1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio News. Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, 2 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: Radio News. This is the Business of Sports. 3 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 2: The business of sports can be intimidating or hard for 4 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 2: a starting to break into. 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 3: We really appreciate when our owners are actually there, you know, 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 3: with us through the journey. 7 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 4: Teams ours especially have been very intentional to diversify at 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 4: all levels of the company. I think we're in bolden 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 4: years for the NFL and college football. 10 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 5: Our demographic reach has continued to expose this is going 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 5: to be really unlocking the streaming platform for sports fans. 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 2: Sports evaluations arising. We'll see when they peak. 13 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 6: You don't have to be the best in your sports 14 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 6: to make a whole ton of money. 15 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 16 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore 17 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: the big money issues in the world of sports. 18 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 7: Michael Barr and I'm Vanessa Padamo. 19 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: Damian Zasaware is off this week. Coming up today, we 20 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: are wrapping up the twenty twenty six Milan Cortina Winter. 21 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 6: Olympics and Michael, there have been some amazing stories out 22 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 6: of Italy so far, like us Bob's ledter Elana Myers Taylor, 23 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 6: who won her first gold medal at forty one years 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 6: old after competing in five Olympics, and US Alpine ski 25 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 6: legend Mikayla Schiffern won her first gold medal in the 26 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 6: salam since her debut in twenty fourteen. That gives her 27 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 6: three gold medals and she now holds the record for 28 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,919 Speaker 6: the most gold medals in US alpine ski history. 29 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: Well, guess what we just so happened to speak with 30 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 2: the CEO of USA Bob Sled and Skeleton, Aaron McGuire, 31 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 2: right before he headed out to Milan. We'll listen into 32 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 2: that conversation on the way, but we will start with skiing. Vanessa, 33 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: you've got a chance to sit down with the President 34 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: and CEO of US Ski and Snowboard, Sophie Goldsmith. 35 00:01:58,240 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 7: That's right, Michael. 36 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 6: They've had a great year and Sophie's telling us how 37 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 6: they're going to keep the momentum going. 38 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,919 Speaker 2: Huddle around a set gang. Let's listen to a portion 39 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: of the conversation. Now it's Vanessa with Sophie Goldschmidth, President 40 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: and CEO of US Ski and Snowboard. 41 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 6: So, Sophie, if you know, as the games are wrapping up, 42 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 6: can you tell us, you know, how would you categorize 43 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 6: this time in Milan, Cortina and these games as a whole. 44 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 8: I would say it's been an amazing experience, very exciting, 45 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 8: a few twists and turns, but yeah, overall, very proud 46 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 8: of how our team and athletes have been performing. And look, 47 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 8: we've got a few days left, so hoping for a 48 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 8: strong finish as well. 49 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 6: You know, when you're looking at how you know, how 50 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 6: the different countries and how everyone hosts these games differently, 51 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 6: how have these been in particular, and how would you 52 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 6: say when we're looking ahead to you know, a few 53 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 6: cycles from now in twenty thirty four, what does you 54 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 6: know Salt Lake City have to hold up to? 55 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean I think, look, the Italian spirit and 56 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 8: just their passion for sport has definitely come through. We 57 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 8: knew going into these games logistically it was going to 58 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 8: be more of a challenge than we've encountered in a 59 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 8: long time, just because of the number of different locations. 60 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 8: But that was coming off a Beijing Olympics, which you know, 61 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 8: had its own sort of situation and things to deal with, 62 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 8: given that it was you know, during COVID and not 63 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 8: necessarily a location that a lot of our teams have 64 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 8: competed in before. And that was my first Winter Olympics 65 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 8: and I'd just started sort of a few weeks before, 66 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 8: so I was very much in a sort of steep 67 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 8: learning curve there. So I think coming into this games, yeah, 68 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 8: we definitely had more of what I might say, sort 69 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 8: of a normal preparation because there weren't the same restrictions 70 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 8: that there were leading up to twenty twenty two. But 71 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 8: the fact that you know, we oversee different sports across 72 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 8: Olympics and Paralympics, and you know, close to one hundred 73 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 8: athletes competing in this games, you know, bought different complexities. 74 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 8: You know, I've done a lot of miles on the 75 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 8: road trying to see as many of our athletes and 76 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 8: teams compete, and being so spread out has definitely, you know, 77 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 8: bought some challenges. But look, I have to give them credit. 78 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 8: I think the venues themselves, you know, most importantly the 79 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 8: athletic kind of venues, the surfaces that you know, the 80 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 8: athletes have been competing on, whether it's you know, the 81 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 8: different features around slopestyle, big air, the half pipes, the 82 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 8: alpine venue, cross country, et cetera. I think they've done 83 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 8: a really good job with those. I think the rest 84 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:52,799 Speaker 8: of the infrastructure has been sort of a work in progress. 85 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,679 Speaker 8: I would say it's got sort of better and better 86 00:04:54,720 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 8: as the games has continued. But overall, I think the 87 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 8: most part it's been a really positive experience, both, you know, 88 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 8: most importantly for the athletes, but also all the other 89 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 8: stakeholders that are involved in putting the games on. 90 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 6: Absolutely, and obviously, before you know, we move on to 91 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 6: exciting things and talking about everything that's happened, I want 92 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 6: to address, you know, what happened with legendary skier Lindsay 93 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 6: Vaughn and her crash. And obviously we've seen that she's 94 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 6: back in the US, she's recovering, which is great to hear. 95 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 6: But what else can you tell us about, you know, 96 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 6: Lindsay's recovery. 