1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio News. 2 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 2: This is the Business of Sports. 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 3: Our aim is always to leverage the global appeal of football. 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 2: Having representation in college sports is even more important than. 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 4: Cro Ten percent of Americans now claimed sock up to 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 4: be their favorite sport. 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: We estimate the UTH sports audience has three trillion dollars 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: in spending power. The nature of baseball is, it is worldwide, 9 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: and it is flower. 10 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 3: I'm very happy for the WMBA and how the NBA 11 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 3: has embraced them. 12 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 4: Sportsbooks are not going anywhere, and sports betting is only growing. 13 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 3: We have a super team running this league, and this 14 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 3: league is here and it's here to stay. 15 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 16 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 3: This is the Bloomberg Business with Sports, where we explore 17 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 3: the big money issues in the world of sports. I'm 18 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 3: Vanessa Prodomo Maglione. Michael Barrow will be back next week. 19 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 3: Randa Williams is traveling this weekend to see his mom 20 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 3: for Mother's Day and give her a big hug, but 21 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 3: he did join me in the studio earlier this week. 22 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 3: Coming up, we are looking ahead to the World Cup 23 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 3: with Soccer media personality and creator of Men and Blazers 24 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 3: Network Rog Bennett. But first we're talking hoops with a 25 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 3: future Hall of Famer. This week and marks the start 26 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 3: of the WNBA season. After a contentious offseason regarding the 27 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 3: CBA that created a lot of uncertainty if this season 28 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 3: would start on time. But here we are. This season 29 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 3: is officially kicked off on time after a landmark deal 30 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 3: was negotiated. And what better way to kick off the 31 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 3: w season than to speak to a legend of the game. 32 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 3: Earlier this week, Randall and I spoke to none other 33 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 3: than Candace Parker. She's leading the WNBA broadcast for Amazon 34 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 3: Prime this year, part of the league's historic two point 35 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 3: two billion dollar media rights deal. She talked to us 36 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 3: about how Prime is elevating the game, as well as 37 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 3: her thoughts on the CBA and what storylines and teams 38 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 3: to watch for this season. Let's take a listen to 39 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 3: the conversation with WNBA legend Candace Parker. Cannis, thanks so 40 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 3: much for joining us in the studio and tell me 41 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 3: about adding that that last title Hall of Fame. 42 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: It's surreal. I think you you you don't start your 43 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: career off being like, hey, I want that orange jacket. 44 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 2: But when it's all said and done. You know, you 45 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 2: prepare to try to go out and give your best, 46 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: win championships and ride into the sunset. And so to 47 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 2: be in the twenty twenty sixth class, to be in 48 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: the cool club, and you know, I'm really proud of it. 49 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 5: Where are you gonna wear this jacket? It's one of 50 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 5: those jackets or it's a statement piece. 51 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: You know. What's so funny is, you know, we talk 52 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 2: a lot with my daughter, she's sixteen, about trusts and 53 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 2: like all these things about what she would get, you know, 54 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: and all this stuff, and so she has claimed the 55 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: orange jacket. So I don't know where I'm gonna wear it, 56 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 2: but I know when I'm no longer here, she's gonna 57 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 2: have it. 58 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 3: Damn. 59 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 5: She already claimed that. 60 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, did you start thinking about the fit for Hall 61 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 3: of Fame? 62 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 2: I have a little bit. I'm gonna pay homage to 63 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 2: my journey a little bit so and I think my 64 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 2: my my boys are gonna be there. So we're all gonna. 65 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 3: Have like a you know, matching family. 66 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 2: I'm matching matching vibe. 67 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, sure, So why don't we start and talk 68 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 5: about what Prime is going to bring to WNBA coverage. 69 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 5: I think we're entering this new wave of NBA and 70 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 5: WNBA media partners, and I wonder from your perspective, what 71 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 5: is something that you're looking to stand out on as 72 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 5: it pertains to WNBA coverage and broadcasting on Prime. 73 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: I think that if you look at Thursday Night Football, 74 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 2: if you look at you know, I was a part 75 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: of the NBA rollout, you know, we definitely want to 76 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 2: teach the game. We definitely want to bring entertainment to 77 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,399 Speaker 2: the game. And I think just being a technology company, 78 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 2: just being able to have a studio like we have, 79 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: being able to have some of the tools and things 80 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: like that to be able to teach the viewer about 81 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: the WBA. So that's the thing I'm most excited about, 82 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: and doing it in a really cool way. I mean, 83 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: we have a lot of new fans to the WBA, 84 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: We have a lot of og fans to the WBA, 85 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: So being able to do that in year thirty, I 86 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: think is pretty special. 87 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 3: It's something I wanted to ask you about because of 88 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 3: the new influx of fans of the WNBA has gotten. 89 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 3: Do you take a different approach to broadcasting for WNBA 90 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 3: than you do for MBA because. 91 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 2: Of that absolutely not. I think that, you know, you 92 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: have to have the ability to reach the viewer where 93 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: they're at. And some of the greatest advice I ever 94 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: got was from Kenny Smith. He said, if you can 95 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 2: say one thing and reach the grandma, the casual fan, 96 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 2: and the super fan, then you've done your job. And 97 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 2: I think we have those three even in the WNBA 98 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: that's thirty years young. So I think that it's about, 99 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: you know, trying to figure out what can reach all 100 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 2: three of those things and bringing it and bring in 101 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 2: the excitement. 