1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. The International Olympic Committee 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: spacing a crisis. Which sport would you point to and say, 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: put your money here? Where the money is flowing inside 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: sports around the globe as NASCAR's business engine lost some 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: horse problem. Now I'm paying five or ten percent what 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: I used to pay to buy the whole team, Michael Barr. 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: Nothing like a cheap cot dog, which is what you 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: should get. Scott Sasnek. How do you put your brand 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: outside of the United States? How do you capture fans 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: around the world? Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio. 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: Over the next hour, we will explore the big money 12 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,639 Speaker 1: issues in the world of sports, and we will talk 13 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: to some of the biggest players in the industry. Today 14 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: just in time for the Stanley Cup finals. It's National 15 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman. For us, everything starts with 16 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: the game on the ice and then how we bring 17 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: it to our fans. You know, if you do all 18 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: that right and you give your fans a great experience, 19 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: the revenue will flow. We will have more on our 20 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: interview with Gary Bettman in a few minutes, but first 21 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: let's talk about some of the big business of sports. 22 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: Stories of the week, and Scott, let's begin with the 23 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: battle for the Miami Marlins. Jeb Bush is no longer 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: pursuing the club. Here's Merlin's president David Sampson earlier this season. 25 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: It's a complicated law processes do any transaction like this, 26 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: and there's not a guarantee that the transaction will happen. 27 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: But but for for purpose of this process, Scott, you 28 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: broke the story from Blueberg. What's the very latest. Well, 29 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: the key part of that sentence that he just uttered there, 30 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: that little speech, was that a transaction might not happen. 31 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: From all the sports bankers that I'm talking to, that's 32 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: where they're betting that this transaction will not happen. Jeff 33 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: Bush has pulled out. Derek Jeter wanted full control of 34 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: the baseball and business side of the franchisees within three years, 35 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: and everybody else said, how much is he putting up 36 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: in the first We don't know exactly how much, but 37 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: we do know that it will not be as much 38 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: as the limited partner are the investors, I'll tell you that. 39 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: And let's just say billionaire investors aren't used to putting 40 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: all their capital at work and having somebody else run 41 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: the show. Listen. I have total respect for the captain 42 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: what he did on the field, and and I admire 43 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: him as a person, But how can you set up 44 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: in the negotiations I want total control in about three years. Well, 45 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: there's so many things that went wrong with this, and 46 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: that's that's one. David Samson and Jeff Luria didn't use 47 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: an investment banker that might have helped the process. Derek 48 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: Jeter and Jeff Bush didn't have their agreement straightened out 49 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: ahead of time. They didn't have their limited partner money 50 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: signed on ahead of time. They made a bid without 51 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: the money. That's a big problem. Now, tag Romney is 52 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: sitting back. We know he was a bidder. He's sitting 53 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: back now with only one confirmed bidder out there. Maybe 54 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: he can bring the number down. It's how badly does 55 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: he want the franchise? And we're talking about a personalities. 56 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: We're talking about a person who ran for President of 57 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: the United States, Jeff Bush. I'm sure Jeff Bush is 58 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: going to say the former governor of Florida, Okay, Derek, 59 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 1: whatever you want and forget about me. Well we already 60 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: know he said no. He's like, I'm out We didn't 61 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: know how much money he was putting in. Maybe it 62 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: was gonna be of ten twenty million, whatever it is. 63 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: Neither of the so called general partners and those are 64 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: the guys who usually run things, was going to put 65 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: in as much money as the investors, but they still 66 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: wanted control. And then for Derek to want control of 67 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: not only baseball operations, we know he knows baseball, but 68 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: to want control of the business side of the franchise. 69 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: That was the last draw from Bush and he said, 70 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: I'm I'm going elsewhere. Another story, we are following Manchester 71 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: United scores against Sabianski Rooney are like in the Corona, 72 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: I'm the United lead right on the halftime whistle the 73 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: United wong Swanson out. That audio clip was courtesy at 74 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: Manchester United. Scott Manchester United really has been scoring more 75 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: off the field than on it. The team has fewer 76 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: Premier League wins then in any season since the competition 77 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: started in Mike. You know though, It's a different story 78 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: when it comes to the wallet. Accounting firm KPMG says 79 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: the English club increased its value to three and a 80 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: half billion dollars and this is as signed folks. In 81 