him. Um, and I've made 303 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: a lot of commentary about him because that's the way 304 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: I feel about him. You know, I thought he was 305 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: the most NF already quarterback who was drafted at the top, 306 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: you know, five guys that were drafted, and um, I 307 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: think that's shown, you know, with the way that he's played. 308 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: So I'm sure there's a bunch of New Englanders that 309 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: like listen to me talk about mac Jones and what 310 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: a fan I am of his you know, we do. Yeah, Yeah, 311 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,719 Speaker 1: I've been on the I've been on the Arizona Cardinal 312 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: train here for since the biggy ginning of the season, 313 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: you know. So maybe there's some folks out and you know, 314 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: Southwest part of the country that that like me listening 315 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: to hype up the Cardinals, you know. So, I mean, 316 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: I think there's people are gonna watch for various reasons. 317 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 1: You know. I'm sure there's some that you know, are 318 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: very you know, they're they're trying to kind of create 319 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: what their betting strategy is going to be based on 320 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: the things that they're hearing, you know, and the things 321 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: that they're reading, um in their own analysis. So yeah, 322 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: I mean It's like I said, you know, my job 323 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: is to provide the most honest and objective analysis that 324 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: I can, but based on my experience and you know, 325 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: based on my gut and my instincts when it comes 326 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: to teams and players and that kind of thing. Alright, 327 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: So Drew tom Brady will play until he's forty five 328 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: of beyond the over on that or the forint bed. Yeah, 329 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: that's interesting. You know, he's Um, I would imagine that. 330 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: You know, he's obviously you look at the way he's playing, 331 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: and he's playing at a very high level. He's got 332 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: a great team around him. He's got a bunch of 333 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: great players to throw too. So I you know, i'd 334 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: look at it and say, well, what would be his 335 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: reason for retiring at this point? You know, Um, he's 336 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: got all these things going for him. Um, so only 337 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: he knows. Tell us a little bit about your other 338 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: business pursuits. I know you most of your your time 339 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: is spent um preparing for the broadcast and also now 340 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: with your new partnership with Points bet you're working on that. 341 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: But I'd like to hear a little bit more about 342 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: how else you see expanding your brand. Yeah, you know, um, 343 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 1: I'm interested in a lot of things, and especially upon 344 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: retirement here, I have a great curiosity and kind of 345 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: a thirst for knowledge and really planning how I want 346 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: to spend the next ten years of my life. On 347 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: the business side, I really enjoy UM franchising UM and 348 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: I started off actually being a franchise z E for 349 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: Jimmy John starting back in two thousand eleven, so in 350 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 1: the QSR category, but that's that's really broadened to encompass 351 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: quite a few brands. I sit on the board for 352 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: Stretch Zone I UM and a cone of a new 353 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: franchise concept called Small Sliders UM. I've got a few 354 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: others walk on Sports b STRO so that I really 355 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: enjoy that. I really enjoy creating and being a part 356 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: of kind of the strategic planning and branding for brands 357 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: that become franchise concepts, because at the end of the day, 358 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: that is what creates the opportunity for people to become 359 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: business owners and plug plug into a proven model that 360 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 1: provides great support for them and it really helps them 361 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: gain financial freedom. I love that. There's a lot of 362 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: things on the philanthropic side that I'm very interested in 363 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: right now, especially surrounding housing, healthcare, education, economic opportunity and 364 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 1: economic development and underserved communities, especially in New Orleans. There's 365 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,959 Speaker 1: a lot of things that I'm working on in regards 366 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: to that. So, um, there's a lot of things that's 367 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: uh that I'm I'm I'm researching and just trying to 368 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 1: find the best opportunities to help serve the community. And 369 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: that was former New Orleans stains At quarterback Drew Brees. 