97 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 8: Yeah, Look, it was an incredibly tough start to the 98 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 8: games with the horrific injury that she went through. Sort 99 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 8: of it was day two, I guess, well, depending when 100 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 8: the game starts, but the Sunday, the first Sunday of 101 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 8: the games, and we'd had Breezy Johnson put down just 102 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 8: an incredible run in the downhill Lindsay was going just 103 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 8: a few races after her, and I think I was 104 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 8: at bottom so got a slightly different perspective. But you 105 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 8: could tell right away that it was a very serious injury. 106 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 8: And I think it impacted everyone, obviously in different ways, 107 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 8: the athletes, the spectators. They're those seeing on TV that 108 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 8: probably even experienced more of it just because of you know, 109 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 8: what the broadcast can show. But you know, I think 110 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 8: the way she sort of presented herself, how she's communicated 111 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 8: since then just sort of epitomizes the champion and role 112 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 8: model that she is. You know, as we now all know, 113 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 8: it's a very serious injury. Good news is she's back 114 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 8: in the States. She had sort of the first major 115 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 8: surgery back there yesterday. She had to have a few 116 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 8: surgeries just to be able to get back to the US. 117 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 8: But her spirit and strength of character and just you know, 118 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 8: sort of having no regrets and giving it her all 119 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 8: to be ready for that race and how she's dealing 120 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 8: with sort of what happened is really I find very inspiring. 121 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 8: I was fortunate to have the chance to see her 122 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 8: a couple of times before she left Italy, and it 123 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 8: was quite incredible to see how she's been managing it. 124 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 8: So look, she's got along road to recovery. But she's 125 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 8: been injured seriously several times before, so I think she 126 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 8: knows what it's going to take. But yeah, you can't 127 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 8: help but feel just very sad for her that this happened, 128 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 8: because what she's done to get back to this position, 129 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 8: to be leading the downhill and to be the best 130 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 8: speed athlete you know, in alpine at the moment at 131 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 8: forty one years of ages quite an accomplishment. But I 132 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 8: think she's managed her as well as she could have done. 133 00:07:59,280 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 9: Absolutely. 134 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 6: We're speaking with Sophie goldschmuth us Ski and Snow. We're 135 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 6: president and CEO. Sophie. 136 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 7: One of the other things. 137 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 6: That you had said earlier that I really wanted to 138 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 6: touch on was the amount of sports you guys have 139 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 6: competing in the Games. I feel like you're in charge 140 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 6: of essentially half the events that you know take place 141 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 6: at the Winter Games. Tell me about that you know, 142 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 6: and are there challenges to the amount of events that 143 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 6: you guys have, the amount of disciplines and all of 144 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 6: those things, and how how has your games been trying 145 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,479 Speaker 6: to get to all those different kinds of things. 146 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 8: Yeah, Look, it's part of what I love about our job. 147 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 8: It's it's very exciting. I mean, just when you know 148 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 8: something maybe isn't going as planned, there's something else going 149 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 8: in another area that kind of keeps you on your toes. 150 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 8: I mean it's certainly Yeah, means that I'm constantly learning, 151 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 8: which I love having worked in sports for a long time. 152 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 8: Hopefully also my experience continues to kick in and we 153 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 8: can add value in different areas. But I love the variety. 154 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 8: I mean, look, there's I think so many similarities across 155 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 8: our sports which I think really benefit each other. People 156 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 8: tend to just focus on the differences, and clearly from 157 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 8: a technical standpoint, you know, turning in you know islalom 158 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 8: race is very different to doing you know, an incredible 159 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 8: trick and jump in a half pipe. But when you 160 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 8: think about the mental preparation, the physical preparation, the nutrition, 161 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 8: the team, the culture, all of that, there are significant 162 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 8: similarities that I think can really benefit all of our sports. 163 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 8: And then you need you know, the specialism and sort 164 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 8: of specifics in certain areas as well. But I love 165 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 8: the fact that we have, you know, multiple different sports 166 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 8: and within those sports, multiple disciplines and you know, It's 167 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 8: a big reason I took on this role, and I think, 168 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 8: you know, we're thinking more and more like one team. 169 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 8: We're trying to lean into those similarities. We've made our 170 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 8: use on the Center of Excellence much more of a 171 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,959 Speaker 8: hub for all of our athletes to come and train 172 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 8: during the off season and prep period because I think, 173 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 8: you know, they can all inspire each other in so 174 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 8: many ways, even if their seasons and events are quite different. 175 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 8: You know, if you've been training with someone in the 176 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 8: summer lifting the same weight, it's going through the same 177 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 8: training routine and maybe you're struggling, but you see them 178 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 8: pop through and have a great result. You never know 179 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 8: what's going to be that spot that can inspire someone. 