1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. The cold hearts truth 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: about the Olympic journey is not really been financially incentivized 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: in the same way that many of the professional sports are. 4 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: This is a basketball involved dB, a global are licensing 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: arm think for fifty. All of those things will make 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: up what that looks like money in sports. It's one 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: of the reasons why I enjoy being on Money Night. 8 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: Count An, Let's talk about some of the more interesting 9 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: aspects of the business of sports. When you're talking sports, 10 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: discipline is the bridge from being good to ultimately being 11 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: great at whatever it is that you're trying to be 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 1: your accomplished as your professional. Bloomberg Business of Sports from 13 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show, 14 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: where we explore the big money issues in the world sports. 15 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: I'm Michael barn, I'm Scarlett Foom, and I'm Mike Lynch. 16 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: Coming up today, we speak with Noah Garden, chief revenue 17 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: officer a Major League Baseball as the regular season begins. 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: Anytime culture gets involved in the business, it seeds a huge, 19 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: huge of acceleration. That's straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business 20 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: of Sports Show. But first, let's look at some of 21 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: the top stories of the week. Nice to see Tiger 22 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: back on the green. It's his week for the Masters. 23 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: Tiger Wood scar means a lot for golf. He means 24 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: a ton for golf. There have been academic studies done 25 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: on this. In fact, I just dug one up. This 26 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: is from back in which is exactly a decade ago UM, 27 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: when Tiger Woods was at his peak, and they looked 28 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: at his value to the economics of golf and they 29 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: determined that from the period of two thousand to two 30 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: thousand ten UM, the Nike golf Ball Division made an 31 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: additional one hundred and three million dollars because of tiger 32 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: Woods endorsement, because they got an additional nine point nine 33 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: million dollars in sales, so revenue a nine point nine 34 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: million dollars sales bump from tiger Woods endorsement, and then 35 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: that filtered down into a profit of a hundred and 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: three million dollars. And moreover, how tiger Woods endorsed brand 37 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: led to a price premium of about two and a 38 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: half percent. Remember back in the day, to aercent was 39 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: a pretty good price premium when inflation wasn't running any 40 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: eight percent. Also, more than half of Nike's investment of 41 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: a hundred eighty one million dollars with Tiger Woods was 42 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: recovered just in US golf ball sales alone. And think 43 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,239 Speaker 1: about the impact that Tiger Woods has had all over 44 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: the world, in Asia and Africa and Europe. It's something else. 45 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: You know. He's approaching the status of a Muhammad Ali 46 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: known worldwide. Uh And and the when he made the 47 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: announcement that he was just coming up to Augusta the 48 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: practice to see if he was going to play, it 49 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: created a buzz that wend frenzy is a good word. Yes, 50 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: there were a gaggle of photographers chronicling us every move 51 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: of the minity set foot on Augusta National you know. 52 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: And I always think of Tiger Woods now with Ben Hogan, 53 00:02:54,840 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: the famous story Ben Hogan obviously just kicking tail on 54 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: the tour and then one day he has a serious 55 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: car crash and there was talk, well, was Ben Hogan 56 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: ever gonna play golf again? I never thought Tiger Woods 57 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: was ever going to play golf again at the very 58 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: high competitive level. But my goodness, he's beating the odds. 59 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: Can you imagine by the way we were talking about 60 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: this off the air, that he's got a brace on 61 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: and if it's one of those races where there's copper 62 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: in it or something whatever, and it's help. Can you 63 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: imagine he could endorse that and make a lot of 64 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: money off of that. We should call it the business 65 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: of sports. Brace and Martin Bart you were saying that 66 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: it was his right leg that was almost amputated. Yeah, 67 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: the right leg, and that's important because that's the pivot. 68 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: That's the pivot for his game. That's that's the pivot leg, 69 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: and that's worse. You know. It's one of those things. 70 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: Where as his future continues on in golf, we'll see 71 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: how many tournaments he gets into. But it's just nice 72 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: to see him back out. How his son, that's the question, 73 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: because everyone's gonna be looking for a young tiger. What 74 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: is it fourteen or something whatever, So Charlie, yeah, Charlie, Yeah, 75 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: it won't be long after Charlie Axelwood's born two thousand, nine, 76 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: thirteen years old. Oh my goodness, Charley, ah, hey, it's 77 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: the infancy of the Major League Baseball season. We didn't 78 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: know what happened and now it is now here we are, 79 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: you know, just my goodness. I am so happy. That 80 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: we're playing baseball. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, he said, you 81 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: know what, adding that pitch clock on the priority list 82 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: for owners, it's not a bad idea, Scar not a 83 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: bad idea. I wonder two players feel the need to 84 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: speed up the game as well, to make it more entertaining, 85 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: to shorten the time, to increase the drama. Or are 86 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: they more devoted to their process. Do they need the 87 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: process to do their job well, because it's gonna need 88 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: buy it right, whatever of rule changes they make under 89 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: the new collective Bargaining Agreement. Well, they do have a 90 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: committee of some former players, current players umpires to to 91 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: study this. There's been some pretty interesting data out here, 92 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: and I don't think that any Major League Baseball player 93 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: would argue with this. The games so three minutes longer 94 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: than they were two years ago, their fifteen year minutes 95 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: longer than they were in eleven, and they're thirty one 96 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 1: minutes longer than they were in nineteen eighty four, when 97 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: the average time for a Major League Baseball game was 98 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: two hours and forty minutes. Now it's three hours and 99 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: ten minutes, and playoffs it's even worse. Oh good, by 100 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: the way, Triple A. They're going to use a fourteen 101 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: second clock with no runners on base and nineteen seconds 102 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: with runners on So I like to see if that 103 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: works in Triple A. Let's see it carry over now 104 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: into MLB and also the Class A West League ran 105 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: it last year. They've been a pitch clock, and before 106 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: the pitch clock, the average game was three hours and 107 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 1: two minutes. With the pitch clock two hours one minute. 