1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. Should Major League Baseball 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: shorten up the season? How do we present football to 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: the audience of the future. I don't think that most 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: players understand the power that they have. Michael vaugh The 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: future of IndyCar racing is looking bright. Scott sash Nick 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: very basic math here, more bidders means more money. Evan 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: Nobody Williams. The team value has essentially quadruples. And the 8 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: leaders in the sports industry time to bring in our guest, 9 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: hal Steinbrunner, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Betman, Atlanta Braves 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: president Derek Schiller, Patriots President Jonathan Kraft. Bloomberg Business of 11 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Michael bar I'm Evan 12 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: Noby Williams, and I'm Scott Sashnik. Every week at this 13 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: time plus Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays, we explore the big 14 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: money issues in the world of sports. On this week's show, 15 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: we speak with Tom Dundon, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, 16 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: about what he would change about the NHL. You know, 17 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: my number one thing right now is I believe that 18 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: we should expand a playoffs. I think it's the most 19 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: exciting time for the league. It creates I think a 20 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: more compelling regular season is more people are engaged, and 21 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: then the playoffs are seemed to be the best time 22 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: of year for our sport. We bring you the full 23 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: conversation with Tom Dundon shortly, but first let's get to 24 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: the big stories of the week. Let's start with their 25 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: swapping super Bowls. Yeah, CBS and NBC they're swapping the 26 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: why Why because they each have big events and they 27 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: don't want to compete against the other big events. I mean, 28 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: if you're going to have the super Bowl, you might 29 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: as well have it in the year where you have 30 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: something like though, oh, I don't know, the Olympics. If 31 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: your NBC, right, CBS doesn't want to put the super 32 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: Bowl up against Olympic Olympic coverage in the NBC. It's 33 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: one of your marquee properties. They say, Hey, how about 34 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: we make a little trade here and probably some cash 35 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: going both ways, where we can align all of these 36 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: major properties and get some good synergies. Yeah, it's the 37 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: kind of thing that you know, your your average fan 38 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: would never notice. But if you look at how the 39 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: sausage is made, when when when networks like NBC sell ads. 40 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: They do so often in full year blocks or or 41 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: big bundles. Right, So if you're NBC, you can go 42 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: to add to two advertisers and say, listen, we've got 43 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: this huge three week property, the Olympics. Right before it, 44 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: we've got the most watched TV of ent of the year, 45 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: the super Bowl, UM, and then there you know the 46 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: other events they have, the Kentucky Derby, the Stanley Cup Finals, 47 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: whatever it is. UM. They often sell those things in 48 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: a group. And yes, if your NBC, there's no doubt 49 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: that that you're gonna make more money if you are 50 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: packaging the Olympics and and the super Bowl together than 51 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: if NBC and CBS are reaching out to all these 52 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: same companies Budweiser, A T and T all your big 53 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: advertisers are essentially jockeying back and forth trying to get 54 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: them to commit their February. And you think this is 55 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: going to kind of work like a player trade, like 56 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: NBC also gets a four p M NFC game to 57 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:48,559 Speaker 1: be named later. Yeah, little little something in cash consideration, 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: you know, the TV's version of and a draft pick 59 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: to be named and a left handed executive. Let's move 60 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: on now, Oh, MLB and the players Union if kind 61 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: of reached an agreement of sorts the news I think 62 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: here and have been. You chime in as well. I 63 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: think it's that they're making nice before they really need 64 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: to make nice. You know, they've they've agreed to some 65 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: things that are not let's just say, the more important 66 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 1: on both sides of the ledger. Yeah. I think that's right. 67 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: The five year labor of chord that they have right 68 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: now doesn't expire until after season. Um, but there has 69 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: been a lot of public and at the table feuding 70 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: between these two sides already. Um. It's shaping up to 71 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: be a rough labor negotiation. And part of the kind 72 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: of the mini agreement that they're that they're rolling out 73 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: this week is that they're there's a provision in there 74 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: that says they'll both start discussing, you know, bigger labor 75 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: issues earlier than they typically. I love that they've agreed 76 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: to begin discussing. Yeah, and you know, who knows how 77 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: earnest that will be from from either side. Um, but 78 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: that at least, you know, at at least shows that 79 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: there's going to be a dialogue happy about things like 80 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: service time manipulation and slower free agency and kind of 81 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: the evaporation of these long term deals, all these things 82 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: that you're seeing MLB players complaining about seemingly every office. 