102 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 5: One of the things that I think has been interesting 103 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 5: about your commentary on WNBA is that people think that 104 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 5: sometimes you are very harsh on players in terms of, 105 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 5: you know, when you are saying, hey, this person could 106 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 5: have been better at this, this person could have been 107 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 5: better at that. And maybe that's new to WNBA because 108 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 5: of the fact that this is an elevated platform, it 109 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 5: is reaching more fans and more viewers. How do you 110 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 5: balance saying like, Okay, this player could have been better 111 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,679 Speaker 5: with potential fans who are like, oh, she's hating. 112 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: Here's the thing. We've had to protect our game for 113 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 2: so long, like the world has not been ready for 114 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 2: women to do anything but be in the kitchen and 115 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: doing dishes, like that's what the world has wanted women 116 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 2: to be. And thirty years later, the WNBA is now 117 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: not having to fight for its place or set at 118 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 2: the table. And with that comes honesty. I think for 119 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 2: so long we've had to uplift and you know, got 120 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: the Eye of the Tiger and like this girl is 121 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: on fire and like, show all this stuff and it's 122 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 2: like no, now the game speaks for itself. And so 123 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 2: I don't ever want to lie to the fan. I'm 124 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: not trying to hate. I love coming with facts. And 125 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: the same thing in the NBA is as if you 126 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: have an opinion, it doesn't mean that my opinion is 127 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 2: the greatest thing ever. It's my opinion. But with that opinion, 128 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 2: I like to come with facts. I like to come 129 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 2: with stuff that backs it up. I loved being coached 130 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: by being challenged. I never liked being lied to because 131 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: to me, the eye and the sky don't lie, right, 132 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 2: your eyes can't lie and what you're seeing. And so, 133 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 2: like I said, I think there's different styles, there's different 134 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: viewpoints that we're gonna bring to Amazon. I mean, you 135 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 2: got Cynthia Cooper that is the originator swen casts in 136 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 2: that early two thousands meet. So, like, we've got a 137 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 2: great variety of perspectives and I think we're gonna have 138 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: a lot of fun debates. 139 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 5: I think so too. 140 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I love that. And one of the things that 141 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 3: we're seeing now change a little bit more, be more 142 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 3: accepted because this has always been part of the game, 143 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 3: rivalries and intensity and things like that, is that something 144 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 3: you think is more accepted in the players now because 145 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 3: it goes in between of what Brando was just talking about, 146 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 3: how you know, you want to be as harsh as 147 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 3: you can in those times and be real, So like 148 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 3: when the players are out there being real, do you 149 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 3: think it's more accepted into fans now? That's just part 150 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 3: of sports. 151 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 2: First of all, I don't want to say harsh because 152 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: I think honesty. Sometimes I agree it's construed as harsh, 153 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: and to me, I think it is actually asking questions, 154 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 2: having those like lenses in the microscope to look through 155 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: of like what makes success and what wins wins losses? 156 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: Would I hold Anthony Edwards to the same standard that 157 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: I would hold somebody else to And that's what we've 158 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 2: all been fighting for. So to me, I'm excited about 159 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: the opportunity to have these open, candid conversations, to talk 160 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: about strategy, to talk about on the floor. I think 161 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: women for so long have played basketball and it's been 162 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: everything but basketball, and now we're able to focus on 163 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: the game and focus on the plane, style and all 164 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 2: of those things. 165 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 5: So now let's talk about You said candid conversations there, 166 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 5: and I think there were plenty of them for the 167 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 5: past eighteen months about the collective bargaining agreement, and there 168 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 5: was a big celebratory toast at I believe it was 169 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 5: a WNBA office when they agreed upon things. You see 170 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 5: a bunch of different statements from WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert 171 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 5: and of course Terry Jackson, who's the executive director of 172 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 5: the WNBPA. And I wonder what were your thoughts as 173 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 5: this as players in the league were continuing to negotiate 174 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 5: and they eventually got to the finish line, what were 175 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 5: your thoughts throughout and then when they came to an agreement. 176 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 2: Well, agreement had to get done much momentum. There's so 177 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: many things that were going in the right direction that 178 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 2: it would have been a disservice to first and foremost 179 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 2: the fans, and I mean as a whole, the owners 180 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: as well as or sorry, board of governors, as well 181 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: as the players. And so with that being said, a 182 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: deal had to get done. And I think that we 183 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 2: all understand and negotiations it goes slow and then it 184 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: just rapidly speeds up. And that's exactly what happened. Got 185 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 2: it done right on time to be able to roll 186 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 2: into the season and not miss any action. I think 187 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 2: on both sides gained a lot of ground. I think 188 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 2: from the player's standpoint, you know, standing on what we 189 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: wanted to be able to then go into the next 190 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: round of CBA talks in a few years and be 191 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 2: able to have some ground and some ability to gain 192 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 2: momentum throughout the CBA. 193 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 3: Was there at any point during those conversations, watching from 194 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 3: the outside or talking to players that you thought there 195 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,559 Speaker 3: might be a workstop digital. 