1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: Hello, I'm Michael and I'm Scott Sashnik. Every week at 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: this time, plus Mondays and Wednesdays, we explore the big 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: money issues in the world of sports. On this week's show, 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: we speak with Washington Wizards and Washington Capital's owner Ted 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Leonsis in a few minutes. But first, let's look at 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: the top stories of the week. Right now, just a 7 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: story joining us as Bloomberg Business of Sports reporter Evan 8 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: Nobody Williams. And it is huge. It is about urban Meyer. 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: Let's let's start. First of all, let's clue in people 10 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: about the story, for people who may not know what 11 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: is going down now at Ohio State. All right, well, 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: I can do that part. Urban Meyer's assistant coach had 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: been accused of domestic assault years ago, and in essence, 14 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: urban Meyer had said that he became aware of the 15 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: situation at a certain point. Now it seems, with some 16 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: reporting that from Brett McMurphy, that urban Meyer was aware 17 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: of the situation prior to when he said. So there 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: was a news conference I believe you're talking about where 19 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: he said I don't know or something like that. Whatever. Yeah, 20 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: I didn't know. Yeah, not only because the guy is 21 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: no longer on the staff defended the guy. Um. Yeah, 22 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: there's a few, I mean, obviously a number of problems here. Um. 23 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: One of which is is urban Meyer potentially lying to 24 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: to media about what he knew and when. The bigger issue, 25 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: obviously is is that if he was indeed aware of 26 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: this specific incident years ago, appears as though he did 27 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: not go through the proper protocol that you know, Title 28 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: nine and other various Ohio state by laws require of employees. Um. 29 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: And that will be I mean, that's the thing that 30 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: he's on paid administrative leave right now, vestigation to say 31 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: is unpaid administrative leave. That is a huge, huge story 32 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: in the world of college sports because this isn't just 33 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: any old coach, This is Urban Meyer, and this is 34 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: Ohio State where football is everything. Yeah, outside of Nick Saban, 35 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: he's the clear number two biggest name coach, one of 36 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 1: the highest paid in the country the university. Remember when 37 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: Gordon ge was the chancellor of the president whatever the 38 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: title was, and he was talking about Jim Tressel, also 39 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: a pretty darn big figure in college sports, and somebody 40 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: asked him if he was going to fire him for Somewhaever, 41 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: the transgression was at the time, and he said fire him. 42 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: I just hope he doesn't fire me. That shows you 43 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: the power of the football coach at Ohio State and 44 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: this feeling of invincibility. And if this does play out 45 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 1: as it may seem, that urban Meyer did know, he 46 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: didn't follow the protocols coach, this will be the wake 47 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: up call I think, Evan, this will be the wake 48 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: up call where coaches, even Nick Saban, they realize things 49 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: are not with I used to be. I am not 50 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: the all powerful odds behind the curtain. I have people 51 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: I need to answer to, and I better do it 52 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: right now. Let me interject something. The reason why this 53 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 1: really came to light about Hey, wait a minute, what 54 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: did you know and when did you know it? It 55 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: has to do with urban Meyer's wife because apparently she 56 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: got text messages from the wife of the coach who 57 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: supposedly did this abuse. That's that's the evidence against urban 58 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: Meyer knowing back in two thousand fifteen, is that there 59 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: are text messages from his wife to the accused, the accuser, 60 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: essentially detailing what happened. Uh It's worth noting urban Meyer's 61 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: wife is also an employee at Ohio State. UH so 62 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: a lot of the things we've talked about about urban 63 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: Meyer's obligations to bring this up, the chain would have 64 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: applied to hers. Let me ask you this bar what's 65 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: more were disturbing? Which scenario is more disturbing to you? 66 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: That urban Meyer's wife told him and he did not act, 67 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: or urban Meyer's wife did not tell him because she 68 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: knew he would not want to know. Now that's a 69 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: very good question. That is that which is the sixty 70 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: dollar question? If first, let me let me start. If 71 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: I don't know, because you didn't tell me on purpose, 72 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: it's much harder to prove that there was negligence on 73 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: urban Meyer's part then the other way around. If your 74 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: wife told you and you didn't do anything, and you 75 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: protected the guy and you lied, well now you have 76 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: a problem. But now I'm gonna play devil's advocate here 77 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: for a second. And again this is just a devil's 78 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: advocate moment. Let's keep in mind now that urban Meyer 79 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: he did not abuse his wife. Now, if you know 80 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: somebody is abusing uh their spouse, it at what point 81 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: do you have to take responsibility? And what and what 82 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: I'm getting at is, let's say, for instance, you know 83 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: a neighbor and the neighbors abusing the wife and you 84 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: don't call the police. At what point do you hold responsibility? 85 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: But also, but what happens if? What if? Again? This 86 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 1: is all what is because this is the kind of 87 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: discussions that come up out of situations like this. What 88 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: if the assistant coach's wife told Urban Meyer's wife and 89 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: then begged her don't tell anybody? She didn't. The Urban 90 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: Meyer's wife said I need to tell Urban and this 91 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: woman said, okay, I understand that. And there is other 92 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: evidence within Brett McMurphy's report that shows that there are 93 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: other employees and employees wives within Ohio State Athletics that 94 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: were also aware of this. Yeah, this one his wive 95 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: spread And and for Urban, you know, historically this is 96 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: something that's followed him around a lot his his teams 97 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: at Florida, where some of the most rested and in 98 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: trouble with the law football teams we've seen in the 99 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: past a couple of decades. You know, he hired Kevin 100 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: Wilson from Indiana who left Indiana for abusing players he 101 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: wanted to and and this specific coach who we're talking 102 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: about overall here was hired by Urban when Urban was 103 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: aware of an incident previous um that urban has said 104 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: was not what was reported to the police. Um. There 105 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: there is a lot of smoke here around urban Meyer 106 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: and the way that he operates programs that he runs. 107 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: You get to the sense, by the way, did you 108 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,679 Speaker 1: get a sense of entitlement when he was being asked 109 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: about this sort of almost and I don't need to 110 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: answer to you. Yeah, And there's there's a moment in 111 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: there where he's like, I don't know who would make 112 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: up a story like this. You know, it seems clear 113 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: that he is on the side of his assistant, whether 114 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: he knew about the more recent incident or not. And 115 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: that's discouraging very serious story. Our thanks to Bloomberg Sports 116 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: reporter Evan Nobe Williams. Now, let's get into our interview 117 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 1: with Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards owner Ted leons Is. 118 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: He has a lengthy resume, including launching the Monumental Sports 119 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: and Entertainment's Monumental Network, which offers live streaming of his 120 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: NBA and NHL teams, as well as additional live events 121 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: and games. Has a hands on approach to management of 122 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: his sports teams and, most recently, his Washington Capitals one, 123 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: the Stanley Cup, and Michael, we can go on and on, 124 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: and I think you kind of did about that impressive background, 125 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: and I didn't get your card, by the way, Michael, 126 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: but ted, thank you so much for joining us for 127 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: episode number one. Congratulationship have longevity, and uh, that's like 128 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: a league. Once you get into the one, you can 129 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: celebrate that. Now we're gonna say many more to come, 130 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: many more to come. But speaking of things that last 131 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: and linger, how about that Stanley Cup? You for you? 132 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: How long does that last? Um? Well, to be very 133 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: straightful toward UM, I did not experience euphoria when we 134 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: won the Cup. I experienced relief. And it wasn't until 135 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: we had everyone come out for the parade and you 136 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: see just families and young kids and everyone paying homage 137 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: really to the team, the franchise and their love of 138 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: the community that I said, oh boy, this is this 139 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: is an out of body experience. This is um real, 140 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: real joy. And and my empathy and appreciation for teams 141 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: that repeat is enormous now because if you don't make 142 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: the playoffs, your season ends early April, and we had 143 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: struggled to get out of the second round in our 144 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: season usually ended middle of May, and now it ended 145 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: middle of June. And then you celebrate and you you 146 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: have to do all of the things that come with 147 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: winning a Stanley Cup, and then you go to this 148 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: award show, and then you leave the award show and 149 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: you go to the draft, and then there's free agency, 150 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: and then we had rookie camp and you go, oh 151 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: my gosh, oh it's a gas. But but now recharging 152 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: to get ready to defend is an enormous amount of 153 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: mental and frankly physical healing to get there. So what 154 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh did, what what Chicago did, what the Islanders did 155 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: to be able to to cluster a lot of winds 156 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: is really admirable. And I mean my respect for those 157 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: teams goes up really, really dramatically because it's it's gonna 158 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: be doubly hard to defend just because you don't have 159 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: any time to recharge and replan. I'm very happy with 160 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: our with our front office and with our our general 161 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:21,199 Speaker 1: manager because he's essentially brought the same team back minus 162 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 1: a couple of players that he's an inspiration to my son. 163 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: By the way, if I can cut in one second, 164 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: because John Carlson, who you resigned to a long term deal. 165 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: Was a former New Jersey Rocket, which is where that's 166 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 1: the program my son now plays with. So everybody knows 167 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 1: John Carlson and Jeremy Roenick were Rockets. Yeah, well Captain America. 168 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: John's a great player and a great leader and a 169 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: great young man. And where we've been blessed is we've 170 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: built a really terrific franchise, great fan base, and these 171 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: terrific players wanted to stay here. They wanted to continue 172 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: to play here, and they're very sincere in their understanding 173 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 1: now that they know what it takes to win and 174 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 1: how to win, and they also know how good it 175 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: felt to bring this community so close together and have 176 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: us all be a part of you know, this history history, 177 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: our first Stanley Cup. They want to do it again. 178 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: And so the anticipation in the energy that will be 179 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: expended going to next season will be very very high. 180 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: I know something you might have gotten tired of doing, 181 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: and I thought about this. Besides, I sent you an 182 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 1: email right away when the final buzzer went off, congratulations. 183 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: But I really what went through my mind was Ted 184 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: doesn't have to write the letter this year, because every 185 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: year you wrote a letter to your fan base when 186 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: the team was eliminated, and in essence it said thank 187 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 1: you and we're doing our best to get better. We're disappointed. 188 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: But I gotta say is that I'm really amazed more 189 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: owners in sports do not do this, because it probably 190 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: is one of the reasons you do have such a 191 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: loyal fan base is that you take the time and 192 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: the effort to actually be transparent and talk to them. Well, 193 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 1: I don't think you can hide in um in professional sports, 194 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: and I think, um, you know, I go to all 195 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: the games. I I mut season ticket older. I was 196 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: a season ticket older before I I bought the teams. 197 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: And I've always said, we're in it together. And if 198 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: something doesn't work, especially when you have high expectations, I 199 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: would expect as a customer to hear from you know, 200 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 1: the person who owned the restaurant to the people the 201 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: person who owned the team, to explain to me, how 202 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: are you feeling and what are you going to do differently? 203 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 1: And you know, sharing this pain and angst. And I 204 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 1: certainly was able to share in all of the excitement 205 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: and joy and it was a really collective experience. And um, 206 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: you know, when you saw I've been looking at some 207 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: pictures were putting putting together these photo books, and you know, 208 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: I would go to the away games. And when you 209 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: see the pictures now of fifty sixty thousand people outside 210 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: our building watching the games on the big screens outside 211 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: and twenty people inside, you just go, oh, my gosh, 212 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: we struck accord with a whole generation. And and what's 213 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: such great news for us and for the league, frankly, 214 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: is that you look at