1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. This is the Business 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: of sports. 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 2: Our aim is always to leverage the global appeal of football. 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: Having representation in college sports is even more important than pro. 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 3: Ten percent of Americans now claimed sock up could be 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 3: that favorite sport. 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 4: We estimate the UTH sports audience has three trillion dollars 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 4: in spending power. 9 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: The nature of baseball is it is worldwide, it is flora. 10 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 5: I'm very happy for the WNBA and how the NBA 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 5: has embraced them. 12 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 6: Sports books are not going anywhere, and sports betting is 13 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 6: only growing. 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: We have a super team running this league, and this 15 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 2: league is here and it's here to stay. 16 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 17 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 5: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore 18 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 5: the big money issues in the world of sports. 19 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 2: I'm Michael Barn, I'm Minnesapudoo Maglian, and I'm Randa Williams. 20 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 5: Coming up today, We're going to be talking about, guys. 21 00:00:58,120 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 5: Come on, you you know what we're going to be 22 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 5: talking about now, talking about the World Cup. 23 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 7: Michael. 24 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: The World Cup's almost over and I really can't handle it. 25 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: We're you know, we're chatting with the CEO of the 26 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 2: Kansas City Host Committee and how they became the hub 27 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: of soccer in the US. 28 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 7: You can literally hear the depression. And then later we 29 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 7: are going to be talking about a different World Cup, 30 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 7: the Esports World Cup that is taking place in Paris 31 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 7: over the next few weeks. 32 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 5: All that is coming up, but first let's run through 33 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 5: the biggest headlines in the world of sports right now. 34 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 5: The US is out of the World Cup and I 35 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 5: am one flirting my nostrils for many weeks. I know 36 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 5: you're like you already had a big nose, Mike, because 37 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 5: like happening. But I mean, you know, some are saying, hey, 38 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 5: they had a good run. 39 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 6: Some are people saying that well some yeah. 40 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 5: Out of anger. Actually yeah. But that's that's my point is, like, 41 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 5: you know, everything from the red card controversy, I'm not 42 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 5: sure how to take. 43 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 6: It, Okay, brand what do you think? 44 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 2: Because I genuinely think think they would have won the 45 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: game if the red card wasn't overturned. 46 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 5: That is quite the theory. 47 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 2: They and Belgium came out so angry, so angry, like 48 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: they were mad. 49 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 7: I think that it was the highest point in energy 50 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 7: that I've experienced in the us around soccer, but it 51 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 7: just fell off a cliff, Like the performance is really 52 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 7: why I think people are angry. If they were going 53 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 7: to lose three to two, one to zero, two to one, 54 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 7: fine so long as it was competitive, because Belgium is 55 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 7: a legitimate team. But to go out for one, to 56 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 7: make the errors that they made, and then to watch 57 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 7: the energy as you said, around Belgium's team, they were like, 58 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 7: all right, like President Trump's going to get involved and 59 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 7: you know, ask FIFA to review something that was unreviewable. Okay, 60 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 7: we're gonna handle it on the field. 61 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 5: And it did. Did you see the footage of the 62 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 5: Belgian team in the locker room after the game and 63 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 5: they're doing the Trump dance? Yeah? I did. 64 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 7: Yeah, it doesn't surprise me, I think. I mean, I'm 65 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 7: actually in some ways it's justified. I can't get upset 66 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 7: at that because of the fact that I don't think 67 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 7: that President Trump should have meddled in this. Just let 68 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 7: if the rules are the rules. If the rule is bad, 69 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 7: fine handle it after the tournament, and it does need 70 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 7: to be handled, but not in the midst of it. 71 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 2: That's a problem, right, And that's something that we wouldn't 72 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: have seen in a lot of other leagues. I mean, 73 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: we've seen this happen in the NFL countless times. Right 74 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 2: in the playoffs, something happens where everyone is up in 75 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: arms about it, and they review it after the season 76 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 2: and they make a rule change exactly. 77 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 7: I said this on TV the other day. President Trump 78 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 7: has said I do not like the kickoff. At no 79 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 7: point in time has Roger Goodell or any NFL executive 80 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 7: jumped in front of a microphone and be like, you 81 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 7: know what, we are changing the kickoff because the President 82 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 7: doesn't like it. And that's a flaw. And I think 83 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 7: that FIFA is lucky that the US did not win. 84 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 7: Of course, it would have been incredible to see a 85 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 7: run to a point that the US men's national team 86 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 7: has never made it to. But not like that, think 87 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 7: that would have been good. 88 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 6: I agree. 89 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: I was immediately when I saw the news, I immediately 90 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: felt that it was going to be a bad omen. 91 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 2: I was like, this is not a good thing. I 92 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: don't think he should have started, flow Balion. I don't 93 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: think he should have started. I think they should have maybe, 94 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: you know, had him come off the bench at least 95 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: especially given you know, Pepe, the person who was in 96 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: all week in training. Just give him a little bit 97 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 2: of you know, grace in that moment. I think I 98 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: just And then also, let's talk about Christian politic and 99 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 2: let's talk about the fact that he came off with 100 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 2: a twisted ankle. 