196 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: It would just lose so much if that were to happen. 197 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: So I know on both sides they didn't want that 198 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 2: to happen, and when that's the commonality, usually things get done. 199 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 3: Yeah. 200 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 5: So one of the things that I think is interesting 201 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 5: about the CBA is this big dramatic pay increase for 202 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 5: all parties for the WNBA. They have a new media 203 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 5: rights store, which of course is Amazon is a part of. 204 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 5: They have expansion done, and I wonder what you think 205 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 5: the next phase of the W looks like because WNBA 206 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 5: Commissioner Kathy Engelborg mapped it out very clearly it was 207 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 5: going to be media rights collective bargaining and then expansion, 208 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 5: exact same thing that's sort of happening in the NBA 209 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 5: as it pertains to Vegas and Seattle and their expansion process. 210 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 5: What do you think is the next step for the 211 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,599 Speaker 5: W now that we've had these landmark agreements? Where do 212 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:45,839 Speaker 5: you think it goes next? 213 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 2: Well, what I hope is that there's some sort of 214 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 2: breakoff from being a part of the NBA's media rights deal. 215 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: I think that there was a study done that ninety 216 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 2: six percent of sports on television as mail going forward. 217 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 2: Do you think that's going to go up or down? 218 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 2: I personally think it's going to go down because of 219 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 2: the mini outlets you look at. You know, the the 220 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,719 Speaker 2: NBA's partnerships in terms of metiaites deals went from two 221 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 2: basically to now splitting into three. And so with that 222 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 2: being said, there's more outlets there's more ability to have, 223 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 2: you know, to be able to watch what you want. 224 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 2: This generation is watching what they want to watch on 225 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: television now because it's on a tablet, and so that's 226 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 2: what I think it's so special about the streaming element, 227 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,959 Speaker 2: is you're able to really watch what you want to watch, 228 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 2: when you want to watch it. And so that I 229 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 2: think is going to be the next step in The 230 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 2: WBA is doing a great job of having that proof point. 231 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 3: Do you think it's something that we'll see completely separate WNBA, 232 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 3: they break off completely from the NBA. Is that's something 233 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 3: you'd want. 234 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's going to happen, just because 235 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: of the value and if you're a businessman, you're a 236 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 2: businessman for a reason, and you've owned fifty percent of 237 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: the WNBA for this long and you're not going to 238 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 2: get rid of that. So I think that there's going 239 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 2: to be some nudging and some decisions that are going 240 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 2: to have to be made in order to have growth 241 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: for the WBA on its own. 242 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 5: On an ownership level and at an executive level. Specifically 243 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 5: with the WNBA, one of the interesting things that's happening 244 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 5: over the last couple of years is the accelerated growth 245 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 5: of ownership groups in their wealth. I mean, we've seen 246 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 5: sportic evaluation, CNBC valuations recently, and of course many many 247 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 5: announcements about practice facilities, about this increase in investment, and 248 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 5: I wonder from your perspective, what makes a good owner 249 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 5: from a player's perspective, because we hear, oh, you know, 250 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 5: this person's putting in this amount of money, and this 251 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 5: person's putting in that amount of money. But then when 252 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 5: the season starts, sometimes players are like, this is not 253 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 5: good enough despite the numbers that are being reported. 254 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 2: Well, I think there are a couple that are first 255 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 2: of their kind. You'd think about, you know what Mark 256 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 2: Davis has done with the Las Vegas ass having the 257 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 2: practice facility, that's the first women only practice facility, what 258 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 2: that has done for their franchise. Then matt Eshpia and 259 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: of course Clara Wusai. So I think those three owners 260 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 2: really spearheaded the growth of the other stuff. Right. Yes, 261 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 2: so you want to pay increase, but you also have 262 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 2: to have the support and the investment to succeed, and 263 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 2: that comes along with having sports medicine. It comes along 264 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 2: with having state of the art facilities and things like that. 265 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 2: And so that to me is what the most important 266 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 2: thing is, and then others have to follow suit because 267 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 2: if you want to win, then you got to have 268 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 2: all this stuff, otherwise you're not going to attract free 269 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 2: agents and stuff like that. So yeah, I'm excited where 270 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 2: the league is and I think it's going to be 271 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: an exciting season. 272 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 3: There was so much to speak to Candas about we 273 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 3: had to continue, so stick around. We have more with 274 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 3: Parker on what's next for the WNBA. For Randa Williams. 275 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 3: I'm Gonnessa Pronomo Maglione. You're listening to the Bloomberg Business 276 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 3: of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around world. 277 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 278 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 2: This is the. 279 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 3: Bloomberg Business of Sports. We explore the big money issues 280 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 3: in the world of sports. I'm Vanessa Piromo Maglione. Michael 281 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 3: Barr is back next week. We're talking with future Hall 282 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 3: of Famer and WNBA legend Candice Parker. Parker spent most 283 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 3: of her career traveling back and forth between playing in 284 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 3: the WNBA and overseas, where they were given private jets, 285 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 3: private drivers, and paid seven figure salaries. While back in 286 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 3: the US, conditions weren't even close. Now under a new CBA, 287 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 3: players are getting the treatment they've been fighting for. So 288 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 3: let's dive back into our conversation with Parker, starting with 289 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 3: her thoughts on how far the league has come and 290 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 3: where they still need to go. 291 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 2: I think, first, for a long period of time, there 292 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 2: were so many even businesses that limited what female athletes 293 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 2: could do, and now we're seeing those chains kind of 294 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 2: come off and them believing in the brand of female athletes. 