108 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: You think that will make a difference. Is is that 109 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: going to bring people back to the ballpark? You know 110 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: it'll be a shorter game. In Sitcom said they make 111 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: fun of how long the game is. Oh and the 112 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: beach ball has been tossed on the field and now 113 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: we're gonna see which are the unpuires are gonna get it? 114 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, this goes on. That's a Simpsons bid, 115 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: by the way it was, I was thinking just that. 116 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: I mean, if people are making fun of it, obviously 117 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: there's something we gotta do about it, right. But the 118 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,799 Speaker 1: value of a game, though, even when you shorten it 119 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: means that people are still if a family for going 120 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: to the ballpark is still out five going to the game, 121 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: even if it's shorter, is it's still something that they 122 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: want to see. Well, yeah, because I think of in 123 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: the NBA. The reason why the NBA is one of 124 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 1: the most watched is because the games are short. You 125 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: can you can watch the games. What it is about 126 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: two hours twenty minutes. You can see the game bit 127 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,799 Speaker 1: bat boom. I mean that's this is why on Christmas 128 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: Day we've got like a plethora of games with four 129 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: or five games on Christmas Day. The broadcasters love it 130 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: because we can fit all that in during the broadcast. 131 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: I think we do have to shorten up the game, 132 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: except I do not like that ghost Runner rule at 133 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: burn It, Burn It Burn, fumes are coming out of oars. 134 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: I agree that we need to shorten the game. They 135 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: need to shorten the games on my game. But I 136 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: just wonder if fixing that will kind of um reveal 137 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: that there's still other things that need to be addressed 138 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: and we're not quite there yet. Speaking of the n B, 139 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: a NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, he is focused on examining 140 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: a trend of star players not participating in a full 141 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: complement of games. I wonder, I wonder, Lynchie if this 142 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: started back some time ago when Gregg Popovich with the 143 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: San Antonio spurs. I forgot who it was that he 144 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: put down as a reason for them not playing, and 145 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: he put down old, and like, oh, man, come on, 146 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: but and that's when people started to say, hey, wait 147 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: a minute, man, It's like, why is it? Why should 148 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: we use that excuse next time when we're not able 149 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: to come to work? I want to use that tomorrow. 150 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: It's an old But I mean what we do if 151 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: you're going to a game and you're paying money for 152 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: a game. I'm not talking about an injury now, I'm 153 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: talking about, you know, just someone didn't feel like playing, 154 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: and you know, people paid to see the stars Scar 155 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 1: and Lynchy. This is entertainment, folks. And it's like going 156 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: to a Broadway show and not having the lead actor 157 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: performed and having the understudy come in because the lead 158 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: actor is feeling old. I was looking at how many 159 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: games are in a regular season or the number of 160 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: games eighty two. That's the same the NHLs regular season, 161 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 1: and I feel like the NHL regular season is a 162 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: lot more taxing. How taxing is a full suite of 163 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: games for an NBA player? Do you think it's very taxing? 164 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,319 Speaker 1: They in hockey every minute and a half or so 165 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 1: you're back on the bench for a line change. Basketball, 166 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: you're out there for the entire game unless you're substituted 167 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: for So there's a lot of running up and down 168 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: the floor, playing defense, rebounding u It is grueling. But 169 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 1: you know, compared to years past when the players actually 170 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: traveled to games by train or on commercial airlines, they 171 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: have these luxury team flight planes now that have lounges 172 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: in there, they have beds in there, they eat well, 173 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: they sleep on the plane. And I'm just not buying this, 174 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: And I'm not buying the commissioner either, who I think 175 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: is the best of all the four commissioners, saying that 176 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: they need more incentives for the players, incentives, and the 177 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: guys making thirty two million dollars a year and you 178 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: need more incentives for them to play and play hard. 179 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: Let talk about what an in season tournament. What does 180 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: that even mean or what does that look like? Well, 181 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: to generate some interest, well, let's have a little bit 182 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: of a tournament here. We'll have an incentive, will give 183 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: each player on the winning team a million dollars with 184 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: a little mini tournament in the middle of about a 185 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: little more. It would be like a little Winter Carnival. Whoa, 186 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: we won the Winter Carnival last year. That's what they're 187 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: gonna do. But you're right. I mean, I don't understand. 188 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: You know, incentim you're getting paid upon paid, and I mean, heck, 189 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: if someone said, Okay, we're gonna give you Michael Barr 190 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 1: thirty two million dollars to come in and do newscasts it, 191 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: trust me, we are way to Samuel off base with that. 192 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: But I'm coming in every day and I will wear 193 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,679 Speaker 1: a hat saying zippity duda. I don't need any more incentive. 194 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: So I don't understand doesn't mean fewer games. I mean, 195 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: you've got much of America working from home Mondays and Fridays. 196 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: NBA players, as as much as they're living out their 197 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: childhood dreams, it's a job as well for them. And 198 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: I'm not saying they can never work from home, but 199 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: you know, maybe they have some burnout issues as well, 200 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: and a shorter season is something that they want and 201 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: that the NBA commissioner might be amenable to. Just putting 202 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 1: it out there, I don't I don't have a stands 203 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: either way. I mean, eighty two games, forty one home 204 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: games if you own the team. I mean, that's that's 205 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: a lot of money that comes in every game from concessions, 206 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: ticket sales, television revenue, and not to mention the people 207 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: that work in the arenas um that's you know, one 208 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: one night of pay that they're not going to receive 209 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: and all the ancillary, the restaurants, and every time this happens, 210 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: we talk about all the ancillary fallout. So I don't 211 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: I think the owners who really would dig the heels 212 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: in and reducing the number of games. Have you guys 213 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: been watching Winning Time on HBO? I have? I have 214 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: got I've got to watch it. In fact, this weekend 215 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: I'm going to make the time to watch great. It's 216 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: very throwback, but it just reminds me of you know, 217 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 1: Jerry Buss and his his team, his staff trying to 218 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: come up with ways to maximize the use of the 219 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: forum and making sure they can fill it and all 220 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: the ancillary business that they could be doing when the 221 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: games are not being held at the Forum. Very quickly, 222 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: on a serious note, uh and Lynchy, this is in 223 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: your wheelhouse. Boston Marathon. The organizers have banded runners from 224 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: Russia and Belarus ahead of the race, which is April eighteen. Yeah, 225 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: this is something that the Boston Athletic Association just came 226 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: up with earlier