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 Barr. 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 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: the sports industry time to bring in our guest, hal Steinbrunner, 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: National Hockey League Commissioner Gary betmanth Atlanta Braves president Derek Schiller, 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: Patriots President Jonathan Kraft. Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: I'm Michael barn and I'm Evan Noby Williams. Every week 12 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: at this time, plus Mondays and Wednesdays, we explore the 13 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: big money issues in the world of sports. Today we 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: bring you a conversation with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. 15 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: But first let's look at some of our top stories 16 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 1: of the week. And let's start with your story is 17 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: about the A, T and T regional sports networks for sale. Yeah, 18 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: some more potential movement in the sports media landscape. We 19 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: talked early this year about Sinclair buying up the twenty 20 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: one Regional Sports Networks formerly part of Fox that Disney 21 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: then owned. Uh, and now it looks as though A. 22 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: T and T maybe looking to unload its four regional 23 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: sports networks. UH. These are four channels, ones in Pittsburgh, 24 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: ones in the Rocky Mountain area, ones in the southwest Texas, Louisiana, 25 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: and ones in the northwest, Washington and Oregon. UM. People 26 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,919 Speaker 1: we talked to said they could fetch about a billion 27 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: dollars UM. A lot of the themes we talked about 28 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: on this show all the time, right, live rights are 29 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: so important, especially regional ones. These rs ns typically do 30 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: pretty well. UM. And you know, depending on who the 31 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: buyer is, and I would think Sinclair would be interested there. 32 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: It might give some more leverage for a network as 33 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: they as they make carriage agreements. Obviously, baseball is a 34 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: major sport that's involved in this, but also hockey games 35 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: also uh two major food groups involved in this. Yeah 36 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: for sure. Yeah, and A T and T is looking 37 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: to to to clear some debt. Um. It's got as 38 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: much as eight billion dollars of debt they're looking to 39 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: clear at the end of the year. So this is 40 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: probably not the only thing that they're going to be doing. Um, 41 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: but certainly, you know, there's some more sports rights that 42 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,399 Speaker 1: are that are up for grabs, and again I think 43 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: Sinclair would make sense here. You know, we had the 44 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 1: CEO on on the podcast, you know, a couple of 45 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: months ago, and one of the things he said, you know, 46 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: they weren't necessarily done with just those twenty one that 47 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: they bought there. They're building an rs N out with 48 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: the with the Chicago Cubs um and yeah, if there's 49 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: if there's four more on the market from a T 50 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: and T, I'm sure they'll be taking a look at it. 51 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: Let's move on to the Hurricanes. What rhymes with Sebastian Ah? Yeah, 52 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: this is this is a fun one. There's a quirk 53 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: in in the in the way NHL contracts work, and 54 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: I love this. Uh. They're called offer sheets and when 55 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: a team, when a player satisfies a specific set of requirements, 56 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: another team can make an offer to that player and 57 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: if he signs it, the team that he currently plays 58 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: on has the right to either match it, match the 59 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: exact same offer, or let the player go UM. And 60 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: it does not happen very often. I think it's been 61 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: six or even years since the team did this to 62 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: another team. And the general reason is that, you know, 63 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: it's kind of seen as taboo. General managers don't want 64 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: to have to like force another general manager's hand. There's 65 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: fear of retribution. Um Again, it hasn't happened since two 66 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen. A player hasn't been allowed to leave since 67 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: two thousand seven, so it's been twelve years. And then 68 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: flash forward to this year. The Montreal Canadians uh signed 69 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: Sebastian Ajo, the the young Carolina Hurricanes star, to a 70 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: five year, forty two million dollar contract, and the Hurricanes 71 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: immediately said, you know, we're gonna We're gonna match this offer. 72 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: But the way that and I think this is so funny, 73 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: the way the Canadian structured it. It was really heavily 74 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: weighted towards the front of the contract, so a bulk 75 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: of the money that Sebastian was going to be paid 76 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: was in the front. And I think that was their 77 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: plan as to maybe try to coerce the Hurricanes into 78 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: not signing it, was that it would be very bulky 79 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: for a team to take on that contract on the 80 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: front end of the deal. That sounds like I don't 81 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: want to use this term, but I'm going to almost 82 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: like the oaky dog move because you see it up front, 83 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: you see uh, like you see a lot of bills. 