370 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: He spoke with us earlier this week. Breeze is now 371 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: the global spokesperson for points Butt, the online bookmaker, and 372 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: you can catch him every Sunday as well on NBC's 373 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,640 Speaker 1: Football Night in America. Bar you are big sports betting fan. 374 00:20:57,760 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: What do you think of his take on sports betting 375 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: in the front? Well, I like what you guys were 376 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: saying about. Man, if a ball gets dropped, what do 377 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:09,679 Speaker 1: you think? Trust me, I've seen a lot of games 378 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: where it's like, what did he just do? It's like, now, 379 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: there's a logic. Sometimes I know people are like, hey, 380 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: all he's gotta do is just score, and he's broken free, 381 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: and if he crosses the goal line, I get the over. 382 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: And then you see the guy and he's running to 383 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: the goal line, and then he slides at the one. 384 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: And then after you've broken your television set in four 385 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: different places, you realize he did it because you don't 386 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: want to stop the clock or you want to keep 387 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: possession of the ball. That's one of the reasons why 388 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: he did it. The boy. It is frustrating, and sometimes 389 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: I see who I'm getting. You're bugging me, man, I 390 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: I get frustrated. But a lot of times there is 391 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: a logic to it. And but sometimes I see some 392 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: stuff out there, you know, some fumble light This is like, 393 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: you know, did you a greet your hands before you 394 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 1: went out there? What happened? And as a broadcaster, he's 395 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: got a tread pretty carefully because there are people who 396 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: are gonna throw flames at him on Twitter immediately for 397 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: saying something a certain way and maybe shading what did 398 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: or didn't happen. Now, let's talk with NIX Sports Group 399 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: CEO Steve Griggs, as the parent company of defending Stanleck 400 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,439 Speaker 1: Up Champs the Tampa Bay Lightning. I gotta give you 401 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,199 Speaker 1: the big hello. How are you doing, Steve? Well? I 402 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,439 Speaker 1: hate to start by correct team, but it's back to 403 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:36,439 Speaker 1: back Stanley Cup. Tom. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Let me, 404 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: let me, let me get the knife out of my 405 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: heart here. That's you know, that's a heck of a feat. 406 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: Can you guys do it three in a row? Well, 407 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:51,360 Speaker 1: you know, that's what you're competing for every year. And uh, 408 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: you know, first and foremost that's about getting into the playoffs. 409 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: But we got a great team moving forward. You have 410 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: a great team moving forward. You have a great team 411 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: for the last couple of years. UM. I'm arranged his fans, 412 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: So it pains me to see how many former Rangers 413 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,919 Speaker 1: have ended up on the lightning. Um. But I wonder 414 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 1: in terms of how you motivate younger players and how 415 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: that affects your ability to recruit younger players. What does 416 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: back to back Stanley Cup championships mean in terms of 417 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: getting the college students, the kids to to say, you 418 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: know what, I want to move to Florida and I 419 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:25,719 Speaker 1: want to make that place my home for the next 420 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: five years, ten years. You know, our organization, uh and 421 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: the Bucks organization have obviously had a lot of success 422 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:36,239 Speaker 1: here in Tampa, and with that it's sort of you know, 423 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 1: raises the pride and the stature of the city. You 424 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: add that with everything that's going on from a technology 425 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 1: hub standpoint, the development that's going on within Tampa Bay itself, 426 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: the region itself, the growth here and and just the 427 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: continual progress of becoming one of those cities that everyone 428 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,959 Speaker 1: talks about Nashville, Austin, Raleigh. We are in that converse 429 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,120 Speaker 1: station and you know what people see on TV with 430 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,439 Speaker 1: sports teams, and I think that always elevates the brand 431 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: of of a city. You throw in a couple of 432 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,439 Speaker 1: boat parades as well, and people you know who are 433 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: sitting there in other cities are saying, moment, that looks 434 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: like a fun place to live in, a great place 435 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: to uh have a great living and a great lifestyle. 