101 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 7: I mean, what is that everyone's furious with Christian Polistic? 102 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 7: And I think that I heard his name eight years 103 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 7: ago around the twenty eighteen World Cup and they said 104 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 7: he was a phenom and I have yet to see that. 105 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 7: And I think that when we talk about the World Cup, 106 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 7: when we talk about national sports such as the Olympics 107 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 7: and things like that, you wait for these legendary performances 108 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 7: and I haven't seen that. He doesn't do a lot 109 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 7: of interviews. The energy isn't there. And outside of him 110 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 7: playing for AC Milan, I'm like, oh, he plays in 111 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 7: an international league, he must be pretty good. But every 112 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 7: single time he's on the national stage, I'm waiting for 113 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 7: that magic and it just hasn't appeared. 114 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 5: I'm wondering now. And somebody asked this when the excitement 115 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 5: of the World Cup, because we're the only people in 116 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 5: the US that call it soccer. Everywhere else it's football, 117 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 5: And I'm wondering now all this excitement that it has generated, 118 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 5: do we in the United States have to retrain our 119 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 5: mind to say football? 120 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: No? 121 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 6: No, that's way too confusing. 122 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 2: I don't think that we'll ever because when we're talking 123 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 2: about the NFL, we're never going to say American football. 124 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 2: I think that's the difference between US and you know, 125 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: other countries, and when they play the NFL and other 126 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: games in other countries like that, they're calling it American football. 127 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: So I just I think we're too far gone in 128 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: that regard this more than changing the name of soccer. 129 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 7: I'd say the sport of football globebally, and I'm referring 130 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 7: to soccer is king. But the business of the NFL 131 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 7: is the emperor. Like that's the best way that I 132 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 7: could put it. The Premier League is tremendous, La Liga 133 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 7: is tremendous, Bundesliga are tremendous. Their businesses are not the 134 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 7: NFL's business. And so with that in mind, until someone 135 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 7: knocks down the NFL's business or until someone surpasses them, 136 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 7: the NFL is the NFL. 137 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 5: By the way, I got to ask this, Leonel MESSI, 138 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 5: is he getting special treatment? I don't think so. I 139 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 5: think that there are flawed rules. Oh man, I wish 140 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 5: we had a camera Vanessa's face. I'm sorry, go ahead. 141 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 7: I think that there are flawed rules that FIFA has 142 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 7: and I think the champions sometimes just get calls like 143 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 7: I think that's across all sports, and I think Argentina's 144 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 7: benefited from that. But this isn't unlike when the Patriots 145 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 7: run happened years ago, or with Chiefs run happened years ago, 146 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 7: and there's a bunch of complaints about referee calls, and 147 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 7: I think this is just Argentina's time not to win. 148 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 7: But when you're on a championship run, things go your way. 149 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 6: I think that's an interesting take. 150 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: I do think it's hard to feel that they haven't 151 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: been given special treatment, especially when we're seeing other instances 152 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 2: of special treatment, not just for Argentina. We're seeing the 153 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: special treatment that the US got. We're seeing the special 154 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: treatment that Ronaldo got before the World Cup started. 155 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 6: So I think to negate the. 156 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: Whole idea that FIFA's not against bending the rules quote unquote, 157 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 2: or at least, you know, not mind that they're perceived 158 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 2: that way. That I think it's possible that Argentina has 159 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 2: been given special favor, but I do I could agree 160 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: with that that, you know, sometimes the champions just that's 161 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 2: how it works for them. 162 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 5: Let me clarify. 163 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 7: I do think that FIFA is flawed in rule bending 164 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 7: around the entire tournament, whether that be the u U, 165 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 7: whether that be Ronaldo, whether that be Argentina taking advantage 166 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 7: of some of the rule bending. But I don't think that. 167 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 7: I don't think that Argentina that FIFA is like, oh, 168 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 7: it's better for them to be in this, so let's 169 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 7: change a couple of things. I think that they did 170 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 7: that for the US, and I think they did that 171 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 7: for Portugal and Ronaldo, and my humble opinion, I haven't 172 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 7: seen that. I think there's been questionable calls on the field, 173 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 7: but ultimately there's questionable calls in every single sport and 174 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 7: I can live with that. 175 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 5: We have to ship to baseball because the All Star 176 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 5: Game is coming up soon. Let me put it that way. 177 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 5: Do you feel any of the excitement for baseball right 178 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 5: in the middle of the World Cup. 179 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 6: I think that's the hard thing. 