1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:03,559 Speaker 1: Welcome. This is a special edition of the Bloomberg Business 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: of Sports podcast The Business of Soccer. I'm Vanessa Prodomo. 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: The summer of international soccer is getting down to the wire. 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: The FIFA Club World Cup is in its knockout stages, 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: and the CONCACAF Gold Cup has its final set between 6 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: US and Mexico, a good old neighborhood rivalry game that 7 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: will crown this year's champions of the region. Last week 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: I spoke with legendary broadcaster Andres Contor about what a 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: US win for the Gold Cup would mean as a 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 1: precursor to the World Cup next year. The previously taped 11 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: conversation was before the latest round of games played for 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: the Club World Cup, but he gave us perspective on 13 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: how the tournament has gone and the biggest takeaways when 14 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: it comes to South American versus European soccer. Here's my 15 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: conversation with broadcaster Andres Contor. Okay, So, Andrea's first thing 16 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: is we're in the thick of the international tournaments right now. 17 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: You're pulling double duty Club World Cup, Gold Cup. First 18 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: thing is I need to say, how are you doing? 19 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: Are you doing okay? Are you tied? Are you okay? 20 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: I am. I am doing awesome. 21 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 3: I really enjoy doing what you obviously, And actually it's 22 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 3: triple duty because I've called the FIFA Club Worl Cup 23 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 3: in English for TNT and it's sister networks. I am 24 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 3: calling the US women's national team matches for Telemundo in 25 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 3: the same week, and then on the weekend I have 26 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 3: the US men's national team and the Mexican national team 27 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 3: on radio in Spanish for my radio World Football de Brimda. 28 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:40,199 Speaker 3: So it's going to be a very interesting last seven 29 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 3: days for me. 30 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. 31 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, How do you keep it all straight? I mean, 32 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: does it just get does it get jumbled in your 33 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: head at all? I mean switching Spanish English, Clever Cup, 34 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: World Cup, I mean US Men's national team, Women's national team. 35 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 3: And I will add another component, which is the speed 36 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 3: I need to go in radio, because you know, when 37 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 3: I do play by player in radio, it's it's a 38 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 3: much higher speed than I have to use proady, you know, 39 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 3: double the words I use on television to describe the actions. 40 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 3: It's fun, it's it's challenging sometimes because you have to, 41 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 3: you know, prepare like two games at the same time. 42 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 3: That's the reality like I'm preparing the weekend's game for 43 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 3: the Gold Cup. Well, I'm preparing the women's national team games. 44 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 3: So it's a little bit challenging to keep it all 45 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 3: focused and make sure that you know, when I put 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 3: my notes out notes down, that I don't put some 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 3: stats of the women's team in my Mexican national team 48 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 3: notes or the US men's national team in my women's 49 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 3: But it's. 50 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:43,839 Speaker 2: Fun, Yes's lots of fun. 51 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: Do you have a favorite component to it, a favorite 52 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: medium TV or radio or team that you like to cover? 53 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 2: No, not really, I mean I enjoy both. 54 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 3: I've been doing television for forty years and and radio 55 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 3: proadly as so both of them are are very different 56 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 3: in essence because, like I said, radio takes a physical 57 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 3: a greater physical toll on me because you have to, 58 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 3: you know, go a little bit full speed harder than television, 59 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: which doesn't mean that you know, I don't give it 60 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 3: one hundred percent. I give it one hundred and ten 61 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 3: percent in each television broadcast. 62 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: So I enjoy both calling games in both mediums. 63 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: You're doing your own sport up there for sure. So 64 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: I want to get into the Gold Cup first, and 65 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: what have we learned so far and have the US 66 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: been playing in the tournament so far. 67 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: In the US cruise, but I don't know whether this 68 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 3: team is good or not because the opposition was not 69 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 3: the best. So obviously people need to understand that this 70 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: is not near what Malissa Pochettino will put on the 71 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 3: World Cup debut, because you know, there are so many 72 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 3: players missing key positions. So definitely this is kind of 73 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: the A minus B plus thing, not to call it 74 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 3: a RB, but like you know, somewhere in between, because 75 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 3: out of this group, probably I don't know, some will 76 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 3: make it into the final roster of the Viva World 77 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 3: Cup next year and some will not. So so far, 78 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 3: the US has shown some promise because they have been 79 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 3: able to resolve the matches that perhaps before they didn't 80 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 3: even though the opposition always was much tougher. But actually 81 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 3: they need a goalkeeper. I know that you were a 82 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 3: former goalkeeper yourself, so. 83 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: Yes, maybe why not? 84 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, you know, bring bring the women's out there, 85 00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: because we're always good at that, that's f Yeah, So 86 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: you know what you're saying there, you know, as we 87 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: as we see what's going on next year, and then obviously, 88 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,679 Speaker 1: like you mentioned, it's going to be a different team 89 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: in the World Cup next year. So does winning the 90 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: Gold Cup even really tell us anything about what the 91 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: men will be able to do in the World Cup 92 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: next year or what does it do for them? 93 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 3: It's a great question, and it will build confidence in, 94 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 3: you know, the team, the team as a whole, obviously 95 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 3: will build confidence in some of the players that will 96 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 3: have shown the coach that they belong for next year, 97 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 3: that's for sure. What will it do beyond that, I'm 98 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 3: not quite sure. It's always always good winning. Obviously, it 99 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 3: will send us drug message that, you know, even without 100 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 3: their star players, the US men's national team can compete 101 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 3: at this level, which will be obviously very welcomed and 102 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 3: very good heading into next year. You know, they will 103 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 3: have for the honor of being CONCAK AFT champions, but 104 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 3: not much else because the World Cup is a total 105 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 3: different animal. 