436 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: And you can't find a better place or a better 437 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: city than Tampa to have that work life balance of 438 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: coming to a hockey game, working and then going to 439 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,199 Speaker 1: the beach on the weekend. So it's a it's a 440 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: pretty pretty nice set up. Well, they call it Champa 441 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:36,919 Speaker 1: Bay now. They used to call it Tampa Bay. Now 442 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 1: it's Champa Bay. With all the championship teams you have 443 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 1: down there, the Rays or in the World Series last year, 444 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: or they gave the Red Sox a heck of a 445 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: run this year with the success of all the teams. 446 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: Doesn't make marketing your lightning easier or tougher now that 447 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 1: you get more competition. Well, I think you know, success 448 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 1: raises all boats. Uh in our river, which that's where 449 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: we hold the it parades, um you know, yeah, Hillsboro River. Uh. 450 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 1: You know, we are real good friends with both teams, 451 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,400 Speaker 1: and you cheer them on. You want to see success 452 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: because it just creates quite the sports town, um, you know, 453 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 1: like a Boston or like a New York or like 454 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: a Chicago when they were doing really well. Um. And 455 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: so it puts us on the map, and does it, uh, 456 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: you know, create some some some collision of competition. Absolutely, 457 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 1: But we're up for the challenge. You know, we do 458 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:38,439 Speaker 1: live in the South. We are a hockey team in 459 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,640 Speaker 1: the South, which you know, we've we've held our own 460 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: as a brand and we've been to the last five 461 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: of seven last conference finals. Our brand is extremely strong. 462 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: We've sold out about two hundred forty consecutive hockey games. 463 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 1: So we hold our own and we have a strong 464 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: brand because of everything we do in the community with 465 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: our owner Jeff Finnick. But there is competition, but I 466 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: think it's healthy competition and it makes it all Sharper. 467 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: I want to ask about the growth of hockey in 468 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: Florida overall. Gary Batman, the commissioner of the NHL, very 469 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: focused on growing the Sun Belt as the NHL's growth market. UM. 470 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: I think about Mary lemus Son Austin who played for 471 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: Arizona State and really put the school on the hockey map. 472 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 1: What kind of interests are you seeing for hockey in 473 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 1: Florida at you know, the youth level, the high school level, 474 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: the college level. That UM leads you to believe that 475 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 1: you have a local pipeline for talent. You know, we 476 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: want to have the next Austin Matthews. Uh we UH 477 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: we brought in in two thousand fifty. We brought j 478 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: Feaster back, who has our two thousand for general manager 479 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: UH and took over our entire community hockey program. We 480 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 1: now have given out over three thousand hockey sticks in 481 00:26:55,880 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 1: the last seven years. We've built ten outdoor street hockey rinks. 482 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: We now have thirty high school hockey teams, and we 483 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 1: run the Lightning High School Hockey League. UH and we've 484 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:13,199 Speaker 1: seen the number of USA Hockey registration quadruple in the 485 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: last three years. So we feel that we're running out 486 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: of ice. We're running out of ice there need we 487 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,120 Speaker 1: need to build some additional ice sheets here. We had 488 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: about four when I arrived here in we're now up 489 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 1: to twelve. We UH we were in partnership just in 490 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay area. We were, and so we UH 491 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 1: work with Florida Panthers as well. Believe it or not, 492 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 1: we've been out We've all been in the league for 493 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: about seven years. We've never played each other in the 494 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: playoffs until this year. UH. And so creating that rivalry 495 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 1: of the Florida Tampa Bay pro teams really helps elevate 496 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: the entire state as it relates to hockey and the 497 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 1: growth of hockey. So what's growing down in the the 498 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 1: south UH of us in the Miami area and this 499 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,639 Speaker 1: is UH in the Fort Myers area as well as 500 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,399 Speaker 1: our areas. So it's really become a hockey hut that 501 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: as both teams continue to have success. That arena, by 502 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 1: the way, my hats off to you because it's a 503 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: beautiful venue. As Lynchy had mentioned earlier, what do you 504 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 1: do in the downtime? How do you utilize that arena? 