1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. Should Major League Baseball 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: shorten up the season? How do we present football to 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: the audience of the future. I don't think that most 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: players understand the power that they have. Michael var The 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: future of IndyCar racing is looking bright. Scott Sashnik, very 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: basic math here, more bidders means more money. Evan Nobody Williams, 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: the team value has essentially quadruples. And the leaders in 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: the sports industry. Time to bringing our guest, Alstombrunner, National 9 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, Atlanta Braves president Derek Schiller, 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: Patriots President Jonathan Kraft, Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 11 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Varn, I'm Evan Noby Williams. I'm Randa Williams. 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: Randa Williams the intern joining us today. Welcome Randall, I'm 13 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Scott Sashnik. Every week at this time plus Monday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's, 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: we explore the big money issues in the world of 15 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: sports today. The conversation with former NHL player Jeff Hamilton's 16 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: During his career, Jeff played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto 17 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: may Be Leaves, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islands. I 18 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: forgot about the Islanders up. I did not as going up. 19 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: And more importantly, he coached the Connecticut Junior Rangers, my 20 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: son's team to the championship in the prestigious Brick Tournament 21 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: in Edmonton, the premier hockey competition for ten year olds 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: in North America. We're going to talk to him about 23 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: the business of youth sports, but first let's get to 24 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: some of the week's top stories. Beginning with a big 25 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: Hollywood talent agency pushing into professional sports. Who to funk 26 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: Lebron's agent Rich Paul getting into Hollywood at around the 27 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: same time as Lebron goes to l A. What what synergies? Uh, 28 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 1: this is going to brank Why not l A? It 29 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,919 Speaker 1: makes total sense absolutely and and and for for folks 30 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: out there who don't know, you know, there are three 31 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: major talent agencies in l A. There's William Morris, There's CIA, 32 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: and there's U t A and William Morrison. CI A 33 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: are are very big in managing athletes in terms of 34 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: their you know, their their contracts as well. And UT 35 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: is not. By the way, Lebron's off court is held 36 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: by William Morris. And now U t A is getting 37 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: into that world and they're tapping Rich Paul, who has 38 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: been a longtime friend of Lebrons. They met I think 39 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: when Lebron was eighteen. Uh, they're tapping Rich Paul to 40 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: do that business for them. Yeah, I mean Anthony Davis 41 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: is one of the clients he's got. Draymond Green is 42 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: another client's Clutch Sports. So Rich gets money, sells a 43 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: piece of Clutch smart to do that, take some money 44 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: off the table, and he gets to run the U 45 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: t A, which is a huge agency. If you're not 46 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're not familiar with the Hollywood landscape, 47 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: here's some of the clients Angelina, Jolie Harrison, Ford, Will Ferrell. 48 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: Yeah right, well I wouldn't be surprised with you. But Randall, 49 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: from your perspective, do you look at athletes just now 50 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: because you're younger than all of us, even Edan, he's 51 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: like one of the old guys. Now, you know you're 52 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: you brought up at an age now where athletes are 53 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: so much more than just athletes, whether it's their social media, 54 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: they're doing so much more. They want to be more 55 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: than athletes. I think I'm used to it after Lebron 56 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: kind of the expectation at the big money athletes will 57 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: expand into Hollywood. I mean, Steph Curry had the Golf 58 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: Show earlier this year, Kevin Durant had the Boardroom Show 59 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: on ESPN Plus. So the top tier players, at least, 60 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: say NBA players, I pretty much have the expectation that 61 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: eventually during their career, after the career, in the offseason, 62 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: that they're going to make that move because there's a 63 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: lot of money there will be like, our jobs don't 64 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: be too good. Make it seem like you don't really 65 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: know all that much. I want to from a geezer standpoint, 66 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: because back in the day when I loved Pete Rose, 67 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: they weren't even thinking about stuff like this. You know, 68 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: they producing in all of this today. Does that how 69 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: does that impact you today when you hear of all 70 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: these athletes doing that, Um, well, it makes me spend 71 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: more money for one, you got it? I mean the 72 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: bigger an athlete gets outside of there, I would say 73 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: in the NBA. You know, outside of their NBA press conferences, 74 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: you don't get to hear them talk with inexclusive interviews 75 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 1: a lot. So when you get Lebron James with is 76 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: show on HBO and you have Kevin Duran show on 77 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: Boardroom or on ESPN Plus, then it makes you want 78 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: to hear them more and see what they think outside 79 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: of just a sports around themselves, just because you don't 80 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: really get that a lot. What did they say about 81 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: Lebron what? What? What was the rallying cry? Not just 82 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 1: an athlete and he is setting the pace for future 83 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: athletes and they will not be quiet. He's not a 84 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: bad actor either. That that Bill Hayter Amy Schuman movie 85 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: that he did, It's pretty good in that note that 86 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: I recommended last time. Last time E been recommended a movie. 