84 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: I got a twenty up front and a twenty on 85 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: the bottom, and you didn't see what was in the middle. 86 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: I think it's so I wish, I wish other sports, 87 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,839 Speaker 1: Like can you imagine the drama of the NBA free 88 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: agency if this was also an option for some players 89 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: to be signed to another team and then force their 90 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: own team's hand. And again, if you let the player walk, 91 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: you get some compe, some compensory picks on the on 92 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: the front end um. But yeah, I think this is 93 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: a very funny little quirk in the NHL salary structure, 94 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: and it's interesting to see after you know, six or 95 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: seven years and finally getting dusted off again. Forget watching 96 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: the match game. We could see this. That's a good 97 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: game show here exactly. M Hey, come on, man, let's 98 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: go fix a soccer match. Come on, come on, let's 99 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: go let's go fix this soccer match right here. I've 100 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 1: been wanting to talk about this one for for a 101 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. Now, our colleague Ira Boudway in Business 102 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: Week published a huge flow chart with with the title 103 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: so you want to fix a soccer match? In Business 104 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: Week's Heist issue, essentially laying out all the different ways 105 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: that soccer matches get fixed. And it's a fun thing 106 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: to pull through and I'll tweet it out as well 107 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: this week. Um, but it's also very enlightening and you 108 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: learned some pretty interesting things about the way soccer matches 109 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: are fixed around the world. Um. You know, he asks 110 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: how much money do you have? Right, Because if you 111 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 1: have a lot of money, you can buy an entire 112 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: soccer team, pay players who are going to fix matches 113 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: for you, and build the entire team around that, and 114 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 1: then gamble on the team's matches. If you don't have 115 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: that much money, right, you can pay the referee to 116 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,119 Speaker 1: to maybe make a call here or there and maybe 117 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: shift the odds a little bit. There's little historical nuggets 118 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: in here as well. In a Malaysian betting syndicate bribes 119 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: security guards to turn the lights off in a game, 120 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: you know, because it wasn't going well. That there was 121 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: a bela Russian Premier League game that never happened, but 122 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: they reported it to the authorities as a to one 123 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: game and people were betting action on it. The game 124 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: was a ghost game and it never even happen. Wait wait, wait, 125 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: wait wait, you got to explain that again. Does game 126 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: never happened? Yeah? So, so they created a ghost match 127 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: between two teams that existed but weren't playing, and then 128 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: sports books open lines on it, and then they just 129 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: reported that the two teams were sluts and I'm gonna 130 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: mess these names up. Sluts and snakor Sologorsk turned out 131 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: to be a thrilling to one comeback win for Slutsk. 132 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: Problem is, the game never existed, um, but book bookmakers 133 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: weren't aware at the time the vetters got sluts. Yeah. Anyway, 134 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: if you're curious about, you know, we talk a lot about, 135 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: you know, match fixing, but if you're curious about how 136 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: exactly it works, Ira Boudway has a pretty good flow 137 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: charted Business Week for you. That's intriguing. My goodness. Now, 138 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: let's get into this week's interview with Major League Baseball 139 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: Commissioner Rob Manfred. Evan, you and Mr Manfred sat down. 140 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: I call him Mr Manfred. You gotta call the commissioner Manfred, 141 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: Mr for a conversation in London as the Boston Red 142 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: Sox and New York Yankees were preparing for their games 143 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: their last weekend. Yeah, Michael, rob swung over to our 144 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: offices in London for for a quick chat. You know. 145 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: We covered everything from the macro level, what baseball strategy 146 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: is in Europe all the way through. You know, what 147 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 1: they had to pay the Red Sox to give up 148 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: two home games against the Yankees to play them in London, 149 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: and what it takes to build a major League baseball 150 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: facility in a country that doesn't really have any of them. 151 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: All right, Well, let's listen to that conversation. Now Here 152 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: is Evan speaking with Major League Baseball Commission at Rob 153 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: Manfred in London. We sold sixty thousand roughly seats for 154 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: two games in about twenty four hours. Um. We've been 155 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: out and about in the city doing community events, youth events. UM, 156 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: a lot of buzz surrounding baseball. So I'll ask you 157 