180 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 8: So I think, you know, hopefully it can continue to 181 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 8: give us an advantage, you know. I think culturally, I 182 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 8: feel like we're in a really good place. We're certainly 183 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 8: not complacent. We've got a long way to go, both 184 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 8: culturally and on the performance side. While we've got some amazing, 185 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 8: very established, proven champions, I feel like in some other 186 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 8: areas we're only just getting going, and that certainly is 187 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 8: very motivating for me. 188 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 6: So how much of your job is about, you know, 189 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 6: these elite athletes and you know, the Olympic style national team, 190 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 6: and then how much of it is looking at growing 191 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 6: a participation across the national level and that sort of 192 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 6: youth level and all that. 193 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 8: Yeah, I would say it's sort of multifaceted. I mean, 194 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 8: we've got various different areas and levels within our organizations. 195 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 8: Sort of most simplistically sort of explained, we have the 196 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 8: on snow and off snow. So on snow is everything's 197 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 8: to do with our athletes, and that's from overseeing the 198 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 8: programming and management of the best athletes in the world. 199 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 8: We oversee now about two hundred and fifty athletes across 200 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 8: our ten different sports, so sort of from a full 201 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 8: time training and competition perspective, we're managing all of that 202 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 8: with the coaching competitive side of things, the preparation period, 203 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 8: and then the off snow is more about sort of 204 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 8: generating the revenue and awareness. So from a commercial standpoint, 205 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 8: the partnership side of it, the growing our broadcast, growing 206 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 8: the media presence. We generate a lot of revenue also 207 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 8: through philanthropy, which is a really important revenue stream for us, 208 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 8: you know, given unlike basically all of our counterparts around 209 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 8: the world who receive significant funding from the government. In 210 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 8: the US, we get no funding, so we're you know, 211 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 8: more reliant on all these other revenue sources. And ultimately 212 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 8: I see it as a very holistic circle. You know, 213 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 8: we're supporting the top of the pyramid and also sort 214 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 8: of the base. The better our athletes do at the 215 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 8: top of an Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, in World Cups, 216 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 8: world champions etc. I think that provides inspiration and kind 217 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:53,559 Speaker 8: of lights the fire for more people to want to 218 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 8: engage in our sports and our participation level. And the 219 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 8: stronger the participation bases, the more talent we get in 220 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 8: our pipeline, which means we're more likely to produce champions. 221 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 8: So it really is a very holistic circle. 222 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 6: That was Sophie Goldsmith. She's the CEO and president of 223 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 6: US Ski and Snowboard. 224 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 2: Up next, we speak with the CEO of USA, Bob's 225 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 2: Led and Skeleton. That is straight ahead on the Bloomberg 226 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 2: Business of Sports. For Vanessa Berdomo. I'm Michael Barr. You 227 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 2: are listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg 228 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 2: Radio around the world. 229 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 230 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore 231 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 2: the big money issues in the world of sports. 232 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 7: I'm Michael Barr and I'm Vanessa Perdomo. 233 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 2: Damien sassaur Is off. This week we're focused on the 234 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: Olympics today as the games wrap up in Milan. 235 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,679 Speaker 6: Michael, you, Damian and I spoke with the CEO of 236 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 6: USA bob sled and Skelton aer McGuire right before he 237 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 6: headed out to the games. So none of the medals 238 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 6: have been won yet, but Eron explained to us how 239 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 6: how do they find these incredible athletes? Because shockingly enough, 240 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 6: but really not, they don't start out doing this at 241 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 6: a very young age. 242 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 2: Let's dive right into the conversation with the CEO of 243 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 2: USA bops led and Skeleton, Aaron McGuire. You are in 244 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: a sport where it takes money to get athletes to 245 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 2: participate in this. Tell us about that and how you 246 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 2: generate money so that the USA team can just go 247 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 2: and kick button. 248 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 5: You know, you're right, it is not The sports of 249 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 5: bobs and skeleton are not inexpensive. You think about the 250 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 5: cost of sports, and a lot of people think of 251 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 5: Formula one as one of the most expensive sports sets 252 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 5: out there, talking about multi multi million dollar budgets per team, 253 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 5: and you start thinking about sports like equestrian where you 254 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 5: have million dollar horses, you know, and not far far 255 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 5: behind are the sports of Bobson's eleton and the equipment 256 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 5: alone is pricey. A four man Bob Slaid costs one 257 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 5: hundred and twenty five thousand dollars or more. We're shipping 258 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 5: equipment from the United States to Europe every year. The 259 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 5: sports are primarily a European based. We do host events 260 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 5: in the United States in Lake Placid, New York. In 261 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 5: Park City, Utah, where the two Olympic Games were hosted 262 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 5: in twenty thirty four, we've got the Games returning to Utah, 263 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 5: so we're certainly excited about that. 264 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 6: Erin when you're looking at donors and sponsors and things, 265 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 6: how hard is it for bob sledd and skeleton to 266 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 6: get into that conversation And it's really unique, it's really nimble, 267 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 6: and it's not a sport that a lot of people, 268 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 6: you know, watch outside of the games. So can you 269 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 6: talk a little bit about what you have to do 270 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 6: in order to get those sponsors? 