87 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: We were taking a red eye home from San Francisco 88 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: from our players text on it and this was Evans recommendation. 89 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: So we said, all right, we're sitting next to each 90 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: other and watch the same movie at the same time. 91 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: So entirely it was the worst movie I've ever seen. 92 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: It was, no, it was. It was the worst movie ever. 93 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: I did not recommend it. I chose it. And that's 94 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: a difference. You said, let's watch this, Yeah, I knew 95 00:04:54,400 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: nothing about it. Recommended this is a a movie we 96 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: should we should watch this one. I don't even honestly, 97 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: don't even remember what it's called. It was Scarlett Joe Hansen. 98 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: Unlike a party where they killed the stripper. It was. 99 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: It was so bad, like nothing. Normally there's one scene 100 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: that's redeemable. There was nothing redeemable about this movie. Nothing. 101 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: Moving on to our next story. Speaking of Lebron James, good, 102 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: I'm glad you just said it that way. He wanted 103 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: to get a new number on his jersey, but that's 104 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: been put on hold. Makes this makes no sense to 105 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,239 Speaker 1: see what you did there, This makes no sense. Maybe 106 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: it makes no sense. Lebron James wanted to change his number. 107 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: He wanted to go back to one of the team 108 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: and Anthony Anthony Davis, and according to Yahoo, it didn't 109 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: happen because Nike had printed so many Lebron James six jersey. 110 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: I mean, but this is a longstanding on the NBA. 111 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: If you want to switch, you have to suck up 112 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,679 Speaker 1: the inventory that's out there. The team or the player 113 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: has to stuck up the inventory that's out there. According 114 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: to Yahoo, Nike said they had too many and they 115 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: did not okay the switch. I don't know, I will 116 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: have to I don't know which either, whatever it is 117 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: it shocks maybe Lebron said Nike just eat it. It 118 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: shocks me that Nike would not do that. Lebron James 119 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: is possibly outside of Michael Jordan's their most important endorser. 120 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: I don't know how many jerseys are out there. Even 121 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: if it is absolutely it does not It does not 122 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: make sense to that that does goes to show how 123 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: many are out there, and they were just like, no, 124 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: we just can't. So that's the second part of what 125 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: confuses me, because we talk a lot about fanatics, you know, 126 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: and they have the ability to print uniforms and T 127 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:51,919 Speaker 1: shirts on demand. Term, Yeah, the technology is out there 128 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,479 Speaker 1: right now so that companies and and retail brick and 129 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: mortar stores or even teams don't get burned when a 130 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: player gets traded or a player changes his number. I 131 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: just don't understand how even now in there are so 132 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 1: many pre printed jerseys out there, so many in fact, 133 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: that it is prohibitively expensive for the biggest star in 134 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: the NBA to decide to If only we had a 135 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: mechanism by which Evan Nolvie Williams, reporter Bloomberg News could 136 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: figure out how much it was gonna cause Nike and 137 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: why they said, no, next week, we're gonna we're gonna 138 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: put that on him. That's for Randall. You remind him 139 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: he want we want that number by next week. Uh. 140 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: Speaking of numbers, let's turn down to hockey. And one 141 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: player was looking for a fresh start. Yeah, I think 142 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: this one was fun. So just another know, another option 143 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: for players who are switching their numbers. William Nilander, who's 144 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He decided he 145 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: would change his number from eight um and then announced 146 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: that he would pay for any fan who had a 147 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: jersey of his with an old number to get the 148 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: number either re sewn on or re screen printed on. 149 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: Let me tell you as probably the top hockey fan 150 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: here in the room, Randall, big hockey fan? Yes or no? Not? Not? Okay? 151 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: All right, so then I'm gonna take the title here. 152 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: If you're if you're looking at the Maple Leafs and 153 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: popularity of jerseys, and we were talking about Lebron, how 154 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: many of them must be out there when you've got 155 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: a team that has Austin Matthews and you have a 156 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: team that has John Tavares. I mean, Willie knee Lander 157 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: is a nice player, but I don't think it's breaking 158 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: the bank. For if every person with a Willie knee 159 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: Lander jersey said you know, let's do it and please 160 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: pick up the tab, I think you're gonna be okay. 161 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: Even so, this is a nice this is nice doll contract. 