295 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 2: And why wouldn't you believe in women? First of all, 296 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 2: we're the ones that are buying stuff in the household. 297 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 2: Second of all, we're the ones that are selling it. 298 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 2: And so I think just in general, like everybody understanding 299 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 2: that that's where the real growth happens. 300 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 3: And on that, like on the salaries being you know, 301 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 3: averaging now around six hundred thousand, and you know, minimum 302 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 3: salaries going up a lot. Do you think that players 303 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 3: now won't have to go overseas will change the quality 304 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 3: of play we'll see on the floor because they're coming 305 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 3: in more fresh. 306 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. I mean there's an entire two or 307 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 2: three generations of players that played twelve months a year. 308 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: I mean I played from October to April, and then 309 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: from April to October and then wa and now you're 310 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: going to see the ability to have the player development, 311 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 2: to have the facilities, to have the strength and conditioning 312 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 2: to get your body right, to have an off season 313 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 2: to actually improve. So I think the game in itself 314 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 2: is going to benefit from it. 315 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 5: Let's talk about the game, thow. Okay, what storylines are 316 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 5: you you watching for this season? 317 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 2: Well, I always think it's really interesting whenever you're trying 318 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 2: to repeat, and especially I love dynasties because I think 319 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 2: there's a different mentality that you have with a dynasty. 320 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 2: The Aces quietly made a lot of huge moves in 321 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 2: free agency that I don't think are being talked about enough. 322 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 2: Kennedy Carter to me, I'm like, they let the Aces 323 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: get Kennedy Carter, which is insane her coming off the bench. 324 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 2: I mean, they quietly signed back their core and a 325 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 2: lot of the WNBA is about familiarity playing with someone 326 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 2: having a style of play. And so with that being said, 327 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 2: I mean the Aces to me is Aces and everybody else. 328 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: I also think it's deep seated in rivalries. So you 329 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 2: talk about, you know, New York, Aces is Phoenix and 330 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: the Aces brewing rivalry, there's a lot of question marks. 331 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: Is Atlanta going to be really good? Can you play 332 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 2: the two bigs together? What is Ryan and Howard going 333 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 2: to do in this season? Now? With Ali shall like, 334 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 2: how are they going to get over the hump? So 335 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 2: I think there's just a number of exciting topics, you know, 336 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 2: to talk about. 337 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 3: Sure, we're speaking with WNBA legend Candice Parker. When you're 338 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 3: looking at the field, like you said, it's Aces and 339 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 3: everyone else. But when you're looking at the field, if 340 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 3: you were a free agent this year, as a lot 341 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 3: of players were, who would you have been looking to 342 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 3: sign with? Who do you think it would have fit 343 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 3: in with? And who do you think you know would 344 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 3: have been great? 345 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 2: That's o good for you, that's a great question. I 346 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 2: really like what they're doing in Toronto just from scratch. 347 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 2: I know Sandy Barndello is a g in this league 348 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: in terms of like she's been in this league for 349 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 2: twenty something years, played in the league now coaching, has 350 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: won championships with two separate franchises, so she knows what 351 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 2: it takes. So Toronto is an interesting intriguing spot, you know. 352 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 2: I mean, I think the excitement around just in terms 353 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 2: of the people, but also this style of play. I 354 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 2: know they're going to play. Marina Maybrey can't go under. 355 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 2: Brittany Sykes won the best two way players in the 356 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 2: league and is really settling into her role. I mean 357 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 2: they've signed, they put together in the expansion draft, Like 358 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 2: I just like all the moves that they've made from 359 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,680 Speaker 2: ground zero, and so I'm not saying I would play there. 360 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 2: That would be an intriguing place if you're free. 361 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 3: Well, I think that's interesting. We're talking about expansion, you know. 362 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 3: I wanted to get your take on that because obviously 363 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 3: the Golden State Vacyries came in theme in this insane 364 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 3: splash last year, Like we said, like CNBC is writing 365 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 3: them about a billion dollars in valuation. So do you 366 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 3: think these new teams Toronto and Portland can come in 367 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 3: with that same sort of and have the same sort 368 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 3: of you know impact. 369 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 2: It's so interesting because I think it is you know time. 370 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 2: I think it is like obviously your team, but it's 371 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: also like place and the Valkyries coming in in Silicon 372 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: Valley kind of help that out a little bit. And 373 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 2: having Lakeham as your owner being able to and he 374 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 2: didn't cut and paste. It wasn't like what works for 375 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 2: Golden State now works for Valkyries. They did it strategically 376 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 2: and they afted well in the expansion draft, so I 377 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: think they overachieved and they kind of set the bar 378 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 2: now like being the first, a lot of people are 379 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 2: going to try to follow. But it doesn't mean that 380 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: that's going to be the case. So you have to 381 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 2: make the right hires. Everybody's got to be on the 382 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: same page. So I'm excited to see what Toronto and 383 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 2: Portland do from a standpoint, because the Valkyrie's already got 384 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: off to a great start because they made the playoffs 385 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 2: in their first year. That's probably not the expectation for Portland. 