271 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 5: Well, well, the great things about the sports that Bob said, 272 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 5: skeleton is is people don't realize it, but they can, 273 00:15:57,480 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 5: they can relate to it. And we've all, you know, 274 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 5: most people have been kids. You know, we've all been 275 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 5: kids at one point, but most people have grown up 276 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 5: and been around snow at some point in their lives, 277 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 5: and so they've been sledding, and everybody can relate to 278 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 5: that experience of being a kid and going down the 279 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 5: hill and snow flying in their face and going a 280 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 5: little too fast and getting that adrenaline going. And that's 281 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 5: essensially what Bob Sonn and skeleton are. But you're going 282 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 5: ninety miles an hour down a mile long track at close, 283 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 5: you know, at top speeds with four and five g's 284 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 5: and so connecting with that memory of being a kid 285 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 5: and the sport, that's that's really the first step. The 286 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 5: second step is is making that connection to the USA 287 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 5: team and knowing that there's a lot of pride and 288 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 5: honor for our athletes to wear a uniform that says 289 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 5: USA and that's red, white and blue. You know, we're 290 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 5: we're divided country in many ways, but the one thing 291 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 5: that everybody can get behind that's the USA team. And 292 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 5: so that that does get people excited and interested, and 293 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 5: then and finally really recognizing the impact that our sponsors 294 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 5: and donors make on a team, not just financially, but 295 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 5: within you know, expertise. You know, we work with a 296 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 5: number of tech tech partners, technology partners that are helping 297 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 5: us design and build Bob sleds that are that are 298 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 5: competitive against against the Germans and the Swiss and the Canadians. 299 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 4: Well, Aaron, you actually took me right there. And you know, 300 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 4: when you started this conversation you met you kind of 301 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 4: compared you know, Bob sledding to F one, right, and 302 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 4: and F one. We all know that you know, there 303 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 4: are cars involved. You know, in this case you have 304 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 4: a steel chassis, carbon fiber you know kind of skeleton 305 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 4: or you know, some steel frame fiberglass. You know, Bob 306 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 4: sled I mean, I don't know, does you know the 307 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 4: technology that goes into the actual sled itself factor in 308 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 4: I mean, do people have better sleds than other sleds? 309 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 4: I mean, does it really matter? 310 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 5: Absolutely? And so I'll say in Bob sun skeleton, there's 311 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 5: three main factors that it takes to win a race. 312 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 5: First of all, you have to have a great start 313 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 5: and so we're recruiting athletes from other sports. Most athletes 314 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 5: have never touched a bob sled or skeleton sled until 315 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 5: their early twenties. Most athletes have run track and field, 316 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 5: they've played football, they've run you know, they've played soccer 317 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 5: or softball or baseball. They're athletes and they get into 318 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 5: the sport and we teach them how the sports work. 319 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 5: So the push is really incredible. We're looking for big, fast, 320 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 5: explosive athletes that aren't afraid to go down a track 321 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 5: at top speeds. Number two takes a great pilot, you know, 322 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 5: just like Formula One. You've got to steer, get down 323 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 5: the track, and the last pieces is equipment. And so 324 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 5: the International Federation sets rules and regulations of how big 325 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 5: the sled can be, how small the sled can be, 326 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 5: certain aerodynamic aspects, certain aspects with the steering, but there 327 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 5: is leeway for countries to go in and design and 328 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 5: build their own sleds, and so that's something that we 329 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 5: have had a great history of doing for a number 330 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 5: of years, getting back to the nineties with a dasscar 331 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 5: driver named Jeff Bodine who got in the sport and 332 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 5: then moving into working with BMW and now we're working 333 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 5: with partners like Debo, Tech, Advance, Honda, who are all 334 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 5: really lending their expertise to help us be successful and 335 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 5: build fast, fast sleds for the athletes. 336 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 2: We're talking with Aaron maguire, CEO of USA Bob sled 337 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 2: and Skeleton for the audience very quickly, let me if 338 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,400 Speaker 2: you're not familiar with the sport of skeleton, Bob sledding 339 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 2: and the louge explained the Bob said, of course, you 340 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 2: are two to four men inside a compartment as you're 341 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 2: going down a track. The louge you're on your back 342 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 2: with just blades on you, but your feet first. The 343 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,959 Speaker 2: skeleton is now you talk about brave, is that you 344 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 2: are head first on your stomach and you are lying 345 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 2: at ninety miles an hour. You were right about being 346 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 2: brave at doing this. But it brings up a point 347 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 2: and it's been in the news now lots of sports. 348 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 2: It's about Katy Uhlander, the Olympic skeleton spot. She apparently 349 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 2: is not going to be on the USA team because 350 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:29,239 Speaker 2: Canada had withdrawn from the team competition I think in 351 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:33,439 Speaker 2: Lake Plact earlier, and that meant it brought down the 352 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 2: scoring and it was, it's a whole kind of mess. 353 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 2: Can you bring us up to date on that? 354 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 9: Sure? 355 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 5: So, Katy Landers is a multi Olympian, she's been a 356 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 5: board of skeleton for she it's twenty years or more. 357 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 5: And so she was racing in a lower circuit. So 358 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 5: we have two circuits. We have the World Cup circuit, 359 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 5: which is competitions both in North America, Europe and occasionally 360 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 5: eh and those are all of our essentially most competitive 361 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 5: teams are are racing there. Katie was competing on a 362 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 5: on a lower circuit which was in North America in 363 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:14,719 Speaker 5: Lake Placid, and and you earn points throughout the season 364 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 5: based on where you race, and so while there are 365 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 5: lower lower lower points available within the North American Cup circuit, 366 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 5: it gave her an opportunity to earn points win the race. Unfortunately, 367 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 5: he handed up withdrew some athletes which ended up reducing 368 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,959 Speaker 5: the number of points that that she received along with 369 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 5: a few other countries. And so as a result of that, 370 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 5: she finished up as our third US women's skeleton athlete. 