505 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm obviously concerts or what well Obviously, we're 506 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: just working our way out of COVID here, and prior 507 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: to COVID, we're probably one of the top five buildings 508 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: in North America from an event programming standpoint. And you know, 509 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: with the UH relaunched here, as we start to have 510 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: more concerts coming back, I think you're gonna see the 511 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 1: next three to five years of being you know, the 512 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 1: busiest of any uh. Every building is going to be 513 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: busy throughout North America. Every act is going to be 514 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: on the road. UH. For us, we're also a real 515 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: destination place when it comes to having n C Double 516 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: A events, not only college Football Championship, which we had 517 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: here a couple of years ago with the sports mission, 518 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: but we worked with a sports mission on a lot 519 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 1: of SEC events. We have us F here's while they're 520 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: gonna be playing games in our building as well with 521 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: their basketball. We have n C Double A events all 522 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: the time in our building. W w E is always 523 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: in our building as well as Fell Entertainment, which is 524 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,880 Speaker 1: just down the road from us. Their headquarters are all Meado, Florida. 525 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 1: So for our building, we're very fortunate that we have 526 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: an aggressive booker. We UH, we have a destination spot 527 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 1: we talked about in the number of hotels that are 528 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: around our venue, we become one of those destinations for 529 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 1: Frozen four Women's Final Four in every single n C 530 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:54,720 Speaker 1: double A, a event you can think of, just because 531 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: we were able to host in and create a show 532 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: here in this in this region, for for all the 533 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: people who come up north during the winter months to 534 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: enjoy those type of events, as well as all the 535 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 1: concerts and events that could continue to come through our building. Steve, 536 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 1: do you need or would you aggressively pursue an NBA 537 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: franchise to fill a lot of those gaps in open 538 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: spots in your calendar? Well, uh I brought in the 539 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: Toronto Raptors during uh COVID last year. We had them 540 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 1: here for the whole season. They stayed at the j W. 541 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: Marriott across the street. We actually converted all the ballrooms 542 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: into the practice facility. Believe or not, I started with 543 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 1: the Raptors back in so I was an original member 544 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: of the Raptors and so for me it was negotiating 545 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: with old friends to bring them down and they need 546 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:44,719 Speaker 1: to find a home because they couldn't cross the border. 547 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: I also worked for the Magic so I'd have to 548 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: talk to my friends at the Magic before we would 549 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: think about bringing an NBA team into into Tampa. Obviously 550 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 1: there's territorial right, but there was a lot of success 551 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: with having the Raptors here. We were a good home 552 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 1: for them. They had some friends here that were uh in, 553 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: myself and a couple others who who had worked in 554 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: the NBA before, so we knew how to work through 555 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 1: all the NBA protocols and work with the NBA. But 556 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, for now, I think our focuses on our 557 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: hockey team and our events, and uh, you know, the 558 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: question would always be can can the city? Uh? Can 559 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: the city handle another pro sports team? Steve, I want 560 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: to talk about a couple of things in in the 561 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 