106 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. 107 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And you know US Soccer Federation and billionaire Ken 108 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: Griffin got together. They invested a lot of money and 109 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: Richio Pachettino has been a good investment so far. 110 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: Do you think I believe so? Yes, I think he's 111 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 2: a very good coach. 112 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 4: Uh. 113 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 3: You know, the US men's national team needed a good coach, 114 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 3: a coach that has proven himself, a coach that handled 115 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 3: the biggest stars that the game has, like I and 116 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 3: bape Messi obviously all the big Tottenham and Chelsea stars. 117 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 3: So he's a very very good coach. He is very 118 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 3: flexible in adapting. I think he has been adapting quickly 119 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 3: to the way we do things here, and he's trying 120 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 3: to instill in the mindset of the American players that 121 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 3: they can be at their best if they want to. 122 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 3: And I think he brought that South American Argentina mentality 123 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 3: into the team and hopefully that will reflect on the 124 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 3: pitch come next year in the World Cup. 125 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, well we hope so for sure. All right, So 126 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: shifting gears then a little bit to the Club World Cup. 127 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: In your opinion, with this expanded format for the tournament, 128 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: how have you seen it play out? You know, obviously 129 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: we've had some really unchallenging group matches and you know, 130 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: Scarce Gemes there. But then obviously there has been some 131 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 1: really good competition. How do you see it from that perspective? 132 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: Well, I see it. 133 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: At first, I had my doubts about you know, the tournament. 134 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 3: It's so new that it was kind of you know, unpredictable, 135 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 3: and I'm liking it so far. Like you say, in 136 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 3: every major competition with so many teams, and this will 137 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 3: probably happen in the FIFA Club Wor Cup next year 138 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 3: with forty eight teams, you know, there will be matchups 139 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 3: that will be you know, one side. Obviously the Bayern 140 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 3: Munich ten Oagland City zero is a testament to that. 141 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 3: Then Benfica scored six. But other than that, they weren't that. 142 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: I mean, most of the matches were kind of competitive. 143 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 3: So you will have obviously an emerging nation I'm not 144 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 3: saying that Beggistan or Jordan and maybe it to the 145 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 3: next World Cup for the first time. 146 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: You know, we'll lose that badly. 147 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: But obviously you will have matches next year as we 148 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 3: live seeing the first round of this Club worl Cup 149 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 3: that we're one sided. So other than that, I agree 150 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 3: with your assessment. The you know, the competition has been 151 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 3: very fair and even though the two Argentinian teams then 152 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 3: go through. For example, they competed against Bayern Munich, I 153 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 3: mean Boca was one one until the seventy five minute, 154 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 3: but we were lost against Inter you know, in the 155 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 3: last seventy minutes, I would say, or the match, so 156 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 3: you know, they show that they could compete, and the 157 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 3: competition has been fairly good and kind of even throughout. 158 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: I think that was for me the thing that I 159 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: was looking at the most was South American teams versus 160 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: European teams, how they were going to stack up, because, 161 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: especially here in the US market, maybe the South American 162 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: teams aren't known as well as you you think, maybe 163 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: some of the European teams. So right now it's pretty 164 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: much Brazil versus Europe And obviously we have some others 165 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: and a messy made it through and inner Miami have 166 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: the one MLS team. But do you think that that 167 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: a Brazil versus Premier League team, like a Serie A 168 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: team versus Premier League team is what would be best 169 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: for the tournament in the final from an audience perspective, 170 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 1: from a competition perspective, does it prove does something like that? 171 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: Then prove yes, this is what the whole tournament was about. 172 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: Competing across regions or is Premier League Premier League or 173 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: PSG versus you know, Chelsea or something the best that 174 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: FIFA can expect. 175 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 3: We shall see obviously, first and foremost, let me parify something. 176 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 3: Brazilian teams are not known to the Eurocentric fans because 177 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 3: they never pay attention to the side of the world. 178 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 3: This is one of my biggest fights, and I'm on 179 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 3: the record for saying that company Dalla, this is as 180 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 3: good as the Champions League. 181 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 2: People laugh at me because people don't. 182 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 3: Turn over and don't see the value that our South 183 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 3: American football has, and I. 184 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 2: Believe it's as good. 185 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 3: Obviously, we don't have the resources, and obviously the South 186 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 3: American teams lose their biggest stars every year and they 187 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 3: go to Europe. You named uh three four European teams. 