1 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. This is the business 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 1: of sports. 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 2: The business of sports can be intimidating or hard for 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 2: a start to break into. We really appreciate when our 5 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 2: owners are actually there, you know, with us through the journey. 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 3: Teams ours especially have been very intentional to diversify at 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 3: all levels of the company. I think we're in bolden 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 3: years for the NFL and college football. 9 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: Our demographic reach has continued to explode. 10 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 4: This is going to be really unlocking the streaming platform 11 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 4: for sports fans. 12 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: Sports evaluations arising. We'll see when they peak. You don't 13 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: have to be the best in your sports and make 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: a whole ton of money. Bloomberg Business of Sports from 15 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. Hi, and welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports, 16 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: where we explore the big money issues in the world 17 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: of sports. I'm Jason Kelly and I'm going as a pronomo. Yep, 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: you're hearing it right. The regular crew, Michael Barr, Scarlett 19 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: Fu and Damien Sasaur they're not here. We're taking over. 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 5: We took your show. 21 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: They're going to be back next week. Anyway, coming up 22 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: on the show, we'll get you ready for the national 23 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 1: championship game between Notre Dame and Ohio State down in Atlanta. 24 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: We're gonna chat with Dan Corso. He's the president of 25 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:14,919 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Sports Council. 26 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 4: The state capitol and all the legislators are all excited 27 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 4: about it. They're a little bummed that Uga the Bulldogs 28 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 4: are not in understandably, but they see the value in 29 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 4: the impact that having a matchup like Ohio State and 30 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 4: Notre Dame is going to have not just on city 31 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 4: of Atlanta in the region, but the entire state. 32 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 5: We'll also talk with Shoffee Fields. He's executive vice president 33 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 5: for Team Sports at Wasserman, a sports marketing and talent 34 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 5: management firm. 35 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: He was an amazing college football player. He has some 36 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: big thoughts on the college game the pro game and 37 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: how they're basically the same thing. 38 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: No, you have some individuals in this year's draft class 39 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: that have been in three colleges, four colleges, so they 40 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: don't even still a part of anything. It's just, you know, 41 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: I'm a hired hit and I'm going to go to 42 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: whoever's going to pay me the most money. 43 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: Anyway, all that is on the way on the Bloomberg 44 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: Business of Sports show, we wanted to start with a 45 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: special conversation Join Now by Kavitha Davidson, our former colleague 46 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: and someone that Vanessa and I have both done some 47 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: work with over the years. She's an Emmy winning journalist 48 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: host of the Sportly podcast, which I have to say, 49 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: you got to jump on this. It's so good, so 50 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: rich in detail and reporting and voice. Kavitha, really really 51 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: good to have you back with us. 52 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 3: So good to be with you guys again. And yeah, 53 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 3: it's been a couple of years. But you know you're 54 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 3: always part of the Bloomberg family, aren't you. 55 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: Oh, you never never leave. Come on, you know better. 56 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: So let's talk about the pod a little bit. Sportly 57 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: I did a deep dive on it. Listen to a 58 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: bunch of episodes. It's pickleball, it's ping pong, it's Formula one, 59 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: and I think very close to Vanessa. Vanessa's in my 60 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,119 Speaker 1: heart the WNBA, a lot of women's sports stuff, which 61 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: we know you've covered closely. Give us the logline like, 62 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 1: what are you trying to accomplish with this pod? Yeah, 63 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: so this is. 64 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 3: Really a project that I'm extremely passionate about because you know, 65 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 3: I'm a kid from New York City. My parents are immigrants, 66 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 3: so I'm a first gen kid, and I never really 67 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 3: realized how much that impacted my sports fandom. Like I 68 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 3: just grew up a Nicks and Rangers and Yankees fan 69 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 3: in the northern part of Manhattan. But when I started 70 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 3: doing this professionally, you know, I as a columnist with 71 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 3: you guys more than ten years ago now, geez, I 72 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 3: started to realize that, yeah, like I kind of see 73 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 3: sports slightly differently, and then there are ways that I 74 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 3: just see sports as a New Yorker, right, but that 75 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 3: my background does impact some of the things, Like my 76 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 3: parents are not American sports fans. They are now that 77 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 3: I do this for a living, but you know that's 78 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 3: not where I got my fandom from. And you know, 79 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 3: my connection to my city and my classmates and things 80 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 3: like that. So I think what we're trying to do 81 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 3: with Sportly is tell some of those stories, right, both 82 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 3: from the per perspective of third culture kids and you know, 83 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 3: kids of immigrants and also immigrants themselves, and also you know, 84 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 3: just talk about sports as they are today in America 85 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 3: from that perspective. 