1: in event and in the in the arena. UM this 562 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 1: program you have fast you can basically order or everything 563 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,720 Speaker 1: from soda to food, to merchandise to you name it 564 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: from your seat. You don't even have to move your 565 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 1: fanny out of the seat. Everything is right in your 566 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 1: cup holder. Can you explain that to me? Yeah, we 567 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:49,000 Speaker 1: partnered with company out of California. Now they've got headquarters 568 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: here in uh in Tampa as well. Basically much like 569 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: pay Pals of one click that you set up on 570 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 1: your phone. We have QR codes on on on every 571 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: single cup seat folder and all you gotta do is 572 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:06,080 Speaker 1: uh tapped the QR code for the you know, the 573 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 1: merchandise or food and beverage item of the night, and 574 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: uh one click, one push, and next thing you know, 575 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:15,600 Speaker 1: it's being delivered to your seat or you can go 576 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 1: pick it up. So uh, real quick, real easy. Uh. 577 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 1: You know, it's basically the transactions that we've come used 578 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 1: to whether we're at home, now we can do it 579 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: in arenas you know, for our building, it's all about 580 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 1: being as as frictionalists as possible, cash lest as possible 581 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: as we move into this new COVID world. Hey, Steve, 582 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: what you want? The Cup two years ago was in 583 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 1: the bubble in twenty last year, you started out with 584 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: no fans. I don't know what percentage you had by 585 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: the time you finally won the Cup sponsors over those 586 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 1: two year period, Um, are they coming back? Were they 587 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: loyal to you or many of them going through the 588 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: same problems that you went through. What percentage of retention 589 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 1: did you have from some of those sponsors? Yeah, we 590 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: were probably north of retention of of of sponsors. UH. 591 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: You know, what I would say is the work that 592 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 1: we did prior to COVID, the relationships we've built with 593 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 1: those partners from the time we've been here. We've been 594 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: here since when Jeff bought the team and Todd Lightwicky 595 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:23,959 Speaker 1: and I came in and start managing the business. You know, 596 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: the relationships you build with those partners, the programs you 597 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: build with those partners, the trust you build with those partners, 598 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: so when you get into challenging times, they stick with 599 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 1: you because you you have done the right thing for 600 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,520 Speaker 1: the you know, the ten years prior to March March 601 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 1: twelt when we shut down or paused the league. We 602 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 1: were able to hold revenues too because of our ability 603 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: to create different types of digital content, social media pieces 604 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 1: as well as you know, once we got into the 605 00:33:57,720 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: bubble and we had an extended period of time in 606 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 1: the both playing in both Edmonton and UH and Toronto. 607 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 1: So for us, we were able to you know, not 608 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 1: only hold money, but also then hold sponsors because of 609 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:12,879 Speaker 1: our reputation and what we've done before. We lost a few, 610 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 1: but that was mostly do because of their businesses being 611 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: you know, basically in the same boat as ours, which 612 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 1: is you know a lot of companies that you are 613 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: down here in the tourism area too, there were they 614 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 1: were they were challenged. So we uh and now that 615 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: we've come back and we came back through this season, uh, 616 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 1: we you know, we think that we're going to get 617 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:38,279 Speaker 1: to back to memb recovery quickly here because we're back 618 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 1: to back champions and over the last twenty months, we've 619 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:45,359 Speaker 1: been extremely good partners with all of our partners and 620 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:47,799 Speaker 1: and and always done the right thing. I gotta jump 621 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: in here, Steve and ask you about one of the 622 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: stories that's circulating um in the sports world right now, 623 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 1: especially in hockey, and it has to do with the 624 00:34:55,160 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 1: Chicago Blackhawks, uh sexual assault case. Um, we've earned who 625 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 1: the John Doe is. It's a former black Hawk player. 