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: a question that I've heard from a few folks here 158 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: as I've been here over the past couple of days. 159 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: They're curious about why London there's no major League, there's 160 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: no major pro league here. You opened the season in Tokyo, 161 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: a place where obviously baseball fans are are crazy. Give 162 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: us a sense of why London felt like the next right, 163 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: new new city to go to. Well, we think there's 164 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: a great opportunity in Europe and um, we're looking for 165 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: a city that was an event focused city. London obviously 166 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: has that reputation. Um, we found a facility that was workable, 167 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: uh for us here and we think, you know, even 168 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: in the short term, both our licensed product business in 169 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: our broadcast business are driven by a greater presence in Europe. NFL, NBA, 170 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: all the major leagues are playing games internationally. It's it's 171 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: it's obviously a critical part of the business. Is this 172 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: more about developing fans and in places in Europe or 173 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: is it more about developing players in places like like Europe. Well, 174 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 1: we're actually interested in both. Um. I think the London 175 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: series is really more about fans. We want to create 176 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: some interest, but we also while we're here are leaving 177 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: behind a legacy of programs that will encourage youth participation. Um. 178 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: We have a QRO program we call fun at BET's 179 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: gonna be in fifty schools here in the UK this year. 180 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: We want to obviously grow that program to a larger 181 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: number of schools, and we do get some players from Europe. 182 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: There twenty European players under contract with Major League clubs 183 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: right now. The two teams playing here, the Red Sox 184 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: and the Yankees, the best matchup that you guys could offer, 185 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: I think without a doubt, it's kind of a different 186 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: approach than we've seen, you know, the the NFL teams 187 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: that that play here. It's not the Cowboys versus the Redskins, right, 188 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: it's not the premier matchup. How important was it for 189 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,479 Speaker 1: you guys to get literally the best possible two teams 190 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: to play here in your first European game. Well, it's 191 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: a big investment for us to come to London and 192 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: and we were absolutely convinced to get the most out 193 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: of our investment, it was important to present, you know, 194 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: the very best matchup we could. Um. We think for 195 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,959 Speaker 1: the two years we're gonna be here, Yankees, Red Sox 196 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: this year and Clubs Cardinals next year. We we filled 197 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: that bill, um, and I think the buzz surrounding the 198 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: event has been greater as a result of the matchup, Absolutely, 199 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: no question about that. You mentioned the investment, can you 200 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 1: tell us how how much it cost to put on 201 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: an event like this. This is UH. An event like 202 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: this is in the tens of millions of dollars for us. 203 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: It's a very expensive undertaking, but we feel it's an 204 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: investment that's important to the future of the game. We 205 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: don't want to just play where baseball is already part 206 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: of the culture. We want to play places where we 207 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: can develop new fans and new revenue opportunities for the league. 208 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: Do these games turn a profit or is the profit 209 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: do you make that money back on the development side 210 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: a longer tail. They are not profitable on a standalone basis. Um, 211 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: it really is an investment by the thirty clubs in 212 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: the future of the game. Let's talk about some of 213 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: the revenue streams you mentioned. Tickets earlier sold out in 214 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: in less than a day, sixty thousand people at each game, 215 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: significantly bigger than than than than Fenway Park for the 216 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: for these two games that are that are that are 217 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: Boston home games. Did it surprise you guys how quickly 218 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: that process happened. I probably should answer that question, no, 219 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: but it did. Um. You know, we thought that it 220 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: would be a hot ticket. We didn't think we were 221 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: going to sell them out in twenty four hours. We 222 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: really didn't, and um, you know, very pleased about that. 223 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: We've been I've been watching the secondary market a little 224 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: bit myself. We get a pretty strong secondary market out 225 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: there as well. I read somewhere third the tickets bought 226 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: were from the UK from the US. Is that a 227 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: good ratio? Is that kind of what you expected? Look, 228 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: we think it's important to get locals going to the games, um, 229 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 1: but we also think it's a great sign about our 230 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: fans commitment to our product. When people from Boston, for example, 231 