86 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: And you know, we're part of this. 87 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: Our parent company is immigrantly Media and Immigrantly is you know, 88 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,799 Speaker 3: they've got a few podcasts, I think five right now, 89 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 3: and the point is that, you know, we've got like 90 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 3: seventy million first and second generation immigrants in America and 91 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 3: we're only ever really called on to talk about politics 92 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,040 Speaker 3: or like what's happening at the border. And obviously that's 93 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 3: important and we should be talking about that, but we 94 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 3: also want to talk about food and culture and sports, 95 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 3: and I think that's what we're really trying to do 96 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 3: with this pod from both the current and a historical perspective. 97 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk about women's sports, because one of 98 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: the best episodes I think that you did is about 99 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: the WNBA. You did it on the heels of the 100 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: Liberty finally winning the championship. You are av Old, die 101 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: hard Liberty. I was at the parade. 102 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 3: It was one of the best days to go to 103 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 3: the Canyon of Heroes. 104 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: But it was amazing. I mean, the Clara wou Saie 105 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: of it, all, the Elle of it, all the fans 106 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: in the stands. I mean, it really was a pretty 107 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: incredible moment. And I think notable that the last two 108 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: championships that the City of New York has celebrated have 109 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: been in women's soccer and women's basketball in consecutive years, 110 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: Gotham and then of course the Liberty. You raise a 111 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: question at the end of that episode that I would 112 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: love to get into with you, which is what happens next? 113 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: What needs to happen in order for all these gains 114 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: to be locked in and sustainable. What do you think? 115 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: I mean, you put your Bloomberg experience to work here. 116 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 1: What has to happen for this business to be real 117 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: and to keep growing? 118 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, so this is obviously something that I've thought about 119 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 3: for a while, you know, not to toot my own horn, 120 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 3: but I think what we're seeing now with this incredible 121 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 3: growth of the W is that there are a lot 122 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 3: of new people and new reporters who haven't covered these 123 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: games or this league coming in. And that's great, but 124 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 3: it also means that there's a little bit of a 125 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 3: loss of the understanding of the history and the understanding 126 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 3: of how the business has changed in the last ten 127 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 3: to twenty years, right like I was writing W columns 128 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 3: for Bloomberg back in twenty thirteen, you know what I mean. 129 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 3: But so obviously the most glaring thing right now is 130 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 3: is the is upcoming CBA negotiations. The union has opted 131 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 3: out of that, and there's this giant influx of money 132 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 3: with the new NBA WNBA TV deal that will hopefully 133 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 3: lead to, you know, a restructuring of player salaries, rookie minimums, 134 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 3: salary minimums, rookie minimums were really in the conversation when obviously, 135 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 3: with all of this hype around Kitlyn Clark, you know, 136 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 3: the average fan realized how little rookies make. And it's 137 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 3: not about Caitlyn Clark, you know, obviously deserving to make 138 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 3: more money than she does, but that's just how the 139 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 3: rookie minimum is set in the W and that's a 140 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 3: function of basketball related income, as it is with every CBA. Right, 141 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 3: So I think that those negotiations are going to be 142 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 3: really interesting to see. 143 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: You've seen Kathy. 144 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 3: Engelbert kind of keeping her Deloitte mindset, which is were 145 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 3: as a league in a growth mentality, So this is. 146 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: The labor part of it. 147 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 3: WNBA commissioner just to WNBA commissioner, yes, who has a 148 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 3: Deloitte background and came from there, and she has very 149 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 3: much run the W like like a business like that, 150 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 3: and it's obviously been wildly successful. She's had some really 151 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 3: innovative sponsorship deals and the way that you know, she's 152 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 3: thought about marketing this league in particular, have been really 153 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 3: impactful for the league. But there's going to be some 154 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: contention between the player side, between the union and the 155 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 3: league about how much growth is is too much too quickly, right, 156 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 3: And this often happens with leagues. You know, if you 157 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 3: look at the major men's American sports leagues in the 158 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 3: first fifty years, you know, there were strikes and labor 159 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 3: stoppages and everything like that. And I think the hope 160 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 3: is that there's no labor stoppage here. And I think 161 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 3: both sides would like would would like to continue this 162 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 3: momentum because that would really kill a lot of what 163 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 3: we've seen in the