180 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: With the MLB All Star Game that you know is 181 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 2: about to happen and take place, that it would be 182 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 2: an exciting time and I think they timed it well 183 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,719 Speaker 2: in the way that it's in Philadelphia for the two 184 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 2: hundred and fiftieth anniversary, you know, of the US. 185 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 6: I think they did everything they could, and baseball is. 186 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 2: On a high, and they have been on a high, 187 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 2: especially after the World Baseball Classic, and I think people 188 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 2: are paying attention a lot more. But unfortunately, I think 189 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: everything else that's falling within the window of the World 190 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: Cup is just taking a back seat. 191 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 7: And I'd also say that the only thing that I 192 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 7: can think about in terms of baseball until the World 193 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 7: Series is the upcoming labor battle. All of these things, 194 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 7: of course, are you think about last summer in the 195 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 7: WNBA All Star the WNBA Players Association and the players 196 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 7: themselves worthies, pay us what U oas shirts and that 197 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 7: became the moment for WNBA All Star Weekend and it 198 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 7: continued to carry on for many months to come in 199 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 7: I don't think that we'll see something like that from 200 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 7: the MLB. But all that's in the back of my 201 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 7: mind is like, Okay, yeah, they're riding this high, but 202 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 7: are they going to address the elephant in the room. 203 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 7: Is anyone going to talk about it? Whether it be 204 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 7: Rob Manfred, whether that be the players themselves. They've been 205 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 7: exchanging proposals back and forth. I would like to see 206 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 7: some progress that being resolved at some point. It's not 207 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 7: going to happen this week. It's not going to happen 208 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 7: at MLB All Star weekend. But that's what's in my 209 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 7: mind as the event approaches. 210 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 5: You hit the nail on the head. I know we 211 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 5: got to wrap this up, but man, a work stoppage 212 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 5: in MLB. I was there when this happened in the 213 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 5: mid nineties and it was a disaster. Trying to get 214 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 5: the game to come back. We had to, you know, 215 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 5: lean on Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, you know, to 216 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 5: have the home runs come back. Please do not, whatever 217 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 5: you do MLB, work this out, because a work stoppage 218 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 5: will be a disaster. 219 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 7: You're sending your thoughts in prayers to all parties involved. 220 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 7: And what I'd say to that is both of them 221 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 7: seem to be on opposite sides and they're like, listen, 222 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 7: this is where I'm at. This is where I'm at, 223 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 7: and I'm not coming over to your side until you 224 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 7: give me something. And the players are we're not accepting 225 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 7: a salary cap, and the owners of proposing one, and 226 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 7: I just don't see a solve without one. 227 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 6: I don't see one either. I don't see it. 228 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 2: I think that their MLB is famously stubborn in these 229 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: discussions and these negotiations, so I don't really see it happening, 230 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 2: and I do think it's going to be detrimental to baseball. 231 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 2: And it's so interesting that these you know, cbas continuously 232 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 2: come up for leagues when they're riding their highest Yeah. Absolutely, 233 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 2: So that's something obviously with baseball that we're going to keep, 234 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 2: you know, looking at over the next few months. But 235 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 2: back to the World Cup because I won't stop shutting up. 236 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 6: About it until it's over coming. 237 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 2: Up, we're speaking of the CEO of the Kansas City 238 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 2: Host Committee about how they handled being the hub of 239 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 2: soccer in the US. 240 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 5: That is straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports 241 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 5: for Vanessa Rodumbo, mcleone and Randa Williams. I'm Michael Barr. 242 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 5: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg 243 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 5: Radio around the world. 244 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: This is bloom Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 245 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 5: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports where we explore 246 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 5: the big money issues in the world of Sports. 247 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 6: So I'm Michael barn I'm Vanessa Perdomo Maglion. 248 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 5: And I'm Miranda Williams. The World Cup is sadly coming 249 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 5: to a close, only about a week left until the 250 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 5: final at MetLife Stadium. However, before New York becomes the 251 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 5: sports capital of the world again, Kansas City has been 252 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 5: a hot bed during this World Cup. 253 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 6: That's right, Michael. 254 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 2: Kansas City was the home of not one, not two, 255 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: but four base camps for teams during this World Cup, 256 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 2: including Messi's Argentina, who also played a group stage match 257 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 2: there as well as their quarterfinal. 258 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 7: In order to get down to why Kansas City was 259 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 7: so attractive to teams and tourists, we are joined now 260 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 7: by CEO of Kansas City, FIFA World Cup twenty twenty six, 261 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 7: Pam Kramer. 262 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 5: Pam, Welcome to the Bloomberg business of sports. Dang, Pam. 263 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 5: Y'all like hosting Kansas City like six FIFA World Cup 264 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 5: matches just hogged the whole thing, which a how so 265 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 5: happy for you guys. How did you guys manage to 266 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 5: achieve that, to get that many matches? 267 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 4: Well, first of all, thanks for having me, and you know, 268 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 4: I think we've been saying for a long time that 269 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 4: there's a pretty big surprise and delight factor about Kansas 270 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 4: City that when people get here, they love it. And 271 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 4: we knew that if we could get people here, they 272 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 4: would see what we already know. So getting those six matches, 273 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 4: especially a quarterfinal and some of those amazing Pot one 274 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 4: teams like Argentina and the Netherlands, and having Columbia play 275 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 4: here pretty extraordinary. We are thrilled with the effort and 276 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 4: thrilled with the outcome. 