83 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: I want to chime in on that when I know 84 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: it's not a major thing, and maybe our listeners don't 85 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: really know about it, but but sort of the service time, 86 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: there's a rule where like if you there's a certain 87 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: time when you can call a player up and then 88 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 1: it starts counting towards his service time, which means another 89 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: you know, you get control. So oftentimes you will see 90 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: clearly a prospect who is ready for the bigs, but 91 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: the team will keep him down in the minors because 92 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 1: of this service time issue. And a lot of people 93 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: complain about it, but come on, it's like a no 94 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: brainer from the team perspective. And if it's collectively bargained, 95 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: there's so much I mean, I see it every time 96 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: this complaints about it. It's collectively bargained. That's the rule. 97 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: And if I'm a team, why would I give up 98 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 1: a year? Doesn't make sense. I'm with you. And there's 99 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: a lot in this collectively bargaining collectively bargained agreement in 100 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: which owners can do things that look to the untrained 101 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: eye to be shady and bad business practice. But if 102 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: you actually understand what what they're allowed to do within it, yeah, 103 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: is good business. Right. And I think as we talk about, 104 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: you know, how how nasty this next negotiation could be 105 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: heading into this is one of the big things, right, 106 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: I mean, the if players don't want the service time 107 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: manipulation to happen, and Vlad Guerrero, the third junior, the 108 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: third basement for the Blue Jays, is going to be 109 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: the poster boy for this is one of them in 110 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: the next couple of weeks. Um. You have to take 111 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: that away from the owners, right. You have to make 112 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: sure that the option isn't sit a guy for fifteen 113 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: days and take him and and and have his rights 114 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: for an entire another year of his career um. And 115 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: the same thing with with contract negotiations, right, the the 116 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: owners have the unique ability to just decide to not 117 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: offer the seven year, hundred and twenty million dollar deals anymore. Um. 118 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: And if players, you know, are upset about that, they 119 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: need to collectively bargain more money on the beginning of 120 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: their careers, you know. And that's another thing that they're 121 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: going to have to address. So yes, I agree with 122 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: you that there's so much about these agreements that, you know, 123 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: looks like it might be kind of shadier, collusionary when 124 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: when you think about it from the owner side. But 125 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: in truth, a lot of it is is savvy. But 126 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: and then a lot of it's also internal. I've seen 127 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: the time and again in all the labor negotiations that 128 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: covered the interests of the vast number of players aren't 129 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: always aligned. Like the SuperStar's interest, like Bryce Harper's interest 130 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: isn't the same as sort of the utility guy who's 131 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: thirty two and hanging on. So you need a good 132 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: representation on your board of superstar, every man, journeyman. That's 133 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: a good way to sort of make sure everybody's looked 134 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: after and owners are aligned in a way that they 135 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: were not, you know, maybe a decade ago, you know, 136 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 1: there was a time in baseball negotiations where players wanted 137 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: more money and the rich teams, you know, like your 138 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: Yankees and your Dodgers and your Red Sox had a 139 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: lot more money to give and also wanted to give 140 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: them more money. You know, So you had this this 141 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: weird kind of dynamic where you had players and wealthy 142 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 1: teams essentially bargaining together against smaller market teams who didn't 143 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: want to have, you know, all this money available. Now 144 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: owners are are a lot more aligned than the teams 145 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: are together. Let's talk about gun Zaga and all people 146 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: on the team are saying, what in the winkie think, 147 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: Sam Hill happened? They? In case you you missed it, Uh, 148 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: the Zags that got upset by St. Mary's. Remember that 149 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: was the same team they beat by what, yeah, something 150 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: like that about a month ago. And so now they're 151 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: playing in the Western Coast Conference tournament and all of 152 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: a sudden, all you know what breaks loose. This is 153 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: a fun one from a business perspective because I can 154 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: I can almost promise you that you know, there are 155 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: eight other nine athletic directors in the in that conference, 156 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: the West Coast Conference, who were thrilled, thrilled that this happened. 157 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: Right exactly, Gonzaga had already clinched its role it's it's 158 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: it's spot in the n c A tournament by beating 159 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: Gonzaga in the finals of this tournament. St Mary's, which 160 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: wouldn't have had a spot otherwise, clinched their own um 161 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: and the way the n c A divis out its money. 162 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: You know, conferences get paid out by games played in 163 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: the n c A tournament um. And you know, two 164 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: weeks ago or even a week ago, the West Coast 165 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: Conference seemed like it was guaranteed one team and now 166 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: they have two teams. And if you are a bubble 167 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: team somewhere else around the country, when you see one 168 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: of those conference, you start crying, you know, because you 169 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: know you just lost one spot on that bubble and 170 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: so those those units that you get. So even if St. 171 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: Mary's just loses, uh loses once, it's it's a one 172 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: point seven million dollar payment that gets sent out over 173 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: six years to the conference. Might not seem like a lot, 174 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: but a lot of these schools, you know, this is 175 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: a good amount a lot of non revenue sports budget 176 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: right there. Pacific for example, Pacific University and Oregon, which 177 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: is in the w c C. You know, their annual 178 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 1: athletic revenue and expenses are five million dollars. It matters 179 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: to these teams. Now let's get to this week's interview 180 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: with Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon. We are happy to 181 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: welcome to the Pod this week, and we mean this 182 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: as a big compliment the biggest jerk we've had so far. 183 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: Tom Dundon, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. Tom, how 184 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: are you? And our listeners are very familiar with the 185 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: way you guys have embraced a bunch of jerks. Uh 186 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: comment that was made about you guys about your your 187 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: postgame celebrations. We've actually talked a lot about the Hurricanes 188 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: on the show recently because it feels like you guys 189 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: are making hockey fun. Is that part of your relatively 190 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: new owner to the league. Is that part of what 191 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: you tried to instill a culture change when you took 192 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:12,959 Speaker 1: over this team. Yeah, there's a there's a couple of 193 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: things going on right. Obviously, we're when the enter sports 194 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: is entertainment. If we're in the entertainment business, we have 195 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: to keep that in mind. And then, you know, where 196 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: the franchise was, given the performance on the ice and 197 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: where the brand was relative, you know, to the sports ecosystem, 198 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: it was it was fairly obvious that we had to 199 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: we had to change some things. And you know, so far, 200 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: I think we're on an upper trajectory and you know, 201 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: the team's embraced understanding and the community's embraced understanding. That 202 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: that we need to be more than what we were. 203 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: So where did you see the Hurricanes, a relatively new 204 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 1: franchise by NHL standards, hasn't had a ton of success historically. 205 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: Kind of where did you evaluate the Hurricanes as a 206 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: and in this sports slash entertainment sphere when you took over, 207 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: you know, the way I would describe it. So they 208 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: had obviously had a lot of success. They wanted Stanley 209 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: Cup at O six, but you know, unfortunately that's so 210 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: long ago that it's maybe not relevant now in terms 211 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: of how how the brands perceived and so, you know, 212 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: I looked at it for what it was. Right, we 213 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: were at the bottom of the league, and you know, 214 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: the NHL doesn't garner the same attention as some of 215 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: the other leagues. So if you're at the bottom of 216 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: the league that's getting less attention, you know, it's clear 217 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: that you need to do something. Are you satisfied with 218 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: the media opportunities at the NHL went to NBCSN left ESPN. 219 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: Are you happy with the attention you get? You know, 220 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: I don't look at it as as whether I'm happy 221 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 1: about it, as much as it's our job to create 222 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: compelling you know, stories and content. Um, you know, in 223 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: games and personalities, and you know, the world is rational, 224 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: and if we're if we're interesting, and people will notice 225 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 1: and and I'm never happy with anything. That's the way 226 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: it is, right, I always wanted to be better. So 227 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 1: you know, in that respect, if if we can, if 228 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: we can do better, if we can present ourselves better, 229 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: then that'll lait me happier for sure. We are chatting 230 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: with Tom Dundon, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, chairman 231 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: of the a a F. So you said, if we 232 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: can do better, if we can present better, I would 233 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 1: think you have a great opportunity for hockey with technology, 234 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: with migration to over the top o t T, director 235 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: consumer whatever you want to call it, there's a big 236 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: opportunity here. What would you say to your fellow owners 237 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: about having to step through and take advantage of it? 238 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: So far I found, you know, from the commissioner, the 239 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: other owners, they're they're really bright guys, and they don't 240 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: you know, they don't they don't need my advice. You know, 241 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: I have my opinion, and you know, I think everyone's 242 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: on board with the fact that you know, you want 243 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: to increase exposure and content and they've embraced the changes 244 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: in the way the game's played and presented. And you know, 245 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: my number one thing right now is I believe that 246 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: we should expand the playoffs. I think it's the most 247 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: exciting time to the league. It creates I think, a 248 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: more compelling regular season as more people are engaged, and 249 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: then the playoffs are seemed to be the best time 250 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: of year for our sport. So to me, that's probably 251 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: the thing that I'm most focused on. Um, but I 252 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: have a very small voice in that, so it's just 253 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 1: just my opinion. And what's your what's your numbers? You've 254 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: got sixteen teams in now, what's your number for playoffs 255 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: moving forward? You know, my my instinct is you start 256 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 1: with adding four more teams. And you know, if they 257 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: were me, if I were king of the world, I'd 258 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: probably go further than that. But you know, I look 259 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: at the success of the n c A tournament and 260 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: the success of every time other leagues have added another 261 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: spot to the playoffs. It's done incremental value. Um I'm sorry, 262 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: exponential value. So but yeah, at very least I'd like 263 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: to four more teams. I think that you know, if 264 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: you if you think about you have a fifty fifty 265 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 1: chance of making the playoffs. And the difference in the 266 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: NHL and say the NBA is it's much closer, one eight, 267 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: much closer and one to tend um where if you 268 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: if you acknowledge the fact that it's that close, then 269 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 1: you really want to make it about the tournament because 270 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: it already is. So that's how I look at it. 271 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: May play Devil's advocate. Then if somebody said to you, 272 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: but what about the possibility of devaluing the regular season 273 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: where games not it won't mean as much because you 274 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: could cruise to the postseason And like you just said, 275 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: doesn't really matter if I finish in eighth place because 276 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: things are so close, why should fans care about the 277 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: regular season? Then what I think is, you know, we 278 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: know the Golden State Wars are gonna win in almost 279 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: every game, make the playoffs, and yet they have great attendance, 280 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: great exposure. You know in our sports Tampa Bay Lightning, 281 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: great attendance, great exposure. Um, they're gonna make the playoffs. 