last five years. But there is 164 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: a question about fair compensation given the popularity of this 165 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 3: league and these players now, given their marketability with social 166 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 3: media and given things like unrivaled and athletes unlimited, and 167 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 3: the fact that you know, Brittany Griner being in Russia 168 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 3: really highlighted the fact that even at the top of 169 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 3: their game, Diana Tarassi and Britney Griner and Breonna Stewart 170 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 3: can't really afford not to play abroad or to play 171 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 3: during the off season, right, So those are going to 172 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 3: be huge conversations that we're going to be having leading 173 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 3: up to those negotiations, and then beyond that, it's just 174 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 3: how we can continue this very steady growth because obviously 175 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 3: we've seen an immense amount of of popularity boom from 176 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 3: Caitlin Clark. Like the Caitlin Clark effect is real, and 177 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 3: we can't get ourselves to say that it's not, but 178 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 3: it It did also happen at the right time. It 179 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 3: happened at a time of sustained growth in ratings and 180 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 3: viewership and ticket sales and sponsorship deals in the last 181 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 3: five years, and I think the question is about continuing 182 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 3: that and making sure that people understand just how good 183 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 3: this product is. Like you're all talking about declining ratings 184 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 3: in the NBA and whether the style of basketball has 185 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 3: something to do with that, and if that is the 186 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 3: reason that you are not watching the NBA, go watch 187 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 3: fundamental physical basketball in the w because it's happening there. 188 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: And some logo threes that are just you know, breathtaking. Yeah, 189 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 1: And one of the things that I think is so notable, 190 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,719 Speaker 1: and I really commend that WNBA episode to everybody if 191 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: you want to understand the history, because as you say, KeVita, 192 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: there is a real lack of understanding about the long 193 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: history of it. And you also, you know, take head 194 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: on this idea of you know, let's say the quiet 195 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: part out loud. One of the reasons Kaitlyn Clark blew 196 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: up is because she's a white girl from the Midwest, 197 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: and you know, one of the reasons that this has 198 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: been sidelined as a product. And I'm quoting here you 199 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: said quote there's also you know, sexism, and so these 200 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: are real things that sort of factor into into all this. Vanessa. 201 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,839 Speaker 5: Yeah, absolutely, And I think it's interesting, you know, when 202 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 5: we're going ahead into the next chapter of women's sports, 203 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 5: like you're saying, do we finally get past that with 204 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 5: those questions that were really really prominent last year? If 205 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 5: last year was you know, twenty twenty four, I feel 206 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 5: like we'll probably be going down in history as the 207 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 5: year of women's sports. So what will twenty twenty five 208 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 5: really be do you think be. 209 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 3: The Yeah, I mean, obviously twenty twenty four, between the 210 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 3: w and all of the amazing moments in the Olympics 211 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 3: and everything that we saw with investment. You know, we're 212 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 3: seeing Silicon Valley really get into investing in women's sports, 213 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 3: one because they see the growth potential and two because 214 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 3: really to buy into a major men's team right now 215 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 3: as an owner, you know, there are very few people 216 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 3: in the country, let alone in the world who who 217 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 3: have that kind of net worth. But it's it's going 218 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 3: to be interesting to see how some of these you know, 219 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 3: less established and let's say smaller sports do benefit from that, 220 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 3: right And I think if you talk to a lot 221 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 3: of analysts, women's volleyball is on the docket. Alexis o'hannian 222 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 3: held a women's track and field tournament in New York 223 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 3: City right after the Olympics, trying to you know, for 224 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 3: years we've been talking about how we can take the 225 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 3: excitement around certain women's sports that get generated by the 226 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 3: Olympics and sustain that throughout the year instead of just 227 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 3: having it happen every four years. And I think we're 228 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 3: going to start seeing more of that because, frankly, and 229 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 3: this was the point that I made in almost every 230 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 3: column I wrote for Bloomberg about women's sports, there is 231 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 3: so much money to be made, and money has just 232 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 3: been left on the table because of either small sea 233 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 3: conservatism and not wanting to invest in product or not 234 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 3: thinking that women's sports is sustainable. But I think and 235 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 3: I hope that we're past that moment where this is 236 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 3: clearly not a fad. 237 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's great. That's a great note to end on, 238 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: and we really really enjoyed catching up with you. Kavita Davidson, 239 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: Emmy winning journalist, host of the Sportly podcast You Gotta 240 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: Follow It. It is a must listen every week because 241 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: you get the historical perspective, the current perspective, and also, 242 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: as you just heard from Kavita, some really nice forward 243 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: looking elements as well. So congratulations on all your success 244 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: and look forward to talking to you again soon. Thanksgiviva, 245 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: Thank you. 246 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 2: This is great. 