162 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: He worked out with the local. It's a local hockey shop. 163 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: You know, fans can take their jersey there. They have 164 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:44,559 Speaker 1: they have an outpost within the arenas can absolutely it's 165 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: not that hard. Just like and what do I say 166 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: all the time, how hard is it for players? You 167 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: see it all the time during warm up, you know 168 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: when they throw a puck to a kid, or they 169 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: wave or they give him a stick. They get this 170 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: international promotion for being the nicest guy the world for 171 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: simply taking five seconds to acknowledge like a cute little 172 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: fan or something. They should do it every night and 173 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: look at it. Now we're talking about Inland and it's 174 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: doing what it's supposed to be. Not that hard. I 175 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: think on the opposite side of that, I don't know 176 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: if you you saw the video. I think it happened 177 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: last year. Steph Curry was in the tunnel and he 178 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 1: and there was a fan holding his jersey up trying 179 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: to get it signed and he didn't. So when an 180 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: athlete doesn't do it and it's on video, it's huge news. 181 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: It's making Rappino at the sp is like not looking 182 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 1: at the anyway, It's not too hard. Let's see what 183 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: they can do. Now, let's get to this week's interview 184 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: with former NHL player Jeff Hamilton's. During his career, Jeff 185 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leaves, Carolina Hurricanes, 186 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: and New York Islanders. He is also Yale University's all 187 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: time leading scorer and Michael Lee also coached the Connecticut 188 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 1: Junior Rangers, my son's club. You all heard a lot 189 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: about it to the championship of the Prestigious Brick Tournament 190 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: in Edmonton, the premier hockey competition for ten year olds 191 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: in North America. Jeff, thank you for joining us. Thanks 192 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: for having me. Guys, you got a smile on your 193 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,559 Speaker 1: face today, Jeff, every day? All right, Well, can I 194 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 1: make it bigger for you? I'm making a little bigger 195 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 1: for you. Here you go, get over time the Prestigious 196 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: Brick Tournament. Did you really I know? At the beginning 197 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: and for for the listeners of this show, they know 198 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: my son plays hockey. They should know by now that 199 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: he was a part of this team. You said at 200 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:26,719 Speaker 1: the start you didn't care if he went oh in 201 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: six six and oh, this was the most talented team 202 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: you had. Did you think this team would win it? No, 203 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: honestly no, And I think that going in every year that, 204 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: Like I said, this is the most talented team I've seen. 205 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: But we're from I think ten or eleven different organizations, 206 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,439 Speaker 1: all the kids. So it was trying to put all 207 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: the pieces together in a kind of a short window. Um. 208 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: And actually one of the dads texted me and said, 209 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: you know, do you really think we have a very 210 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: slim chance of winning? I said, like, this term is 211 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: impossible to win. Yeah. That was that was the god's 212 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: honest truth, slim to none under the business of it. 213 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: Although have you seen any bump in the business of 214 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: Connecticut Junior Rangers. I mean, I can't think that there'd 215 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 1: be any better promotion for the program than to win 216 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: this tournament. And you were out there on social media 217 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: and making sure the world of hockey knew all about it. 218 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: I try. I'm a one man social media outlet, and 219 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,559 Speaker 1: it's not pretty at times. I wish I had somebody 220 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: that knew what they were doing. But business has been 221 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: you know, the Rangers has been steadily growing and kind 222 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: of building momentum for the last uh four years. So 223 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: it's this was kind of a culmination of what what 224 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: we've built myself and Bob Crawford and and and kind 225 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: of a you know, icing on the cake um situation 226 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: for us. But it's you know, we've added more teams 227 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: every year, we've expanded the program, we've we've done better 228 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: at the brick once the first two years we're kind 229 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: of feeling feeling out the process and how it worked. 230 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: And in the two thousand seven year was good, we 231 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: made the playoffs, oh eights, made the semis and then 232 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: this year we built on that. So um, it's kind 233 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: of been a slow build um for the last five years. 234 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: So um, it was good to get this Brick championship. 235 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: But again, everything just fell in place at the right 236 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: time to pull this off. So did you see the 237 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: Time magazine cover story not long ago about all the 238 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: money in youth sports? It's a billion dollar industry. Have 239 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: we reached a point from the business of kids sports 240 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: and we're talking ages five, six, seven, Is there a 241 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,839 Speaker 1: bit of insanity on the parental side of things, or 242 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: is just this is where we are, and folks are 243 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: willing to spend big money, not only on their kids 244 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: and pets, so you might as well take it if 245 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: they're willing to spend it. You know what I saw 246 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: it coming. Um I got involved when I retired unexpectedly 247 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: in two thousand eleven. Um, So I got involved, uh, 248 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: you know, eight years ago, and I saw it building. 