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: or New York buy tickets and flight to London to 232 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 1: see a Yankee Red Sax game, that's a good thing 233 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,680 Speaker 1: for us. When I when I landed here a couple 234 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: of days ago, as people were getting off the plane 235 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: getting their bags out, there were a couple of guys 236 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: in Yankees hats and one of them turned to the 237 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: other and goes, good, I didn't see any Boston fans 238 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: on this on this flight. Yeah. Well, if they didn't 239 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: see any on that flight, um, they probably have seen 240 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: a few since they got here. And I was flying 241 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: from from New York. Of course. Um, there's also you know, 242 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: going through kind of the revenue streams. Obviously, ticket sales good. Um. 243 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: You have a number of of sponsors here as well 244 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: that they were sold specifically for the London series, right, 245 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: Really strong sponsorship interest in the games. We're able to 246 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: make some new relationships Johnny Walker and some of our 247 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: tradition might tell us the sponsor of US domestically they 248 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: stepped up for these games, and just strong interest in general. 249 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: The two games are being split and on US television 250 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: between ESPN and Fox one a piece? Is that a 251 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: part of their deal? Did they bid separately for that 252 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: kind of How did that negotiation happen? It's part of 253 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: our overall deal. UM. Obviously, one of the things that 254 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: we've tried to do since I've been commissioner is UM 255 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: to help our broadcast partners by creating events that drive 256 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: special interests for them. And and obviously Fox and ESPN 257 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: both wanted a piece of this, and we're glad they're 258 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: both here with us. And these two games are Red 259 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 1: Sox home games. UM. Obviously convincing a team to to 260 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: not play their home games as a financial you know 261 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: cost as well. UM, Can you say anything about how 262 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: much the you guys are compensating the Red Sox for 263 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: kind of the lost revenue for for those two games. 264 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: I'll talk about that conceptually. I mean, the way it 265 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: works is we pay the Red Sox what they would 266 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: net on those two home games. I mean, obviously, particularly 267 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 1: with a club that has very strong attendance, it's pretty 268 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: predictable what they're gonna make on a home game, particularly 269 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: a Yankee home game. We pay them for the two 270 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: home dates. We assume the risk on the business that 271 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: takes place here in London. So it's a pretty easy transaction, right. 272 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: They tell you we make X during a home game, 273 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: double double it, and then and then those are the 274 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: those are the two games. That's exactly right. Um, And 275 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: you know, I think that hats off to both the 276 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 1: Red Sox and the Yankees. Um. They've been really engaged 277 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: in the entire undertaking here in London and a lot 278 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: of ways they were in front of us, the two 279 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: teams that talked about coming here together, they were very 280 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: interested in doing it, and that makes our job a 281 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: lot easier. I saw a number reported seven million dollars 282 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: roughly for for those two games, for for the Red Soxes. 283 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: That is that about right? That's a pretty good number. Yeah, 284 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: I got it. Um. And And another part of this 285 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: that I find totally fascinating. The NFL plays here and 286 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: it's pretty easy to turn a soccer field into a 287 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: football field. Um, it's a little different for for baseball. Um, 288 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: you're playing an Olympic stadium, which was you know, the 289 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: stadium used during the Olympics here but also home of 290 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: the West Ham soccer team. You've essentially built a tiny 291 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: or an easier version of a of a baseball stadium 292 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: from scratch on that field, right, Yes, Um, it was 293 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: quite a transformation. Um. Obviously, what we did was we 294 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: covered the soccer pitch the grass, put some drainage down, 295 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: put an artificial surface that we bought specifically for for 296 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: for these games. Um. We brought in the infield dirt 297 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: from Pennsylvania. Um. And the dirt and the surface will 298 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: stay here in London and we'll use them again next year. 299 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: Did that travel by plane or by boat? How did 300 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: I get here? Can I tell you that detail? You 301 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: gotta get somewhere else. I know we got it here 302 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: fair enough. And you built clubhouses too, Right, there's a 303 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: lot of special lockers that were that were flown in there. 