386 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 2: In Toronto, I. 387 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 3: Don't think it's an expectation for any expansion team to 388 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 3: make them at all. 389 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 2: You're in like the seller, Yeah. 390 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, wrapping up here looking forward. One of the things 391 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 5: that I think is hanging over the league's head on 392 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 5: the business side and on the executive side is Adam 393 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 5: Silver and both Kathy Engelbert were asked about her future 394 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 5: with the league, and from your perspective, someone who played 395 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 5: with her, someone who had a lot of conversations with her, 396 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 5: what is she like and what she meant to the 397 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 5: league over the course of her history since she's been hired. 398 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 2: So I think just when she came in, you know, 399 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 2: I think the tremendous amount of growth, and we've got 400 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 2: to give that credit obviously, that we got to give 401 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: it credit to. Usually leagues start to take off thirty 402 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 2: years in and the WBA I think was being judged 403 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 2: way too early. 404 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 5: I grew up in a different era than like the 405 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 5: NFL and the NBA and the MLB and so many 406 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 5: these other leagues existed when there wasn't social media, when 407 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 5: you were reading newspapers about it, and the WNBA is 408 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 5: one of the first leagues alongside the MLS. They grew 409 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 5: up in the age of social media where it was like, oh, look, look, look, 410 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 5: And I think that unfortunately there were fans who just 411 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 5: looked at it in a cynical way. 412 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 2: And yeah, but it also gave the power to the 413 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 2: players to be able to tell your story. That's try 414 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 2: how we're sitting where we're at right now is because 415 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 2: of nil Because these players were coming in with these 416 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 2: themes behind these different you know, colleges in the backing 417 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 2: and then losing momentum when they got to the WBA 418 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 2: because of the platform. Now that's not the case, and 419 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:56,959 Speaker 2: I think a lot of it did have to do 420 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 2: with the growth, the growing pains. I think Kathy coming 421 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 2: in and you know, you know, negotiating basically two cbas 422 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 2: that have all gone and trended upward. There's positives. You know, 423 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 2: obviously there's been talk about relationship element of things, and 424 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 2: I think in this today's age, you want to be 425 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 2: led with relationship yep. And you know, I think she 426 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: could be better in establishing those relationships and making sure 427 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 2: that everyone's on the same page. As a leader, that's 428 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 2: your responsibility. 429 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 3: Do you think that, let's say she does eventually move 430 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 3: on before the next CBA, what would another leader need 431 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 3: to come in? And really do do you think they 432 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 3: establish the relationships first right away? Like what needs to 433 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 3: happen from a WNBA leader. 434 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 2: Well, I've been so impressed with the NBA, and I 435 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 2: think the NBA has such an advantage because you see 436 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 2: their faces the cameras up close, you know their stories. 437 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 2: But you have to want empower the people that you're 438 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 2: going to be working with. And I say with in commissioner, 439 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 2: you are working with the players, you're not working against them. 440 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 2: So I think just in terms of understanding that that's 441 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 2: the that's what you have to set. But I think 442 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 2: the NBA also has done a great job of the 443 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 2: brotherhood of the NBA. Like you see the Anthony Edwards 444 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 2: seeing Oscar Robertson sitting courtside, going up and giving him DAP. 445 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 2: You see Alan Iverson showing up. So like you have 446 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 2: to create that. You have to want to go back. 447 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 2: You have to empower players to want to go back, 448 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 2: and I think that's how you grow the game. So 449 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 2: you know, that's forefront is creating like that sisterhood and 450 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:39,880 Speaker 2: creating you know, that family. 451 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 3: Do you feel like the legacy players don't feel as 452 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 3: welcome in the WNBA. 453 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 2: No, that's not what I'm saying. I think in terms 454 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 2: of anytime you're going through growth, obviously it's forced and 455 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 2: foremost what's on the court. But now with this growth 456 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 2: that we have, we have the opportunity to tell stories 457 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 2: and you know, to uplift I mean, to me, I 458 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 2: think it also takes those past players. You think about 459 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 2: Bill Russell and how much he was just like a 460 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 2: part of the game and someone that really drove it 461 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 2: forward bo off the court and what he did in 462 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 2: his activism, but also on the court and what he 463 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 2: did in winning ten rings. And so with that being said, 464 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 2: I think it's a responsibility of all of us to 465 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 2: be able to continue to uplift the game because we 466 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 2: love it. I mean I love the WBA. I loved 467 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,400 Speaker 2: it when I was eleven years old when it started, 468 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 2: and it was surreal that I got to play in 469 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 2: it for as long as I. 470 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 5: Did two more. When are we going to get more 471 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 5: WNBA content on streaming platforms? We see so much NBA 472 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 5: stuff Where you think about Court of Gold, which is 473 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 5: the Olympics. We have so many different documentaries And one 474 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 5: of the things that I've wanted for a long time 475 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 5: is in the midst of this wave of growth, we 476 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,440 Speaker 5: haven't seen that much behind the scenes stuff outside of 477 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 5: the things that are put on YouTube and occasionally on ESPN. 478 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 5: Can we get something on Prime or wanting to get 479 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 5: anything like that? 480 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 2: Big bosses hopefully are listening. But at the same time, 481 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 2: I think it's the access element of what people want 482 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 2: to see, you know, And I think that being in 483 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:15,479 Speaker 2: a position to have the access to what goes into 484 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 2: making these players great. You know the future definitely wants 485 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 2: to have access to that. 486 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 5: Pick your WNBA champion. Putting you on the spot, I mean. 487 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 2: I'll take Are you taking the field? Are you taking aces? 488 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 5: I'm taking aces? 489 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: Okay, same, I. 490 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 3: Want to take the field as are taking the field. 