in the week. And if you don't, 227 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 1: you can run in the race. If you're a Belarus 228 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: a Russian citizen and do not reside in Belarus or Russia, 229 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: you may run in the Boston Marathon. But if you 230 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: reside in and you have been accepted, you money will 231 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: be refunded. Uh. Those who are allowed to run are 232 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: not allowed to run under their country's flag. And when 233 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: you come down the home stretch at the Boston Marathon 234 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: down Boylston Street, when you turn the corner from Hereford Street, 235 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: the flags of all the nations that are represented in 236 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: the thirty thou people that run in this ray line 237 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: the final the route down Boylston Streets, So the Belarus 238 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: and Russian flags will not be flying in this year's 239 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: Boston Marathon. Having said that, these are not countries that 240 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: typically boast a lot of star runners, are they know 241 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: most of the winners have come from so many African nations, Kenya, 242 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: Ethiopia most recently, And but you know, it's it's it's 243 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: it's it's a people's race, it's it's more than an 244 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: elite race, and then there are there are runners from 245 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: from those countries who participate every year. But yeah, actually 246 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,839 Speaker 1: I'm looking at a number here. Um, it just says 247 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: that before the pandemic, fifty six were from Russia, three 248 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 1: from Belarius out of more than thirty thousand people who 249 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: staying it for the Boston Marathon. So that gives you 250 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: some context. And I think it's I think it's gonna 251 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: be hard to police this. I mean, they can run 252 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: it themselves anyway. If nobody's gonna jump in like Jock 253 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: Semple did with Katherine Switzer fifty years ago in nineteen 254 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: seventy two and tackle her as she was running in 255 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: the race, that's not gonna happen, by the way, quick. 256 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: The National Football League urged by six state attorneys general 257 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: to improve working conditions for female employees following allegations at 258 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,679 Speaker 1: the organization is a hostile workplace for the women. New 259 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement to 260 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: NFL commission at Roger Goodell he should take swift action 261 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: in response to reports that dozens of former employees described 262 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: a pervasive culture of sexism and widespread workplace discrimination. Scar 263 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: this sounds like front office stuff, but also what happens 264 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: in the locker rooms and and anywhere else where. The 265 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: NFL is represented through players, through executives, and this is 266 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: because you've had several employees give testimony describing incidents where 267 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: they were clearly made to feel very uncomfortable, made to 268 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: feel victimized by their male managers. Well, you have employees 269 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: with the NFL thirty seven percent are women. So obviously 270 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: we're going to see if something is going to get 271 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: done about this. After contentious labor dispute between players and 272 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: team owners that lasted much of the winter, the two 273 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: MLB regular season is finally here. We have a great 274 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: guest to tell us what's in store for baseball this season. 275 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: We're joined by MLB Chief Revenue Officer Noah Garden. Noah, 276 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: welcome to the show. Well, thanks for having me, and 277 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: glad to be here. Well, there's so many questions. Baseball 278 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: is back, thank goodness. Their crowd is going to be 279 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: in the stands, Thank goodness for that. How happy are 280 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: you that baseball is back in general? Well, listen, I've 281 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: been a baseball fan long before I started working here 282 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: a little over twenty years ago, So, um, you know, 283 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: this time of year has always been special to me. 284 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: You know, the weather starts to change, you start to 285 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: see the sun a little more, and to me, baseball's 286 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: in the here and so um, you know, it's a 287 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: time of year that put the smile on my face. 288 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: And the fact that we're getting them back on the field, 289 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: you know, that is it's exciting for all of us. 290 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: I just wonder, and I know that you were not 291 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: part of the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, but during that 292 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: time when things were really influx, what was the working 293 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: environment like for your team? Because you still have to 294 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: plan ahead for the season to come, as well as 295 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: the start of adding a corporate partner patch to the season, 296 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: Can you give me a sense of the pace of work, 297 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: in the pace of discussions and idea generation during this 298 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: uncertain time. Yeah, I would say for us, you know, 299 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: really work never stopped. I mean, you know, the commissioner, 300 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: I think, um, you know, it was pretty clear and 301 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: most of his statements during that time that you know, 302 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: we expected to get a deal done with the players, 303 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: one that was fruitful for both sides, and that we 304 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: play you know, hopefully a full season and so you know, 305 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: our partners were tremendously supportive, and you know, we operated 306 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: like it was sort of business as usual. And with that, 307 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: people like to joke around me what did we do 308 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: in the off season? And I tell them the obvious. 309 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: It is actually busier for us sometimes then than the season, 310 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: because once the season goes, you know, everything is sort 311 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: of in play and moving. So from my perspective, you know, 312 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 1: we were every bit as busy as we normally were. Hey, now, 313 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: or it's Mike Clinch up in Boston. Let me ask 314 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: you about corporate advertising. When we were the first year 315 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: of COVID, a lot of these big sponsors just couldn't 316 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: re up with many many different clubs, including a club 317 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: like like the New York Yankees. What' spen the retention 318 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:25,959 Speaker 1: rate from last year to this year with some of 319 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: your big sponsors. You know, it's been you know, if 320 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: you take a look at our business, you know we've 321 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: announced a lot of new partnerships. I would say the 322 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: partnership business in general has a tremendous amount of momentum, 323 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: and I think that has a lot to do with, 324 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: you know, just a changing environment. You know, when big 325 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: brands now want to reach a large audience. UM. You know, 326 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: they have a lot of choices, but certainly Live is 327 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: really on the top of their list. And if you 328 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: think about what baseball brings to the fans into partners 329 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: is you know, for six months, we're on every single 330 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 1: day and we have a tremendous amount of games and 331 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: a big, big platform. So you know, this year we 332 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: have a lot of new folks um faces coming on board, 333 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: like Capital One in the banking category. UM. You know, 334 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: we split the beer category, which was historically Annahizer Bush 335 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 1: and now will be ana Isser Busch and Corona. You know, 336 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: we have some you know, we have a new deal 337 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 1: covering this year with Dairy Queen and so it's been vibrant. Um. 338 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: You know, we found that you know, in this um 339 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: you know this environment, people still need to reach their 340 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: fans and potential customers, and you know our platform has 341 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 1: helped to achieve that. Can you clarify more about the 342 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: months in baseball where the revenue really picks up the 343 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 1: way I have heard it described April and May. It's 344 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: nice and you know, but school is still in. You 345 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: might get the safety patrol coming in to get tickets 346 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 1: from the school to see the game. But then once 347 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: all the kids are out of school June, from then 348 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: on it's on. Can you describe more about that? Yeah, 349 00:18:57,920 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: you know what it depends on on which business lines. 