304 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: There's more than just the field itself. Yes, Um, they 305 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: actually built um, two major league quality clubhouses UM that 306 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: sit on top of what is the track surface ordinarily. UM, 307 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: we were in there yesterday. UM. It looks like what 308 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: you would see in any big league clubhouse. UM. Did 309 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: a fantastic job. And we can also save the structure, 310 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: UM that they used to build the lockers for example, 311 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: use it again next year. And obviously we'll have a 312 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: little painting on the finished work, but well, well we 313 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: can get that done to turn those Yankees and Red 314 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: Sox logos into into Cubs Cardinals. And as you said, 315 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: this is a this is a setup that will stick around, right, 316 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: So so when those two teams play here in London 317 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: next year, you'll you'll use it again. And then moving forward, 318 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: I assume there's other parts of Europe that are interesting 319 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: to you kind of how do you see the European 320 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: expansion of baseball games happening over the next couple of years. UM. 321 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: We look, we love the initial experience here in London, 322 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: but we do think our strategy would be to go 323 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: other places. We're in the process of exploring them. You know, 324 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: there are places, you know, Germany has a fair amount 325 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: of UM, domestic play that that goes on the Netherlands 326 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: has some baseball tradition. Obviously, someplace like Paris would be 327 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: really intriguing for us. We're just gonna have to find 328 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: the right facility and figure out whether there's demand to 329 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: have games. There are other leagues that are talking about 330 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: maybe putting franchises in in countries overseas. Is that conversation 331 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: that you guys have had, Is that anywhere on your 332 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: radar in terms of of of London. Look, I think 333 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: the current ownership group is open to the idea of 334 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: having franchises out the outside the US and Canada. Um. 335 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: The challenge for us, of course is the nature of 336 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: our game. It's an everyday game and the travel is 337 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: going to have to improve to the point um that 338 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: that makes it a possibility from a scheduling perspective. But 339 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: certainly a place like Mexico you could do right now, 340 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: um and hopefully travel will evolve in a way that 341 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: would open europe Force. Yeah, that's a good point. I've 342 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: been to a number of NFL games here, you know, 343 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: and they have the luxury of the team flies in 344 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: maybe a week before you know, if there's a bye week, 345 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: maybe even two weeks before, right, they spend a lot 346 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: of time here. It's a little different for you guys. 347 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 1: The Yankees played i think two days before they came here, 348 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: even even less. How hard is it to kind of 349 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 1: build around, you know, to hype up the game in 350 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: a new city when you don't have the luxury of 351 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: a schedule that that that's open. Well, we we had 352 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 1: a long term plan um in advance of this game. 353 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: We we started holding events, mostly in conjunction with existing festivals, 354 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: to try to build interests in the game. Do some 355 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: basic education with fans, um, make them aware that we 356 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: were bringing games to London and you just have to 357 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: do it a little different way because of our schedule. 358 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: Last question for you, you've been here for about a week. 359 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 1: Any crazy questions that you've got from from Brits who 360 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 1: don't understand the game fully quite yet? About about baseball? 361 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 1: You know, it's interesting. Um. The most interaction I've had 362 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 1: is a community events, youth events and shockingly knowledgeable people. 363 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: There's actually, uh I think the name of the park, 364 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: I think I have it right. It's Finley Park. They're 365 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: they're the best sign I've seen only base ball played 366 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: in this area. There were three fields. It just did 367 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: my heart good. And you know, like we have a 368 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: little toe hold and we're gonna build from it. The 369 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:10,159 Speaker 1: point of these games is to build that to a 370 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: hole even bigger. Rob, Thanks for sitting down with us. 371 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: Thank you. I like that. How would you describe baseball 372 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: to someone in Britain? Very simple? Take cricket and put 373 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: it on steroids and that's what you got. Now, that 374 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: was very good at a lot of things, A lot 375 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: of takeaways from that. The biggest thing that that caught 376 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: my eye, and I think I mentioned this earlier, is 377 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: that we are going to see a team in London 378 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: play in the major leagues. Man, it's going to happen. 379 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: It's just like we have a major league team in Toronto. 