188 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 3: Most of them have South American players that make them, 189 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 3: you know, win in the Premier league in you know, 190 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 3: in in Spain wherever. So that aside, what will be 191 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 3: good for the competition obviously, now it's Brazil against the world. Basically, 192 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 3: you know, Brazil has very the all four teams are 193 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 3: are very good. 194 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 2: The Europeans are at the end of their season. 195 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 3: And are complaining a lot how tired they are and 196 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 3: and this and that. But yet you know they showed 197 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 3: interest and are competing well enough, so that will not 198 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 3: be an excuse if they happen to lose to a 199 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 3: Brazilian team somewhere along the way. So for a Lobal audience, obviously, 200 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 3: the the ideal final will be to have the Champions 201 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 3: League winner at PSD in the final, you know, with 202 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 3: all uh you know, with with all that happened with 203 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 3: them in Champions League, or Madrid for that matter, obviously, 204 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 3: because that's a global brand, I know, it would be 205 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 3: great to show it like a balance of power. If 206 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 3: we can have South America, South American against Europe final, 207 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 3: that would be awesome. 208 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: And when you're seeing out in the stadiums and things 209 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: like that, Obviously, Real Madrid and Boca Juniors were the 210 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: two highest selling teams in the group stage for for tickets. 211 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: What else are you seeing like as people are bringing 212 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: in fans. Is it a lot of South American teams 213 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: as South American fans coming in? Is it a lot 214 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: of European fans? Is it just US fans just rooting 215 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: for whoever they know already? 216 00:12:58,480 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 2: It's a mix of both. 217 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 3: The South American teams, including the Brazilians, brought a lot 218 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,719 Speaker 3: of people. I was really surprised at the amount of 219 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 3: people that they brought from their countries. Obviously in South 220 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 3: Boria that were Boga played two matches and Palmaidas played one. 221 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 3: There are plenty of Argentinians and Brazilians and I'm pretty 222 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 3: sure when to root for them as well. 223 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 2: But I would say. 224 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 3: Seventy percent of the fans that showed up came from 225 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 3: either Argentine hour or Brazil. Then you have the you 226 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 3: know American fan that went out to see the big 227 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 3: teams Inter Milan, PSD, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid. I mean 228 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 3: you could tell by you know, by by the support 229 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 3: they had that it looked like they were just casual 230 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 3: US based fans of those teams. And I also said, 231 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 3: is that goes in favor of the Viva Glob wal 232 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 3: Cup that if you taking this Fiva glob walk up 233 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 3: to Germany and play in Germany, how many fans will 234 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 3: River played against our Reds in Hamburg, Germany draw? Probably 235 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 3: not even five thousand. So I think attendance has been good, 236 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 3: good enough. The big teams sold out, the South American 237 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 3: teams sold out. And when you have, you know, a 238 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 3: game on a Tuesday at twelve noon to adjust to 239 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 3: the European prime time television audience at the Rose Bowl, 240 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 3: I'm not even sure Beyonce again, you know, sell out 241 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 3: of the road twelve noon our World Day, right. 242 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. It is one of the things I wanted 243 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: to ask you about. It's the scarcity that we saw 244 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: at a lot of the stadiums, and I mean it's 245 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: a really good point though. I mean they're mid day, 246 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: you know, during the work week. But we obviously will 247 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: see that next year for the World Cup. But it's 248 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: a completely different beast. Right for the World Cup, people 249 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: are going to be willing to take off. So do 250 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: you think that the scarcity that we saw doesn't say 251 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: much about the US as a soccer market? Do you 252 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: think that we're still emerging or is there some work 253 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: to be done? 254 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 3: No, it doesn't say anything. It says obviously a lot 255 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 3: about the US soccer market. There have been a one 256 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 3: and a half million tickets sold or over one and 257 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 3: a half million tickets sold in the group face Again, 258 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 3: if you take that Rosewell game and move it to 259 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 3: the LAFC Stadium or Dignity Health the Galaxy Stadium that 260 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 3: has a capacity of twenty five people, you would have 261 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 3: had packed and sold out game between Monterrey and Ritz. 262 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 2: Or River Plate And with our Reds that didn't throw 263 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 2: that much. 264 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 3: I think, obviously, like you say, the World Cup will 265 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 3: be totally different. I know people that are already asking 266 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 3: for time off a year in advance. There will be 267 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 3: a lot more tourists hopefully coming to the US to 268 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 3: watch their nations. And I think soccer has shown throughout 269 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 3: the summers. And I refer to the summers because we 270 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 3: always have these big, big pre tournament, pre season tournaments 271 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 3: that are friendly in nature with the big European teams 272 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 3: that play one eleven team. I mean they put eleven 273 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 3: players on the first half, and then the coach because 274 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 3: it's pre season, makes eleven changes in the second half. 275 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 3: And yet you know, you will have seventy five one 276 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 3: thousand people or one hundred thousand people in an Urburn, 277 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 3: Michigan watching Real Mad against Manchester United. So the appetite 278 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 3: for saugur in this country is here to stay, is 279 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,719 Speaker 3: very solid, and I don't think we have to all 280 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 3: on the negative of the you know, eighteen thousand fans 281 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 3: that the Mammy Lodi Sandown's gained druel, because again, take 282 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 3: that to any other city in the world outside of 283 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 3: South Africa. That's where this team is from and that 284 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 3: you know, it will not