350 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 1: So from a ticketing perspective, certainly we see that, right. 351 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: I mean you see a big you know, obviously opening 352 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: base sold out, you know, if not everywhere, just about everywhere, 353 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: and so you know, everybody wants to get back into 354 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: ballpark and their teams in first place, and so that's 355 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: why you see the stadiums filling up as you see 356 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: this week. Um. And then you know, again obviously the 357 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: summer is obviously huge time for us. That's when you 358 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: think of families and you think of the summer and 359 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: you think of traveling. You know, we are very fortunate 360 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,479 Speaker 1: that you know a lot of people plan their summer 361 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: travel around our events. Right. There's a lot of families 362 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: that want to see multiple ballparks that they've never seen before. 363 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: So you know, you just it kind of changes over time. 364 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: And then when September hits, you know, obviously you have 365 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: the race for the Pennant and all the exciting races 366 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: in each division that you know kick off its own 367 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: sort of hysteria. Um. From a ticket perspective. Now that said, 368 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: switching gears. From a merchandise perspective, you know, April is 369 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: among the hottest months. Really. The only months that are 370 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: that are better than April are really the holiday time 371 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: for us. Um. But April is when you know, we 372 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: launch a lot of new product. We launch a lot 373 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,959 Speaker 1: of new jerseys. You saw just this week we launched 374 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: the new City Connect jersey in Washington with the Nationals, 375 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: which was really we've never sold more jerseys ever than 376 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: we did during that launch. And so, you know, April's 377 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: a big, big time to launch new products on the 378 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: merchandise side of our business. And then we also do 379 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: you know, I would say the partnership side of our 380 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: business is a little more um, you know, a little 381 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: more linear. So we have obviously our tent poles throughout 382 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: the year, which if you think about it, the main 383 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: ones are obviously Opening Day, then you have All Star, 384 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: and then you have the postseason, and then we've layered 385 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: in a lot of things over the years, like we 386 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 1: have Field of Dreams which will be back in August 387 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: this year, and other events. And so from the partnership respective, 388 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: those ten poles are really, um, really really big, big 389 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: times where you see our partners activate in a large way. Well, 390 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: kind of following on what Michael bar just asked, do 391 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: your partners time their their sponsorship, their um at sale, 392 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: their their advertisements, and any other appearances they make with 393 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: the teams to coincide with, you know, the start of 394 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: summer when the season really gets going, or does everything 395 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: start in April regardless. I mean, I'm just curious how 396 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: customized they can they can make this. Yeah, it is 397 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: very customized. It doesn't all start in agil. I mean 398 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: a lot of times when you have partners, you've got 399 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: to sort of see what their product line looks like 400 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 1: or what they're trying to accomplish, and what time of 401 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: year they're trying to focus in and depending on that 402 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: and how that lines up, we put together programs that 403 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: sort of amplify the message that they're trying to get 404 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: across to our fans and their customers, and so that 405 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: that is you know, that could be in the middle 406 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: of summer, as it could be at the end of 407 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: the year. It could be at the beginning of the season, 408 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 1: but it's not not every new partner comes out of 409 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: the blocks. You know, on opening day and you know 410 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: starts to activate in a big way. That's that's really 411 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: based on different things that they're trying to compisode is 412 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 1: very customized, no and no pun intended. But um. A 413 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: new revenue stream that has come on in all sports, 414 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: and Major League Baseball has been part of it is streaming. 415 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: Tell me what's what's on the horizon now in terms 416 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: of Major League based all partnerships with with with streaming games. 417 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: You know, listen, we know the linear bundle as it 418 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: exists today is still probably, if not the most important, 419 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: one of the most important revenue streams in the industry. 420 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 1: The challenge that we have is even within that bundle, 421 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: reach has become an issue. And you have you have 422 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: you know, you have your cord cutters, which is a 423 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 1: you know, a very small amount of people, but then 424 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: you have your cord nevers um, and then you have 425 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: people that are sort of within the more traditional bundle 426 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: that no longer get access to your product. Streaming provides 427 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 1: us with an ability to expand our reach to where 428 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 1: we can get to all of our fans, both you know, 429 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 1: the next generation of fans and existing fans, and so 430 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: we have you know, new deals on the horizon. We 431 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: announced the Apple deal UM. So Apple will be UM 432 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: broadcasting a doubleheader on Friday nights this year that will 433 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: be in front of a pay wall, so it will 434 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: be national games exclusive to Apple, but free on their platform. 435 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: And you know, when you talk about their platform in 436 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: this case, it's Apple plug us. That doesn't mean you 437 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: need an Apple device to access these games. Apple pluses 438 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: is available on all devices, Android and otherwise, so you know, 439 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: basically any if you have a device that streams, you 440 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: are able to get this. And you know, we're hoping 441 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: that it increases reach, you know, and people that find 442 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: themselves outside the bundle. You know, you've got to kind 443 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: of go and reach our fans where they are, and 444 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: this is just another example of us trying to achieve that. 445 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: And then you'll see you'll see other stuff that we 446 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: haven't announced yet on the streaming side, but we will 447 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: over the next couple of weeks that you know further 448 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: is that strategy also, And I'm glad you mentioned that 449 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: you don't need an Apple device to be able to 450 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: see those games, because I think that's something that's not clear, 451 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:41,199 Speaker 1: especially because Apple is so proprietary with their hardware. I 452 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: want to ask about what you can learn from the 453 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: other professional sports leagues and other sports. You watch the 454 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: excitement of the NFL playoffs, that idea that any team 455 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: can win on any given Sunday, College basketball with the upsets. 