these pictures and you see 215 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: young people who don't get cable right, who maybe can't 216 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: afford coming into the building because of stub hub, you know, 217 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: the resale prices on tickets. And two, capture, if you will, 218 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: the interest of those seventy thousand people and seeing them 219 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: wearing red t shirts and some of them in jerseys, 220 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: and and watching young kids cry that you know, this 221 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: was so important to them. I think winning a championship 222 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: has allowed us really to one create lifelong memories for 223 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: young people and families. And two, I think we have 224 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: the opportunity now to capture a generation of of sports 225 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: fans who are very hard to reach at a young 226 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: age because they're not you know, lining up to get 227 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: table and and we're sold out. So it's very hard 228 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: for them to get into the arena. Cord cutters and 229 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: never bunds like we're talking with. Dead Leons is the 230 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: owner of the Wizards and Capitals. You know who else 231 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: cried tears of joy when the Caps won all of 232 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: the Las Vegas bookies because if if the Knights won, 233 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: the Golden Knights won the first year in the league, 234 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: by the way, and people have been on them, they 235 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: won't have to pay out millions of dollars and they 236 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: were gonna lose a lot of money. So I'm sure 237 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: you've got a lot of thank you litters from from there. Actually, 238 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: there actually were about onenty whales bettors who had placed 239 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: really big bets and because the odds were so high 240 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: and those twenty bets at the multiple on the return, yeah, 241 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: they would have hurt the quarterly earnings of many of 242 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: the public companies that are in that business. And you 243 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: know it's starting to be um a very very big industry. 244 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: We saw the recent announcement yesterday of MGM and the 245 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: NBA and the w n b A entering an agreement. 246 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: We we saw our investment in sport Radar payoff, and 247 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: you know that company be valued very very highly as 248 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: a platform for data and integrity issues. Let's give some specifics. 249 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: EQT sold value the company at two point four billion 250 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: dollars doing something that's That's what that was undervalued. That 251 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: was undervalue. Explain what you think I'm moving forward in 252 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: that world you just talked about. Jim Murren said, I 253 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: know the value of this data and what I think 254 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: I can do with it. Why do you think that's undervalued? 255 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: What is ahead in terms of monetization for sports betting? Um? Well, 256 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: the first thing is that as a as a way 257 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: to get younger people who live their life on the 258 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: net and with mobile phones and and iPads, streaming of 259 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: the video, streaming of real time data, gamifying that data, 260 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: you know, starting out if you will, with draft king 261 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: like applications and then working its way to not just 262 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: wagering on the game and the outcome, but these prop 263 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: bets that are ongoing and change with what's happening with 264 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: the game. Really helps the value of the content because 265 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: sports is now being seen, if you will, as the 266 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: best original content in the whole media landscape. You don't 267 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: know the outcome, and many times you have to watch 268 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: all three hours of the movie binge watch it if 269 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: you will to know what the outcome will be, and 270 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: if you're interacting with that data, it makes the actual 271 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: content that much more valuable to sponsors, to to um um, 272 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: to the networks. And then there's a whole new revenue 273 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: stream which will now make its way into the light 274 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: of day. And that new revenue stream will help to 275 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: create jobs, it will help to generate tax revenues, it 276 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: will help to generate more revenue for the league to 277 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: pay the players and the unions more. And and so 278 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: to me, it's a kind of dawn of of a 279 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: new day. And all we're doing is taking an activity 280 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,479 Speaker 1: that was happening but in the shadows and bringing it 281 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: into the light. And so the announcement with m James 282 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 1: is more a sponsorship deal. It's more a way for 283 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: a big casino who's a partner with the league's in 284 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:25,719 Speaker 1: many ways they own a w NBA team. Yep. And 285 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: if you look at at gaming and betting, women's sports 286 