277 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 2: Pam talking about getting people there and then falling in 278 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: love with it. We obviously have to mention the four 279 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 2: you know, home base camps that were set up in 280 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 2: the area, and from people I've talked to before, you know, 281 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: especially with England particularly like they really wanted to be 282 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 2: there and they they were like, no, we have to 283 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 2: be here. 284 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 6: What was it that people came and they fell in 285 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 6: love with? 286 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 2: Do you think? 287 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: Yeah? 288 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 4: I think there are three things. First, our location is 289 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 4: pretty attractive not just to those teams but to visitors 290 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 4: as well because we are central to the tournament to 291 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 4: North America. The teams can easily get to wherever they're 292 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 4: playing their matches in a short flight. So that was 293 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 4: definitely something working in our favor. And then our facilities. 294 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 4: I mean, close to seven hundred million dollars has been 295 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 4: invested in soccer specific infrastructure in Kansas City over the 296 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 4: last twenty years. None of that was specific for the 297 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 4: World Cup. Those facilities existed and are really best in class, 298 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 4: from Sporting Kansas City to the Kansas Current to the 299 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 4: University of Kansas So that was a huge factor. And 300 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 4: then I think really the intangible, the experienced part of it. 301 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 4: We were very focused as a team on making sure 302 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 4: that the teams could see themselves in Kansas City, could 303 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 4: understand how we would support their effort to win, to 304 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 4: keep going in the tournament. And obviously our teams have 305 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 4: done pretty well. So I think all of those things 306 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 4: combined really made us the what we like to think 307 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 4: of as the base camp capital of the world. 308 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 6: Yeah, for sure. 309 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 2: The thing that's interesting there too is you had mentioned 310 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 2: it was sported in Kansas City, you know, the Current 311 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: and University. You were ready for three? Were you ready 312 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: for four? You know, did you ever expect that to happen? 313 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 4: Well, I mean, if I'm being honest, we were hopeful 314 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 4: we would get to Yeah, and so immediately following the 315 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 4: final draw. You know, we we knew that England was interested, 316 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 4: We knew that the Netherlands had been to visit, that 317 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 4: that Algeria had been to visit. Argentina had not been 318 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 4: to visit Kansas City, and when they immediately following the 319 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 4: final draw, so they were coming to visit, we all 320 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 4: sort of sat up in our chairs and said, oh, 321 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 4: this could change things. And so so as things progressed, 322 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 4: it was quite the pleasant and I will say, you know, 323 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 4: surprise to have again four teams and three of those 324 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 4: being Pot one, you know, top ranked teams in the world. 325 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 4: Pretty extraordinary. 326 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 7: And so you mentioned Argentina. We cannot continue this conversation 327 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 7: if we don't say they are the reigning World champions 328 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 7: who have the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi. 329 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 7: What has the energy been like around Kansas City having 330 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 7: the World champions and all of the Argentinians that they 331 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 7: have brought to the city. 332 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 4: I mean, it is amazing. And one of the things 333 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 4: we had hoped for was to really showcase to a 334 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 4: global audience the vitality of our economy, our culture, the 335 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 4: welcoming character of our people, and with the most famous 336 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 4: player in the World training here and playing here. That 337 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 4: certainly gave us a platform to do that. I think 338 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 4: we've also seen the passion and the joy of the 339 00:16:57,840 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 4: not just the Argentina fans, but I would say the 340 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 4: global soccer fan meeting the heart of Kansas City, and 341 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 4: it has created some moments that we couldn't have couldn't 342 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 4: have scripted or dreamed of. It's been pretty special. 343 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 5: We're talking with Pam Kramer, CEO Kansas City FIFA World 344 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 5: Cup twenty six. Now this question is about the old 345 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 5: school Kansas City fans. You know, those are the guys 346 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 5: and women are like, do tell me about the chiefs, 347 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 5: don't tell me about the royals. Now you have this 348 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 5: World Cup event that's there. How do you think that 349 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 5: the younger people, Yes, they're like, hey, buddy, but how 350 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 5: about some older fans. Have you seen any of them 351 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 5: in the stands. 352 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 4: I have seen so many of them in the stands 353 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 4: and at our FIFA Fan Festival, And in fact, on 354 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 4: the fourth of July, our Fan Festival is at the 355 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 4: site of the National World War One Museum and Memorial 356 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 4: and they hosted their annual Stars and Stripes event and 357 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 4: a gentleman, a veteran he had his hat on, designating, 358 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 4: you know, the the naval carrier he had served on. 359 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 4: Came up to me and he said, look, I got 360 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 4: to He said, do I know you? Are you a 361 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 4: spokesperson for something? And I said, look, I'm involved with 362 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 4: this World Cup thing. And he said, I have to 363 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 4: tell you. Before this, I was pretty skeptical. And he said, 364 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 4: now it just seems like we've all been able to 365 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 4: put aside our differences and cheer for the teams. And 366 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 4: I thought that was so insightful because it is. It's 367 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 4: what has happened right the country, Kansas City, the world 368 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 4: has come together around sport Pam. 369 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 2: You know, Kansas City has really started become this big 370 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 2: soccer town, especially with the investment that the Kansas City 371 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 2: current owners are and Chris Long have put into the 372 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 2: first women's stadium ever made and all of that. So 373 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 2: do you think that that's what really solidified, you know, 374 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 2: Kansas City as a soccer market. 