380 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: Is like we had a team in Montreal years ago. 381 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: This is going to happen. You heard him say that 382 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: they're open to the idea of a team outside of 383 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: just you know, the US or Canada um as he 384 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: mentioned there. You know, London is a is a tough 385 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,640 Speaker 1: logistical place to put a major league baseball team. The schedule, 386 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: I mean, these guys play aside to six times a week. 387 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: The scheduling is so hard around that um So unlike 388 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: the NFL, which I would, for my money, would probably 389 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: be the first of the four major US leagues to 390 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: put a franchise in Europe. You know, the the NFL 391 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,719 Speaker 1: schedule is much easier. You can you can send a 392 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 1: team over there, you know, maybe for three weeks, they 393 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: play three home games and they come back to to 394 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 1: the US for a bunch of road games and then 395 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: go back. That schedule feels a lot easier than Major 396 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: League Baseball's. UM. But you know, as we said, and 397 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: you heard him say it. Also, you know owners are 398 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: constantly looking at new revenue possibilities. Uh these games, you know, 399 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: they had fifty plus at both games. That's a success, right, 400 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,919 Speaker 1: That is that that's that's a huge number. That's exactly 401 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: what Major League Baseball wants. UM. But again it's it's 402 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: it's a little harder for a league like Major League 403 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: Baseball to do games in London, especially put a franchise 404 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: over there, just because of the schedule. Speaking of the 405 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 1: franchises and you know, having the everybody, the baseball players 406 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 1: have a routine, they have their routine. They come to 407 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,679 Speaker 1: the park, they'll do this, they'll do that, They'll grab 408 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: their bats and whatever, this and that, whatever. Now all 409 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you're going over to London, a place 410 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: you've never played before. And I'm sure for the Red 411 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: Sox and for the Yankees, Uh, that had to have 412 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: some sort of international feel. Last weekend, here's what Red 413 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: Sox manager Alex Cora had to say. I'm a big 414 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 1: fan of international baseball, as you guys know. It was 415 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: part of the WBC three times, and uh, you know, 416 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: playing in the Caribbean and Caribbean Series all that stuff. 417 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: You know, it's always cool. So's he's a new experience, 418 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: but it's one that we we're gonna embrace. Cora, after 419 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 1: he had a spot of t also said that he's 420 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: happy to be a part of helping to expand the game. 421 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: Whatever we have to do too for that, you know, 422 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: we'll do it. You know, I think MLP has an 423 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 1: announceanding job throughout the years doing that. And I'm playing 424 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: in not only playing different countries, but at the same 425 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: time with the WBC. And if you're curious if they 426 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: got to meet the royal family, Michael, I know you're 427 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: curious about that. They did. Players like Aaron Hicks and 428 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: hied To Harry and Meghan the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 429 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: We're excited, um, you know to obviously have them um 430 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: in our in our clubhouse, just to be able to 431 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: to meet him talk to him. Um, you know was 432 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: it was a great arm um, you know, amazing opportunity. 433 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: Attendance that the games was also pretty good, Michael, you 434 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: heard Rob talk about it earlier. You know. Saturday's matchup 435 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: drew fifty nine thousand people. Uh, that's much bigger than 436 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: Fenway Park if these games were played back in Boston. 437 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: It's the most for a regular season MLB games since 438 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,919 Speaker 1: two thousand and three, and players like Yankee First Basement 439 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: Luke Void took note the most fans of ever played 440 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: out in front of That was awesome from the beginning, 441 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: and that's really exciting for us to come over here. 442 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: You know, I think we're getting as good as a 443 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: reception as you know, football has for the last couple 444 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 1: of years. And Mr Void, by the way, get off 445 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: the I L soon because you are definitely needed. Sorry, 446 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: you are on it. And the magnitude the game definitely 447 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 1: was not lost on anyone involved. Here's how d J 448 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: Lea Mayhew sound did up. Yeah, it's just just amazing experience. Um. 449 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 1: You know, obviously the game was wild, so I won't 450 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: forget that, but you know, the stadium, the atmosphere, um, 451 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 1: you know, just looking up in the outfield and see 452 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 1: all those people out there, it's uh, you know, pretty special, 453 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: pretty special to play out there. And even in London, 454 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 1: and this kind of surprised me that the faces of 455 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: the players like an Aaron Judge were noticed on the streets. 