491 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 4: I like that. 492 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 2: Okay, So it's us Okay. 493 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 3: Okay, We're going to check back in at the end 494 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,160 Speaker 3: of the season. Appreciate you our thanks to w NBA 495 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 3: legend almost Hall of Famer Candice Parker. Up next, we 496 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 3: turn to soccer. Just over a month until the twenty 497 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,199 Speaker 3: twenty sixth World Cup. The anticipation is growing, so we 498 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 3: will speak to the founder of the Men and Blazers Network, 499 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 3: Roger Bennett. That straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of 500 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 3: Sports for Randa Williams, Vanessa Prodomo Maglione. You're listening to 501 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 3: the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world. 502 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 503 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we 504 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 3: explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 505 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:23,680 Speaker 3: I'm Vanessa Perdomo Maglione, Michael Barr and Randall Williams will 506 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 3: be back next week as a former soccer player. I 507 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 3: am beyond excited for the World Cup this year. But 508 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 3: I recently spoke with someone who might be more excited 509 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 3: than I am. Rog Bennett, who is the founder of 510 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 3: the Men in Blazers network, which is one of the 511 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 3: biggest independently run soccer media networks. 512 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 2: But he didn't just. 513 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 3: Create Men and Blazers. He released a book this year 514 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 3: dedicated to his experience watching the World Cup called We 515 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 3: Are the World Cup, a Personal History of the World's 516 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,400 Speaker 3: greatest sporting event. So I think that says it all. 517 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 3: He is so excited for the World Cup. He wrote 518 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 3: the book about how much he loves it. Let's listening 519 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 3: to the conversation I had with author and founder of 520 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 3: Men and Blazers, Rog Bennett. Thanks so much for joining 521 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 3: the Bloomberg Business of Sports. It's so great to. 522 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,879 Speaker 4: Have you on, Vanessa. It's honestly a joy to be hit. 523 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 3: We have to get into it. First things first, we're 524 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 3: one hundred days out from the World Cup twenty twenty six. 525 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:17,360 Speaker 3: What are your feelings right now? Do you think we're 526 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 3: ready for it? 527 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 4: It depends who were As Vanessa, I can say, I 528 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 4: can only speak for myself. Instead of three hundred and 529 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 4: thirty million Americans. I can say I'm very ready for it. 530 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 4: You know, I started to be ready for this in 531 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 4: nineteen ninety four, of the day the last Men's World 532 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 4: Cup finished in this nation. You know, I've dedicated my 533 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 4: life to trying to watch the game grow, take deep 534 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 4: deep roots. World Cup to World Cup ninety four was 535 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:46,119 Speaker 4: meant to make America an instant football loving nation. We 536 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 4: joke at Men and Blazer's media network. You know, it's 537 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 4: always soccer America's sport of the future, as it has 538 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,959 Speaker 4: been since nineteen seventy two, but in football men's and 539 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,639 Speaker 4: women's has actually had an inexorable rise since nineteen ninety 540 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 4: four and twenty twenty six. This Men's World Cup is 541 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 4: going to be the moment when it stops being the 542 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 4: sport of the future. It's very much seen as sport 543 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 4: at the present and I can't wait. 544 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:12,400 Speaker 3: Oh, that's really interesting. So I want to get into 545 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 3: into that with you, because you just released a book 546 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 3: called We Are the World Cup, a Personal History of 547 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 3: the world's greatest sporting event. And also Men and Blazer's 548 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 3: just released a study called Soccer's Coming Home that has 549 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 3: all this data about how the US is growing. Right, 550 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 3: So let's get into the book first, which accounts all 551 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 3: these different your personal account of all the World Cups 552 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 3: you've experienced. And you had just moved to the US 553 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,679 Speaker 3: in ninety four when when ninety four World Cup was 554 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 3: coming here and kind of talked about how it wasn't 555 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 3: you know anything here? You know it was, in fact, 556 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 3: you said you put it that it was the sixty 557 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 3: seventh ranked sporting event, right, spectator event. 558 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 4: Yes, and I think track to pulling was with sixty six. 559 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 3: Behind tractor pulling? Was that something very good, really jarring 560 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 3: for you when you came over? Did you know that 561 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 3: when you had come over that it was not popular here? 562 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,400 Speaker 4: I mean, look, I came to the United States under 563 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 4: the lure of everything that was great about this nation 564 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 4: from the perspective of a kid growing up in Liverpool, 565 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 4: which was public enemies, albums, John Hughes, movies, though at 566 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 4: the Chicago Bears Super Bowl winning team, And I came 567 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 4: over here and America had everything that it promised me, 568 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 4: all of that energy, all of that excitement, all of 569 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 4: that chaos, and the one thing that was missing was football. 