375 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 6: How did it change into this? Do you think? 376 00:18:59,560 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 3: Yeah? 377 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,199 Speaker 4: I think it goes back to Lamar Hunt, you know 378 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 4: who really still the Hunt family owns the Kansas City chiefs. 379 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 4: Lamar was a founder of Major League Soccer and was 380 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 4: insistent on Kansas City having a team and intentionally chose 381 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 4: the next owners of what were then the Kansas City 382 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 4: Wizards now Sporting Kansas City. Cliff Hillig and Neil Patterson 383 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 4: and their ownership group built a soccer specific stadium, They 384 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 4: invested in Compass Minerals National Performance Center. They really taught 385 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 4: Kansas City how to be soccer fans and created a 386 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 4: soccer culture. We have the largest youth soccer league in 387 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 4: the country. And then certainly the Longs in their investment 388 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 4: in the Kansey Current, are the latest chapter in that. 389 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 4: So I think it's been building for quite some time, 390 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 4: and the World Cup is the platform for us to 391 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 4: share that story. 392 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 7: And so I wonder in talking to a bunch of 393 00:19:54,760 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 7: different host committees, they've all experienced different challenges. From your perspective, 394 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,399 Speaker 7: what is a problem that you all solved that maybe 395 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 7: fans never noticed. 396 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 4: Well, you know, I think they noticed, But you know, 397 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 4: I think for us, transportation was a little different than 398 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 4: it was in other cities. We were starting from a 399 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 4: very different place. We don't have regular game day transportation, 400 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 4: public transportation to chiefs or royals, and we went above 401 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 4: and beyond that. We actually stood up a regional transit 402 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,959 Speaker 4: system for the World Cup and today we've moved more 403 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 4: than two hundred thousand people on that system, so pretty 404 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 4: extraordinary when you think about it was from scratch. I 405 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 4: think that that has been very surprising to a lot 406 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 4: of people that we were able to do that and 407 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 4: able to do it successfully. And then I think just 408 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 4: the regional unity that we have here. We do have 409 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 4: part of our footprint in both Kansas and Missouri. So 410 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 4: having Kansas and Missouri on board from a public standpoint, 411 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 4: the City of Kansas City, Missouri private enterprise, with our 412 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 4: local host city support, it's a pretty unified effort and 413 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 4: I think people may not realize how important that was 414 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 4: to our success. 415 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 2: Pam, I love that you brought up the transportation you 416 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 2: know angle there because obviously we're in New York New 417 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 2: Jersey area right now where there was a lot of 418 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 2: talk about that and we have a robust system here, 419 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 2: but there was still a lot of talk about it, 420 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 2: But Kansas City was chosen without that. Like you were saying, 421 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 2: how did you still you know, instill to FIFA that 422 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 2: you were able, you were going to be able to 423 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 2: do this without that and how did you really make 424 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 2: that work? 425 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: You know? 426 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 2: For this World Cup and decide that it was worth 427 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 2: the investment for this World Cup for you guys. 428 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 4: Yeah, So you know, FIFA has the requirements of getting 429 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 4: people to the matches and getting people from the airport 430 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 4: to downtown. We've been working for more than two years 431 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 4: with twenty local and regional partners on a system that 432 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 4: would have some sustained and long term impact, so really 433 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 4: creating a blue print for how regional transit could work, 434 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 4: and then very very early demonstrating to FIFA that we 435 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 4: were making progress on that. You know, they certainly were 436 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,959 Speaker 4: watching from the earliest days of my involvement to make 437 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,199 Speaker 4: sure we were tracking it. Was the first. One of 438 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 4: the first positions we hired was a director of Transportation. 439 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 4: We've had this Transportation working group that it really is 440 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 4: every level of transit authority and stakeholder in the room 441 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 4: making sure that we're working together. So think I think 442 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 4: we've been and it was important for us to keep 443 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 4: it affordable, right. We wanted people to use it here 444 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 4: if they were from here, so that after the World 445 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 4: Cup they might be more open to a conversation about 446 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 4: public transit. So I think there's some there's some really 447 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 4: intentional things we've done to make sure that there is 448 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 4: a legacy for that transportation effort. 