371 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 5: The US earned two quota spots, so she unfortunately did 372 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 5: not finish in the top two, and and we did 373 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 5: have two other athletes who who did finish in the 374 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 5: top two, who will be representing the United States. Certainly 375 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 5: there's there's a big push for her to be entered 376 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,719 Speaker 5: into the into the into the Games, and the uh 377 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,880 Speaker 5: we're looking into it. The US Olympic comparentive, the committee 378 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 5: has has put requests in and for US where you know, 379 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 5: we want to we don't want to displace another athlete 380 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 5: for her because it's it's a it's a complex situation, 381 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,959 Speaker 5: and so our hope is that there's there's an opportunity 382 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 5: for an additional quota spot to be allocated to the 383 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 5: US team, so that way we can take our top 384 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,479 Speaker 5: three US women's skeleton athletes to the Games. 385 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 6: Really interesting, hopefully you know that that goes. I mean, 386 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 6: it's it's coming up soon. Can we let's talk a 387 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,719 Speaker 6: little bit more about the athletes on Team USA. I mean, 388 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 6: you brought it up a little bit about how they 389 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 6: they get into bob sledding. 390 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 7: I mean they come from different sports. 391 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 6: Can you talk a little bit how you find these 392 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 6: explosive athletes. 393 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:50,479 Speaker 7: And really how they you know, train for the sport. 394 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 6: I mean how often are they training outside of the Games. 395 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,639 Speaker 6: Do they have outside jobs, you know, like a lot 396 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 6: of Olympians have to do. 397 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, absolute, So the athletes, the athletes that we have 398 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 5: on the team, we've got a very diverse group of 399 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 5: athletes because they don't necessarily come from one region of 400 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 5: the United States. They come from all over the country, 401 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 5: from New York to Florida, to Texas to California and 402 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 5: every state in between. Because we're looking for athletes from 403 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 5: other sports to come into the sport of bob side 404 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 5: and skeleton. What we will do is we will we'll 405 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 5: visit about eight cities during the summer and host trioffs combines, 406 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 5: and during those those combines, we test athletes uh sprinting, ability, standing, 407 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 5: long jump, vertical jump. We interview them to really get 408 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 5: an understanding of what kind of athlete they are, and 409 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 5: from there we can see whether those athletes would have 410 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 5: the aptitude the athleticism to push a four hundred pound 411 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 5: sled at the start of a of a race. Once 412 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 5: we've identified our top athletes from those recruiting camps those combines, 413 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 5: we invite them out to Lake Placid to the Olympic 414 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 5: and Paralympic Training Center where we spend a week with 415 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:08,200 Speaker 5: that kind of rookie camp or rookie class, teaching them 416 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 5: how the sports of bob slid and skeleton work. Now, 417 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 5: what we'll typically do is there are bob slids on 418 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 5: wheels that are at each of the tracks that we 419 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 5: can actually do a Bob Said race or a Bob 420 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 5: Said run in the summertime, because not only do we 421 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,159 Speaker 5: want athletic people, but we want people that like like 422 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,199 Speaker 5: a little bit of adrenaline. And so we'll take them 423 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 5: down the track and we have some athletes that say, 424 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 5: that was an amazing rush. I loved it. How do 425 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 5: I get back to the top of the track and 426 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 5: do it again? And we've got some athletes that, despite 427 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 5: being amazing, amazingly athletic, they take one run they say, 428 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 5: how can I get to the airport to go home 429 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 5: as quickly as possible? And so we're looking for two 430 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 5: boxes to be checked. One is that they're excited, passionate athletic, 431 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 5: and two is that they love that adrenaline rush. And 432 00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 5: so our athletes do do train back in their hometown. 433 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 5: So during the summer it's a decentralized program. They're training 434 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 5: at home. They're primarily working on speed and strength training 435 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,919 Speaker 5: to get bigger, faster, stronger, in the off season and 436 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 5: then around July. What we'll do is we'll start hosting 437 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 5: team training camps in Lake Plaid in New York occasionally 438 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:25,679 Speaker 5: Park City, Utah, to really start start focusing on sports 439 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 5: specific technique of pushing sleds, of getting into a sled. 440 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 5: As you can imagine for four guys that are all 441 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 5: two hundred and twenty pounds two hundred and thirty pounds 442 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 5: going in a full sprint and jumping into a small 443 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 5: bob sled in less than a second. It takes practice 444 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 5: and it takes training to get it right. 445 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 6: That was Aaron Maguire. He is the CEO of USA 446 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 6: Bob Sled and Skeleton. 447 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:52,880 Speaker 2: Up next week, continue to focus on the Winter Games 448 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:54,400 Speaker 2: and talk hood. 449 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,399 Speaker 6: We'll check in with former Canadian star Jana Hefferd and 450 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 6: talk about her work on the new North American Women's 451 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 6: Hockey League. 