282 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: They think they could have stopped winning games a month ago, 283 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: and people are still showing up because people like winners. 284 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: So you you the idea that winning isn't the number 285 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: one value that fans want. We want to enjoy it. 286 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: We want to know if we go, we're going to 287 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: see something exciting and we're gonna feel good when we leave. 288 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: So the winning teams don't have that problem. It's a 289 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: made up problem, to tell you the truth, because you 290 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: can't show me the winning team that doesn't have viewership 291 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: and attendance um. And I think if you increase the 292 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: size of the playoffs, you'll get more teams competing longer. 293 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: So for for every argument about the one or two 294 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: teams that run away with it, which you know, there's 295 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: only a couple of teams right now that are comfortably 296 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, so it's not even probably statistically correct, 297 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: but there's a number of teams that would still be fighting. 298 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: Maybe they don't trade away players at the deadline, which 299 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: changes the balance a little bit, which I think that's 300 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: a bigger problem. So if you move the trade deadline 301 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: back and you increased the number of teams that we're 302 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: competing to make the playoffs, I think you just have 303 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: a more exciting process and better product. Adding four more teams, 304 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: I imagine, would make you sweat a little bit less 305 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: in the next in the next four weeks as well. 306 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: The Carolina Hurricane sitting kind of right on the edge 307 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: of a playoff spot right now, a very young roster. 308 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: What is from a business standpoint, what is making the 309 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: playoffs for you this early in your ownership? What does 310 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: that mean for you guys and what you're trying to 311 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 1: do moving forward? Well, you know, unfortunately it does. It 312 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: probably has too much to do with renewals and season 313 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: ticket base and sponsorships, because you know, you can make 314 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: or miss the playoffs by one game and it changes 315 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: the total perception of everything you've done. And that's very 316 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: difficult for you know, all the people that have worked 317 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: so hard, and so that's unfortunate part of this. We're 318 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: talking with Tom Dundon, he's the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. 319 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: I've never understood why hockey is number four in the 320 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: four major food groups. Is something you've mentioned earlier when 321 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: it comes to sports, because and I'm wondering if it's 322 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: about location. I mean, and I know I bring it 323 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: up all the time. I'm a native Detroitter. So we 324 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 1: have the Detroit Red Wings. We could turn on Channel 325 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: nine and see Hockey Night in Canada and see the 326 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: Toronto Maple Leafs, so it's a huge hockey town. I'm 327 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: wondering if location means something, uh and maybe in other 328 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: areas around the nation, why hockey is number four. Yeah, 329 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: it could be. I mean, obviously it's definitely regional, right 330 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: relatives to some of the other sports. And I don't 331 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: spend a lot of time thinking about our place in 332 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: the world as much as you know, what are the 333 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: things we can control, right, We just gotta keep making 334 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: it more compelling. One of the things that I think 335 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: we're behind in that the league's doing a really good 336 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: job is our stars aren't as well known. Um, you know, 337 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: it's maybe it's the history of being such a team sport. 338 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: Maybe it's because they wear these helmets, but the world 339 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: seems to like celebrities and stars, and I'm not sure 340 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: outside of the area where hockey is core that the 341 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: ands really know our players. It's investors these days in sports. 342 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: I always say they're they're into it with ten poles. 343 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 1: It's a media play, it's a real estate play. What 344 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 1: play is it for you when you decided to go 345 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: after this club? Honestly, it's just because they keep score. 346 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: Like I like the process of who's gonna win and 347 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 1: who's gonna lose. So you know, this wasn't something I 348 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: did for financial gain. I did it because I really 349 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 1: enjoy it. And you know, everybody has whatever things in 350 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: life that bring them joy, and for me, it's going 351 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: through this process and you know, trying to do everything 352 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 1: we can to make it better and um so that's 353 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: why I did it. It It. Sports is something I'm interested in, 354 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: and you could turn sports into a business, and uh, 355 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: you know, I've really enjoyed it. Would you consider it 356 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: a successful season if you win the Stanley Cup but 357 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: lose money? Absolutely? Okay, so we're gonna lose money. Yeah, 358 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 1: our team is gonna lose money no matter what happened. 