249 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: And what I think it stems from the insanity. Yes, 250 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: it all kind of eads into it. Um. But it 251 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: started with colleges. Like I think, if you'd ask anybody 252 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: that's at this level of hockey if they could use 253 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: a sport or anything an instrument to get into a 254 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: better school academically, they would say, sign me up, and 255 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: they'd look at it as an investment up until that point. Well, 256 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: what happened was colleges all of a sudden started committing 257 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: eighth graders freshman in high school. So that dropped the 258 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: business aspect of youth sports even further down. So when 259 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: I came through, uh college hockey, it was you know, 260 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: your junior year, you're allowed to talk to coaches. Now 261 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: it's seventh and eighth graders, which is insane to me. Um. 262 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: But I think that's driven the insanity and the the pressure, 263 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: you know, further down. So now you're talking fifth and 264 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: sixth graders are like, I'm two years out from being 265 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: committed and if I don't, my career is over. Um. 266 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: So I think that is that is a real driver 267 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: of of the insanity and the business of sports, because 268 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 1: everybody's looking for a leg up in college or a scholarship, 269 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: and and that you know, for ether seventy grand eclip 270 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: for university, it's it's big business. Truth be told, Jeff, 271 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: and we're shouting with Jeff Hamilton's program director of the 272 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: Connecticut Junior Rangers. Truth be told. I wouldn't need a 273 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: scholarship if my kid didn't play hockey. I could afford 274 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: just to pay for his college. I mean, I don't 275 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: want to tell everybody. I'm embarrassed what the two months 276 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: of this brick thing cost me. But let's just say 277 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: the money I'm spending on let's twelve thirteen years of hockey, 278 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: it's not an understatement or overstatement to say that I 279 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: could just pay for his four years of college. Correct. 280 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: But I think there's also especially in hockey. And I'm 281 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: clearly biased. Um, I think there's real value and lessons 282 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: taught and learned playing hockey especially, but new sports in 283 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: a in a good program, Uh, there's there's huge life 284 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: lessons to be learned. UM. And if I'm paying for, um, 285 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: you know, my kid to go to a hockey rink 286 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: or a baseball field lacross field instead of being on 287 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: an iPad or an iPhone or whatever, I think that's value. Uh. 288 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: I think that's a worth every penny. Um. And to 289 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: be around other kids, and to travel and to and 290 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: to do all this stuff. I think it's very valuable 291 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: for these kids, especially in this day and age when 292 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: when it seems that you know, kids are sheltered more 293 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: and more. I think it's good for them to be 294 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: be out there and be with other kids and struggle 295 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: and fail and learn and compete. Um. And and and 296 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: to allow them to do that without interruption, I think 297 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: is is worth every penny to me. Jeff, Let's actually 298 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: talk about the money a little bit, without being maybe 299 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: too specific about specifically your program. Roughly, how much does 300 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: it cost a family who wants to put their kids, 301 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: let's say a ten year old at the highest highest 302 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: level of of youth hockey right now, I would say 303 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: in our area, UM, now, we're we're we're extremely rare 304 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: given our ice costs and and and everything else associated 305 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: with being in Fairfield County. UM, but we're probably in 306 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: that for a full season hockey you can expect, you know, 307 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: in the ten to twelve thousand range will be my 308 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: guests all in with travel and and stuff like that, 309 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: equipment and tuition and and everything and that that gets you, 310 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: you know, um, um you know, it gets you three 311 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: practices a week, it gets you fifty plus games, it 312 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: gets you a couple of tournaments. UM. You know, it 313 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: gets you professional coaching. UM. So that that's probably our ballpark. 314 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: And considering our ice costs or or two to three 315 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: x times most people, um and most organizations, I think 316 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: that's a pretty good value for for our area. We're 317 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: speaking with Jeff Hamilton, program director for the youth hockey 318 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: franchise the Connecticut Junior Rangers, and Jeff given, I mean, 319 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: given those costs that that you're describing, I'm curious if 320 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: is youth hockey losing or I guess youth sports overall, 321 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: because I don't think hockey is totally unique in those numbers. 322 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: Is it losing its egalitarian is um some I mean, 323 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: if I am a very talented ten year old hockey player, 324 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: but my family just doesn't have the means to to 325 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 1: pay ten dollars for a season, am I am? Am 326 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 1: I still is it possible still for me to reach 327 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: the highest levels? Or am I losing out on that 328 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: opportunity just because the finances have gotten so large? Jeff, 329 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 1: before you answer, I just want to joke that I'm 330 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: glad we have a Princeton guy thrown out egalitarian is 331 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: um to a Yale guy. I mean, at least you 332 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: guys know what you're talking about. Bar looks a little 333 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: confused on the right side of Oakland County Community College. 