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 1: case you're not familiar with soccer on how important and 82 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: popular the sport is. There's a lot of coin out 83 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: there when it comes to soccer. Yeah, my guests would 84 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: be and bankers say this as well. If you looked 85 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: at Rayal Madrid and you looked at Barcelona right behind 86 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: this time right behind man you if you look at 87 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: the television contract, particularly in the US, they have a 88 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: b in television deal. I haven't seen a law legal 89 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: game here. It's not easy the EPL though, I mean, 90 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: if six of the top ten teams, there's a reason 91 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: they are generating mega media money outside their home markets, 92 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: particularly the United States. When La Liga begins to do that, 93 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: and we know that Barcelona is looking to extend the 94 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 1: brand here. They're coming this summer to play against Real Madrid, 95 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: to play against Juventus, these numbers are going to continue 96 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: to soar. And lastly, the global battle for the Olympic Games, 97 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 1: all right, we know who's involved, Michael. We have Paris 98 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 1: and l A. The IOC, however, seems to be leaning 99 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: towards giving the twenty four Olympics to Paris and moving 100 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: to l A. We know Paris has said we're not 101 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: interested in eight. We don't want the second one. L 102 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: A hasn't been that strong and definitive and we don't 103 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: want it, but they've made clear they want. So this 104 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: is setting up a very interesting situation for the IOC, 105 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: which is lacking bidders nowadays. Anyway, what do they do 106 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: with these two games when both cities want the same one? 107 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: Two points here. First of all, only two major cities 108 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: are in play because basically many of the cities said, hey, 109 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: put in a bid where the Olympics is going to 110 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: cost us a lot of money. Let's look at real. 111 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: Everybody's looking at real, the White Elephants, all the infrastructure problems, 112 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: the the amount of money spent. The basis of the 113 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: l A bid is that we've got it all here. 114 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: All the buildings are ready to go with u C 115 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: l A. We have the coliseum, we have the new 116 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: facility coming for the rams and the charges. We don't 117 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: have to spend that much money. The Pittsburgh Penguins are 118 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: looking to make a two straight Stanley Cups. They currently 119 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: leave the best of seven games series against Nashville. Said, 120 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: no longer a kid, but what better time to talk 121 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: to the man who runs the league. National Hockey League 122 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 1: Commissioner Gary Bettman. Gary, before we talk about the state 123 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: of the league, I want to talk about the Olympics. 124 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: I simply want you to explain the economics of not 125 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: going to the games. Frankly, it's not an economic decision, 126 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: I think. I think we've been very clear we're not 127 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: anti Olympics. We're anti disruption to the season. It has 128 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 1: a severe impact on our season. It exposes players, not 129 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: just those who go to the Olympics, to a greater 130 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: risk of interest in injury. It affects our competitive balance, 131 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: the competitiveness in our season. Uh. And it causes us 132 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: to simply disappear for three weeks at a very important 133 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: time where there's no football, there's no baseball, uh, and 134 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: we're heading for the stretch run to the playoffs. It's 135 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: it's a rather, to say the least inconvenient time for 136 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: us to be shutting down and disappearing. It seems that people, fans, 137 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: even they just don't seem to want to understand that. 138 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: Even owners, it doesn't really appeal to them to shut 139 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: down their season to stop the momentum. And you really 140 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: do fall off the radar screen exactly. And that's why 141 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: the teams I think have had fatigue on the entire subject, 142 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: having gone to five Olympics, I think the door wound 143 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: up getting open wider. Went about a year and a 144 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: half ago, the International Olympic Committee said that they were 145 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: no longer going to pay the expenses attendant to the 146 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: players playing, which is something they had been paying for 147 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: the previous is five Olympics. And for those teams that 148 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: were on the fence, I think this pushed them over 149 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: the fence because they're saying, if the io C in 150 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: the International Ice Hockey Federation don't value our participation enough 151 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: to pay the expenses, and we're talking about insurance and 152 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: transportation and accommodations for players and players family, if they're 153 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: not prepared to pay for that, why are we disrupting 154 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: our season? Um And in fact, I was on a 155 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: panel with Adam Silver about a month ago at the 156 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 1: Milk and Conference and I asked him in front of 157 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: the audience, would the NBA ever consider shutting down to 158 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: go to the Olympics. His answer, before I could finish 159 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: getting it out, was absolutely not. And yet stim will say, 160 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: but the players want to do it when we hear that, 161 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: But I understand that, and that's one of the reasons. 