456 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 1: What impresses you about how the NFL or the n 457 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: c double A monetize their on air product And do 458 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: you think it's something that the MLB can adopt or 459 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: altar or pick up or borrow from those events. Yeah, listen, 460 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: I think the technology is playing an increasingly important role 461 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: in how you broadcast the game. The other thing I 462 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: think you have to take into consideration now is you know, 463 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,199 Speaker 1: you talk about streaming and you talk about you know, 464 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 1: traditional what's called linear TV broadcasts. You know, each audience 465 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: expects something different, right, and it's about broadcasting in a 466 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: way to engage with that audience. You know, when you're streaming, 467 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: it offers you just a different ability. There's other things 468 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: you can bring in. There's other stuff, stats, there's other 469 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 1: overlays that technology can come become a bigger part of 470 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: it when it becomes on the linear side. You know, 471 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: we've on MLB Network, I've tried a number of different things. 472 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: Last year we had sort of CCS Clubhouse which was 473 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,880 Speaker 1: um CC Sabathia really just sitting with friends and interesting 474 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 1: how that came about is Ceci said, Hey, you know, 475 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: I love sitting around, you know, with former players and 476 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 1: my friends and watch the games, and the conversation that 477 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: you know that happens during those times is something that 478 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 1: you know the world should see. And we said, you 479 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: know what, let's do broadcast like that rather than have 480 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,919 Speaker 1: sort of a traditional booth, you know, and more of 481 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 1: a structured scenario where you know, from a broadcast standpoint, 482 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 1: let's try that. And you know, we've tried a lot 483 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 1: of different things, and I think all the leagues have 484 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 1: been doing that. You see that in the NFL with 485 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,120 Speaker 1: the Manning tasts, you know, you see different technology coming 486 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: into play. And so that's on the forefront of making 487 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: sure that you know, on every device that we reach 488 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: out to our fans that were offering a product that's different. 489 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 1: So you won't see on the Apple games, you won't 490 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: see it the same way you see you would see 491 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: that game on traditional TV, and vice versa. You just 492 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,919 Speaker 1: answered the question and I was thinking of that's about 493 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: you would see it, and lyndsay, I was thinking of 494 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: the same thing. Is like we're the we're the older 495 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: guys watching stuff and and now the younger crowd is 496 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 1: watching Apple. Uh Lyndsey, I'm sorry, I was just just 497 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: popping over perfect speaking of the younger people. Talk about 498 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,239 Speaker 1: the demographics of sports betting and the demographics of the 499 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 1: fan that's being driven to watch the game or attend 500 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: the game. Yeah, listen, sports betting is interesting. I think 501 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: that for us, I look at it as an engagement platform, right. 502 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: You know, we directly don't make any money from sports gambling. Obviously, 503 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: there's sponsorship opportunities and partnership opportunities for from the actual 504 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 1: bets on the game. You know, we don't make money 505 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: off off that part of the equation. That said, people 506 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: that are hardcore and gamble on games and will engage 507 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: with a game longer. And I think that's one of 508 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: the things where you look at these different platforms. I 509 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: don't think we'll ever my word really over gamblify a 510 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: broadcast of a game. What I do think we will 511 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: do is have alternative broadcasts for people that are specifically 512 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: looking for that type of content, and that way we 513 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: can give that fan what they want and what they're 514 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: looking for. And so as that continues to evolve that 515 00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 1: space and you see more sort of in game betting 516 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. My guess is they're going to 517 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: gravitate to sort of these alternative broadcasts. And you know, 518 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 1: because you know, listen, our support is still as I 519 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, we're a family sport right where you know, 520 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: in the summer, I want to take my kids to 521 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: games and knock off three or four different stadiums. You know, 522 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 1: you don't want to be in a situation where my 523 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 1: kid now is watching you know, the regular broadcast on 524 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: Friday night or Monday night or Sunday night and see 525 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: thousand gambling ads or all these different gambling commentary. You know, 526 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:28,719 Speaker 1: you have to sort of deliver that to the right 527 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: audience at the right time. But I do think that 528 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: that audience is hungry for data. Um. You know, we've 529 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: invested a tremendous amount in data, you know, with the 530 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 1: stack cast data and the things that I can see 531 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: people talking about exit velocity, things that they didn't talk about, 532 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: you know, ten years ago, and think so that type 533 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: of really deep association with data is something that you're 534 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: going to see in these alternative broadcasts to address that market. 535 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,400 Speaker 1: So I'm riding in the car with my dad. I'm 536 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: about ten, and all of a sudden, I said, Daddy, 537 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 1: the man on the radio is talking about the MLB 538 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: Jersey Patch program. What's the Jersey Patch program. The Jersey 539 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: Patch program is an is they listen to a tremendous 540 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: opportunity for a partner at the local level to have 541 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: an association. That's really unprecedented with Major League Baseball teams 542 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: other sports have you know, have already climbed this mountain. 543 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 1: You know, for us, we wanted to be sort of 544 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: methodical in our approach. You know, we saw what was 545 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: going out, what was going on, and what worked and 546 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: what didn't work, and you know, we put together a 547 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,640 Speaker 1: program where on the one hand, it provides a real 548 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: opportunity of value for partners and another revenue stream for 549 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: local clubs. Talk about the revenue stream for local clubs. 550 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 1: How will that be split between the MLB and the team? 551 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 1: Specifically so it won't be split. I mean, this is 552 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: a local sale like every other sponsorship sale or partnership 553 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: sale they have at the local level. Obviously, on a 554 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: overall level, we have a revenue sharing program that all 555 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: teams participate in, you know, and it will be subject 556 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: to the same sort of revenue sharing conditions that any 557 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: other piece of revenue at the local level would, but 558 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: when they salatage their revenue. Okay, I have another question 559 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 1: because I just thought of it, given what you said 560 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: about how you're not making money off of betting companies. 