570 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 4: And the World Cup was kicking off almost as soon 571 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,440 Speaker 4: as I arrived in Chicago, and it was amazing watching 572 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,199 Speaker 4: I think it was a study that came out. I 573 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 4: write about it in the book. A few weeks before 574 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 4: the World Cup that very proudly announced zero percent of 575 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 4: Americans care that the World Cup's coming here, and there 576 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 4: was a chaos and there was fear this thing's going 577 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:53,479 Speaker 4: to be a disaster. It turned out to be the 578 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,880 Speaker 4: biggest World Cup of all time still to this day, 579 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 4: and it was amazing. But it was like a circus 580 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 4: that came and left town. And I remember very quickly 581 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 4: afterwards the team I support in England, Everton, like the 582 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 4: New York Mets of Liverpool, were in a very big game. 583 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 4: I had three hundred and sixty five cable channels in Chicago, 584 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 4: none of them showed the game. I had to phone 585 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 4: my dad have him hold the phone against the radio 586 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 4: in Liverpool to follow along. And that's the baseline from 587 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 4: what we've come from and what I've watched, And this 588 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 4: is what the book tells the story of is World 589 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 4: Cup to World Cup, with the arrival particularly a first 590 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 4: cable television and then streaming, the confluence of the Internet 591 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 4: connecting people in Los Angeles to Liverpool or in Minnesota 592 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 4: to Manchester United as closely as if they live right 593 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 4: by the stadium, and the EA Sports FIFA game which 594 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 4: centitized an entire young generation to the stars of football. 595 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 4: The team's a Star Wars canteena of leagues. Everything has changed, 596 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 4: and so World Cup to World Cup, we've seen America slowly, 597 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 4: instead of overnight, as I said, become a proper football loving. 598 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 3: They And that's the interesting thing, right because I think 599 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 3: even this year is touted as like you had said, 600 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 3: it's not the world it's not the sport of the 601 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 3: future anymore. It's going to be now of the present. 602 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 3: But at the time in ninety four, there was also 603 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 3: a feeling of this is going to change. You know, 604 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 3: We're going to become a soccer nation. And obviously the 605 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 3: MLS came around a couple of years after. It was 606 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 3: information coming a couple of years after, but it didn't 607 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 3: really happen. So why do you think it's going to 608 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 3: happen this time? 609 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 4: I mean, a number one, it has happened. That won't 610 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 4: be clear. You know, the Economist just came out with 611 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 4: a study of America's favorite sports and soccer came third. 612 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 4: I was on. I was telling you this before we 613 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 4: came on. I was on Alex Rodriguez's show yesterday and 614 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 4: he kept talking about soccer as if it was like 615 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 4: some distant foreign you know, an object on another planet. 616 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 4: And I said that, don't mean to be rude, a rod, 617 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 4: but like and come on to your own show and 618 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 4: tell you you're a flat earth and believe me, the 619 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 4: world is now round. We know it's round. But ten 620 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 4: percent of Americans now claimed football to be their soccer, 621 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 4: you know, men's and women's to be their their favorite sports, 622 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 4: an enormous number. Baseball came in a nine percent, much 623 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 4: to thirty Rod chagrin. So number one, we are a 624 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 4: proper football loving nation. Obviously, the NFL towers over everything. 625 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 4: The NBA is sandwiched in between. But it's a number one. 626 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 4: It has already happened. The audience is incredibly young. There's 627 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 4: data that shows that by twenty thirty, and I think 628 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 4: this is its beauty. And this is why, by the way, 629 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 4: from a commercial perspective, this is why brands are pouring 630 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 4: into football to soccer. By twenty thirty, the US soccer 631 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 4: fan base will be the perfect mirror to American society. 632 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 4: And all of its glorious diversity. So through football you 633 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 4: can touch anybody. When the brands realize that, and they've 634 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 4: realized that on mass the biggest brands in the world, 635 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 4: Oh my lord, this thing. We can do anything with it, 636 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 4: you know, we can speak to it. So we did 637 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 4: a study that you mentioned at the top. Twenty seven 638 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 4: percent of our listeners become so obsessed with the Premier 639 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 4: League that they fly over to the un to England 640 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 4: once year at least to go and watch the Premier 641 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 4: League team they love play football live. And in that person, 642 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 4: that's an enormous number for the travel business, an enormous 643 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 4: number of Americans. So number one football is as I 644 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 4: you know, I try to outline the drivers as to 645 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 4: why that is. Is very much part of the fabric. 646 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 4: I think part of the reason it's hidden us because 647 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 4: it is so young. You know, our audience and men 648 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 4: in Blazers media network is eighteen to twenty four. But 649 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 4: when you kind of push out, I do a show 650 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 4: Morning Joe and Tom Brokaw wants to cut me off early. 651 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 4: I write about this in the book cut me off. 652 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 4: As soon as I started. He said, whoa, whoa, whoa? 653 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 4: Why are we talking about soccer in America when we 654 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 4: played baseball, and I couldn't get a word in edgeways. 655 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 4: Two years later, I was on again with Brokaw and 656 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 4: he said, whoa. 657 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 2: Whoa, whoa. 658 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 4: I was like, oh my god, please Tom, let me finish, 659 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 4: and he goes. I used to hate soccer, but now 660 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 4: I go with my son in laws every Christmas. We 661 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 4: go together, we watch five games and I fly coach, 662 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 4: which was like his great And I'll tell you when 663 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 4: we have broker Even when we have brokar as a 664 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 4: football fan in the United States, I think we've got everybody. 665 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, when you know you've obviously seen it since day 666 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:15,600 Speaker 3: one here, when did you see the biggest change do 667 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 3: you think? 