456 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: The coolest thing is just just walking around the city 457 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: and just being with the people. And um, a couple 458 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: you know fans said hello, you know, a lot of 459 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: Red Sox fans, you know, but there they were great, 460 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: you know, they you know, came up, just shake a hand, 461 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: say hello, big fans and just say best of luck. 462 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: And they this one about their day, which was pretty cool. 463 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: So um, I was I've enjoyed the past the past 464 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,119 Speaker 1: couple of days here. By the way, one person that 465 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: traveled to London, of course to call the game was 466 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: John Sterling And a note to bring to that he 467 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: has been calling pretty much every out for the most 468 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: part since nineteen nine and now for the first time 469 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: coming up. It's's gonna take a break, you know, I'll 470 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: take a few days wait and come back after the 471 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: All Star break, because first of all, his birthday is 472 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: is here. He's eighty one years old. He's been doing 473 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: it for a long time. So just get the batteries charge. Yeah, 474 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 1: an iconic voice if you've ever been to been the 475 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: Yankee Stadium. UM, I would like to think we'll have 476 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 1: Rob Manford on again at some point to talk about, 477 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: you know, his takeaways from the series in London. Um. 478 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,199 Speaker 1: I think you know, heavy attendance, you know, sold out 479 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: both games, The two teams had scored fifty runs over 480 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: two games. I think those are all things that he 481 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: would have hoped for, you know, both on the field 482 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: and off the field. Heading into things, UM, you know, 483 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: we can ask him about the hype, whether or not 484 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,479 Speaker 1: the city felt like, you know, really felt like they 485 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,159 Speaker 1: were embracing the sport in the same way that they 486 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: do football. But I think overall, you know, for you 487 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: for Major League first Baseball's first ever games in London, 488 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: I think this kind of tracked exactly the way Major 489 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: League Baseball would like it to. I'm not the germ. 490 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: Feels better to be number one than number five. I'll 491 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: wear a number because of Mike. We have a chance 492 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: to go for three in a row. Numbers in a 493 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: good time, and let's first started wearing the number. I 494 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: was just happy in Floomberg Business of Sports, the number 495 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: of the week. Time. Now for the number of the 496 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: week two to the number of games Major leagu Baseball 497 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 1: played in London. All right, that works. I'll even make 498 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: it a little more two dollars. I'm gonna say that 499 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:35,120 Speaker 1: two dollars. Man. Um, it's not the amount of cost 500 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: to go to the games in London. I can tell 501 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: you that. I don't know, but you are on the 502 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: right track. It is the cost. You've heard from the best, 503 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: and now let's hear from the rest. The Raise offered 504 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: two dollar tickets for their series with the Baltimore Orioles, 505 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: because you know, everybody wants that hot ticket to go 506 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: see the Orioles. Oh yeah, so, I mean but in 507 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: all series. I know they're jokes there, but that is 508 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: kind of cool. I mean, you can go out for 509 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: two dollars, uh, see some Major League baseball, uh and 510 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: maybe take the family out and enjoy yourself. Yeah. Sports 511 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,400 Speaker 1: teams are getting more innovative with the way that they 512 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: the way that they do their tickets. You know, I 513 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 1: believe that the athletics of a couple of times offered 514 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 1: offered free tickets. Uh, this is smart, right. You know 515 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 1: the Razor team, it's no secret struggling for attendance. The 516 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 1: more people they can get into that stadium, especially given 517 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 1: the news last week that they were exploring the possibility 518 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: of spending half their time in Montreal. All of that, 519 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: I think is is a positive for for Raised fans 520 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: in the community. That might be the team going to London, 521 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: but anyway, that's here and you're there. You've been listening 522 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business of Sports. We're here each and every 523 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 1: week at the same time, plus online as an Apple podcast. 524 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: You can catch that Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Michael 525 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 1: bar on Twitter at Big Bar Sports and I'm Eben 526 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,439 Speaker 1: Novie Williams at nov Underscore Williams. Thanks for joining us. 527 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: Please tune in next week, Scott, We'll be back and 528 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: we will be talking to the biggest and brightest in 529 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 1: the sports business world. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of 530 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world.