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: around the world has very very high value and very 287 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: high engagement because there's a lot of betting that goes 288 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: on on women's tennis and winning women's golf and the like, 289 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: and so you know, I view this is for the 290 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: NBA platform. We have the w n B A you know, 291 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: I want to encourage we want to encourage every NBA 292 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: team owner should have a w NBA team and a 293 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: G League team and an NBA two K team and 294 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: using that platform and a company like MGM to be 295 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: able to sponsor across all of the properties and across 296 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: all of the leagues very efficient and very smart. I mean, 297 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: we're seeing that we just announced a big deal with 298 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: med Star Health here in Washington, d C. And they'll sponsor. 299 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:27,959 Speaker 1: They we just renamed the Catholic Capital's ice Blex the 300 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: med Star Health Capitals ice Plex. But they'll also doing 301 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: and have named our little studio for NBA t K team, 302 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,199 Speaker 1: and they have to have different kinds of training and 303 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: preventative medicine and in research for e games because we 304 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:49,360 Speaker 1: don't know for e gamers, you know, how they'll get injured, 305 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: how they'll keep their attention spans going. And and then 306 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: they'll also do for our G League and in r 307 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: w NBA team in in the new facility it's being 308 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 1: built um in Ward eight. And so so we're starting 309 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: to see these platform companies, different brands, different leagues, different franchises, 310 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: and gaming and gambling and wagering and gamification with the 311 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: data is going to be a big, big driver of 312 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: the value that we create in the leagues for all 313 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: the constituencies over the next decade. We're talking with Ted 314 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: Leonsis of the Wizards and Capitals, and I have to 315 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: get into E sports because and I know Scott laughs 316 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: at me all the time, because I remember we talked 317 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: about this a year ago. Don't know, I don't laugh 318 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: at you. I left that your son beats you so 319 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: regularly beats the well. Anyway, E sports is big, and 320 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:48,959 Speaker 1: I just wonder, you know, for your platforms, can you 321 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: talk us through what what E sports means for for 322 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: what you're trying to do. Yeah, I think I've experienced 323 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: enough in my business career to know that these pivots 324 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: happen very very quickly. Um where where what is looked 325 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: at is a new media soon becomes the the real media, 326 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 1: the mainstream media. And you the best example I can 327 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:26,120 Speaker 1: give you is video games, um, fifteen years ago became 328 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: a bigger industry than the movie business. Right, so this 329 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: shouldn't be a surprise, right you you go, people go 330 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: to five movies years ten dollars each and and or 331 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: they a kid would go out and buy a video 332 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 1: game for sixty dollars, right, plus the console and the like. 333 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: And now that model changed dramatically, where the social adoption 334 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:59,159 Speaker 1: of the games was huge because they became downloadable and free. 335 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 1: And then the business model became, in the vernacular assass 336 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 1: the software service a reoccurring revenue subscription kind of business. 337 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 1: And the creativity on the monetization of the time is 338 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: off the chart. You know, Fortnite is a phenomenon, like 339 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: you know, we can't believe. And they did a billion 340 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 1: dollars in their first year of business and they're projecting 341 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: two billion dollars. So they're already much bigger than MLS, right, 342 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 1: I think, um, I think their projections is in a 343 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: couple of years, they could be as big as the NHL, right, 344 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:46,119 Speaker 1: five billion dollars kind of of company. And so once 345 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: you have a once you have a video game that 346 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: builds a big community and you have people playing and competing. 347 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: Once they're competing, they'll be great players, they will become leagues, 348 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 1: they will be professional, the whole industry gets born. And 349 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: what we could see is that the next generation gets 350 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 1: introduced to the NBA virtually that they'll never go. Someone 351 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: in India might never go and see a professional basketball 352 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:24,959 Speaker 1: game live, may never see it on television because they 353 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:29,479 Speaker 1: don't have cable, and so they're they're playing the East sport, 354 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: they're playing NBA two K, and then that activates them 355 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: to go in download or stream a game and they'll 356 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: be this big iTunes store in the sky, if you will, 357 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 1: where people will just be able to watch a game, 358 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: and watching that game might activate because they know the data, 359 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 1: they know the stats that they might want to be 360 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: gaming and wagering betting on it. There you go exactly it. Well, 361 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: so what you I'd end up with is that that 362 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 1: really where a e sports league. It's a clicks business. 