162 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: I asked the IOC if we could switch to the summer, 163 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 1: and their answer to that was absolutely not. What are 164 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: the factors that would perhaps make it palatable? What makes 165 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: a shutdown worthwhile? Is it location of Olympics? Is it times? 166 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 1: You know? And I think we've we've exhausted this topic. 167 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, we've concluded the clubs 168 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: have that it makes no sense to go. It's it's 169 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: it's never been subject to negotiation. We weren't looking for 170 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: them to give us anything. Uh. The only insight I 171 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: can give you on that and then we should probably 172 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: move on relates more to the framework is to how 173 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: the position got set up. Um uh. Bill Daily actually 174 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: showed me his notes for the last eighteen months and 175 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: every single meeting that I had on this subject, either 176 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: with the IOC or the Double h F or the 177 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: Players Association. I was very clear saying we don't believe 178 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: that the clubs have any and appetite to shut down 179 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: the season to go to the Olympics. Um, but that 180 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: if somebody has something you want me to take back 181 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 1: to the board that somehow might change their minds or 182 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: cause them to think about it, I'll be happy to 183 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: be the messenger. Uh. And in fact nothing transpired in 184 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: that regard at all, which was fine because I knew 185 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: where the clubs were and how they felt. What was 186 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: interesting is, as you know, we conducted a World Cup 187 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: last September, which was universally acclaimed as perhaps the best 188 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: competition internationally from a hockey standpoint that anybody had ever seen. 189 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: And we had been in discussions with the Players Association, 190 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: because we do these things together, over the possibility of 191 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: doing the next one, and the notion was doing them 192 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: every four years might make some sense. And we had 193 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: a meeting last November and the Players Association said, okay, 194 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: let's debrief and let's get ready to plan out of 195 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 1: framework for and I said, that sounds great, but there's 196 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: one issue that we have to address, not about doing 197 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: a World Cup, but doing a World Cup in twenty 198 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: and and that issue was we and the Players Association 199 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: each half a reopener where you have to provide notice 200 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: in September of twenty nineteen, the reopener of the collective 201 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: Bargaining Agreement to be effective for September. And I said 202 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 1: to the Players Association, listen, I haven't discussed this with 203 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: my constituents, and I'm sure you haven't, but if we're 204 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: going to plan a World Cup for we need to 205 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: each consider waiving our reopeners. Because in two thousand four 206 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,719 Speaker 1: we were in the same position where we were negotiating 207 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: or attempting to negotiate a new cb A UH in 208 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 1: the year leading up to that World Cup, and as 209 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: soon as the World Cup was over, there was no 210 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: collective bargaining aiment and we had a workstop. It said 211 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: it was a disaster. We don't want to be in 212 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: that position. That doesn't mean we don't have to do 213 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: a World Cup, but if we're gonna not waive our reopeners, 214 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: we should take a different year. UH. And there was 215 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: a discussion about international competition and an international calendar, and 216 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: in the course of that discussion, I said, you know, 217 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 1: I'm going to throw out a crazy idea. It's not 218 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: at demand but not negotiating. I don't even know if 219 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: the clubs would be interested in this. But if we 220 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: both gave up our reopeners and we extended the c 221 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: b A for three years, then you could talk about 222 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: labor piece for nine years, a robust international calendar which 223 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: would include two Olympics, two World Cups to what we're 224 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: calling Ryder Cups and a whole host of other activities 225 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: on a predictable schedule. I said, I said, if I 226 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: took that to the owners, maybe that would resonate in 227 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: terms of a good reason to do the Olympics. Uh. 228 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: And that is something to make a story short or 229 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: a short story long. That didn't resonate with the union whatsoever. 230 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: But I bet it would have resonated with the business partners. No. Probably, 231 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: but that's why we were having that discussion. And ultimately 232 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 1: what happened, and I don't know how how it happened, 233 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: but it got portrayed in the media that I was 234 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: demanding a three year extension in return for going to 235 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: be Young Chang, which wasn't the case. This was a 236 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: broader conversation. It wasn't a demand because actually when it 237 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,719 Speaker 1: got public, because I guess the union was discussion with 238 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: a number of the players, a number of owners called 239 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: me and said, what are you doing, Gary? Out of 240 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,479 Speaker 1: all the four major sports, it's my opinion that hockey 241 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: is the best one to see live. I would like 242 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: that opinion a lot. Uh. We believe we have the 243 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: best in person experience. Uh. In terms of pace of play, 244 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: which is an issue in some of the other sports, 245 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: the amount of time our game takes and the amount 246 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: of action that there isn't that time frame. Nothing is comparable. 