449 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 5: PAM the ancillary businesses like the restaurants and the bars, 450 00:22:56,200 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 5: I am impressed that they are probably making money hand 451 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 5: over fist. I hope. 452 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 453 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,640 Speaker 4: You know, we stood up a program called Casey Game 454 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 4: Plan to really help businesses understand how to prepare who 455 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 4: would be impacted. You know, I always joke that if 456 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 4: you have a bridal shop, World Cup is probably not 457 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 4: going to change your business, although I will say we 458 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 4: have had four proposals underneath the heart at our FA 459 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 4: Fan festival, so who knows, maybe we actually will change 460 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 4: those businesses. But we've been working with the local small 461 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 4: business community to help them prepare and really just have 462 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 4: the information they need. We've also been thinking about economic 463 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:43,160 Speaker 4: impact beyond this short term visitor impact in the form 464 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 4: of new investment in Kansas City or in expansion inquiries 465 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 4: tied to World Cup exposure. So we have an activation 466 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 4: called Ksey House where we've been working with embassies and 467 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 4: our economic development partners to understand what business and trade 468 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 4: leaders will be in town for each of the matches 469 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 4: and convening conversations around those. So we had a Global 470 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 4: Innovation Cattle Innovation Challenge. The first weekend when Argentina was here, 471 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 4: we had lots of talk about data and technology incorporated 472 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 4: into sports when the Netherlands was in town. Certainly, Kansas 473 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 4: City is the sports architecture capital of the world. 474 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 7: That was the CEO of the Kansas City Host Committee, 475 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 7: Pam Kramer. 476 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 2: Up next, we are tuning to a different World Cup 477 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 2: and catching up with the world of esports. 478 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 5: That is straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 479 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 5: I'm Michael Barr with Vanessa Prodomo, Magnion and Randa Williams. 480 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 5: You are listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports and 481 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 5: Bloomberg Radio around the world. 482 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 483 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 5: Thanks for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports, 484 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 5: where we explore the big money issues in the world 485 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 5: of sports. 486 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 6: I'm Michael Barr, I'm Vanessa Prudomo Maglion. 487 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 5: And I'm Randa Williams. We are all swept up in 488 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 5: the World Cup that's happening in North America, but over 489 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 5: in Paris, the e Sports World Cup is also in 490 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 5: the thick of major competition. 491 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 2: This is the first time the Esports World Cup is 492 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 2: being held outside of Saudi Arabia, which the Esports Foundation 493 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 2: moved because of complications due to the war in Iran. 494 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 7: Last week, we caught up with the Esports Foundation Deputy 495 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 7: CEO and Chief Operating Officer Mike McCabe to discuss the 496 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 7: move out of the Middle East, the future of esports, 497 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 7: and their global reach. 498 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 5: Let's take a listen to that conversation with Mike McCabe, 499 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 5: Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of the E Sports Foundation, 500 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 5: Mike McCabe, Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. The 501 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 5: twenty twenty sixth edition of the E Sports World Cup 502 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 5: two thousand competitors. They're competing in twenty four games across 503 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 5: twenty five tournaments for a share of a record breaking 504 00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 5: prize the poll seventy five million dollars. First of all, 505 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,199 Speaker 5: as an old geezer and if I saw an E 506 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,159 Speaker 5: sports game, tell me what that would be like. 507 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, thank you so much for the 508 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 3: opportunity to chat to you. And you nailed all of 509 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,719 Speaker 3: our numbers there, so you're already there. And when it 510 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 3: comes to esports is basically the competitive version of video games, 511 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 3: and so any of the top video games that you've 512 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 3: seen of or heard of have generally have an esports 513 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 3: component or a competitive component to them. What we do 514 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 3: is we just amplify that massively and we create the 515 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 3: biggest stage and the biggest tournament on the planet to 516 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 3: let people compete at the highest level. 517 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 2: And Mike, this year's tournament is going to be held 518 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 2: in Paris, and it is usually held in realc. This 519 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 2: is the first time it's being held anywhere else, and 520 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 2: you made the decision to move it out of real 521 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 2: in March because of the Iran US war. 522 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 6: That was going on and is continuously going on. Tell 523 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 6: us about the decision and why you made it so early. 524 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 3: Well, it was actually a little later than that. The 525 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 3: decision was made in May rather than much, so we 526 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 3: waited until it was clear that there was still going 527 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 3: to be some travel disruption. We always build contingency like 528 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 3: any business, We always have a contingency plan in place 529 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 3: for such eventualities. But we put that into practice in May, 530 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:28,679 Speaker 3: and so we had eight weeks to pivot. And the 531 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 3: primary reason was because there was still travel advisories and 532 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 3: we whilst it was safe on the ground, we didn't 533 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 3: want to put the players or the teams that are 534 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 3: supporting them in a situation that they felt uncomfortable, and 535 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:47,440 Speaker 3: so we pivoted and we made the decision to move 536 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 3: EWC twenty six to Paris for this year, and then 537 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:55,639 Speaker 3: we had eight weeks to go about finding a venue, 538 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 3: building and designing everything that goes behind the running of 539 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 3: the Esports World Cup. And we're here and we go 540 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 3: live on July sixth, So we're deep in construction at 541 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 3: the moment. 