363 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: I likened it to I drove to the office today 364 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: by the Amazon bookstore here in Washington. In d C. Okay, 365 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,719 Speaker 1: I was there at the birth of Amazon. It was 366 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: the world's biggest bookstore. They wanted to put a bookstore 367 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 1: in every corner of the web, and now they have. 368 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: It was a clicks business and now it's a clicks 369 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: and bricks business. So you could see literally that that's 370 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: how the NBA is. That there's only thirty thirty markets 371 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: and thirty buildings. But there's billions and billions of people 372 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:48,199 Speaker 1: that are interacting with your content and streaming the video 373 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: and gaming and gambling and and building that community and 374 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: so and that's happening faster than we thought. So I 375 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: know the NHL will be doing something similar and and 376 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: it's very very important because how can you get young 377 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: people to identify with your service, your product, your brand, 378 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 1: your players. When they leave the home and they go 379 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: to college, they've cut the cord. And then when they 380 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: move into big cities, they are not getting cable. And 381 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 1: so so most people are getting connected to the league's 382 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 1: via e sports and via video games. And look at 383 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 1: that said you just talked about cord never's that's the 384 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: technical term in in sort of the cable universe, becoming 385 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: cord cutters when you're talking about getting out of the home. Yeah, 386 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: and when you think about it, and I've used this 387 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: example with my my um, two children or children anymore. 388 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: But when I took Zach to University of penn Sylvania, 389 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: we dropped him off. It was a wired building by Comcast, 390 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: and so when we saw that he had that connectivity, 391 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: he brought his Xbox and I went out and bought 392 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 1: him a television, and for the four years he was 393 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: at Pen he was playing video games his big man 394 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 1: on campus. He used slingbox. He was watching Caps and 395 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 1: Wizards games, and he had television, the date stream movies 396 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: and the like in and that was his muscle memory 397 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 1: was created. He then graduated. He moved into Georgetown into 398 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 1: an apartment. They brought his television, his xbox with him, 399 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: and he signed up the cable. Right. My daughter is 400 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 1: four years younger and she went to Georgetown and when 401 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 1: we brought her onto the campus of Georgetown, there was 402 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: no cable connectivity. It was all wireless. And we said, Ellie, 403 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:03,199 Speaker 1: we bought Zack Televisual, BUYO a TV. And she just 404 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: looked at us, said I have no interest. I have 405 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 1: an iPad. Right. So she she goes and graduates, and 406 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: she moves to London. She gets a furnished apartment and 407 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 1: it's amazing, right, because she's she goes to graduate school 408 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: in London. She goes into an apartment that has a 409 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: television and and a phone. She never calls the local 410 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: phone company, she never calls the cable company. She doesn't 411 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: get a a um subscription to the newspaper the media 412 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:46,880 Speaker 1: industry in London, the most sophisticated city in the world, 413 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:52,200 Speaker 1: has no idea that she's there, right, and and so 414 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: that's what we have to that's what we have to 415 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: battle and and so. But video games and social media 416 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:06,199 Speaker 1: and being able to stream and getting people activated in 417 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: these communities, and they do that via their their phones. 418 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 1: And so I'm thrilled that the leagues are pushing on 419 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: that and the media companies are now starting to see 420 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:22,719 Speaker 1: that their level of engagements, their ratings go up. You know, 421 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: the closer the games are, the more gaming and gambling 422 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: they will be, the more interactivity, the more third screen. 