247 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: You look at our playoffs and even our regular season 248 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: because we have extraordinary competitive balance. Historically, we got a 249 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: less than favorable rap on television under old analog TV, 250 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: because if you weren't a real fan, you might have 251 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: not been able to follow the game as well. But 252 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: with the advent of HDTV and the clarity and the 253 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: digital sound and most importantly the white aspect ratio, we 254 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: now bring home much more of the in person experience 255 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: and the game is really terrific to watch on television now. Uh. 256 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: But but you're right there. We believe there's nothing comparable 257 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: to being in an NHL game. But the other part 258 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: of it is we have continuous play, sometimes for six 259 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: eight minutes, which is extraordinary to watch. Watching players substitute 260 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: on the fly, uh is terrific and exciting and fun 261 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: to watch. But again, with what HDTV represents, and it 262 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: goes to what you and I have been discussing on 263 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: the white aspect ratio, you can actually see plays developed 264 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: now it's not. Analog TV was really focused on the 265 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: puck carrier and you really didn't see what was going 266 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: on around him. Um. But now you get to see 267 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: more of what the in person experiences and it's made 268 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: a huge difference because I think the research says on 269 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: a percentage basis, we've had over the last decade of 270 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: the modest growth and audience on television of all the 271 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: major sports. We are chatting with the NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, 272 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: and Gary a little confused, what's that television thing you 273 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: keep speaking about people watch sports on television? Well, they 274 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: still do, but but but as you know, we also 275 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: stream as part of our relationship with bam Tech uh, 276 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: and we want to make sure that our fans can 277 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: get access to our game, access to as much content 278 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: as they want, whether it's shoulder programming or data points 279 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: or statistics on every platform imaginable. But our streaming bam 280 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: Peck has done an extraordinary job with our app NHL 281 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: dot tv, and we've got records uh touch points with 282 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: our fans. I think over four hundred million people have 283 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: have used our app, and so we feel that all 284 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: of the evolution in technology has really brought us to 285 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: a place where we can touch more of our fans 286 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: with more content than ever before. Now the other sports 287 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: leagues will say the same thing. But going back to 288 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: the other part of our discussion, we were probably underserved 289 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: relative to the other three majors on traditional television. Now 290 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: we have an opportunity to serve more fans in more ways, 291 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: better than ever before. And you also have a demographic 292 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: exkews younger than i'll I mean, I'll say you don't 293 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: have to let's say baseball. I mean that that's why 294 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: they're working on piece of play issues. They have a 295 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: difficult time reaching millennials. But hockey on an iPad, on 296 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: a phone, you have a deal with Twitter as well. 297 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: I mean, this is scalable media. This is how you 298 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: can reach the world. There's a finite number of seats 299 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 1: in an arena every night, but to reach the world 300 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: with digital capabilities, I mean, these are revenue possibilities. Well 301 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: it's revenue, but it's also serving your fan base and 302 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: growing your fan base. Uh. For us, everything starts with 303 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: the game on the ice and then how we bring 304 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: it to our fans. You know, if you do all 305 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: that right and you give your fans a great experience, 306 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:36,360 Speaker 1: the revenue will flow. What we try to represent is authenticity, entertainment, excitement, 307 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: skill and speed and marvelous athletes are Our players are 308 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: just terrific, not only on the ice, but how they 309 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: represent the game and all the things they do in 310 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: the community. And that's all part of what you want 311 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: to give a fan base. And as you said, yes, 312 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: they're younger, perhaps the youngest in all sports. Are fans 313 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: tend to be the best educated and the most tech savvy, 314 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: and perhaps most important, the avid What town? Which town 315 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: do you think is one of the greatest in They're 316 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 1: all great sports towns, but in terms of the I 317 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: should add that in there, but there was some of 318 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: the greatest hockey towns that you've