334 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: What UM, But no, we we have even inside the 335 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: Junior Rangers, we have U financial a that we provide families. UM. 336 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: You know we we uh, we have a five and 337 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: one C three that UM that people can donate to 338 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: UM and we do fundraisers and stuff like that. So 339 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: we we help families that that that that need financial assistance. UM. 340 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: You know, we've we've been doing that since since the 341 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: Knnecting Yankees days. I want to go back to something 342 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: you said earlier, and you made a very good point, 343 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: and you were talking about you'd rather see children participating, 344 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 1: whether it's youth hockey, whether it's youth baseball or whatever, 345 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: instead of being on an iPad or playing the latest 346 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 1: Fortnite video game, whatever. And unfortunately, it seems in society 347 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: we're losing that battle. So what can we do as parents, 348 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: you know, outside of you're gonna play sports to convince children, hey, 349 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 1: you know what, this is the way you should go 350 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: and and have a more quality life. Uh, personally as 351 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: a parent. And I'm saying this, uh, And I just 352 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: bought my kids their first iPhones, uh, Scott. They I 353 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: promised Jack that if he won the brick that you 354 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: really didn't think you were gonna win. That. That really demonstrates. 355 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: So it flies in the face everything I'm talking about. 356 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: But I don't get my kids the option. It's hey, listen, 357 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: if if I see you on the iPad or whatever 358 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: for for ten or fifty minutes, done, go outside and 359 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: do something. If you don't you know, whatever it is, 360 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: I don't care what it is, go outside and do something. 361 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: Go get in trouble, go climate tree, it doesn't matter. 362 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: I just don't. I don't want kids on my kids 363 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: on their their iPads. I don't give them the choice, 364 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: and you know, car rides and stuff like that. As 365 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: long as they get the reading done, if they get 366 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,199 Speaker 1: their mass sheets done, okay, then go and play a 367 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: video game. Because I played video games growing up. Um, 368 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:28,959 Speaker 1: you know, but my dad and mom were on me 369 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: to to not just sit there and marinate in front 370 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:36,239 Speaker 1: of a in front of a screen. That's true. I mean, 371 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: it comes out of parenting and personal choice, you know, 372 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: in preference. But but I don't I'm on my kids 373 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: about it, you know. Yeah, I mean as growing up 374 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 1: to it's like, you know, my mom and dad were like, okay, 375 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: here's a football, there's a bowling ball, do whatever you 376 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 1: need to do. Go get some sport activity. But they 377 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: kept it to a minimum when it came to playing pong. 378 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: Let's put it that way. Yeah's a funny story. My Jack, 379 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: My the one that was on the brick team. He 380 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 1: gets up early and I came down in the office 381 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: and he's got a computer in there, and I'm fixing 382 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,479 Speaker 1: breakfast and making coffee whatever. And in a half hour 383 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: later I go in there, he's still on there I'm like, Jack, 384 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: I'm going to kill you. What are you playing? And 385 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: I look on the computer. He's playing Pomp minutes starting 386 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: back to yesteryear. But speaking to being on your kids, Jeff, 387 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,479 Speaker 1: I go to these rinks and I was a soccer player, 388 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: and I gotta tell you sometimes I am super scared 389 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,919 Speaker 1: when I see moms and dad's yelling at kids. And 390 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: you got to do more. And it's twelve months a 391 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: year and you've got to go to another clinic because 392 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: somebody else is doing it. How much is too much? 393 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 1: And what do you tell parents about you sports? It's 394 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: a great question, and I think we're probably gonna flush 395 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: that out as as you know, as as parents of 396 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: athletes in the next I don't know, half a dozen, 397 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: ten years once. Kind of this insanity mature is a 398 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: little bit. But personally, my kids are playing uh five 399 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 1: or six sports. They're playing golf, they're playing tenant and there, 400 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,479 Speaker 1: and I'm trying to juggle it. Luckily, I can control 401 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 1: one schedule um, which makes a huge difference at times. 