359 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's how much you can say, how much 360 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: do you project to lose a lot? Yeah, I don't know. 361 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: I'm not sure I'm supposed to say so. I don't 362 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: eat trouble, but it's it's it's it's a lot. We've 363 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: got to do better if we're if we're gonna make 364 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: this thing what it can be and replicate some of 365 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: the success other franchises have had in a non traditional markets. 366 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: The brand and the product works. You just you've got 367 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: to run your team properly, and you've got to win. 368 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 1: I always say, yeah, I always say the one thing 369 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: you can't guarantee as a sports team owner is winning. 370 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,479 Speaker 1: What you can guarantee is you'll try to win, and 371 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: you can guarantee the environment and that folks could have 372 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: a good time. So are you telling me that where 373 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: you are in your market, do you need to be 374 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: a winning club to be sustainable. Yes, I don't think 375 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: there's any doubt. I don't think that's even debatable. If 376 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: we don't win where it's not the same as in 377 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: other markets, were not top of mind for enough people. 378 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: There's a lot of really committed super fans and Raleigh, 379 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: but the number of them is just lower than in 380 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: other markets. And you know, yeah, we have to be 381 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: super competitive and win consistently. It's just just the way 382 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: it is. I think it's obvious. You guys agree, it's certainly. 383 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: I mean, winning cures oils. We hear that. Obviously, it's 384 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: gonna draw more attention, people want to come. I look 385 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 1: at what's going on in Nashville becomes Smashville. A few 386 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: trips deep in the playoffs, all of a sudden, you know, 387 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: Nashville's a hockey town, right, absolutely, it doesn't hurt if 388 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: you have a p K suban on your roster too. 389 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: Do you work with your players like you said, Man, 390 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: maybe it's the helmet, Maybe it's this. How do you 391 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: get your players to buy in to become so much 392 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: more in the community. I mean, you've you've got some 393 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: some talented guys, but they're not the household names, and 394 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: I don't I don't think anybody screaming for Sebastian Aho 395 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: outside of your arena. How do you get your guys 396 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: to cut through? I mean, I know whinning helps again, 397 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: but on a local on a local play, how do 398 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 1: you get your guys to become more than just hockey players? 399 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: You know, I first got there, the main thing, my 400 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: main message with the team was, look, we're going to 401 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: do everything we can to make sure you have everything 402 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: you need to be successful. And you know, whatever whatever 403 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: things we found within the organization we thought we could improve. 404 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: You know, I try to do that. I try to 405 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:20,640 Speaker 1: communicate with them and find out what do you need, 406 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: like are we whether it's the coaches of the players, 407 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 1: what do you need and make sure we can give 408 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 1: it to them if we can um. What I what 409 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: I wanted back is, you know, please be accessible. And 410 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,400 Speaker 1: you know, if we walk people through the locker room, 411 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: that means something to a person who gets to go 412 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: in the locker room. So if you act like no 413 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: one can come in your locker room, that's probably not 414 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:44,639 Speaker 1: the right answer. And so um our guys embraced that. 415 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 1: They've been great, and I think it was more that, 416 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: you know, maybe historically people were a little scared to ask, 417 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: but anything we've asked of them, they've been willing to do. 418 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: And I think they realize that we're not going to 419 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 1: ask them something that's going to actually affect their ability 420 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: to hockey and win hockey games. Um, but the games 421 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: are you know, to three hours a day every three days, right, 422 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: we should be able to find a way to engage 423 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: with our fans in our community and between those things. 424 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 1: And so that was my message and they were. They've 425 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: been way better than I ever could have imagined. It's 426 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 1: probably the best thing about being involved with this sport 427 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: so far is the way you know, the players are 428 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: just they're just good people and you want to give 429 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: to them, and I think they want to give back 430 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: to the fans and the community and it it's so 431 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 1: cliche that people say it, but in our in our case, 432 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: it's true. How did the postgame celebration start? I mean 433 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: it certainly seems to have taken on a mind of 434 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: its own recently. Um, but was that an idea of yours? 435 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: Was that an idea of your players? How did that 436 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: kind of Where was the genesis of that fun? I'm 437 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 1: trying to figure out how to make it my idea 438 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: in hindsight, he as, you know, if you just say 439 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: it often enough and people believe it, I know I 440 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:02,159 Speaker 1: should learn from the president. But um, yeah, no, I 441 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: had nothing to do with it. I actually missed the 442 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,199 Speaker 1: first one because I was walking down uh downstairs and 443 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 1: didn't I didn't even know what had happened. Um, And 444 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: I obviously really appreciated them doing it, and I think 445 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: it just shows that they get it right, that they 446 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: understand that all the things we're talking about right now, 447 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: and you know, hopefully, um, now it's turned into something 448 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,360 Speaker 1: they can enjoy too, right. I think they started off 449 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: doing it for the fans, and obviously that's why you 450 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: do it, and then you know, hopefully it's not it's 451 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: not um, hopefully it's something they enjoy too, because and 452 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 1: you know, it starts to be fun. It's a lot 453 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 1: of pressure on these guys to keep coming up with stuff. 