561 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:17,240 Speaker 1: All Jersey Patch designs will be reviewed by Major League 562 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: Baseball and the Players Association. But there are certain categories 563 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: that are restricted from participating in the program. Is that right? 564 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: Including alcohol, betting, and media brands. I'm curious why that 565 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 1: is when anyone who watches the broadcast will be deluged 566 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 1: by beer commercials and draft kings and all the other 567 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: things that that are banned are restricted from participating this 568 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: Jersey Patch program. So it's a fair question, and I 569 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: think it comes down to association. And again for us, 570 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: it comes down to sort of the family dynamic. You know, 571 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: there's certain types of advertising that we accept that are 572 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: in certain places to gambling. In particular, we actually do 573 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: limit the amount of ads that you can see during 574 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: a game, both locally and nationally. You know last year 575 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: that was I want to say it was two commercials 576 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: during the game. And I think we're going to extend 577 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: that this year. We're looking at it right now, maybe 578 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: adding a third. And when you talk about gambling in general, 579 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: you know, to us, it's very much concerned about the 580 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: integrity of the sport first and foremost. And I think 581 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: when you think about the pass program, it's it's sort 582 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 1: of the same thing. We just don't feel comfortable putting 583 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 1: alcohol or gambling or something like that. That's just gonna 584 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: be on the forefront of our brand and specifically addressed 585 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 1: to a lot of our younger audience. But they're all 586 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 1: over the stadium. I mean there are beer ads or 587 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 1: beer logos everywhere in the stadium. Yeah, yeah, no, I 588 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: think that's right. It said it comes down to the 589 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 1: It just comes down to the sort of the location 590 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: of the ad and how close you get the players, 591 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 1: different parts of the ballpark. Those are all kind of 592 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: things that even when we talk about gambling and last year, 593 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: you know, there were certain parts of the ballpark you 594 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: could have that sort of advertising in other parts that 595 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: you couldn't have. You know, a certain amount that could 596 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: be on E V I and a certain amount that couldn't. Again, 597 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: we're realistic, gets out there to your point, you see 598 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: it everywhere, But the question isn't. And again it's like 599 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: it's sort of like the way we're thinking of, you know, 600 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: gambling broadcasts in general, and why we go to an 601 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: alternative stream is you know, there's a certain amount that 602 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 1: probably everybody can. It's okay for everybody, but when as 603 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: you get deeper into certain categories, they're just a time 604 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 1: and a place for it. And I think that's kind 605 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: of how we we look at those things. So, no, 606 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: it's a helmet decail not far behind the Jersey Patch. 607 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,959 Speaker 1: So as part of the new cb A, we do 608 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 1: have um the rights to sell the helmet decay. The 609 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: way we're looking at that right now is we're not 610 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: we're currently not planning on doing that for the regular season. 611 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,280 Speaker 1: You know. Again, we're launching the on the Jersey We 612 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 1: think that probably goes far enough right now. You will 613 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:40,719 Speaker 1: see it sold on a national level for the postseason, 614 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: you know, when whether we do that for this year 615 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: or not, it'll just depend on if we find the 616 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: right partner, and how we do it is sort of 617 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: a little up in the air. You know, we're going 618 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: to do it by the DS different than the LCS, 619 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: differ the World Series or all the postseason for one partner. 620 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 1: So we still have you know, still some teased a 621 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 1: cross in the eyes the dot, but you know, well 622 00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: we will be selling it on a national level postseason. 623 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 1: The baseball card market continues. I knew you're going there. 624 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,239 Speaker 1: I'm just impressed how this continues on and now there 625 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: are new ways to invest in baseball cards. Can you 626 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: take us through what this means for baseball and how 627 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: people are investing in baseball cards. Well, Michael, you're gonna 628 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 1: have to tell me when I should stop, because one 629 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: thing you don't know about me is I am a 630 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: huge baseball collector. That's that I started when I was 631 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 1: probably seven years old. And when you talk about throwing 632 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: it up, if my wife could throw out my cards, 633 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:38,640 Speaker 1: we've now I now have. I can't even tell you 634 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: how many cards in my house, so I remain how 635 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: many boxes? No, I mean, I think I probably I 636 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 1: have over a million cards, and that's from all spoords 637 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 1: all years. It's I buy cards like it's a joke 638 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 1: around here at the office. So anyway, I love to 639 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 1: talk about baseball cards. Listen, this is a this is 640 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 1: a business that has just exploded, and you know, listen, 641 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 1: the pandemic had The pandemic accelerated a lot of different things. 642 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,720 Speaker 1: It accelerated streaming quite frankly, you know, without the pandemic, 643 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: I don't think my mother would be calling me saying, hey, 644 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 1: have you watched Ozark. I would have thought she'd be 645 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 1: the last person Netflix, right, But now she does that 646 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: and so um from my perspective. Another thing in the pandemic, 647 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: you know, one of the things that people did is 648 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 1: they you know, these these online breakers and you know, 649 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 1: really what they were were people that were buying cases 650 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: of cards, but them splitting it up in a way 651 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: that allowed people to purchase sort of little pieces of 652 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: those cases at a much smaller investment level. And it 653 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 1: created a lot of great content and I kind of 654 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:43,760 Speaker 1: think it it revitalized um sort of collecting in general. 655 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: And you know, on top of that, now you have 656 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 1: a tremendously um accelerated emergence emerging market in the n 657 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 1: f T space, and it's really all combining and uh, 658 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:57,240 Speaker 1: you know, lots of people. It's become a big part 659 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:02,000 Speaker 1: of culture, and any time culture gets involved in the business, 660 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 1: it sees a huge, a huge acceleration, and that's what 661 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: you've seen in this category. I mean, for me, it's 662 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 1: always been huge. But um, the numbers, I mean, the 663 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:17,720 Speaker 1: numbers of people that are buying cards now is more 664 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:22,239 Speaker 1: than any time in the history of card collecting. And 665 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 1: I would venture to say cumulatively over you know, the 666 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 1: last ten years. I think more did BOT cards last 667 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 1: year and one year. So you know, the numbers are 668 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: really staggering. MLB leveraging that if you think about it, 669 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:36,359 Speaker 1: they were always called baseball cards, right, I still use 670 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 1: baseball cards as as a term to sort of catch 671 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:41,719 Speaker 1: a catch all for all my cards. You know, we 672 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 1: have a tremendously deep history in cards, and you know, 673 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:48,399 Speaker 1: some of the most expensive cards in the world are 674 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 1: are baseball cards. And I think that, you know, so 675 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 1: you sort of think of baseball when you think of cards. 