452 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 2: Dude, that's straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 453 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 2: I'm Michael Barr with Vanessa Pergomo. You're listening to the 454 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world. 455 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 456 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,199 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 457 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 2: We explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 458 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 6: S'm Michael Barr and I've benessa Prodomo Damian Sas Hour 459 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 6: is out this week. 460 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 2: We're focusing on the Winter Olympics on the show today, 461 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 2: and as the games wrap up in Milan, we want 462 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 2: to take a look at what's ahead for some of 463 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 2: the sports, including women's professional ice hockey. By the way, 464 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 2: the women's hockey team, they won the gold in thrilling fashion, 465 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 2: defeating Canada two to one in overtime, which leads us 466 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 2: to our next conversation. In this Olympic special, we. 467 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 6: Spoke with Amy Sheer she's the executive vice president of 468 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 6: business operations for the Professional Women's Hockey League, and Jana Hefferd, 469 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 6: executive vice president for the PWHL, who also happens to 470 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 6: be a four time Olympic gold medalist. We talk with 471 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 6: them right before the game's kicked off about how the 472 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 6: league can capitalize on the momentum of the Winter Olympics 473 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 6: when the athletes come back to North America to compete. 474 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 2: Let's listen to that conversation. Now, you guys are involved 475 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 2: in the Professional Women's Hockey League in its third season. 476 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 2: I'm going to start with you, Amy, tell us about 477 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 2: how the league is going so far. 478 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 3: Oh, we're doing great this season. Things are looking good. 479 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 3: Our attendance is up, our merchandise sales are up, We've 480 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 3: got a record number of sponsors. Fans are bringing signs 481 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:40,439 Speaker 3: that are better than ever and more creative. So we're 482 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 3: feeling good about season three so far. 483 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 6: You know what, Amy, this is the first you know, 484 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 6: this is the third season, but the first time you 485 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 6: guys are around for the Olympic cycle. Tell us about 486 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:52,479 Speaker 6: how you guys are You know what the strategy is there, 487 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 6: building off the momentum going into the games and coming 488 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 6: out of the games. 489 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 3: Well, this is a huge opportunity for us because it's 490 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 3: the first time for the p w HL that we've 491 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 3: had in Olympic cycle, and so we're making sure that 492 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 3: all of our verticals across the board are taking advantage 493 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 3: of this. So we've got a big campaign that we're 494 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 3: launching called the Ultimate Away Game, and we're showcasing all 495 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 3: of our athletes now on the global stage, and we've 496 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 3: got a hub on our website that's just all about 497 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 3: the Olympics and the Ultimate Away Game. We are airing 498 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 3: spots on linear and social streams for both the US 499 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 3: and Canada. So we'll be producing a ton of content 500 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,439 Speaker 3: coming out of Milan, both live and taped. 501 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 9: We'll have watch parties. 502 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 3: Back at home with our teams, and so we've got 503 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 3: tons of merch in and around the games for our 504 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 3: players and for our fans, and so we're pretty excited 505 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 3: to put all of our efforts into the Olympics and 506 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 3: then coming out the back end, hope there's a nice 507 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 3: sort of draft and a tailwind to help really continue 508 00:28:58,240 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 3: to propel the p w HL. 509 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 4: Jane, I wonder if you could expand on that a 510 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 4: little bit, you know, like there are ten, I believe 511 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 4: ten women's ice hockey teams in the Olympics this year, 512 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 4: and I mean, from what I'm hearing, a lot of 513 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 4: those teams have the PWHL players on them. I'm sure 514 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 4: Canada in the US. But what are the teams out there, 515 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 4: you know, you know, have players on their teams. 516 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 10: Well, we have great representation at the Olympic Games. There'll 517 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 10: be sixty one PWHL players, which represents about thirty percent 518 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 10: of our league, again predominantly Ken in the US, but 519 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 10: we also have eight players on Chechio, which is a 520 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 10: significant number, and then across Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy there's 521 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,479 Speaker 10: another handful to get to that sixty one number. And 522 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 10: in addition to that, we have a number of staff 523 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 10: members that will be head coaches in the Olympic Games 524 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 10: representing their countries as well and other support staff. So 525 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 10: definitely something we're incredibly proud of. 526 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 2: We're talking with Amy Shecher, executive vice president of Business 527 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 2: Operations for the PWHL, and Jana Hefford, Executive vice president 528 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 2: of Hockey oper for the p w h L, and 529 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 2: I want to talk about the central ownership by the 530 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 2: Mark Walter Group and the advisory group which includes Billy 531 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: Gene King. Jana, can you tell us more about that. 532 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 10: Yeah, we obviously feel very fortunate to have a leadership 533 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 10: group and an ownership group in Mark and kimber Walter, 534 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 10: Stan cast In, Billy Jean King, a lot of class 535 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 10: who have been, you know, leaders in all levels of 536 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 10: sport and certainly Billy Jean and Alana on the women's 537 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 10: sports side, and Stan and Mark have had an incredible 538 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 10: amount of success everywhere they've been, so, you know, to 539 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 10: launch a league like we've done in a short period 540 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 10: of time, and how the success we've had is certainly 541 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 10: I think a recognition of that support and that leadership 542 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,479 Speaker 10: at the top, and just feel fortunate that, you know, 543 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 10: Amy and I and the rest of the team get 544 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 10: to work alongside them and strategize how we grow this 545 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 10: league because the early success has been incredible and looking 546 00:30:58,280 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 10: forward to lots of great things ahead. 