draw three hundred people, And 285 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 3: here they put, you know, fifteen thousand, and everyone is saying, oh, 286 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 3: they only grew fifteen thousand people and two o'clock in 287 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 3: the afternoon, three o'clock in the afternoon, saltering heat. 288 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 2: So I mean, I think all in all it is 289 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 2: very good. 290 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: It's a good point for sure. So we got to 291 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: talk about the MLS really quick before before we wrap 292 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: up inner. Miami made it to the next ROUNDUND with 293 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: one win, two draws. The other teams didn't fare as well. 294 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: What do you think that says that, you know, LAC 295 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 1: Seattle didn't even get Seattle didn't even get a win 296 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: or a draw any points, right, So what does that 297 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: say about how the MLS is stacking up against other 298 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: leagues and how far they really need to go. 299 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 3: Well, we didn't need to have this tournament to nowhere. 300 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 3: NLS stands in the world scheme of football, in the 301 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 3: world ranking of football. Obviously the MLS is doing great. 302 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 3: It's a very good league, but it's not competitive enough. 303 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 3: And in tannic And proved me wrong. But obviously you know, 304 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,919 Speaker 3: they got messy, which is the difference maker. But I 305 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 3: think it's unfair because even though Seattle they win, the 306 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 3: two Argentine teams played six matches in between them, and 307 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 3: one only one of them, which was pre beating with 308 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 3: our reds. So if I make the argument that l 309 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 3: A s C And Seattle didn't win too many games 310 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 3: or Seattle didn't win any I would have to make 311 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 3: the same argument for Argentinian football. And Argentina is a 312 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 3: world champion. So it's again, you know, MLS has I 313 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:34,239 Speaker 3: don't know if it has a long way to go, 314 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 3: but obviously the competition is Europe. 315 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 2: In Europe is much tougher, it's it's better, and you 316 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 2: know it's MLS. It's a couple of texdowns from there. 317 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,479 Speaker 1: All right. Well, before I let you go, I have 318 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: to get some predictions. Predictions for Club World Cup final 319 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: and winner. 320 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 3: I think PSG will win this tournament and they might 321 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 3: play I wish I had the brackets. 322 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 2: I like Bayern Munich the way they played the winner 323 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 2: of that quarter. 324 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 3: Finally, if it's PSG, Buyern will make it all the 325 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 3: way to the final and winning. 326 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely. Prediction for the Gold Cup. 327 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 2: I'm going to bet on the US, all right. 328 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 3: I think there's three wins in the group face even 329 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 3: though like I already explained, doesn't mean way too much, 330 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 3: I think will give them confidence to go all the 331 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 3: way to. 332 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 2: The final and winning. 333 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: That was my conversation with legendary broadcaster Andre's Contour. We'll 334 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: be checking back in on his predictions to see if 335 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: PSG or Buyern Munich take home the Club World Cup title. 336 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: This is a special edition of the Bloomberg Business of 337 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: Sports podcast The Business of Soccer. Up next, we'll hear 338 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: from leaders the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee on how 339 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: they're prepping for the big games. I'm Vanessa Prodemo. This 340 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: is Bloomber. You're listening to a special edition of the 341 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, The Business of Soccer. I'm 342 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: Vanessa Prodemo. My next guests are Dan Corso, president of 343 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Sports Council and head of the Atlanta World 344 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,719 Speaker 1: Cup Host Committee, and Tim Zeloski, President of amb Sports 345 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 1: and Entertainment, more so known for owning the Atlanta Falcons. 346 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: Atlanta is one of only a few cities that are 347 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 1: hosting the Club World Cup this year, as well as 348 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,160 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty six World Cup next year, so they're 349 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 1: in a unique position to solidify themselves as a soccer 350 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: hub in the US. Not to mention owner of the 351 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank, is a big donor for US soccer. 352 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: Let's listen to my conversation with Tim and Dan Club 353 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: World Cup, World Cup. Everything's coming in at once. Tim, 354 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: I'd love to get your perspective on a stadium that's 355 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: hosting both of these tournaments. What's this next year like 356 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: for you and what are the preparations like for to 357 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:06,199 Speaker 1: host these back to back tournaments. 358 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 5: Ultimately, it's the vision we had for Mercedesmen Stadium, which 359 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 5: is to bring the best events from around the world 360 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 5: to Georgia and to Atlanta for the people of the 361 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 5: United States and or state and local residents to enjoy. 362 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 5: So it feels great to be, you know, bringing that 363 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 5: to life. The actual matches themselves. You know, we're the 364 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 5: busiest seventy thousand seat stadium in the world, so the 365 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 5: idea of bringing people in is obviously not foreign to us. 366 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 5: The working with a new federation in this case FIFA, 367 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 5: who've not worked with previously, that has been a little different, 368 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,120 Speaker 5: you know, just because of our first time and new 369 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 5: the Club World Cup. Obviously the best clubs in the 370 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 5: world and then you get the chance for country in 371 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 5: twenty six. So the unique thing actually has been creating 372 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 5: that distinction between people or for people so they understand, 373 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 5: you know, what is coming. Because also the twenty five 374 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 5: Club World Cup, you know, came well, the twenty sixth 375 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 5: World Cup was already well under its planning way, and 376 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 5: so there's I would say some market confusion in general, 377 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 5: but ultimately you're going to have the best representing club 378 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 5: band country coming through Mercedes Benz Stadium for America to enjoy. 