626 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,839 Speaker 1: And we've learned also that a lot of the black 627 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:10,480 Speaker 1: Hawks executives who were informed of what happened basically did 628 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: nothing because they did not want to distract the team 629 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 1: from the playoffs. I know that you can't comment on 630 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 1: a lot of things while there's a lot of concerns 631 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:25,720 Speaker 1: circulating and legal action being taken and investigations that are ongoing. 632 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 1: But how do you monitor or prevent that type of 633 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:31,319 Speaker 1: thing from happening in Tampa. How do you shore up 634 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:34,879 Speaker 1: your reporting and monitoring systems right now? Well, I think 635 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: it always starts and stops with your ownership. Um. You know, 636 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,640 Speaker 1: in the Vision and Valleys you have as an organization, 637 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:43,479 Speaker 1: we work for the best owner in sports in Jeff 638 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:49,319 Speaker 1: finnick Um and he is a family man. Um. You know, 639 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 1: I'm a family man as well, And it just comes 640 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:55,399 Speaker 1: down your morals and values. And you know, with with 641 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: what happened back in vers now, there's been a lot 642 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: of port calls and procedures being put into place by 643 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:05,799 Speaker 1: the league that hopefully this never happens again. And that's 644 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:07,879 Speaker 1: probably all I can comment on as we go through 645 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:12,319 Speaker 1: as everything goes through the legal system there with with 646 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 1: the Chicago Blackhawks, the people that are there now, the 647 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:18,879 Speaker 1: words family and Jimmy Faulkner and Jimmie Spencer, they're good 648 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:23,279 Speaker 1: friends of mine and and uh, you know, it's quite easy, 649 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: but always do the right thing, Steve. Before we let 650 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:27,840 Speaker 1: you go, we have to talk about one of my 651 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:34,239 Speaker 1: favorite subjects. Let's talk about gambling. Oh yeah, yeah, I know. 652 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:36,759 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm rubbing the ring right now, Man, 653 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:39,959 Speaker 1: I gotta see where I'm going with this. Uh. First 654 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:44,680 Speaker 1: of all, if the NHL involved, uh, just like all 655 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:48,279 Speaker 1: the other sports involved in the online gambling, which has 656 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:52,680 Speaker 1: been changed the entire structure of the sport in terms 657 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:57,040 Speaker 1: of how people view it. Uh. Your thoughts on online 658 00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:00,080 Speaker 1: gambling and what it's done not only for hockey but 659 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:03,279 Speaker 1: what it's done for the whole sports world in general. Well, 660 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:06,800 Speaker 1: we hope it's we always look at it two ways. 661 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:11,040 Speaker 1: One is hope it creates higher engagement of the casual 662 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:15,840 Speaker 1: fan um and for US, hockey probably isn't bed on 663 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:19,279 Speaker 1: as much as you know football. We all know that, 664 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:23,879 Speaker 1: and so hopefully this elevates, uh, the awareness of our 665 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:27,560 Speaker 1: game with the casual viewer. At the same time, too, 666 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:30,920 Speaker 1: we're you know, we're talking about morals and values. Is 667 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:34,400 Speaker 1: making sure that this doesn't become something of a challenge. 668 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:39,879 Speaker 1: So we have that balance of gambling addiction versus activation 669 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:43,080 Speaker 1: and engagement of fans. So we always look at that 670 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:46,399 Speaker 1: fine line. But at the same time, too, it's here, 671 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:50,560 Speaker 1: everyone's involved in it. We are uh, you know, we 672 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:53,480 Speaker 1: are waiting to see what's happening in Florida. It's coming 673 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 1: extremely fast. We've been involved in for the last year 674 00:37:57,239 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 1: working with our different partners and what we're gonna be 675 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:03,160 Speaker 1: doing here. Obviously, Florida's got a different setup than other states, 676 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:06,279 Speaker 1: and it's coming with the seminals and the Compact, and 677 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 1: so we'll be in a good place for to to 678 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:13,760 Speaker 1: to activate on that as we move forward here, Steve. 