547 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 6: Amy, it's interesting obviously, like as Jana was saying, the 548 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 6: early success, and it is it really is, right, I mean, 549 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 6: three years into the league and you're already it feels 550 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 6: like shattering your own attendance record like every other you 551 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 6: know month or something like constantly playing, you know, in 552 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 6: front of like crowds, you know, sold out fifteen thousand 553 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 6: to seventeen thousand, and then coming out of the games 554 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 6: you'll be playing at MSG and TD Garden. How has 555 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 6: you know, how has the league been able to capture 556 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 6: this audience so quickly? Because women's ice hockey, I mean 557 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 6: it's not new, right, It's been around for a long time. 558 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 7: You know, Jana played in a lot of leagues for 559 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 7: a while in her career. 560 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 6: How come this particular you know group is able to 561 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 6: succeeds so quickly, and. 562 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 3: I think Jane that touched on it a little bit 563 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,719 Speaker 3: with ownership, right, I think we are the first one. 564 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 9: I don't think. 565 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 3: I know we are the first women's hockey league to 566 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 3: have the right resources, and I think the fans appreciate that. 567 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 3: And so you know, number one, they appreciate and I 568 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 3: think the position that the players are in now where 569 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 3: they are playing at top notch facilities, they have medical, 570 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 3: health insurance, real pay, and so the players are supported 571 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 3: and they put on the most amazing show every night. 572 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 3: So every game you come to, the level of play 573 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 3: is out of this world. And then on the business side, 574 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 3: we've been able to support the players with best in 575 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 3: class staff and so if you look at the leadership 576 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 3: team across the PWHL, we've got amazing talented and skilled 577 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:32,719 Speaker 3: individuals that are able to promote and market and really 578 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 3: build this league. 579 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 9: And you know, it's time. It's generational change. 580 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 3: And I think when you look at people now, you know, 581 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 3: thirty thirty five years old, they don't know a world 582 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 3: without women's sports, and so this is really, I think 583 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 3: for them, pretty typical, and it's it's accepted and yeah, 584 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:52,440 Speaker 3: it's time. 585 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 9: So I think it's a lot of things. 586 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:59,719 Speaker 3: I think it's resource, I think it's staffing, and it's fans. 587 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 9: They appreciate what we're doing. 588 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 4: Well, Amy, I love at that. Vanessa points out that 589 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 4: the PWHL is coming to MSG, that it's coming to 590 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 4: New York because you yourself spend quite a bit of 591 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 4: time in the Tri State area, first with the Nets 592 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 4: and then the Liberty. I believe you're with NYCFC for 593 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 4: a while, and then the Connecticut Sun. 594 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 2: You know. 595 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 4: Talk to us about the importance of playing an MSG. 596 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 3: Well, it's called the world's most famous arena for a reason, 597 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 3: and it is the most magical place if you are 598 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 3: an athlete to play, and it was really important for 599 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 3: us as a league in this market to play at 600 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 3: the world's most famous arena. I think it really shows 601 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 3: that we're real, we're legitimate. It's not it took me 602 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 3: two years to get the game there, right, It's so 603 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 3: hard to get a dated MSG. But for us, this 604 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:50,920 Speaker 3: is about brand building, audience building, continuing the legitimacy of 605 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 3: what the PWHL is and what we stand for, which 606 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,280 Speaker 3: is best in class. And so we're excited and we 607 00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 3: feel pretty confident that this game is going to sell 608 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 3: out and we're three quarters of the way they are already. 609 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 2: Well, old man Barr is a very selfish person from 610 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 2: the fact that I want you guys more on TV, 611 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 2: more TV please. So Jana, what what can the league do? 612 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 2: Is like it's set up more deals for streaming and television. 613 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 2: Can you take us more through that? 614 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,959 Speaker 10: Yeah, you know, I think Amy could probably comment further 615 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:25,040 Speaker 10: on that, but I think in general, you know, we've 616 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,440 Speaker 10: talked about the Olympics already, what a great opportunity that 617 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 10: is to draw new eyeballs to women's hockey. You know, 618 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 10: we're still a relatively young sport and an emerging sport, 619 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 10: and the Olympic Games has a high level of visibility 620 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 10: around the world, so we want to take advantage of that. 621 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:42,480 Speaker 10: And there's still many people that haven't seen the highest 622 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:46,320 Speaker 10: level of women's hockey yet, and when they do, I think, 623 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:48,120 Speaker 10: you know, they want to figure out where the next 624 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:50,480 Speaker 10: game is. So, you know, that's one big part of it. 625 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,759 Speaker 10: I think continuing to storytell around our athletes. We have 626 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:57,320 Speaker 10: these incredible women that are successful in so many different 627 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:00,799 Speaker 10: aspects of their life, that are incredible athletes and ambassadors 628 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:02,640 Speaker 10: and role models, and so we want to continue to 629 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:04,839 Speaker 10: tell their stories because we know fans fall in love 630 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:07,239 Speaker 10: with them as well, and so you know, I think 631 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 10: it continues to come back to visibility and that's incredibly 632 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:10,959 Speaker 10: important for us. 633 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:14,320 Speaker 4: Jana Amy, do you guys work really closely with the NHL. 634 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:15,640 Speaker 4: And the reason I ask is if you look at 635 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:17,800 Speaker 4: the w NBA as a peer, you know they have 636 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:19,800 Speaker 4: a lot of and again I don't know the ownership 637 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 4: structure there. I mean, I know it's essentrally owned by 638 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 4: the Mark Walter Group, but like you know, a lot 639 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 4: of w NBA teams are owned by NBA franchises. That 640 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:28,839 Speaker 4: can be a good and a bad thing. And I'm 641 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 4: just curious if you have explored something similar, you know, 642 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 4: with the PWHL and doing any sort of affiliation with 643 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:36,880 Speaker 4: the Men's National Hockey League. 