676 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,440 Speaker 1: But we continue, if you take see what our our partners, 677 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 1: TOPS has done. They've launched this sort of Tops Now 678 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 1: product which means if something tonight happens, whether it's a 679 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,799 Speaker 1: no hitter or some sort of other event, you know, 680 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,760 Speaker 1: they offer these limited cards for twenty four to thirty 681 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:10,719 Speaker 1: six hours afterwards that you can commemorate that event. So 682 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 1: the product has really evolved. You know, it used to 683 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 1: be sort of you buy your box cards and you 684 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 1: open your box of card and you went on. Now 685 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:21,400 Speaker 1: there's you know, different types of cards for different types 686 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:24,360 Speaker 1: of collectors. Right, there's more expensive cards that are limited. 687 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:27,919 Speaker 1: There's more you know, general production cards. Tops of doing 688 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:31,840 Speaker 1: tops now and then obviously with our partners over Candy 689 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,839 Speaker 1: and Tops, um, we're doing n f T cards. UM. 690 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:39,400 Speaker 1: So that's uh, you know, another exciting addition to collecting 691 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:42,320 Speaker 1: in general. Final question from me, you know, younger fans, 692 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: it's a question that comes up for everybody. Are you concerned? 693 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: Are you encouraged with their engagement in Major League Baseball? Yeah? 694 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,279 Speaker 1: You know what I think that we are. I mean 695 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 1: if you think if you think about Major League Baseball, 696 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:59,000 Speaker 1: you know we were you know, I started working here 697 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 1: at the end of two thousand and I started actually 698 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 1: at MLB dot com. So my history was you know, 699 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:06,879 Speaker 1: really started on the tech side. You know, we were 700 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: the first to deliver a sports app um on the 701 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 1: new iPhone in two thousand five. We were actually streaming 702 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 1: games in two thousand two. It was actually before Netflix 703 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,799 Speaker 1: with the they were still shipping out their DVDs. You know, 704 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:21,759 Speaker 1: we've so we've been in this technology space for a 705 00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:24,239 Speaker 1: long time, and I think people on sight of that, 706 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:26,359 Speaker 1: and as a result of us have having done that. 707 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: We have a tremendous audience on the digital side, and 708 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:33,279 Speaker 1: we've had them for quite some time. A lot of 709 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:36,000 Speaker 1: times people look at demographics in general and they look 710 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 1: at you know, sort of TV numbers, Nielsen numbers, and 711 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:42,600 Speaker 1: they try to connect those dots and talk about the 712 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 1: age of your fan or the health of your sport. 713 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:47,920 Speaker 1: I think what they've missed this whole time is the 714 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:50,919 Speaker 1: fact that we've been again, we've been streaming, and we've 715 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,359 Speaker 1: had products that would be you know, digitally, we've had 716 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:56,520 Speaker 1: the number one sports app since two thousand five. So 717 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,480 Speaker 1: if you look at the numbers of engagement and the 718 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 1: age of engagement on those platforms, um, you know, they've 719 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:05,480 Speaker 1: been among the highest. It's about the amount of minutes 720 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:08,279 Speaker 1: that are consumed on our apps are more than you know, 721 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 1: just as much as ESPN during the summer. And then 722 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 1: we're just one sport ESPNS, you know, multiple sports, so 723 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:15,839 Speaker 1: UM you know, we're sort of a victim of our 724 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,600 Speaker 1: own success on the digital side. But you know, we've 725 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:20,960 Speaker 1: if you see, you know, especially with the City connect 726 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: and and the jerseys that we've launched. If you see 727 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 1: the success of those, you know that our younger fans 728 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 1: are engaging with us in a huge way. And there's 729 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:31,880 Speaker 1: been a tremendous amount of momentum that's going into the 730 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 1: season and so um you know, more to come, but 731 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:37,520 Speaker 1: you see it through the partnerships and the ticket sales 732 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,640 Speaker 1: and and all that stuff, and our merchandise sales, so 733 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:43,520 Speaker 1: all of them. That even merchandise sales. We had a 734 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:45,759 Speaker 1: record year last year in merchandise sales. So you can 735 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 1: think about that in the middle of a pandemic, right, 736 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:49,760 Speaker 1: I don't know, you know, I'm in the middle of Manhattan. 737 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:52,680 Speaker 1: Most stores were closed somehow they were getting our product 738 00:37:52,760 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: and they had to go out of their way to 739 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:57,480 Speaker 1: get that. We sold more product last year by fifty 740 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:00,880 Speaker 1: more than we've ever sold and hit street of our sport. 741 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:04,279 Speaker 1: You know. Again, that just goes to show you that 742 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: our fans are highly engaged and engage with point we 743 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:08,320 Speaker 1: they have to actually go out of their way to 744 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:10,760 Speaker 1: get what they're looking for in the middle of the pandemic. 745 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 1: So you know, we're happy to war things, stand excited 746 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 1: about the new season, and at least right now, are 747 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:20,840 Speaker 1: our teams are in first place basically, so it's always 748 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: April is always a great time of year. Noah Garden, 749 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:27,680 Speaker 1: chief revenue officer for Major League Baseball. Thank you. I 750 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:29,719 Speaker 1: hope you had a lot of fun and uh, thank 751 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:32,200 Speaker 1: you so much for laying your knowledge on us. Thanks. 752 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:35,720 Speaker 1: Thanks glad to be here and always around. So thanks 753 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:39,080 Speaker 1: for having me take care though, thank you. No, uh, thanks, 754 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:44,040 Speaker 1: No Garden laid some knowledge about a lot of things 755 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:49,959 Speaker 1: about the way that baseball today is generating revenue. It's 756 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 1: a far cry scarlett from the way it used to be, 757 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:56,920 Speaker 1: where okay, you could put some advertising out there in 758 00:38:56,960 --> 00:39:00,680 Speaker 1: the outfield and make sure we got our your sales 759 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:03,480 Speaker 1: and hot dog sales at the stadium, and if we're 760 00:39:03,560 --> 00:39:06,279 Speaker 1: really lucky, we can sell the game of the week. 761 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 1: But it is totally changed. It's totally changed. It's all 762 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,839 Speaker 1: about monetizing. And of course this patch program that they 763 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:14,920 Speaker 1: have that does not start this season, it'll start the 764 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:17,880 Speaker 1: following season is really interesting because of all the different 765 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:20,399 Speaker 1: rules that they have in place, how they're not going 766 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 1: to feature certain kinds of sponsors, for instance, no gambling companies, 767 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:27,400 Speaker 1: no beer companies or alcohol companies. But you go to 768 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:30,400 Speaker 1: the stadium and it's all around you, through the beer sales, 769 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 1: through I don't know, Heineken or Budweiser billboards everywhere. Doesn't 770 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:37,120 Speaker 1: matter at any point whether the players have a patch 771 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:40,040 Speaker 1: on their jersey that does or doesn't have a certain 772 