ever seen in your 319 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 1: like can your name some you have children and you 320 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: love them all the same. Yea. The we we are 321 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: we play in the regular season to roughly capacity and 322 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: overcent of capacity. In the playoffs we have whether it's 323 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: original six teams or the second six teams or or 324 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: even the newest expansion teams. Are fans have just gravitated 325 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,640 Speaker 1: to those teams. And you take a city like Nashville, 326 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: which is in the Stanley Cup Final, that building is 327 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: as loud as any building in the league. They've developed 328 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 1: their own traditions and customs for watching the game and 329 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 1: having chance. Uh I, I am so pleased that we 330 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: have such a vibrant and involved and engaged fan base 331 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: that know where, wherever you go to a game, you 332 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 1: get a great experience and you get caught up in 333 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: the enthusiasm. Gary Nashville defenseman p J. Su Ban really 334 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: has a chance to take the center stage in the 335 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: Stanley Cup Finals and be a star. He's a great 336 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: guy and he's all in emotionally, energetically, He's a terrific player. Uh. 337 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: He uses social media a lot and it's fun to 338 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: watch him, and they love him in Nashville. Uh, they 339 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: absolutely adore him. And I think he's having fun with 340 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:45,360 Speaker 1: the game and that's most important. But again, our players 341 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: in a game that represents the ultimate team concept. You know, 342 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: they tend to, if you will, sublimate themselves to the 343 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 1: team as a whole. But it's nice on occasion to 344 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: see a player breakout, show a little more of the 345 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: personality and have success doing it. Yeah, your broadcast deal expires. 346 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: I think with NBC it has four years to go. 347 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: I don't have the calendar in front of me. But 348 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: after this there are four more seasons. Right, It's a 349 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: lot of deals are expiring around that time in the 350 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: pro sports world and we're not really sure what the 351 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: landscape is gonna look like. Can you tell me what 352 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: you're looking at, what metrics you look at? How you're 353 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: trying to read a world in which Amazon is now 354 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 1: showing the NFL, in which you're on Twitter, and which 355 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: Facebook may is showing live sports, and when maybe Google 356 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: and Apple jump in. How do you navigate that world? Well, 357 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 1: first of all, the media deal you're referring to is 358 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: our deal with NBC, and NBC has been a fabulous partner. Uh. 359 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: And in fact, the deal and even though we're in 360 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: our hundred years celebrating our centennial, this deal we have 361 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: with NBC is the first time that every game of 362 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: the Stanley Cup Playoffs is on national television and they 363 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: do such a great job covering and producing the games. Uh, 364 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 1: we love the relationship. We also have a deal, as 365 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: you know with about nine years ago I think in 366 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: Canada with Rogers, and they're doing an equally spectacular job. 367 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: But you're focused on what happens in four years. Well, 368 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: we we have to do two things and it's something 369 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: I alluded to before. The game has to be great. 370 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 1: What takes place on the ice has to be competitive. 371 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: We have extraordinary competitive balance. It has to be entertaining 372 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 1: and skillful. And you have to be reaching out to 373 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: your fans and providing them content in all the ways 374 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: they want to consume it. So what we have to 375 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: do is make the content is good, make sure it's 376 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: good UH and it's compelling, and then how you distribute 377 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: it will be a function as to what evolves in 378 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 1: this ever changing digital technology landscape. And so it's important 379 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: to have relationships. I don't think the networks are going 380 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: away anytime soon, if ever, because I think most people 381 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: still like to sit at home or in large groups 382 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,160 Speaker 1: at at a restaurant or a bar and watched UH 383 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: sporting events on a big screen, particularly hockey. But you 384 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: want to be able to service your fans, particularly your 385 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: millennials and Gen zs, in the ways that they're comfortable 386 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: in consuming it. And it means you've got to stay 387 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: current on what's going on and what's evolving. But it 388 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 1: all starts with the content. That's more important in the 389 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: first instance than how you distribute it. That will take 390 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: care of itself. You have to have valuable content. No, No, 391 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 1: the NFL is asking its team to provide more content 392 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: to the league office than ever before. That's behind the scenes. 