423 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: We used to fear the third screen. Now we want 424 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: to activate the third screen. And they're also and I'm 425 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: gonna say a dirty word, especially in the Facebook community, 426 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: but they're also acquiring customer data. Oh the data. The 427 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: data collection is really spectacular. And I think what you'll 428 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: see investments in from the league's is we we basically 429 00:28:53,040 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 1: have outsourced the data to the cable companies and in 430 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: to the mobile companies. But what's ridiculous to me and UM, 431 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: you know, we own a third of our UM partnership 432 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:15,239 Speaker 1: with NBC and Comcast and they're the content side of 433 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: the business. And during the Stanley Cup run we got 434 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: unbelievable ratings. I think, I think, you know during the 435 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: finals we're getting ratings, blowout numbers and you say who 436 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: was watching? Who are the customers? And they'll say men, 437 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: and we really tell us more. They don't they don't know. 438 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 1: They don't know because the cable company itself has the 439 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: direct connection into the home and there's less and less 440 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: of those, but they're enjoined through all of the mergers 441 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:01,959 Speaker 1: back and forth with sharing that information. And so so 442 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: we go, well, that is so antithetical to the social 443 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: big data world. So we as a league, we have 444 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: to know everything about our customers. Well, we're trying to 445 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: do here monumental. We have a database of about a 446 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: million and a half people in our database. We have 447 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 1: their credit cards, we know, you know, fit their man, woman, 448 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: how old they are, do they have children, do they 449 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 1: have grandchildren. We want to build customer profiles that puts 450 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 1: you into the family, if you will. That brings me 451 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 1: to this. You are spending a lot of money on 452 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: upgrades to the arena at a time when media in 453 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: terms of revenue, was outpacing Gait and in arena, So 454 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: what's the future Having you're collecting all this data, what's 455 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,959 Speaker 1: the future of the in arena experience? And you had 456 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: a great look at Vegas, which everybody lauded during the 457 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 1: finals for perhaps being the best in arena experience in 458 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: pro sports. Well, making sure that you're investing in the 459 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: fidelity of the wireless and the digital connectivity in your 460 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: building is going to be key. Um. It was ironic 461 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: in Las Vegas that that T Mobile Arena owned by MGM. 462 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: The the Vegas Nights played there, people were primed to 463 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: bet the fifty fifty raffles that were they were doing 464 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 1: for charity. I think some of them were two hundred 465 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: thousand dollars. But if you wanted to bet, which people 466 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: were doing, they were using their mobile phones to bet 467 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:53,280 Speaker 1: with their bookies or offshore. Right. So, so that's why 468 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 1: I keep saying indoor sports should be ascendants compared to 469 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 1: out door sports. You can't have high speed cameras and 470 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 1: tracking in the like outside. That's why I've been investing 471 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: in arena Football League teams, right and and anything that's 472 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 1: inside because outdoors you've got fog and rain and it's 473 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 1: you know, humid and it might be snowing and and indoors. 474 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: We want as much data capture with fidelity to be 475 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 1: able to present in real time because prop betting will 476 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: demand that. Right when there's the time out and and 477 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 1: the coaches drawing up a play in the NBA, they'll 478 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: be three or four prop bets. Um, he's going to 479 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 1: drive to the basket. No, he's going to kick out 480 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: a pass for a three pointer. No, it's gonna be 481 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 1: a pick and roll. And he's gonna go to the 482 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: free throw line. He's gonna it's gonna be a three 483 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: point play. Second, there will be all of those things. 484 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: So in thing digitally in your building is the smartest 485 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 1: thing that you can do. We're gonna have a prop 486 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 1: bet one day how long it will it take the 487 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 1: Zamboni machine to complete the ice that's got it over under? 