402 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: But you know, they're they missed baseball for the first 403 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: time this year, they missed a bunch of lacrosse tournaments 404 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,719 Speaker 1: and and and you know all the other stuff. So 405 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: it's it's tough to juggle it. Um but my personal 406 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: opinion is between what they get at practices three times 407 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: a week, they get their fifty games and then they 408 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: do do spring hockey as well, which which is two 409 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: times a week. That the practices and then you know, 410 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: ten twelve games. Unless you're doing the brick, then it's 411 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: a little bit more. But I think that's plenty. My 412 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: kids don't do any extra work. They don't do private lessons, 413 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: they don't do skill sessions. Um. I just would rather 414 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: have them go pick up across stick as opposed to 415 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 1: go get a private skating lesson. You know, whatever I 416 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: think the multi sport athlete is long term is uh 417 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: is a better hockey player. Um. So I don't push 418 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 1: any of those extra extra things on them. We are 419 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: chatting with Jeff Hamilton's the program director of the Connecticut 420 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 1: Junior Rangers, and I take great solace in that because 421 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: you should see the funny looks I got from some 422 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: people on our team and some others around when like, well, 423 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: so what's Jackson doing now? And I said, anything but hockey. 424 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: He is not allowed to play goalie if he wants 425 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: to go to a puck shoot and skate out because 426 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: he doesn't get a chance to do it very often. 427 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: I let him do it, but he is not allowed 428 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 1: to be a goalie on ice for the next five 429 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: to six weeks. That's great. And to your point skating out, 430 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: I mean it's a whole different position, right playing goalie, 431 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: So that's almost like another sport for him. So that's 432 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: that's Uh, that's great to hear, and and it's well 433 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: deserved on his part, you know, like it's a long 434 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: season and it's a long spring and and if anything, 435 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: just clear the head for these kids, Like my kids 436 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: are out in Wyoming right now. Mick just fell up 437 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: a horse yesterday. Um, you know, I love it. It's 438 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: great get away from the ring. Jeff, can you give 439 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: us a sense, I mean you mentioned the five oh 440 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: one see three that the foundation kind of attached to 441 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: the connected Junior Rangers. Give us a sense of from 442 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: the business standpoint kind of how you guys operate. How 443 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 1: many teams are under the Junior Rangers umbrella. So we 444 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: have about twenty five teams in the winner uh teams 445 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: in the spring um and we have I don't know 446 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: the exact number, but we have maybe eight to ten 447 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: professional coaches, maybe more now twelve professional coaches, and then 448 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: we have, you know a certain amount of parent coaches, 449 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: and myself, I'm included as a parent coach. So I 450 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: my philosophy is, it's not better to have a parent coach. 451 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 1: It's not better to have a pro coach. It's the 452 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 1: best coach now that that you can find. You guys 453 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: have some good ones. Right, You're not the only former 454 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,719 Speaker 1: NHL player that is that is involved from a coaching standpoint, correct. 455 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 1: We we have you know, Chris Jury, who's you know 456 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,120 Speaker 1: obviously with the Rangers, now Marty St. Louis that helps 457 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,360 Speaker 1: us out. We have you know, Ryan and Shawan Haggerty 458 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,719 Speaker 1: that that that both played at a high level. I mean, 459 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: the list goes on and on of of guys that 460 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 1: Jimmy Hankel, who's our junior coach, um that played professionally 461 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: in college hockey. And if you go down our list, 462 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: it's you know, the majority of guys are either longtime 463 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 1: professional coaches or have played college and or pro. So um, 464 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: it's a it's a good mix, it's a good balance 465 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,880 Speaker 1: and and sometimes it's it's nice to have a parent 466 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 1: coach because he's obviously more invested just in you know, 467 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,399 Speaker 1: in the day to day stuff because he has a 468 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: kid there. Um, you know, but we we've done a 469 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: great job finding local pro coaching talent that that has 470 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: really you know, driven our our success. And where does 471 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: the money coming? I mean obviously fees for from parents 472 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: for for their kids to join the team. You also 473 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: mentioned donations. Are those kind of the two main buckets 474 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: for for how you know where revenue comes from for 475 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 1: the Rangers? Correct? And we we do camps and tryouts 476 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 1: and stuff like that that that helps with the helps 477 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: with revenue. And you know we do we do camps, 478 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: you know, invite camps throughout the summer. We do, Um, 479 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 1: we'll do some extra stuff during the spring. Um. But 480 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: that's that's the two main buckets. Yeah. Is there is 481 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 1: there merchandise? Actually, then there's merchandise. There's my wallet can 482 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:26,439 Speaker 1: confirm there is merchandise. We just actually opened up opened 483 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: up a shop a couple of years ago. Um, that's 484 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: kind of taken out a life of its own. But 485 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: Jeff Funny, let me tell you, I happen to be 486 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: friendly with Nate Checket's who's the founder and CEO of Rohan. 