542 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 7: So there is the FIFA World Cup that's happening. Your 543 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 7: Esports World Cup kicks off on July sixth, And I 544 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 7: bring up the FIFA World Cup because Christiano Ronaldo is 545 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,679 Speaker 7: an ambassador for the Esports World Cup. Talk to me 546 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 7: about how you got to know him and how he 547 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 7: became an ambassador. 548 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, he's been an amazing ambassador, and we have we 549 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 3: have a few other ambassadors as well. But the way 550 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 3: that we're connected with these ambassadors is most of them 551 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 3: are playing games, maybe not at the same competitive level 552 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 3: that they're playing their sport, but they are all playing games, 553 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 3: and so there's a there's a passionate connection to the 554 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 3: industry and to the ecosystem, and so that's that made 555 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 3: the conversation a lot easier, and he is the pinnacle 556 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:56,959 Speaker 3: of football along with some other amazing athletes who are 557 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 3: competing in the FIFA World Cup this summer, and having 558 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 3: him as as our ambassador has been amazing because he's 559 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 3: an aspirational ambassador to so many people, but also so 560 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 3: many of our players as well, and so we have 561 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 3: the best players in the world and to be able 562 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 3: to give them an opportunity to share the stage with 563 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 3: him as our ambassador is amazing. And he's he's helped 564 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 3: us bridge that gap where the elite of competitive esports 565 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 3: hasn't had that mainstream recognition and that's been changing over 566 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 3: the course of the last couple of years, and he's 567 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 3: helping us bridge that connection for these esports athletes and 568 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 3: helping them connect to a much much broader audience. 569 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 2: Mike, So, as we were talking about obviously Christian Ronaldo 570 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 2: and you know, his ambassadorship and bringing in new fans 571 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 2: and the World Cup that he's playing in and then 572 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 2: the Esports World Cup, I'm curious, you know, are you 573 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 2: planning any sort of you know, mix and mash because 574 00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 2: of both World Cups are going on at the same 575 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 2: time time, or are you anticipating any sort of confusion 576 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 2: with that at all. 577 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,719 Speaker 3: No, there's a there's a very a big, big disconnect 578 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 3: from the types of games obviously, and so the games 579 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 3: that we will be having an incredibly different apart from 580 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 3: e f C. So we have the EA Sports e 581 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 3: a f C game that will be happening in week 582 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 3: three for US, and we will be having some some athletes. 583 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 3: We haven't announced it yet, so I can't I can't 584 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,480 Speaker 3: share exactly who it is, but yeah, we're having some 585 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 3: some people. 586 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 2: Straight from straight from the US and the North America 587 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 2: coming right over. 588 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 3: That's that's the hope. So yeah, we'll see, we'll see 589 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 3: how they progress. But it's look, it's amazing. The fandom 590 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 3: is wild at the moment. I mean, you're experiencing it firsthand. 591 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 3: With that we're all very jealous of. But obviously we're 592 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 3: here in Paris and we shall see how how France 593 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 3: continue to do in the in the tournament. But we 594 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 3: continue well after the fine of the World Cup, and 595 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 3: we'll have many more competitions to come, and we've deliberately 596 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 3: chosen to schedule our games around some of these big quarterfinals, 597 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 3: semi finals, and obviously the final as well, just to 598 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 3: make sure it's easier for the fans to be able 599 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 3: to not just capture our event, but also be able 600 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 3: to see the big show. 601 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 5: We're talking with Mike Mccabeputy CEO and Chief Operating officer 602 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 5: of Esports Foundation. Now listen, as I said, I'm an 603 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 5: old geezer. I am full of gray hair. I know 604 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 5: one of the games there isn't Pong because I could 605 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 5: kick game. Really, I was good at that. What is 606 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 5: the most popular game that really attracts the fans and 607 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 5: gets a lot of attention. 608 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 3: There's a real mix, actually, and it depends. Some of 609 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 3: them have a geographic connection. So there's games like Honor 610 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 3: of Kings that have incredible resonance in China, but a 611 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 3: game like League of Legends has real global appeal from 612 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 3: Riot who are based in Santa Monica. So it really depends. 613 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 3: Each game has its own audience. And what we've tried 614 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 3: to do with the twenty four different games that we 615 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 3: have at EWC is to really be able to tap 616 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,720 Speaker 3: into those audiences all around the world, whether they be 617 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 3: geographically spread around the world, but also bringing different platforms 618 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 3: in as well. So we have mobile games, we have 619 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 3: PC games, and we have console games as well, so 620 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 3: people are competing across all three of the big platforms 621 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 3: as well. 622 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 7: There's going to be a documentary on Prime Video following 623 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 7: the tournament called Esports World Cup. 624 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 5: Level Up. 625 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 7: Tell us what watchers can expect from that. 626 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:43,719 Speaker 6: Yeah, level Up. 627 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:47,800 Speaker 3: We've just launched on Prime Video the second season, and 628 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 3: this follows many of the stories from last year's EWC 629 