488 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 1: Like the anthem. Hey Michael Jordan and I want her 489 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:21,400 Speaker 1: at a hotel, and he bet me a dollar on 490 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:25,640 Speaker 1: which elevator would come down first. I love the story time, 491 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:29,400 Speaker 1: but I think you're lying about the amount. Everything could 492 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:34,280 Speaker 1: be GAMI five and and once you have electronic wallets 493 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 1: and you know tickets. Now you sell a ticket and 494 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 1: the ticket will end up having tokens in it, and 495 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 1: you know you'll be able. If you buy a thousand 496 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: dollar ticket, you might get fifty dollars in a token 497 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: that you can buy a hot dog or you can bet. 498 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 1: With the whole I think the whole economy, the whole 499 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: value value chain is gonna pivot and change dramatically around 500 00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: the sports and aiming and gambling and streaming Big three 501 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: right now, Ted leons Is of the Wizards and Capitals. 502 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,319 Speaker 1: You are so kind to take some time out and 503 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 1: talk with us. We really do appreciate it. Thank you, sir, 504 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Takeaways ted Leons he is yea, 505 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:21,359 Speaker 1: my goodness, and I mean he's down to earth and 506 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,840 Speaker 1: he thinks things out very meticulously. If you if you 507 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 1: listen to his answers, he thinks everything through. He's also 508 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 1: at the forefront. If this is one of those guys 509 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 1: that if I was thinking about investing in sports or 510 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:38,239 Speaker 1: sports media or sports properties anything related, I'd kind of 511 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 1: see where is Ted putting his money, because I'd like 512 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:43,880 Speaker 1: to know, just like he was in on sport Radar. 513 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: Think about that, Leonsis, Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban got 514 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,160 Speaker 1: into sport Radar and they only put anything combined about 515 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: forty four million dollars. And then a stake of the 516 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: company is sold and values Radar at two point four 517 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 1: billion dollars ers. And we see now the MGM NB 518 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,840 Speaker 1: A deal and you know more are coming and you 519 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: wait to see just how much money this sports betting 520 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: is going to generate. And Ted is at the forefront 521 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 1: of it. Everything he sees, whether it's an arena league team. 522 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:18,320 Speaker 1: Think about what he said. You know a lot of 523 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: people see indoor sport here or arena league or what 524 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 1: w n B A. He's not looking at it, oh 525 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,240 Speaker 1: well TV ready. He's looking at it in an ecosystem 526 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:31,359 Speaker 1: of sports betting and engagement, and he's thinks all of them, 527 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:34,319 Speaker 1: particularly indoor sports, as he said, the place to be 528 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 1: to make some money. It feels better to be number 529 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,359 Speaker 1: one than number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. 530 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: We have a chance to go for three in a row. 531 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:44,959 Speaker 1: Kids numbers in a good time, and let's first started 532 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:48,400 Speaker 1: wearing the number. I would just happy and floomberg. Business 533 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:52,759 Speaker 1: of sports. The number of the week time Now for 534 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:58,480 Speaker 1: the number of the week one squared on squared like 535 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 1: I have to do the method well the reason why 536 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 1: being very loose. Yes, I know we we kind of 537 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:10,040 Speaker 1: foreshadowed it last week, but this week we have completed 538 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:13,239 Speaker 1: the one hundredth episode. We can go into syndication. Now 539 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:16,040 Speaker 1: we should go into syndication. What does that get you 540 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:17,440 Speaker 1: with me? Last heed? How do I how do we 541 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:22,160 Speaker 1: capitalize on the syndication of support show? And I really 542 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 1: do mean it. It's man, it has been a ball 543 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:30,400 Speaker 1: flown by only felt like ninety six. I have some 544 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 1: of the best partners in the world. You Evan Medina, 545 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 1: Colin Richard. I just you're including Tipton and Truman. Yes, 546 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 1: I am, Yes, I am. They maybe on the other 547 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:48,359 Speaker 1: side of recognize here when we say here for you 548 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:52,919 Speaker 1: each and every week, that's Medina, Truman, and Tipton. I mean, 549 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,279 Speaker 1: even though I am borrowing a lawnmower from one of them, 550 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 1: not here for me each and every week. You have 551 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 1: been listening in the Bloomberg Business of Sports, and we 552 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:04,560 Speaker 1: are here each and every week at the same time 553 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:09,080 Speaker 1: plus online as an Apple podcast. You can catch that Monday's, 554 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,000 Speaker 1: Wednesdays and Fridays. I'm Michael bar on Twitter at Big 555 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 1: Bar Sports Big Bar, and I'm Scott Sashnik. You can 556 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 1: follow me on Twitter at Thanks for joining us, and 557 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:18,920 Speaker 1: please tune in next week when we speak with the 558 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,880 Speaker 1: biggest and brightest in the sports business industry. You're listening 559 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:25,239 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the 560 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 1: world and online as an Apple podcast on iTunes.