487 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: They have a pop up shop in Chelsea Piers in Stanford, 488 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 1: and I had talked to him a while back about 489 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 1: perhaps sponsoring Jackson's team his his winter team. What about 490 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: the thought of because of the the exposure that these 491 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: programs get, is their value in companies attaching their brands 492 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: to c j R, to mid Fairfield, to those premium 493 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 1: brands in youth high Is there a sponsorship opportunity? Uh? 494 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: There is an excellent example of that is UH is 495 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Organization. They actually talked to the 496 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: guy that's set it up. They partnered with Dick Sporting 497 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:18,639 Speaker 1: Goods and they went from They've had a rapid growth 498 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh of both numbers and talent um and through Dicks, 499 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:28,120 Speaker 1: and I think the Mario mu Um I don't want 500 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: to misrepresent what they're doing, but Mario mu has some 501 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: kind of foundation where they match whatever Dick Sporting Goods 502 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: adds to the the yearly donation and or sponsorship, and 503 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 1: they their numbers have gone through the roof. The tuition 504 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: is dropped by forty or um. People get discounts and 505 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,439 Speaker 1: Dick Sporting Goods for you know, equipment and stuff like that. 506 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: So it's been a huge win for their program. And 507 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: I don't know how that affects Dicks, but it definitely 508 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 1: looks good on them that that their partnered with the 509 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Penguins elite UM and they're doing such a great job. 510 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 1: So there's definitely room for that. We've explored it, um, 511 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: but just going back to the one man band here, 512 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: it's tough to alright, I'm gonna drive that bus job. 513 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: I'm telling you right here on the air, i am 514 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:20,679 Speaker 1: going to drive that bus. But yes, it's it's definitely 515 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 1: an opportunity and something that we've explored briefly and kind 516 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: of lightly. But but it's worked other places, and you've 517 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: got you know, Honey Baked, and you've got Little Caesar's, 518 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: and you've got you know, all these other Chicago mission 519 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 1: that have done similar things. So it's out there. Jeff, 520 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: you're obviously familiar with kind of the fight going on 521 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: right now for for college athletes trying to get a 522 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: piece of the money that they generate. You know, obviously 523 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 1: UTAKI and youth sports are nowhere near that level yet. 524 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 1: But but as we talk about, you know, merchandise and sponsorships, 525 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 1: and you know, if you're the Little League World Series, 526 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 1: there's already meteor rites coming in. Um, do you think 527 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna ever reach a point where you know, there 528 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: there's talk of payment to parents or two kids for 529 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: for their participation as as the commercialization aspect rises in 530 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: the youth, in the youth market, I have you know that. 531 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: That's a great question. I wouldn't begin to know the 532 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: answer to that. I would say, with the social media presence, 533 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 1: I think there's opportunities for I mean, you see you 534 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 1: see some you know, if you want to call them, 535 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: social media stars, little kids and in all sports that 536 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: I believe are making money off of you know, YouTube 537 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: videos and Twitter posts based on their followers and all 538 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: that stuff. So there is, you know, there is something 539 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,959 Speaker 1: there as far as on a mass scale, I don't know. 540 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: That's uh, who knows. That's a great question. I don't know. 541 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: I like to ask a question about TV rights. I mean, 542 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: right now you you will see a game like this 543 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: on your local cable channel. Will that expand one day 544 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 1: because of youth sports? I would hope. So. I think 545 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 1: the brick Is is an exceptionally uh well run tournament. 546 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: It's broadcasted professionally. It's the play by play. Guys are 547 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: very enthusiastic and and call a good game, and um, 548 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: I think people would. I'd love to know their viewership 549 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: numbers just on the on the online feed. But I 550 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: think that tournament itself is right for for you know, 551 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: being a smaller version of the Little League World Series 552 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: of Hockey. Um, I think that there's could be some 553 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: traction there, but UM I think Live Barn is also 554 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: um kind of trying to fill that void. Live Barn 555 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: as a as an online streaming of of all hockey games, 556 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: youth hockey games. UM So there might eventually be some 557 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: kind of channel linked into that. I don't know, but 558 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: there's definitely a market for it. I mean, with with 559 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: the travel and everything involved, you know, more and more 560 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: family members get an opportunity to watch their their siblings 561 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:00,080 Speaker 1: and their sons and daughters, and um, you know, I 562 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: definitely think there's something there. I will tell you what 563 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: the popularity to sports and the proliferation of the O 564 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: T T s, I would venture to guess that within 565 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: the next year or two, the Brick will be shown 566 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: on whether it's ESPN Plus or Amazon or Facebook Live 567 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: somebody with the amount of sponsorship they have and the 568 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: need for programming, somebody will absolutely jump in and show 569 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 1: that to the masses, no doubt, I hope. So now 570 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 1: you've seen it firsthand, it's it's it's a world class event, 571 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 1: and it's it's a unique venue and great hockey and 572 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: and like I said, it's very well run, um and 573 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:37,959 Speaker 1: it's one of the greatest youth hockey events