379 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: It's interesting that the world do enjoy. Actually, yeah, absolutely, 380 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: but it's interesting that market confusion almost right, because you 381 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: have them right on top of each other. Dan, tell 382 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,439 Speaker 1: me about how that works, how you distinct that, you know, 383 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 1: for the community of Atlanta and have these different tournaments, 384 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 1: but make sure people are aside for both. 385 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 6: Yes, we've made it very clear that the twenty six 386 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 6: World Cup and our host Committee of the Atlanta World 387 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,360 Speaker 6: Cup Host Committee, which is responsible for getting the community 388 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 6: ready to host the twenty six World Cup, we're not. 389 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 4: Directly involved in the club. 390 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 6: So we're supportive because it's the game of soccer and 391 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 6: it's a big event happening in our city and happening 392 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 6: at Mercedes Benz Stadium. So we'll work where we can. 393 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 6: But we're not responsible obviously for putting on the logistics 394 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 6: or the opps or the marketing thereof. 395 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,160 Speaker 4: For the for the Club World Cup. 396 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 6: But we do see it as a potential opportunity to 397 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:07,679 Speaker 6: kind of kick the tires a little bit on twenty 398 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 6: six and you know, whether it's traffic flow, traffic management, 399 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 6: ingress into the various hotels that surround Mercedes Benz Stadium, 400 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 6: some of the activation areas that we'll be used for Club, 401 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 6: how do those respond. 402 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 4: In prep for twenty twenty six? 403 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 6: So while they're completely different events, you know, the fact 404 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 6: is we have fourteen international matches between six with Club 405 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 6: and eight with the FIFA World Cup. You know, that's 406 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,719 Speaker 6: the fourteen matches that we could really learn from, you know, 407 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 6: and take the lessons from one and apply to the next. 408 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 5: If I could put you back on DAN, where you 409 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 5: do have in common allies FIFA, what is not common 410 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 5: as the consumer audience. So for the Club World Cup, 411 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 5: with the beauty of digital tickets, we can see where 412 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 5: people are coming from and Club World Cups disproportionately domestic, 413 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 5: where there's a full expectation that the Global World Cup 414 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 5: of twenty six will bring. You know, just that the 415 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 5: globe to the United States, and so who's coming in 416 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,199 Speaker 5: your doors is probably going to be disproportionately international then 417 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 5: it would be domestic. So two different audiences enjoying the 418 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 5: beautiful game, if you will. 419 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,719 Speaker 1: And how do you think that that plays into the 420 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: attendance that you're going to see at the stadium and 421 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 1: things like that. I mean, you guys are pretty lucky 422 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 1: in the early stages of the Club World Cup, you 423 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: got some really really great matches and the MLS teams 424 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 1: as well. How does that play in for you? 425 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 5: Well, in the case of club, you're now going to 426 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 5: have fandom people follow and have a passion for that institution, 427 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 5: you know where that is. Let's say you're a Chelsea 428 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 5: fan and whatever their audience is that supports Chelsea, which 429 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,719 Speaker 5: we will be hosting here in early June. Whereas if 430 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 5: you're from the country, you know, it's a completely different 431 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 5: emotion and feeling. Are you representing the United States or 432 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 5: are you representing Atlanta, United And so you're going to 433 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 5: be a much wider fan base in the case of 434 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 5: of World Cup, whereas you'll be you know what, I'll 435 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 5: call it wide mile deep in club fandom. And so 436 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 5: when Inner Miami plays, it'll be whether it's although MESSI 437 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 5: may gap broaden that gap a little bit, it'll be 438 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 5: folks who are hyper focused on Inner Miami as an example, 439 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 5: or hyper focused on Chelsea. Much different when it's an 440 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,199 Speaker 5: entire country that they're coming in support of. 441 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:25,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 442 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And when you see the pattern that you're seeing 443 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 1: for ticket sales already, say for the Club World Cup, 444 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 1: what are those looking like? You know obviously that some 445 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:38,479 Speaker 1: people are saying the tickets are a little bit, you know, 446 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,640 Speaker 1: they're not anticipated as much as they anticipated the mass. 447 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: How are you guys seeing that in Mercedes Benz right now? 448 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 1: I mean, like you said, you have Messi and all 449 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:48,199 Speaker 1: these people people are really excited for. 450 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,919 Speaker 5: Look, there's gonna be thousands of people really excited to 451 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 5: see the athletes that they watch every day, whether it 452 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 5: be on TV or maybe even in their home country 453 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 5: and in their home stadium. So a great show will 454 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 5: be put on. FIFA's handling all the marketing administration relative 455 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,439 Speaker 5: to these matches, so I'm sure they're going to do 456 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 5: everything in their power to represent the club World Cup, 457 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 5: you know, for the esteem tournament it is, and. 458 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: Dan, you talked a little bit earlier about just the 459 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 1: overall the Atlanta of it all, right, and it's such 460 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,199 Speaker 1: a big sports sound and noted already that it's not 461 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: new to host these big tournaments. But I want to 462 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,719 Speaker 1: get back a little early on in the early stages 463 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,639 Speaker 1: of how you go about becoming a host city and 464 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 1: why Atlanta was chosen. 