679 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:16,640 Speaker 1: And I'm glad you brought that up right quick. Uh, yes, 680 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna lie. I love gambling, but I'm one 681 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:21,319 Speaker 1: of those guys where I'm gonna put twenty dollars on 682 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:24,640 Speaker 1: this game. And uh and I've lost twenty dollars. Oh 683 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:28,360 Speaker 1: my god. Don't people, please, don't. Don't go at the 684 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:31,520 Speaker 1: mortgage and all the other stuff. Just go out and 685 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:33,480 Speaker 1: and have a little fun, put a little coin on 686 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 1: it if you want to do it. If it's not 687 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:37,839 Speaker 1: your thing, that's cool. But Steve, you hit the nail 688 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:40,880 Speaker 1: on the head and it's like, you know, there's a 689 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:44,360 Speaker 1: balance in there and and people have to get to it. 690 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:47,520 Speaker 1: So and that's you know, I think that's the responsibility 691 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:50,760 Speaker 1: too of the league to to create that gambling responsibility 692 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: and have awareness of that. The p s A is 693 00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:54,880 Speaker 1: with that that you know, I'm the same as you 694 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:58,319 Speaker 1: like with two in New Casino and usually come out 695 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:08,520 Speaker 1: with zero. That was Steve Griggs, CEO of any sports group. 696 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:11,600 Speaker 1: Thank you, sir. Uh you know what. Good luck. I 697 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:13,680 Speaker 1: I hope you guys do it three in a row. 698 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 1: Uh Tampa Bay Lightning. Uh you guys? Are you guys 699 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:22,320 Speaker 1: look great? So thank you again, Steve. Appreciate, Thank you, appreciate. 700 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,200 Speaker 1: Thanks Steve, thank you so much. You gave a lot 701 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:30,080 Speaker 1: of insight folks about the Tampa Bay Lightning. First scarre le. 702 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,759 Speaker 1: He made sure to correct me. It's like, excuse me, 703 00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:37,960 Speaker 1: that's back to back uh Stanley Cup champions. I'm like, okay, 704 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:40,399 Speaker 1: thanks going for number three and now less Yeah, going 705 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:43,880 Speaker 1: for the third one. That is some feat It is 706 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:47,480 Speaker 1: some feet and it's it's pretty remarkable on how success 707 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 1: on the ice puts hockey on the map for Florida overall. 708 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:53,319 Speaker 1: I really liked how he gave the numbers in terms 709 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 1: of how many ice rinks there were and how it's 710 00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:59,040 Speaker 1: they're really cultivating the sport at a grassroots level for 711 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:03,279 Speaker 1: for kids, for high schools and really building this pipeline. 712 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:06,879 Speaker 1: He's given out three hundred sticks when he said when 713 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:09,000 Speaker 1: he first got there, there were four rinks. Now they 714 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:11,719 Speaker 1: were at twelve and I've been down there to a 715 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,240 Speaker 1: couple of hockey games and it's a great fun place 716 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:17,000 Speaker 1: to get down. There's hotels within walking distance all around 717 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 1: the arena. It's on a river. Um, they got the 718 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 1: Frozen four coming back next year in three. They've got 719 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,480 Speaker 1: the first couple of rounds of the Men's n C 720 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:29,640 Speaker 1: Double A basketball coming, Women's nc Double A basketball is 721 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:33,200 Speaker 1: coming down there. So uh, it's it's a hopping place 722 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:36,040 Speaker 1: down there. And of course it's a Champa city right now, 723 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 1: Champa Bay. Who's the Buccaneers with a super Bowl razor 724 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:42,280 Speaker 1: in the World Series and lightning gut. Michael Boss says 725 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:46,520 Speaker 1: back that backs, That's the part that tickles me with 726 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:50,840 Speaker 1: Dampa Bay is that. And we got three cold weather 727 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:55,200 Speaker 1: ice hockey fans here. Scarlett, New York in the winter, 728 00:40:56,640 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 1: Boston in the winter, Detroit. We don't even put on 729 00:41:01,160 --> 00:41:06,680 Speaker 1: a windbreaker until it's yeah. Yeah. So when he mentioned 730 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:09,400 Speaker 1: the part about yeah and then you can watch the 731 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:11,840 Speaker 1: higging game and you can go to the beach and like, 732 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 1: wait a minute, what is this man? But that's but 733 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:20,280 Speaker 1: that's great. I mean, that's where you know the sport 734 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:22,960 Speaker 1: is developing in the South. Sport is developing in the 735 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: West obviously, where you have better temperatures and people can 736 00:41:27,719 --> 00:41:30,919 Speaker 1: take it. And if you grew up in Texas, sorry, 737 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:33,960 Speaker 1: And if you grew up in say Canada or Sweden, 738 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:37,560 Speaker 1: and you play hockey in Florida or Texas, then you 739 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:40,000 Speaker 1: don't have to pay income tax either. It's right. You 740 00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:42,759 Speaker 1: live somewhere warm, you played the sport that you grew 741 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:45,600 Speaker 1: up loving, and you get all your take on pay. 742 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:49,960 Speaker 1: That's another sport like that, the Las Vegas