the kid 574 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: can do. All right, that's Jeff Hamilton's program director of 575 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:43,480 Speaker 1: the Connecticut Junior Rangers. Yeah, thanks so much for taking 576 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: some time. Thank you, sir. Thanks a lot for having me. 577 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: Guys appreciate it. I am so excited that we're seeing 578 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 1: a former player, professional player working with youth and scott 579 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: as you know, I mean, this guy sounds super. I 580 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 1: have nothing but accolades for It was a fantastic experience, 581 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 1: not only because they won, but the way Jeff handled 582 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: the kids and really need that made them feel special 583 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: and that he cared about them. That that was my 584 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: takeaway from the tournament. From this interview. I love the 585 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,719 Speaker 1: craziness of the parents. I mean, I live it. But 586 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: for the coach to say that, you know, they need 587 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: to get their heads on straight. And when I said 588 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 1: I'm taking my son off the ice for five or 589 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 1: six weeks, what did he say? Good for you? Because 590 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: I know so many kids who are and this is 591 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: not just hockey, This is not just what I see 592 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: every day. You read the basketball store in ESPN where 593 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 1: these injuries, the overuse injuries. Parents get a grip. Your 594 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: kid does not need to be doing this, specializing in 595 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: one sport seven days a week, three sixty five days. 596 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 1: It's not good for the body, it's not good for 597 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: the mind. I'm struck by how professional and it is. 598 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: You know that he you know, did junior rangers and 599 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,959 Speaker 1: ploy coaches. They have trainers, they have a five oh 600 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: one C three, They take donations, they give scholarships, as 601 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: you said, as you heard him talk about, they are 602 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 1: exploring partnerships and sponsorships. They have merchandise. There are teams 603 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: out there and and Literal League World Series is a 604 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 1: good example that has media rights. This is gonna be 605 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 1: to me, I'm telling you, this is gonna be on TV. 606 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 1: So this starts to look a lot like college sports 607 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: or even professional sports. It's amazing. Jeff Kessler Online one, 608 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: It's amazing, how how how commercialized this whole endeavor is 609 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: and I was serious when I asked him. I do 610 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 1: wonder if they reach a point where kind of the 611 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 1: conversations you're hearing in college sports eventually trickle their way 612 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 1: down to youth sports where I say, pay me, Yeah, 613 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: it feels better to be number one than number five. 614 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: I'll wear a number because of Mike. We have a 615 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: chance to go for three in a row. Kid numbers 616 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: at a good time, and let's first started wearing the number. 617 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: How we just have the Bloomberg business of sports. The 618 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: number of the week, number of the week. I'm gonna 619 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: give you two. I'm gonna give you two gift to 620 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 1: five fifty as in t o fifty down to five. 621 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: But if I look at each other quizzically, how much 622 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: weight Phil Nicholson lost by fasting for five days? That's fifteen. 623 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 1: That was a good number. I should be used that 624 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: one too. Do you have an idea? No? I don't know. 625 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: And I don't make fun because any time, any time 626 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: anybody tries to do a business, I always feel bad 627 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 1: when they it collapses. Big baller, they were selling fifty 628 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:38,920 Speaker 1: T shirts at its height and at a volleyball tournament 629 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:43,160 Speaker 1: it went down from fifty dollar T shirts to five 630 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 1: dollars cash only. Yeah, that's what has happened. They used 631 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: to sell Big Baller shoes. They sold their their shoe 632 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: brand for a four and and now it's down to 633 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 1: yeah right. I think our sports bizspal Darren Ravell tweeted 634 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: the site has been under construction four months, so something 635 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: tells me it's not just BBB now it's b B 636 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:12,840 Speaker 1: B b B bye bye Big Buller brand. Thank you. Hey, 637 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: it's a model. I think that will happen. We'll work 638 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,439 Speaker 1: at some point. It didn't the family, not the right player, 639 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 1: not the right father for sure, um, but eventually we 640 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:25,439 Speaker 1: will see a star young player who creates his own 641 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 1: brand and eventually sells it to a Nike or a 642 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 1: Nudidas or Rebuke, et cetera. It will work at some point. 643 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 1: You've been listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports and Will 644 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: You're here each and every week at the same time 645 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:40,439 Speaker 1: plus online as an Apple podcast, and you can catch 646 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:43,840 Speaker 1: that Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Michael bar on Twitter 647 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: at Big Bar Sports. I'm Evan Nobe Williams at nov 648 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: Underscore Williams and I'm Scott Sashnik. You can follow me 649 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Sashnik. Thank you very much for joining us. 650 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 1: Please tune in next week when we speak with the 651 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 1: biggest and brightest in the sports business industry. You're listening 652 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:00,280 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business Up Sports from Bloomberg Radio or around 653 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:09,880 Speaker 1: the world. M