465 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 6: Do you think yeah, I think you could, depends on 466 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:33,399 Speaker 6: how far back you want to go, right, So if 467 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 6: you go all back to nineteen ninety six, we hosted 468 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 6: the Summer Olympic Games, and now thirty years later, we're 469 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,360 Speaker 6: going to host the World Cup, becoming one of only 470 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 6: two US cities to host both Atlanta and la I 471 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,360 Speaker 6: think the history going back to ninety six and how 472 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 6: we hosted the Summer Olympics to you know, moving ahead 473 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:57,120 Speaker 6: hosting multiple Super Bowls, multiple college football playoff championship games, 474 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 6: multiple Final fours, all Star games. We have approved track 475 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 6: record and what's while that, you know, we continue to 476 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 6: add new events. What's not changed is the footprint. And 477 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:10,919 Speaker 6: you know, you've got an incredible stadium next to an 478 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,959 Speaker 6: incredible arena next to the fourth largest conventions that are 479 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 6: in the country surrounded by fourteen thousand hotel rooms that 480 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 6: are all walkable. Right, So your experience coming in as 481 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 6: a media rep to cover off one of those events 482 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 6: is pretty friendly. 483 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 2: Right. 484 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 6: Your work that you're going to do is in a 485 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 6: friendly environment, and you can get around pretty easily and 486 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 6: never really get in a form of transportation until you 487 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 6: head back to the airport and fly home. So same 488 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 6: applies to sponsors, same applies to the visiting fans. So 489 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 6: it's a very usable, friendly, walkable footprint, and it's something 490 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:44,959 Speaker 6: that we promote quite a bit. If you look at 491 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 6: some of the other cities that host not just World 492 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 6: couple of other large scale events, they've got great stadiums, 493 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 6: but they're also spread out all over their region. They're 494 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 6: not compact like Atlanta. So you combine that compact proximity, 495 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 6: it becomes very user friendly, but also helps in the 496 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 6: plan so that when you're working on a security or 497 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 6: safety plan or a transportation plan, you know it's pretty 498 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 6: much contained into one defined area in downtown Atlanta versus 499 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 6: spread out all over you know, the region. 500 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 4: So that helps us quite a bit. 501 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 6: But reputational value of being able to deliver to these 502 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 6: event owners a unified, a collaborative experience and you know, 503 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 6: planning phase with them, I think is something that travels. 504 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 6: They do talk, these big event owners talk and they 505 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 6: share information about cities, and I think Atlanta's just got 506 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:34,719 Speaker 6: an incredible reputation of just people who work well together, 507 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 6: have so for a long time, and have got a 508 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 6: great footprint to do it in. 509 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. 510 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And what do you think it is about, you know, 511 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 1: hosting big events that is really impactful to the economy 512 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 1: and all of those things. Because in recent years, in 513 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: the last decade or so, some cities say they don't 514 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: want the Olympics, they don't want these big events. So 515 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: why do you think it's important for Atlanta and impactful 516 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 1: for Atlanta to continuously host. 517 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think it's kind of hard to put the 518 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 6: genie back on the bottle. If that's once you've getten 519 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 6: into the big business, a big event business, it's hard 520 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 6: to get out of it because, again back to reputational value, 521 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 6: these events can only go to a handful of markets 522 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,479 Speaker 6: and they need to rotate, you know, from location and location. 523 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 6: So we're on that five to six maybe seven year 524 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 6: rotation for these major events. There's nothing we can't host. 525 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 6: Just this year alone, we started off the year with 526 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 6: the College Football Playoff National Championship. We've got MLB All 527 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 6: Star Game right on top of Club World Cup, so 528 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 6: you know, within the first seven months of the year, 529 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 6: we've got three incredible events. So there's nothing we can't do. 530 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 6: And it's a great economic boon to you know, not 531 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 6: just Metro Atlanta, but the state of Georgia. You can 532 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 6: argue economic impact numbers and some cities go really high. 533 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 6: We tend to be a little bit more conservative on that, 534 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 6: but what we do know is it's not zero. You 535 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 6: have to have some type of impact. When you've got 536 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 6: visitors coming in who might not come to your city 537 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 6: but for that event, and they're spending the money in 538 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 6: hotels and the restaurants and transportation and retail. 539 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:00,520 Speaker 4: It's good for our economy. 540 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 6: It's also good for our small businesses in the area 541 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 6: that reaped the benefit of the visitors coming in and 542 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 6: spending their money. 543 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 1: And one of the big things, obviously is we look 544 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 1: over the next year. In the soccer of it all 545 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: and the US aspect of it all, is mister Arthur Blank, right, 546 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 1: who is big on the dedication of growing the sport 547 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: of soccer. Can you talk a little bit about that 548 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 1: and how that impacts what the business of soccer will 549 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: be over the next year in Atlanta and his role 550 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: in growing the game. 551 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 5: Well, Atlanta's had professional teams. Then came Atlanta United, which 552 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 5: we signed on for in twenty fourteen, eventually rolling the 553 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 5: ball on the pitch in twenty seventeen, setting global records 554 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 5: for attendance top ten average attendance consistently. Right then you 555 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 5: look and say what is missing? And we got a 556 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 5: phone call from the folks representing US soccer and they 557 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 5: never had a national training center. So you played soccer, 558 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 5: you know what it's like to have your own home gym. 559 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 5: If you will home facilities and the right facilities to 560 