because they 743 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:52,719 Speaker 1: don't have property taxes at all. Right, I mean you've 744 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:55,120 Speaker 1: got federal Texas, but you know, saving on that state 745 00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:57,839 Speaker 1: income taxes pretty huge. This arena has a nice big 746 00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:00,520 Speaker 1: parking lot and it's it's it's it's kind of can 747 00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:02,040 Speaker 1: you see it? You scratch your head, he said, Okay, 748 00:42:02,080 --> 00:42:03,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to a hockey game, but people are out 749 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:07,719 Speaker 1: here tailgating, flip flops and Tommy behind my shirts on. 750 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 1: It doesn't make sense. I'm used to going in with it, 751 00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:12,200 Speaker 1: you know, walking sideways to know when the when the 752 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:14,239 Speaker 1: rain and the wind is coming and the snow is coming, 753 00:42:14,239 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaker 1: and just getting inside of building. It's different. It's a 754 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:22,400 Speaker 1: great experience down there. Kids. Feels better to be the 755 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:24,680 Speaker 1: one than number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. 756 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:26,279 Speaker 1: We have a chance to go for three and a row. 757 00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:28,279 Speaker 1: Good numbers are a good time. When I first started 758 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:30,640 Speaker 1: wearing the number, how we just happy and proud floom 759 00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:34,680 Speaker 1: bird business of sports, the number of the week. Time 760 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:36,719 Speaker 1: for the number of the week. And I'm going to 761 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:41,800 Speaker 1: talk about young man Mikey Williams. He is a seventeen 762 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:45,000 Speaker 1: year old on high school basketball phenomen and he has 763 00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:48,920 Speaker 1: just signed a deal with Puma. And we've we've talked 764 00:42:48,920 --> 00:42:51,879 Speaker 1: about this all the time about you know, these young 765 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:55,040 Speaker 1: players and there and here we are with me and 766 00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:57,320 Speaker 1: I I mean, this is this is this is this 767 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:01,560 Speaker 1: is even pre and I oh yeah, it's like he's 768 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:05,719 Speaker 1: done this deal. What I want to know he has 769 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:11,799 Speaker 1: followers on Instagram. I'm saying Instagram. That's important. How many 770 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:16,759 Speaker 1: followers does he have on Instagram? And who would like 771 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:25,239 Speaker 1: to start? Okay, I think he's one point three million? Okay, Wow, 772 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:34,000 Speaker 1: what's a good number. Uh, I don't think he has 773 00:43:34,040 --> 00:43:43,600 Speaker 1: that many. I'm gonna go like, uh, this is great 774 00:43:43,719 --> 00:43:47,359 Speaker 1: radio radio with us. I'm gonna go It's almost around 775 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:51,560 Speaker 1: the eighteenth grade of the customer. Lynch's lining up his answer, 776 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:55,080 Speaker 1: staring it down, and here it comes. I'm gonna go 777 00:43:55,160 --> 00:44:00,279 Speaker 1: like three you know how many followers? He has three 778 00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:04,840 Speaker 1: point three million on Instagram alone. Okay, so I was 779 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:08,360 Speaker 1: off by two million, and I still win. You still win. Amazing, 780 00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:11,400 Speaker 1: you still win. You you guess the the can of 781 00:44:11,719 --> 00:44:14,680 Speaker 1: barbecue big beans? Correct, and now you go on stage. 782 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:20,160 Speaker 1: He has five million overall on socially, three point three 783 00:44:20,200 --> 00:44:24,400 Speaker 1: million followers on three point three million followers on Instagram. 784 00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:28,760 Speaker 1: I got up my game, got my game. So Scarlett 785 00:44:28,800 --> 00:44:31,719 Speaker 1: now is like the Tampa Bay Lightning. These are back 786 00:44:31,760 --> 00:44:34,000 Speaker 1: to back wins for her. Back to back. Did I 787 00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:38,600 Speaker 1: win last week? Yeah? Wow? Trust me, you won last week. 788 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 1: It's a two game winning streak. Yeah, amazing, back to 789 00:44:41,719 --> 00:44:45,440 Speaker 1: back like the Island. They know the Island has had three. 790 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:51,760 Speaker 1: You're becoming the Detroit Lions of I love my Lions, 791 00:44:52,120 --> 00:44:55,719 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong. This is the Bloomberg Business of 792 00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:58,000 Speaker 1: Sports show, and we're here each and every week at 793 00:44:58,040 --> 00:45:00,480 Speaker 1: the same time, plus online wherever you get your podcast, 794 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:03,279 Speaker 1: and you can catch those Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm 795 00:45:03,280 --> 00:45:05,840 Speaker 1: Michael Barrow on Twitter at Dick bar School. I'm Scarlett 796 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:08,040 Speaker 1: Foul and I'm at Twitter at Scarlett ful and I'm 797 00:45:08,080 --> 00:45:11,440 Speaker 1: Mike Lynch. Follow me at Lynch e w C the 798 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:20,160 Speaker 1: b Thanks thanks for joining us. Tune in again next 799 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,000 Speaker 1: week for the latest on the stories moving big money 800 00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:25,480 Speaker 1: in the world is sports and we're talking big money. 801 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:28,439 Speaker 1: You're listening the Bloomberg Business of Sports and Bloomberg Radio 802 00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:29,400 Speaker 1: around the world.