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 3: in twenty five and the reason that we created this 630 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 3: was to be able to tell some of the stories 631 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 3: that happen behind the camra that are not the core 632 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 3: competitive experiences that people are seeing on stage, some of 633 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 3: the human stories of how people got into esports and 634 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:15,719 Speaker 3: the difference that some of these life changing prize wins 635 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 3: that they've had have had on themselves and on their 636 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 3: families as well. So it's a very different storytelling. But 637 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 3: we've seen with so many top sporting documentaries how people 638 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 3: love to see what happens behind the scenes. They love 639 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 3: to hear the stories behind the players, and this gives 640 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 3: us an opportunity to tell a whole host of those 641 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 3: stories over the course of the season. And we're capturing 642 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 3: season three as we speak at the moment, so we're 643 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 3: in the process of capturing all of the content at 644 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:51,280 Speaker 3: the moment of this year's EWC. 645 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 2: Well, that will definitely show a different angle, right being 646 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 2: in Paris instead of Rietda's the other ones have been. 647 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 2: And speaking of that, the Esports Nations Cup, which is 648 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 2: I believe the World Cup Ish version, like the Olympics 649 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 2: Ish version of e Sports, is set to return in 650 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:10,719 Speaker 2: November and you're looking to. 651 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 6: Have that again in read as well. Is that right? 652 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 2: Are you thinking that you can go ahead with that 653 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 2: or when do you have to start making decisions to 654 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:21,919 Speaker 2: also potentially relocate that as well. 655 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's our plan and that's scheduled to take place 656 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 3: over the course of November this year, and it'll be 657 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 3: the first time that we've had a nation based competition 658 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:34,320 Speaker 3: at this scale. We don't have quite as many games 659 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 3: as part of the Esports Nations Cup, but it is 660 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 3: going to be it's nations and territories competing against each 661 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:47,960 Speaker 3: other and that brings a whole different level of support 662 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,919 Speaker 3: and fandom. I mean for World Cup is a great 663 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,880 Speaker 3: example of how that's happening. And people are tuning in 664 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:57,440 Speaker 3: to watch football maybe once every four years, and that's 665 00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 3: the moment that they do that, but it gives an 666 00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 3: op unity to bring new people into the sport, and 667 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 3: that's really what our thinking is behind it. We believe 668 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 3: that by November or I hope is that everything has 669 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 3: settled down by that point, But obviously we're constantly monitoring 670 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 3: and we're in constant communication with various national team partners 671 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 3: around the world to be able to make sure that 672 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:27,800 Speaker 3: we can put on the best competition possible. 673 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:31,680 Speaker 7: Last one for me, Mike, what is the future of esports? 674 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 7: When I was last year at Bloomberg years ago, I 675 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 7: started covering esports and that was the time when Fortnite 676 00:35:37,719 --> 00:35:41,200 Speaker 7: was experienced this huge explosion of popularity, and so much 677 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 7: has changed since then. I know that game, but what 678 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:48,480 Speaker 7: is the future of esports? What is what do you 679 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 7: think the five to ten year plan is going to 680 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 7: be and what do you think people are going to 681 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,280 Speaker 7: look at this and say. 682 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:58,959 Speaker 3: I think there's a couple of things and over five 683 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 3: to ten years, I think that there'll be the ecosystem 684 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:06,360 Speaker 3: will become a little more stable. And one of the 685 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 3: things that we've tried to do with our you know, 686 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 3: our vision emission is really to make e sports a 687 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,720 Speaker 3: global sport and to support the growth of the ecosystem, 688 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 3: and so we put or we provide the opportunity with 689 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:23,520 Speaker 3: platforms and the events like EWC and e n C 690 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 3: to be able to give those organizations, those clubs the 691 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:31,040 Speaker 3: opportunity to be sustainable and to be able to compete 692 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:35,839 Speaker 3: across multiple games. So I think that that stability will 693 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:40,719 Speaker 3: come to those organizations. And I think from the player perspective, 694 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,439 Speaker 3: and we've already seen this with certain games, those individuals 695 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:48,120 Speaker 3: who are competing at the pinnacle of those games are 696 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 3: seen in the same light as the top athletes from 697 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 3: a traditional sporting perspective as well, and so we've already 698 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,319 Speaker 3: seen this in certain markets with certain games, and I 699 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 3: think that's just to continue. 700 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:05,040 Speaker 7: That was the Esports Foundation Deputy CEO and Chief operating 701 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:06,280 Speaker 7: Officer Mike McCabe. 702 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:08,959 Speaker 5: We need more time, because that's it for today. Thanks 703 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:10,920 Speaker 5: for joining us. Tune in again next week for the 704 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:13,920 Speaker 5: latest on the stories moving big old money. 705 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:15,799 Speaker 2: In the world of sports, and don't forget to catch 706 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 2: our podcast on all your podcast platforms, and go to 707 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,840 Speaker 2: Bloomberg dot com to subscribe to the Bloomberg Business of 708 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,480 Speaker 2: Sports newsletter to stay up to date on all our 709 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:24,920 Speaker 2: juicy insights juicy. 710 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,680 Speaker 5: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg Radio 711 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 5: around the world, but stay with us. 712 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:33,719 Speaker 7: Today's top stories and global business headlines are coming up 713 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:35,360 Speaker 7: right now.