393 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: You know what fans want. They want to see in 394 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: the locker room, what goes on. They want to see, 395 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: what are referees discussing. And that's why we've been doing 396 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: all access shows for the last few years, starting with 397 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: the Roads to the Winter Classic. UH. We're doing it 398 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: in the Stanley Cup Final. UH. Players and officials and 399 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 1: coaches are wearing mics, We're getting access to the locker rooms, 400 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 1: the officials are wearing Mike's um and we're taking people 401 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: behind the scenes because that's what they want, and so 402 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,239 Speaker 1: we've been I think on the forefront of that. UH. 403 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 1: Showtime is going to have h terrific coverage of the 404 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: all access programming for the Stanley Cup Final. UH. And 405 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: that's something that all of us in sports have to do. 406 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: It's all again about having compelling content. And I thank you, 407 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: as my hockey playing seven year old learned a few 408 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: colorful words from those coaches inside the locker room. You're 409 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: telling me you never heard those at home. From you 410 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: on a business call. Shame on you only in talks 411 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: with baseball and football. That's it. I got it. Some 412 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: critics say that the regular season is too watered down. 413 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 1: Now for me, we can have the whole thing go 414 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:45,239 Speaker 1: twelve months and we can and play every day. But 415 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 1: some say that it is watered down. How do you 416 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 1: answer those? Yeah, the sum is a very small group 417 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:56,479 Speaker 1: these days when you look at our regular season and 418 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: the race to the playoffs, and this obviously is a 419 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: factor in what went into the Olympic decision. Uh, are 420 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,399 Speaker 1: we have teams that are making the playoffs are missing 421 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: it by one or two points. We actually had seven 422 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: teams in the playoffs this year that weren't in the 423 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: playoffs last year, and I think something like nine out 424 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: of the last eleven years, the turnover has been at 425 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 1: least five. Uh. That tells you that not only is 426 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:27,679 Speaker 1: it tough to win, the competitiveness is so extraordinary that 427 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,399 Speaker 1: a team, you know, can go from the bottom of 428 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: the pile into the playoffs. We have a number eight 429 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: team competing in the Stanley Cup final, and so you 430 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: you have a regular season where every point, every game 431 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: matters and in fact, as we discussed before we play 432 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 1: to about capacity in the regular season. So, like you are, 433 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: fans can't get enough of it. Gary, let me bring 434 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: it local for our listeners here in New York. You know, 435 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: I've been following the Islander situ wation pretty closely. What 436 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: is your take on whether they can stay at Barkley's 437 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: or where they might end up. We all know that 438 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: they're going to submit to the RFP at Belmont, but 439 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: your thoughts on what happened at Barkley's and ultimately where 440 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 1: the team will play, because that's what the fans want 441 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: to know. Well, first of all, it was clear that 442 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: the Nassau Coliseum was passed the due date by many, 443 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,400 Speaker 1: many years. As someone who took his first trip there 444 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:30,160 Speaker 1: in seven, I will say, yes, that is true. Welly 445 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: the way I had my first trip there then, and 446 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: then I had many trips there in the last couple 447 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: of years, and they couldn't say there anymore. In fact, 448 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: on a tour I must have gone on five or 449 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 1: six years previous to that. Seeing the ice making plan, 450 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: they I don't even know where they were getting parts 451 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,199 Speaker 1: from to keep it going. Uh, And so it was 452 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: great that they had an opportunity to go to Barkley's, 453 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 1: which is the state of the art facility and would 454 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,040 Speaker 1: give fans a much better experience. Having said that, a 455 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 1: little bit harder to get to, and the building was 456 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: a little bit hard to get to if you live 457 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: on Long Island in NASA, Suffolk County. Um. But the 458 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: building wasn't built for hockey. It was built for basketball, 459 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,360 Speaker 1: and that meant there were obstructed seats and things weren't 460 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:20,360 Speaker 1: centered under the roof and the scoreboard and raised some issues. Uh. 461 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: Scott Malkin, who now is the principal owner of the Islanders, 462 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: is committed not just to New York, as he frequently says, 463 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: I didn't buy the Islanders the New York Islanders to 464 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 1: move them somewhere. I bought a team to have in 465 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 1: New York. And he's looking at all of the options 466 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 1: available to the Islanders, including building a building perhaps significantly 467 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: closer to people on Long Island and NASA and Stuffak County, 468 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 1: and to make it a hockey center, a hockey friendly, 469 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 1: to give the fans and the team the right resources 470 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: and experience. And so he is committed to that effort, 471 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: and he's looking at his options, and there were so 472 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: much Bally hood about when they went to Barkleys twenty 473 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: five years I am clad was that just an ill 474 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: conceived deal? I mean, it wasn't sold as a temporary home. 475 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: It was this was the future home of the Islanders. 