668 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 4: Well? I mean the wake up point for me and 669 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 4: when I thought about creating what turned into the Men 670 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 4: and Blazer's media network, which covers the Premier League Champions 671 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 4: League with one platform. We have a women's platform, the 672 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,960 Speaker 4: Women's Game, which is really surging right now as a 673 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 4: women's game surging. We've just launched a Hispanic facing, second 674 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 4: third generation platform called Vamos. The catalyst for that for 675 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 4: me was two thousand and six during the World Cup 676 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 4: and again I wrote a tell his story in the 677 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 4: book as watching England take the field, ESPN had just 678 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 4: it was one of the first years they put everything, 679 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:57,400 Speaker 4: every game live. It was a big investment. But they'd 680 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 4: taken over a lot of their baseball commentators, which was 681 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,920 Speaker 4: a choice, and they weren't let's say, I think they'd 682 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 4: watched about as many previous games of football as some 683 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 4: of the you know, the American non football fans watching 684 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 4: for the first time. And England took the field, and 685 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 4: the commentator said, and these words changed my life in 686 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 4: many ways. The commentator said, the world spokes famous footballer 687 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 4: Charlie Beckham takes the field and I screamed at my television, 688 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 4: like you you just gasped. I screamed at the television. 689 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 4: I was like, Wow, if only they had someone who 690 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 4: knew what they were talking about covering this sport, it 691 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 4: would go massive overnight. And my wife, God bless her, 692 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 4: She's just like, why don't you do it? Love? And 693 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 4: I was like, great, and I will so I think 694 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 4: that moment, you know, I called up ESPN. I was like, 695 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 4: why do you not have people who And the person 696 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,719 Speaker 4: I spoke to was just like, we don't have anyone 697 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 4: genuine and I realized in that moment it was like 698 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 4: covering football in the United States in an authentic, serious, joyful, 699 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 4: meaningful inform way. It was. It was like finding beachside 700 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 4: property that hadn't been developed. Accredit ESPN. They turned around 701 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 4: them were like, you guys, you should do it, and 702 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:13,920 Speaker 4: they said, you know, next World Cup. The new podcast technology, 703 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 4: Like you have a podcast. We didn't know what a 704 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 4: podcast was. It felt like we were talking into two cans. 705 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 4: But the rise of digital technology is another side of 706 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 4: the business story of this is what podcasting and then 707 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 4: digital technology allowed us to do was to very cheaply, 708 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 4: very affordably, very intimately connect this massive audience which existed 709 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,520 Speaker 4: but had never really been brought together and build what 710 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 4: turned into the Men and Blazers media network. 711 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:42,839 Speaker 3: Wow, that's really amazing. And I mean, and the thing 712 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,880 Speaker 3: that's interesting and you pointed out to in the Soccer's 713 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 3: Coming Home study is it's still kind of heavily English 714 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:52,400 Speaker 3: Premier League, right, And I love how you kind of 715 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:55,319 Speaker 3: put it. It's the only thing in the US that 716 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:58,320 Speaker 3: people are fans of that isn't the number one league 717 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:02,600 Speaker 3: doesn't exist in the US. It exists overseas, tell me 718 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:05,399 Speaker 3: more about that, and is that okay? Is that okay 719 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 3: for the MLS? You know, to have the EPL be 720 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 3: the number one like league of fans of US fans. 721 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:16,280 Speaker 4: This is a confusing reality. You've got to remember MLS, 722 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:19,040 Speaker 4: which has come on so fast so far, and it's like, 723 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:24,279 Speaker 4: what thirty years of existence gave these other leagues one 724 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:27,160 Speaker 4: hundred and twenty one hundred and thirty euro start. So 725 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:33,280 Speaker 4: the English football is so you know, the history, the authenticity, 726 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 4: the commercial muscle that it has has made it the 727 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,840 Speaker 4: world leader. And because Americans love the best, you know, 728 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 4: they've gravitated towards it. Also another nuanced part of the 729 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 4: conversation is MLS has to go in prime time up 730 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:55,200 Speaker 4: against every other major sporting enterprise. It's very hard to 731 00:35:55,239 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 4: find that bandwidth. The Premier League broadcast seven o'clock, nine 732 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 4: o'clock in the morning. It's got no competition, and it's bizarrely, 733 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 4: by counterprogramming the primetime it's found its it's it's it's 734 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:13,080 Speaker 4: room to breathe, to connect to a hungry American audience. 735 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 4: NBC starting to broadcast it in a really serious, really 736 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 4: quite brilliant way with Rebecca Lout as the host in 737 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 4: twenty thirteen was a game changer. They made every game 738 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,720 Speaker 4: available and by the way, not just NBC. But there's 739 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 4: no better place to cover football. That kid me who 740 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:33,239 Speaker 4: had to phone his dad to follow his team on 741 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 4: the telephone. There's no better place to watch more football 742 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,359 Speaker 4: live than you. I can watch more football live from 743 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 4: New York City than I can even from England. And 744 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 4: it's just led to this incredible surge. 745 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 3: That was founder of Men and Blazers and author of 746 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:50,440 Speaker 3: We Are the World Cup, ROJ Bennett. That's it for today. 747 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:52,880 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining. Tune in again next week for the 748 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:55,320 Speaker 3: latest on the stories moving big money in the world 749 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:57,759 Speaker 3: of sports. And don't forget to catch our podcast on 750 00:36:57,840 --> 00:37:00,440 Speaker 3: all your podcast platforms, and go to Bloomberg dot com 751 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 3: to subscribe to the Bloomberg Business of Sports newsletter to 752 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:06,399 Speaker 3: stay up to date on all our juicy insights. You're 753 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:09,200 Speaker 3: listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio 754 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 3: around the world. Stay with us. Today's top stories and 755 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:17,480 Speaker 3: global business headlines are coming up right now.