454 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: I think, but you gotta say thank you to Don Cherry. 455 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: I mean, he's the one who said, what a bunch 456 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 1: of jerks doing this? And and then you guys took 457 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 1: advantage of it, and I see it on NHL Network 458 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: and then you got to hit the mainstream. But it's 459 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 1: got to start somewhere, and High Colors shirts then took 460 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 1: off after that with Don Cherry saying, yeah, it was fortunate. 461 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 1: For sure, it was awesome, and but look, I think 462 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: it's that's a great example guys like that that are 463 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: involved with the league that gets people talking about you. 464 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: You know, I wish we had more personalities like him. Um, 465 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, I think I think obviously we've benefited from 466 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: him having opinion. And what I tried to say is, 467 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: I don't think we're doing it to be jerks. So 468 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: I definitely thought about after he said it and came 469 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: to the conclusion that you know that it's in no way, 470 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: shape or form malicious. Um, but him saying it's not 471 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: a bad thing, and you know, we could all learn 472 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: something from this right, Like, you know, he created something 473 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: that got us entertained and our fans engaged, and he 474 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: did it. We didn't come up with it, So we 475 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: we also have to make sure that we remember we 476 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: have to come up with things to create, you know, 477 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 1: reasons for you to talk about us. How valuable has 478 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: that been from a from a marketing standpoint, right, It 479 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: gets the hockey world and even people beyond just the 480 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:59,400 Speaker 1: hockey world talking about the Carolina Arkans. Yeah, it's hard 481 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:04,120 Speaker 1: to quantify because you know, ultimately what matters is if 482 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: you you know, create that winning culture and make the 483 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: playoffs and you know, those those things are way more 484 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: important than all the other little things we can do 485 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: with social media or around our brand. But I would 486 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: say it becomes a silly anecdote, you know, if we 487 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: don't make the playoffs. Stepping off the ice for a second, 488 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: you made headlines a couple of weeks ago when you 489 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: made an investment in the a F, the the Alliance 490 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: of American Football UM, reported originally as a two fifty 491 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: million dollar deal. I know you've said that maybe that's 492 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 1: not entirely accurate around the terms of the investment. Can 493 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: you clear the air here. What exactly were the terms 494 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 1: of that investment, and what's your involvement, Like with the 495 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 1: a F I think the reason the numbers out there 496 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: is that's the amount of capital it probably takes over 497 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: time to get this thing to where it can self sustain. 498 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: You know, like probably every business, right, every every startup 499 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: takes capital. That's kind of that story. The my involvement is, 500 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: you know, I'm we're trying to figure out how to 501 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 1: make sure that this is the compelling place for people 502 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 1: to develop, you know, players and coaches and reps and technology, 503 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: and you know, so far it's it's it's gone really well. 504 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,919 Speaker 1: And you know, now we've we've got to one of 505 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: our big goals is to create an opportunity for players 506 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: that are on NFL rosters that haven't gotten reps to 507 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 1: be able to play. And if, if, if that would 508 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: ever happened, I think it makes us more interesting for sure. 509 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: So how much have you invested so far? Probably seventy million. 510 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: I don't know, it's just you know, if you pay 511 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: every week, right, we've gotta and you're prepared to get 512 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 1: to two fifty if it if it appears that it's 513 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: going well. I just want to make sure I understand 514 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: the number. Yeah, it doesn't. The numbers sort of luck. 515 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 1: I mean you guys probably know, given business cards you've 516 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: got if you're if you're business is successful, capital is easy, right, 517 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: whether it's mine or somebody else's. So yeah, I mean 518 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: two fifties and is a number that looks about when 519 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: I invested what based on projections where it would be. 520 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: But if you grow faster or bigger, you'll use more 521 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: capital in the short term because you believe, you know, 522 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: there's more upside. So with the number, I know it 523 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: won't be as two fifty. You know, it could be 524 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 1: a little more, it could be less, but the chance 525 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: that it's going to be to the exact that exact 526 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 1: number is pretty small. It's what in the business plan 527 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: leads you to believe that the A F will be 528 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: more successful or one man standing over the XFL nothing. 