476 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: I don't think at the time anybody thought it was temporary, 477 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: and who knows what may unfold, Maybe it will turn 478 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: out not to be temporary. Looking at your options is 479 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: what is the responsible thing to do when you when 480 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: you have a major league team like the Islanders are sore, 481 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 1: They're going to explore maybe maybe they want to change 482 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: the configuration and rebuild Barkley's. I don't think that's the case, 483 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: but I think ownership Scott Malkin is focusing as he should, 484 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 1: on what the best long term possibilities are for the Islanders, 485 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: wherever that may be. NHL players are some of the 486 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: toughest players in any sport, which which brings up a point. 487 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,440 Speaker 1: You know, head trauma is something that all the sports 488 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 1: are looking at in terms of concussions. How is the 489 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: league now looking at that and what other improvements are 490 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: they looking at now? Well, first of all, we believe 491 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: players safety is a vital area that we need to 492 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: focus on and it's not how we're now focusing on it. 493 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: We were the first sports league, I believe in to 494 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: begin studying head trauma, doing it with our players Association 495 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: and our trainers and physicians. H As the medicine and 496 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,360 Speaker 1: the science was evolving, we've stayed on top of it. 497 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: We were the first sports league to have baseline testing. 498 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: We were the first sports league to have protocols for 499 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 1: diagnosis and return to play decisions. We've changed the rules, 500 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: we've changed the environment, we've changed the equipment, uh and 501 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: and we were the first sports league and I think 502 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: we still are to have a Department of Player Safety. 503 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: When we administer supplemental discipline, we do it with a 504 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 1: video so people understand exactly what we're doing and why 505 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: what isn't what isn't acceptable conduct. I think we have 506 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: a very fair job of educating the players and changing 507 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 1: some of the culture in the game in terms of 508 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: how certain hits are and are not made. So this 509 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: is something that will continue to have our attention, and 510 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: as the medicine continues to evolve and the medical community 511 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: learns more and more about concussions, diagnosis, how to treat them, 512 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 1: we're going to stay involved because where I started. What 513 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: I just said is players safety is a vital concern 514 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: of ours. Gary Batman, thank you so much for taking 515 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: some time and joining us. Great to be with you, guys. 516 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: Thank you appreciate it. Gary. Well, Michael, let's finish up 517 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 1: the program with one final story. A number we're focusing 518 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: on today, and that number is ten million. I got it. 519 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: That's the lottery, Jack Pott, which I'm aiming for tonight. Well, 520 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: that might be your demographic, but this is about the sports. 521 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: You know, E sports? Is that in your household? E sports? 522 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,719 Speaker 1: All the kids there, they know it all right? Well, 523 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: this is about Riot games, Riot E Sports. It's their 524 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 1: new venture. What they're doing is creating a league that 525 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 1: is very similar to the NFL or the NBA. They're 526 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: bringing structure for the first time to E sports. You 527 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: want a team ten million dollars. See, this is where gaming, 528 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: video gaming has become just off the hook. It's like 529 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 1: what is a college out there where they're actually scholarships 530 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: more than it's it's growing. For those who wonder whether 531 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,120 Speaker 1: this is a real thing, let us know that Madison 532 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: Square Garden sold out its theater for an event. I 533 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: mean tens of thousands of people show up to watch 534 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: other people play these games. This kind of money. By 535 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: the way, if you want to put in a pro 536 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: sports measurement here, if we can make a comparison, like 537 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: ten million dollars is what MLS was charging for a 538 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: franchise in the early two thousand's. That's not that long ago. 539 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: This isn't a sport for the Leroy Jenkins out there, No, 540 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: no that. But this is a real thing. They aggregate 541 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: eyeballs and you know, if you can get people to watch. 542 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: Turners heavily invested in the league with IMG. If you 543 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: can get people to watch, people will figure out how 544 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 1: to monetize. By the way, if you know what I'm 545 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:15,240 Speaker 1: talking about with Leroy Jenkins, just go to YouTube. You 546 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: know what I'm talking about if you want a big laugh. 547 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 1: But anyway, I'll leave that there. If I want a 548 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: big laugh, I'll watch you try and understand the sports. 549 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: Oh there's the checkers. Anyway. This is Bloomberg Business of Sports, 550 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio around the world. We are here each and 551 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 1: every week at the same time, exploring the world of 552 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: money and sports. I'm Michael barn and I'm Scott Snick. 553 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us. Please Tune in next week when 554 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: we speak with Lakers owner Ginny Buss