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 5: attract people along to play with you in order to 561 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 5: put an elite team on the pitch. Well, this case here, 562 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:14,200 Speaker 5: now twenty seven teams will have a world class facility 563 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 5: to represent our country regardless of age, because you're gonna 564 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 5: have academy gender male female. You also have the United Teams, 565 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 5: unified teams, excuse me, all having an opportunity to be 566 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 5: trained in the and now a world class facility will 567 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 5: be ready in the spring of twenty six. So you're 568 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 5: helping on the national level to showcase soccer in the 569 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 5: United States. You're helping on the professional level, and then 570 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 5: leaning into youth soccer, whether it be through recreation programs 571 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 5: of soccer in the streets but creating free pitches and 572 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 5: varied communities, or in the academy structure. So what we 573 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 5: really ultimately want to do is create a platform where 574 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 5: the young girl, young boy look and see their idols 575 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 5: playing soccer, because if they do, then it'll increase the 576 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 5: chance that they want to play soccer competitively all the 577 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 5: way through. So one of the also things that we 578 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 5: don't often talk about is we have one hundred percent 579 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 5: acceptance rate from our academy players playing Division I soccer 580 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 5: on scholarship. So if they're not making the pros, they're 581 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,680 Speaker 5: getting a free ride into our full scholarship. I'll package 582 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 5: it differently because they put a lot of sweat equity 583 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 5: literally into that in order to further their own education 584 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 5: and become contributing society members of society. So each aspect 585 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 5: is being addressed, ultimately elevating and showcasing the game of 586 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 5: soccer out of Atlanta and through our means, Arthur's means 587 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 5: through its foundation, you know, ultimately to make Atlanta and 588 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 5: Georgia the soccer hub of the United States. 589 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 1: And that's interesting how they all work together in that 590 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 1: way that you're saying, how do you think that the 591 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: academies and the professional and the national side all work 592 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 1: together to grow the business aspect of the game of 593 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 1: soccer and ultimately help that and further value Atlanta United. 594 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 5: Okay, so I'm going to turn it back to you 595 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:08,240 Speaker 5: a little bit on that question. You're a young lady, 596 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 5: you decide to play soccer. Who did you look. 597 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: Up to Brann Scary? 598 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:13,240 Speaker 2: Okay? 599 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 5: And who did she play for. 600 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: The US women's national team? 601 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 2: Correct? 602 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,879 Speaker 5: Right, So you had an idol and that was someone 603 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 5: that you then admired and you wanted to see what 604 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 5: they did in their lives and you saw them highlighted 605 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:26,760 Speaker 5: and celebrated on a global level. Correct. 606 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 2: Well. 607 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 5: Again, that's where it comes back to. When you can 608 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:33,720 Speaker 5: create a foundation to which then people enjoy. Once people enjoy, 609 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 5: more investment comes. When more investment comes, then all sorts 610 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 5: of business opportunities come along. So you see it going 611 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,200 Speaker 5: on today in the NWSL as the women's Professional league 612 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 5: as being spotlighted, more sponsorships coming in, higher attendances are 613 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:48,439 Speaker 5: coming in, new media rights are coming in. You see 614 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:52,440 Speaker 5: it in Major League Soccer preceding the World Cup. Previously 615 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:55,359 Speaker 5: in the United States, men's professional soccer didn't exist as 616 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 5: a league. Today you have multiple franchises, including Atlanta United 617 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,799 Speaker 5: valued it over a billion dollars, right, And so when 618 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:05,879 Speaker 5: people when you start and create a great foundation and 619 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:09,320 Speaker 5: you show that success can be achieved because someone that 620 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:11,080 Speaker 5: they can relate to, they came from my city, they 621 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:13,400 Speaker 5: came from my community, they came from my country. I 622 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,440 Speaker 5: can do that too, And then you get investment in it. 623 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:19,719 Speaker 5: Investment begets investment. It's like any other development you see, 624 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 5: whether it be in a city or in sport. 625 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:26,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And Dan, I'd love to know how you think 626 00:35:26,239 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 1: that plays into the whole idea of Atlanta being a 627 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 1: great host city for these tournaments with you, mister Blank's 628 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: investment into the sport and already having that national having 629 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:39,920 Speaker 1: that national training center, what it's going to do for overall? 630 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: And do you think that it makes Atlanta gives Atlanta 631 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:46,359 Speaker 1: a unique perspective as a host city more than any other. 632 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, it does, particularly for twenty six, right with the 633 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:53,600 Speaker 6: US being an automatic qualifier and they'll travel out. 634 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 4: West for the group stage. We hope to see them. 635 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 6: Back play their way back to Atlanta as we get 636 00:35:57,640 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 6: into our knockout rounds. We have a rout of thirty 637 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,120 Speaker 6: to a round of sixteen in a semi final. So 638 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:05,400 Speaker 6: hopefully the US men's team willet, but their training facility 639 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 6: will open in April of next year, so preceding the 640 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 6: World Cup. So you've got you've got the men's national 641 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 6: team embedded within our community. You know, Tim's covered off 642 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:18,839 Speaker 6: with what Arthur Blank has done for the sport in 643 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:22,239 Speaker 6: our state, and quite frankly, we look to parlay that 644 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 6: into a potential Women's World Cup bid in twenty thirty one, which, 645 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:28,839 Speaker 6: as you well know, the US is putting their hat 646 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,120 Speaker 6: and the ring for that, so you know it's not 647 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 6: going to stop in twenty six. We think the legacy 648 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:35,560 Speaker 6: of twenty six could carry over into thirty one as 649 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:37,520 Speaker 6: a potential host city for the Women's World Cup. 650 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:41,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I can't wait. Ye. My community definitely 651 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: hope that that gets, you know, solidified, because the last 652 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:46,799 Speaker 1: time I was here, I was so I was so little, 653 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 1: but I remember it. I remember it so well, the 654 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:52,480 Speaker 1: ninety hours there are icons forever, Dan, I want to 655 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 1: know what your schedule looks like over the next year, 656 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,600 Speaker 1: like what are your biggest initiatives as twenty six rolls around. 