529 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,440 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't hadn't spend any time thinking about 530 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: thinking about it that way. Um, you know, I'm they're 531 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: smart guys. I'm sure they'll do a great job and 532 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: have something compelling. I think we know what we want 533 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: to be and you know, if if we're able to 534 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 1: create a place for players to develop um to work 535 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: their way back to the NFL. UM then you know, 536 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: I think that has a place in the world. You know, 537 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: I'm not. I'm not even sure. I I'm sure that 538 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: I haven't. I don't under I don't know what their 539 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:20,119 Speaker 1: business plan is, and uh, but once again, they're smart folks, 540 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:22,440 Speaker 1: and I'm sure they'll come up with something that can 541 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: be successful. Also, I mean, you know, if you look 542 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: at soccer and baseball and hockey, basketball, there's many, many, 543 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: many pro weeks, right, so the idea that the idea 544 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: that this isn't either or it is probably not. Something 545 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:39,439 Speaker 1: I've spent a lot of time on. And Tom in 546 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: the New York Papers the last couple of days have 547 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 1: had a field day with Jim Dolan here, the owner 548 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 1: of the Knicks and the Rangers, who had a Knicks 549 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: game a couple of days ago, essentially throughout a fan 550 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: who told him, yelled at him to sell the team. 551 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: I'm curious how what you would need to hear from 552 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: a fan to have you have the same reaction. Oh, 553 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: they probably just have to do some thing that that 554 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:03,959 Speaker 1: wouldn't be anything they'd say to me. But yeah, I mean, 555 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:09,360 Speaker 1: obviously it's someone is using language that wouldn't be appropriate 556 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 1: for your you know, families or whatever. But no, I 557 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 1: don't care what they say. I mean, if we lose, 558 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: I'm dumb, and if we win, I'm smart. I already 559 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: that's that's the way this is going to be. Uh 560 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: So it's not gonna it's probably not going to bother 561 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: me very much. I'm however mad they are. I'm sure 562 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: I'm more mad at myself. So they're just reinforcing what 563 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: I'm already thinking whenever we don't do very well. And 564 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 1: when you hear that, when you hear an angry fan, 565 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: are you thinking that's a guy who cares and that's 566 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 1: someone who's valuable to me as a as a local owner, 567 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: and that that's someone I want because when the team 568 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: is good, he's going to be equally passionate the other way. Absolutely, 569 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: think it's the only way you can think about it. 570 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: You know, Like, I'm not I don't think being sensitive 571 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: is going to help me in life um or other people. 572 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: So you know, it's no different than what you tell 573 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 1: your kids, right they come home, so and so doesn't 574 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 1: like me? Well okay, right, Like what else? Like there's 575 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: got to be something else besides somebody doesn't like you 576 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 1: in this world. So yeah, it's it's I tend to 577 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,120 Speaker 1: go with what you said, right like, at least they care. 578 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: I just want more people to care. If we lose, 579 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: we're dumb and we're trying to win. And if they 580 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 1: ever believe we weren't trying, then that would bother me 581 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 1: a little bit because that means we're doing something wrong 582 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: if it, you know, if they ever believe we stopped 583 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 1: caring by time I'm gonna give You're gonna close with this. 584 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you a money making fan friendly develop 585 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: future fans idea. And I don't need any credit for it. No, 586 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: no bunch of the revenue here. But I'm gonna tell 587 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: you as as someone I told you earlier. My nine 588 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: year olds a top flight hockey player, we go to 589 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: plenty of games. You know what nobody does that I'm 590 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 1: yearning for. You need the fan friendliest warm up in hockey. 591 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I want every player before he leaves the 592 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 1: ice to pick up three, four, five pucks and make 593 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: sure the kids around the glass get one. Make sure 594 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 1: the kids who have a sign you come over, your 595 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: little tip of the cap, a little wave, a little whatever, 596 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 1: and the pucks. I don't want standard black pucks. What 597 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: I want is spend the actually whatever the unit cost 598 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 1: is get the logos of the two teams in the 599 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 1: day of the game, and make sure every kid who 600 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: cares enough to wear a jersey and stand up against 601 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: that glass, banging waiting for their their favorite player to 602 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: give him some attention, walks home with the puck. And 603 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 1: you get you'd get kids and their parents in the 604 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: building earlier. You'd sell more soda, you'd sell more popcorn, 605 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: and you'd get kids smiling telling mom and dad, can 606 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: we go back to the game again because I had 607 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: such a good time. You think they want more than 608 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 1: one puck? They're happy with one. No, I mean we'll 609 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: come back to get another one, without a doubt, without end. No. 610 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: I like it. We it's the right thing to do anyway, right, 611 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, that makes sense? All right? Well, when 612 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,160 Speaker 1: when I see it all over NHL network and you 613 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 1: see what the Hurricanes are doing, was say this was 614 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: the genesis, was gonna call it the sash Nick warm up. 615 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: Here we go, there's tons of kids against the glass, 616 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: and I see their faces when they get nothing and 617 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:13,720 Speaker 1: walk back. You know, they walk away and like, oh 618 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: he threw Like maybe maybe two or three of the 619 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: players threw a puck over the glass or came over 620 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 1: or flipped it. All of them certainly don't. And you 621 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: should see the face of the kids. You don't get 622 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: anything when they walk away. I think it's easy enough. 