644 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 3: Well, I think on the business side, Jana, hockey side 645 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 3: and the business side, we have a wonderful relationship with 646 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 3: the NHL. We talk to them on a fairly frequent basis, 647 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:51,319 Speaker 3: whether it's how do we maximize the Olympics together, if 648 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 3: they're having an all Star weekend, how do we take 649 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 3: part in that. As we look to spin up different 650 00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:59,279 Speaker 3: parts of our business we'll call them and ask them 651 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:02,360 Speaker 3: their thoughts on things, and so we've got a wonderful 652 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:05,680 Speaker 3: working relationship with them on the business side, where we 653 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:08,760 Speaker 3: continue to work together on a ton of different programs 654 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 3: and a ton of different things. 655 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:14,439 Speaker 9: So that's where it'll stay there. I don't there will. 656 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 3: You know, there's there's no discussions of the NHL buying 657 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:19,879 Speaker 3: or investing in in the p w HL. 658 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 9: Again that's that's Mark Walter and kimber Walter. 659 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:26,360 Speaker 3: But from a business perspective, really positive working relationship. We 660 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 3: couldn't ask for a better partner and working with us 661 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,399 Speaker 3: on a day to day basis, you. 662 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 10: Know, and I would echo that on the hockey side 663 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 10: as well, just you know, great partners in so many 664 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:37,520 Speaker 10: different ways, and we start, we share a lot of 665 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:41,359 Speaker 10: facilities and there's infrastructure there that you know, has been 666 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 10: great for our success in terms of you know, getting 667 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:49,400 Speaker 10: our players into professional buildings and have the support and 668 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,560 Speaker 10: the resources they require. So, you know, Tacko Amy, I 669 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 10: think the NHL have been great partners and continue to 670 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:57,399 Speaker 10: work alongside us well. 671 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,400 Speaker 6: Alongside that, you know, as we were talking about earlier, 672 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 6: when you were talking about you know, sharing infrastructure and 673 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 6: things like that and resources that Amy had mentioned earlier. Jana, 674 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:08,120 Speaker 6: can you talk a little bit about just how your career, 675 00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 6: how that was for you. I mean, you had such 676 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 6: a successful career. You know, I'm not gonna, you know, 677 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 6: sit here and listen. You know, your accolades are really strong, 678 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 6: but we'll make sure you know, everybody knows, you know, 679 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:20,560 Speaker 6: Hockey Hall of Fame and all that. But for you, 680 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:23,120 Speaker 6: what was that like for you at the time when 681 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 6: you were playing and getting ready for the for the 682 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 6: Olympic Games and all that were Was it anything like 683 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 6: it is today or you really had to kind of 684 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:32,839 Speaker 6: stay ready on your own. 685 00:37:34,239 --> 00:37:37,279 Speaker 10: Yeah, it was nothing like it is today. And you know, 686 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 10: we were responsible, you know, in those three years in 687 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 10: between Olympic Games to find somewhere to play. And at 688 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:47,239 Speaker 10: that time was not a professional league. It was very 689 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:50,880 Speaker 10: much the best players in the world. But in many cases, 690 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 10: you know, players still paying to play and having you know, 691 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,839 Speaker 10: late night practices and jobs during the week and then 692 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:02,400 Speaker 10: play on weekends. And the passion to represent your country 693 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,000 Speaker 10: was the same, and the competition, the intensity of that 694 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 10: was the same. But now to see the landscape and 695 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:11,239 Speaker 10: how it's changed and the way our players are supported 696 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:15,560 Speaker 10: year round, day in, day out, and I think you know, 697 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:17,360 Speaker 10: you don't have to look very far to see that 698 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 10: the best players in the world that are potentially on 699 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,719 Speaker 10: the backside of their careers are still getting better now 700 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:26,080 Speaker 10: because of the support that they have. So players like 701 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,480 Speaker 10: Hillary Knight and Mary Felipe Pulen have been legends in 702 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:30,120 Speaker 10: the game for a long time, but we're seeing them 703 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:32,799 Speaker 10: have some of their best seasons because they're supported in 704 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 10: such a different way. 705 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:37,279 Speaker 6: That was Amy Sheer, executive vice president for Business Operations 706 00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:41,160 Speaker 6: for the PWHL, and four time Olympic gold medalist Jana Heffert, 707 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:44,360 Speaker 6: Executive vice president of Hockey Operations for the PWHL. 708 00:38:44,719 --> 00:38:47,319 Speaker 2: And that's it for today. Thanks for joining us. Tune 709 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:50,000 Speaker 2: in again next week for the latest on the stories 710 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:52,800 Speaker 2: moving big old money in the world of sports. 711 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:54,960 Speaker 6: And don't forget to catch our podcast on all your 712 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,840 Speaker 6: podcast platforms, and go to Bloomberg dot com to subscribe 713 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 6: to the Bloomberg Business of Sports newsletters stay up to 714 00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:02,400 Speaker 6: date on all our juicy insights. 715 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:06,840 Speaker 2: Juicy you're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg 716 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:08,440 Speaker 2: Radio around the world.