657 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:01,080 Speaker 6: So we're in a really good spot. You know, we've 658 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 6: never hosted World Cup before, but were a big event 659 00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 6: city and as I said before, we've got continuity in 660 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 6: the planning with the same organizations, working with the same 661 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:12,839 Speaker 6: venues that host our big sporting events. So you know, 662 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:15,760 Speaker 6: as a host committee, we're responsible for preparing the region 663 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,759 Speaker 6: to host the event. It's FIFA's event, but we're there 664 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:21,319 Speaker 6: directly aaison to make sure that we're ready to go, 665 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:27,520 Speaker 6: whether that's stadium or venues, volunteer programs, signage into core, lodging, 666 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:32,320 Speaker 6: training sites, you know, public safety, security, transportation, traffic management, 667 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,160 Speaker 6: you name it. There's a lot of operational things that 668 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:38,720 Speaker 6: were responsible to help prepare with FIFA. That being said, 669 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:41,480 Speaker 6: you know, being a year out, we're at a really 670 00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:44,000 Speaker 6: great spot and now we're looking at, okay, how do 671 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:47,640 Speaker 6: we really promote our city and our state to the 672 00:37:47,719 --> 00:37:50,920 Speaker 6: visitors that are coming in that draws this December, as 673 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:52,839 Speaker 6: you know, So that is what all cities will know 674 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 6: what nations and which countries will be. 675 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:56,840 Speaker 4: Coming into their respective cities. 676 00:37:57,239 --> 00:37:59,520 Speaker 6: You know, we've got five group matches, so we expect, 677 00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 6: depending on the way the schedule shakes out, we could 678 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 6: get anywhere from nine to ten countries coming in for 679 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,360 Speaker 6: part of our group stage. So that's really when you 680 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:10,280 Speaker 6: can start tailoring your messaging when we know what countries 681 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 6: are coming in. You know, Atlanta as part of the 682 00:38:13,239 --> 00:38:16,319 Speaker 6: Olympic legacy that we have, we have Centennial Olympic Park, 683 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:18,799 Speaker 6: which was used obviously in ninety six, and we're going 684 00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:21,000 Speaker 6: to use that as our fan fest for the twenty 685 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:22,920 Speaker 6: six World Cup. But we also are home now to 686 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 6: seventy six consulate and trade offices in Atlanta. That's also 687 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:30,160 Speaker 6: a byproduct of hosting the Olympic Games. So we're engaging 688 00:38:30,239 --> 00:38:33,319 Speaker 6: those consulate and trade offices in our planning so that 689 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 6: when countries come in, we can match them up to 690 00:38:36,239 --> 00:38:38,239 Speaker 6: those trade offices and have kind of a home away 691 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:40,719 Speaker 6: from home feeling once they come through. So you know, 692 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 6: it's you know, there's eleven US cities hosting it. We 693 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:47,240 Speaker 6: all have kind of our different nuances and unique aspects 694 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 6: of how we plan and organize big events. A lot 695 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:53,520 Speaker 6: of is similar, correct because it is FIFA's event. But 696 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,560 Speaker 6: we're looking forward to really kind of put the Atlanta 697 00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:57,719 Speaker 6: feel on it like we're known to do. 698 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:01,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I hope it goes amazing for you guys, Tim 699 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:02,799 Speaker 1: As we wrap up here, I just want to know, 700 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 1: obviously you mentioned that Atlanta United is valued at over 701 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:09,120 Speaker 1: a billion dollars. As we look over the next year, 702 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:13,400 Speaker 1: I think that a lot of the excitement of soccer 703 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:15,880 Speaker 1: here is going to impact directly the MLS and the 704 00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:17,960 Speaker 1: growth of soccer in the business. There is there a 705 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 1: number as a barometer that you guys are looking to 706 00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:24,759 Speaker 1: hit as at the end of this excitement maybe in 707 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:26,360 Speaker 1: terms of growth for evaluation. 708 00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:28,480 Speaker 5: No, it's not held out as a number. I would 709 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:31,719 Speaker 5: say it's more a process. How do we leverage what 710 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:33,719 Speaker 5: is going to happen with the World Cup and expose 711 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:35,880 Speaker 5: the game of soccer to maybe today folks that are 712 00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:38,480 Speaker 5: not paying that close attention to it, and invite them 713 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:41,359 Speaker 5: in to attend United matches in the future and then 714 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:43,440 Speaker 5: have the fan experience in a world class manner that 715 00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:45,560 Speaker 5: we know we can put out at Mercedesmen Stadium so 716 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:50,239 Speaker 5: that potentially more United matches season tickets on the line. 717 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:53,880 Speaker 5: General fandom can be part of their every day So 718 00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:58,520 Speaker 5: we're really looking at the World Cup as a I'll 719 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:02,840 Speaker 5: say an invitation to all those who want to enjoy 720 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:07,279 Speaker 5: the game of soccer to enjoy it globally in twenty five. 721 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:10,400 Speaker 5: They can enjoy it with Club twenty six with Country, 722 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:15,200 Speaker 5: and then stick on and enjoy it with Atlanta United locally. 723 00:40:16,760 --> 00:40:19,520 Speaker 1: That was my conversation with Tim Zeloski and Dan Corso, 724 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:22,400 Speaker 1: two guys helping to run the show for Atlanta Sports. 725 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:24,920 Speaker 1: And that does it for this edition of the Business 726 00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:27,240 Speaker 1: of Soccer. It's part of a new series we're starting 727 00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:29,440 Speaker 1: for the Bloomberg Business of Sports as we get ready 728 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:32,200 Speaker 1: for the FIFA World Cup in twenty twenty six. I'm 729 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:36,000 Speaker 1: Vanessa Prudemo. Subscribe now so you never miss a new episode. 730 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:38,800 Speaker 1: You're listening to The Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg 731 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:40,360 Speaker 1: Radio around the world.