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 1: kind of company on their people. It's the entire atmosphere 773 00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:45,120 Speaker 1: that you absorbed, that you take in. I think when 774 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:47,240 Speaker 1: you're watching the game, the close ups of the batter, 775 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: especially ifits on the sleeve, you're gonna notice it. At 776 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:52,600 Speaker 1: there's a run around base pictures looking in for signs 777 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:54,759 Speaker 1: and goes into the stretch, you'll notice the patch. So 778 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:57,319 Speaker 1: it's you won't notice it as much when you're sitting 779 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:01,240 Speaker 1: at the ballpark. It's inescapable while watching on television maybe, 780 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:03,600 Speaker 1: but then you're also going to get the bear commercial 781 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:06,759 Speaker 1: blasted at you right after that play ends and they 782 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:09,319 Speaker 1: throw the runner out at first and later on that day, 783 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:11,480 Speaker 1: are you gonna remember the difference? You're just going to 784 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:14,160 Speaker 1: know that you were bombarded by beer odds. I remember 785 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:17,879 Speaker 1: as a kid when we collected baseball cards, I mean 786 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:21,040 Speaker 1: the kids, we were all into it, and of course 787 00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 1: you talk to our parents, is like, what is this all? 788 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:26,239 Speaker 1: Around the house. It's like, you know, but now as 789 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:31,240 Speaker 1: we are older, my generation, yeah, I collect baseball cards. 790 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:36,200 Speaker 1: The younger generation is collecting baseball cards. But more importantly, 791 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:40,799 Speaker 1: my generation, we have more money to spend on baseball 792 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:43,560 Speaker 1: cards and the way we invest. And I think that's 793 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 1: one of the reasons why the baseball card markets. Your 794 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:50,239 Speaker 1: generation escorting baseball cards. Yes, we hoard. He said during 795 00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:52,920 Speaker 1: the interview Noah Garden that he has what about a 796 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:58,640 Speaker 1: million millions? Yeah? Where? Yeah? Where do you put those? Man? 797 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,200 Speaker 1: It takes up a lot of space. Yeah, it's I'm 798 00:41:01,239 --> 00:41:05,560 Speaker 1: sure Mrs Garden would like Mrs Garden in terms of 799 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 1: his mom or his spouse. You know what surprised me 800 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:14,000 Speaker 1: when he told me that told us that last year 801 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: was a record year for merchandise sales in baseball, up 802 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:21,359 Speaker 1: fifty the most in history. Why do you think that is? 803 00:41:21,719 --> 00:41:24,799 Speaker 1: I don't know. Is it people because of the pandemic 804 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,399 Speaker 1: with last year people were in the ballpark. But during 805 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:30,120 Speaker 1: the pandemic that were they watching so many games? And say, 806 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:32,320 Speaker 1: you know what, the Dodges really have cool uniforms. I 807 00:41:32,360 --> 00:41:34,120 Speaker 1: think I'd like to have one of their hats. I'd 808 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:36,520 Speaker 1: like the Atlanta Braves jerseys. I think maybe I'll get 809 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:39,799 Speaker 1: one of those myself, but I can't put my finger 810 00:41:39,880 --> 00:41:44,960 Speaker 1: on why leap in merchandise sales just last year? Why 811 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:47,319 Speaker 1: last year as opposed to any other year. I mean, 812 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:50,879 Speaker 1: maybe people felt better going to an outdoor event, sporting event, 813 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:52,480 Speaker 1: as opposed to if you were to go to an 814 00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:55,280 Speaker 1: NBA game or an NHL game for a lot of venues, 815 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:58,200 Speaker 1: you couldn't it wasn't full capacity. But if you were 816 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:01,759 Speaker 1: going to an outdoor park, then you know it can 817 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:05,040 Speaker 1: film up. And people wanted to be there. And this 818 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 1: is the d I Y economist explanation for it. Maybe 819 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:10,799 Speaker 1: people wanted to feel more invested in part of part 820 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 1: of the festivities, and that entailed buying really expensive jerseys. 821 00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:21,080 Speaker 1: Monro feels better to be than the one, than number five. 822 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:22,719 Speaker 1: I'll wear a number because of Mike. We have a 823 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:24,600 Speaker 1: chance to go for three and a round. Good numbers 824 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:26,760 Speaker 1: are a good time. When I first started wearing the number, 825 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:30,000 Speaker 1: I would just have the im proud Floomberg business of sports. 826 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:35,440 Speaker 1: The number of the week. Hey kids, drink your Bosco 827 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:39,360 Speaker 1: chocolate and huddle around a set because guess what time 828 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:43,640 Speaker 1: it is. That's right, it's time for the number of 829 00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:47,200 Speaker 1: the week. And listen, there's a special prize in there 830 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:49,640 Speaker 1: for you. For each and every one of you guys 831 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:53,760 Speaker 1: who think you know the answer, you'll get the admiration 832 00:42:54,320 --> 00:42:57,880 Speaker 1: and our gratitude for getting it right. That's our special 833 00:42:57,920 --> 00:43:02,520 Speaker 1: prize for the day. So here here is the question 834 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:07,160 Speaker 1: for a game warn shirt Babe Ruth wore while on 835 00:43:07,239 --> 00:43:11,440 Speaker 1: the New York Yankees. What did it go for? How 836 00:43:11,560 --> 00:43:15,400 Speaker 1: much did Babe Ruth Jersey go for? When was this auction? Nineteen? 837 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:18,200 Speaker 1: I know Lynch, she's going to know the answer down 838 00:43:18,200 --> 00:43:21,720 Speaker 1: to the cent m. I know the Mickey mental Baseball 839 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 1: because that was symmetrical. It was ninety two and it 840 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 1: went for five point two million, Baby Ruth Drew. Yeah, 841 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:34,240 Speaker 1: this is the Babe. I'm gonna say two point one million. 842 00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:45,760 Speaker 1: I'm want to say five million. The Babe Ruth Jersey 843 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:53,960 Speaker 1: game Warren went four five point six million dollars. Actually, 844 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:57,120 Speaker 1: you know what, you get on stage for real because 845 00:43:57,239 --> 00:44:00,400 Speaker 1: you are under You didn't bid over Lynch totally one. 846 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:03,360 Speaker 1: He totally won. So you get to get on stage 847 00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:07,960 Speaker 1: and play plinkoh and and enjoy all the accolades. By 848 00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:10,760 Speaker 1: the way, I should add to last year Jersey warned 849 00:44:10,800 --> 00:44:14,160 Speaker 1: by Brooklyn Dodgers star Jackie Robinson back in the fifties. 850 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:18,359 Speaker 1: It's sold for four point two million dollars. And by 851 00:44:18,400 --> 00:44:25,600 Speaker 1: the way, Jackie Robinson Day April my birthday. That's why 852 00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:28,480 Speaker 1: I always remember that date. You know, It's like I 853 00:44:28,520 --> 00:44:32,440 Speaker 1: can't forget it. So I'm glad Jackie Robinson day. Yo, perfect, 854 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:35,840 Speaker 1: I love it. Uh see that? Oh and Lynch, you 855 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:40,399 Speaker 1: won that? We need to see that. So yes, it's 856 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:42,480 Speaker 1: you know, he gets all bent out of shape if 857 00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:45,680 Speaker 1: you don't say he won. So you know, Lynchy, you 858 00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:51,000 Speaker 1: you want congratulations. Uh, and Scarlett, we have some lovely 859 00:44:51,040 --> 00:44:55,520 Speaker 1: party games. This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show. 860 00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:57,520 Speaker 1: We're here each and every week at the same time, 861 00:44:57,560 --> 00:45:00,560 Speaker 1: plus online wherever you get your podcast. You can catch 862 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:03,400 Speaker 1: those Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on Michael Bar on Twitter 863 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:06,280 Speaker 1: at Big Bar Sports. I'm Scarlett Fool and walking away 864 00:45:06,320 --> 00:45:09,080 Speaker 1: with my tail between my life at Scarlet Fool on Twitter. 865 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:14,560 Speaker 1: Come on, Scarlett, Now, there's always next week. Study hard, yes, 866 00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:17,040 Speaker 1: study hard, do your homework and come back ready to 867 00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:20,560 Speaker 1: play next week. Um, Mike Lynch at Lynch w c 868 00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:23,080 Speaker 1: V bait next week we're gonna give you the price 869 00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:28,400 Speaker 1: of Mike Lynch jersey who teams to play football. That's no, 870 00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:33,040 Speaker 1: we're not. That's that's uh, that's just me being a fool. 871 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:36,080 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. Doing in again next week 872 00:45:36,239 --> 00:45:38,480 Speaker 1: for the latest on the stories moving big money in 873 00:45:38,520 --> 00:45:41,280 Speaker 1: the world of sports. You are listening to Bloomberg Business 874 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:44,240 Speaker 1: with Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world.