623 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: You're not wrong. Every every guy before they're done, warm up, 624 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: so they grab a puck and throw it over, you know, 625 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 1: then you get your twenty at least. Ye there you go. 626 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 1: Start start with something, alright. Tom Donald, owner of the Hurricanes, 627 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: chairman of the Alliance of American Football, Thank you very much. 628 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: All right, thanks guys. Takeaways this week, I was thinking 629 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: about why hockey is number four in the four major 630 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: food groups in the major sports, and I still don't 631 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 1: quite understand why I get at the bottom. No, I 632 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: do baseball. You can play with the glove and a boy. 633 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 1: You go have a catch. Basketball, you just need the 634 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,239 Speaker 1: ball you get out. It's hard to play hockey if 635 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: you don't experience and play the sport as a young kid, 636 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: it's hard to fall in love with it. But people 637 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: love football, and most people don't. People have football catate, 638 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 1: they play flag football, They go out and play tackle football. 639 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 1: People play football. It's not easy. You need ice. It's 640 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 1: not like you can get a friend of yours and 641 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: say let's go play some hockey. Well, but it comes 642 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: back to listen, and as we all know, I grew 643 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: up in Detroit. And that's the key you or who 644 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 1: came from. I haven't heard you know, by the way, 645 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: that's called hockey town. That's what I'm saying. Look and 646 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 1: and and we brought that up in the interview. Is like, 647 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: look right across the border, you know. But it's popular. 648 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: That's my point. It's popular in Detroit. You have access 649 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 1: to ice, it's popular. It's called hockey town for a reason. 650 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: You're proving my point. I'm not disagreeing. I'm just saying 651 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:55,400 Speaker 1: I've never been on the ice. He was thinking about 652 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: something else. My takeaway, okay, you're done. My takeaways that 653 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,719 Speaker 1: I gave him the simplest, greatest idea in the NHL. 654 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: Right now, you want to make more money somehow make 655 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: the pregame skate. I think have the best, most popular, 656 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: most fun, family friendly, kid friendly pregame skate in America. 657 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: All the players pick up pocks, all the players throw 658 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: pucks over the over the glass, every kids involved. They 659 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:21,400 Speaker 1: will come early, they will come often. They will buy 660 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:23,680 Speaker 1: more soda, they will buy more popcorn and pizza, high 661 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 1: margin items. He will Tom Dunnan thank me when he 662 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 1: follows my advice. I'm still thinking about that question. When 663 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 1: we asked how the Alliance of American Football is gonna 664 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: compete or differentiate itself from the XFL, and his answer was, 665 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: I never thought, and I haven't thought thought a second 666 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 1: about it. This is a guy who has invested so 667 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: far I think he said seventy million dollars in the 668 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:47,600 Speaker 1: a f potentially committing even more than the two fifty 669 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: that was originally reported if things things go well. So 670 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 1: much of the media conversation is is this gonna survive? 671 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 1: Is it gonna how's gonna do with the XFL. You 672 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 1: know all this competition. UH clear that the lead investor 673 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 1: in the thing is not worrying about the minutia of 674 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 1: that stuff itself. We don't want to because it feels 675 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:10,239 Speaker 1: better to be number one than number five. I'll wear 676 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 1: a number because of Mike. We have a chance to 677 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 1: go for three in a row, good numbers in a 678 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 1: good time. When I first started wearing the number, I 679 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: would just happy in Bloomberg Business of Sports, the number 680 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:22,399 Speaker 1: of the week. Time now for the number of the week. 681 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: We did not plan it this week, so one of 682 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 1: us to get it. So I'm just going to say 683 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:36,759 Speaker 1: it's Daryl Walton. It's been in the news. Uh. And 684 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:39,160 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you a clue, like the number. 685 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 1: The number, like the number I'm not I can't have 686 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 1: in alignment at bullating Bar, I love it. I can't 687 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:49,839 Speaker 1: give you the number because then you'll get it. I'm 688 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:51,799 Speaker 1: just going to get the number if he gives us 689 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:53,359 Speaker 1: the number. I don't think bar gets how this works. 690 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 1: Bar is telling us the number of the week. He 691 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:57,440 Speaker 1: won't give it to us because that would be giving it. 692 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 1: But then you'll get the number. Get the the mystery 693 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:02,920 Speaker 1: of the week. It's the mystery of that. Like you guys, 694 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 1: tell me shut my pie hole. Never I gave you 695 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 1: the clue. Three point one four, Thank you pie Day. 696 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:11,319 Speaker 1: I actually emailed my wife when I found that out 697 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 1: to I said, tell Jackson, my son, happy pie Day. 698 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,240 Speaker 1: It's you. I'm just saying it's three point one seven 699 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 1: right right you went to I think I don't know 700 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 1: three point one one five nine. That's why you went 701 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 1: to Prince that guy. I went to lowly Syracuse. Look 702 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 1: at that where they only teached four digits three point 703 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:37,160 Speaker 1: one four exactly I would, but I was a fake wrestler. 704 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:41,799 Speaker 1: What I play? See what I did that? What I 705 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 1: did that? H You've been listening to the Bloomberg Business 706 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 1: of Sports and we are here each and every week 707 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,800 Speaker 1: at the same time, plus online is and that podcast 708 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:54,200 Speaker 1: and you can catch that Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 709 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: Michael bar on Twitter at Big bar s Boards. I'm 710 00:35:56,520 --> 00:36:00,680 Speaker 1: Evan Novi Williams at nov Underscore Williams, and I'm Scott Sashnik. 711 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 1: You can follow me on Twitter at Sashnik. Thanks for 712 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:05,680 Speaker 1: joining us. Please tune in next week when we speak 713 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:08,320 Speaker 1: with the biggest and brightest in the sports business industry. 714 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:11,320 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports and Bloomberg Radio 715 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:12,520 Speaker 1: around the world.