247 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: Up next, we turn to football, with the NFL playoffs 248 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,839 Speaker 1: in full swing and college Football's National Championship game coming 249 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,959 Speaker 1: up on Monday. For Venessa Perdomo, I'm Jason Kelly. You're 250 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio 251 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: around the world. This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg. 252 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore 253 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports. I'm 254 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: Jason Kelly, alongside Vanessa Perdomo, Michael Barr, Scarlettfood, and Damian 255 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: Sassaur will be back next week. We're joined now by 256 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: Shafie Fields. He's the executive vice president for Team Sports 257 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 1: at Wasserman, one of the best known sports agencies out there. Shafi, 258 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: really good to be with you. We have so much 259 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: to get into here. You played college ball, you played 260 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: pro ball, and we're joking before we game on the air. 261 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: There's nothing happening in football right now. It's such an 262 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: exciting time. What do you make of how it's going 263 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: so far in the college and NFL ranks at this moment? 264 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 2: Interesting? Interesting, man. I think it's very exciting at this point, man, 265 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 2: both in college and professional football. I mean, he's starting 266 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 2: with college in the first year for the playoffs system, 267 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: and just seeing how it's played out, it's been very 268 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 2: exciting and it's good to see finally that you allow 269 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 2: it to play out on the field, you know, versus 270 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 2: just naming someone a national champion or just picking a 271 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 2: couple of teams allowing them to play it out. Man, 272 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 2: I think it's better to allow these teams to play 273 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 2: it out earn the opportunity to play in a national 274 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 2: championship and earn a right to win and be decided 275 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 2: on the field, and so I think it's really exciting. 276 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: And so, you know, one of the things I wanted 277 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: to dig into with you was I think it's fair 278 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: to say they are really blurred lines between the business 279 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: of college football and the business of pro football at 280 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: this point. Again, you played at both levels and you 281 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: represent players on both sides. Take us through the business 282 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: of college football at this moment. What is the most 283 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: meaningful thing that's happened in terms of how players get paid, 284 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: where they decide to play. What are the conversations you're 285 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: having with your clients around that. 286 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 2: Truly not that big of a difference at this point, really, 287 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: So I think that with the nil to transfer a portal, 288 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 2: college football has almost become professional football. You know, the 289 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 2: transfer a portal is like free agency. You know, these 290 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 2: young men have the opportunity to make a decision at 291 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 2: the end of every season if they're going to stay, 292 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 2: if they're going to go, and they do so the 293 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 2: majority of them based upon who's going to compensate them 294 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 2: the greatest. And so I don't personally feel like that's 295 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 2: the best decision in all cases. I think that at 296 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 2: the end of the day, for the majority of these 297 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 2: young men, the end goal is still to get the 298 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: opportunity to play professional football, and so sometimes chasing a 299 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 2: dollar amount doesn't necessarily put you in the best case 300 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: scenario for your future. And so I think a lot 301 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: of these young men are making terrible decisions just basing 302 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: those decisions off of monetary value versus what team and 303 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 2: what school and what university gives them the best opportunity 304 00:15:56,280 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 2: to reach their full potential and ultimately play professional football. Yeah. 305 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 5: I think that's such an interesting point that you're speaking 306 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 5: about there, and I one of the things I was 307 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 5: going to ask you and I was really interested about 308 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 5: was almost, like you said, it's free agency almost at 309 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 5: the end of every year, So it almost seems like 310 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 5: they're the same. But almost do College players have more 311 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 5: of a control over their career than people in the NFL. 312 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 2: College players absolutely have more control. I mean, think of 313 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 2: it this way. Every college coach has to now not 314 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 2: just recruit high school players and try to convince individuals 315 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 2: out of the portal to come their school, but they 316 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 2: have to re recruit the players on their team to stay. 317 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 2: You know, it creates a real issue. But then it's 318 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 2: also for example, for me, I played college football at 319 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 2: Penn State and under the amazing iconic coach Joe Paterno, 320 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 2: and coach Joe Paterno was such a mainstay that if 321 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 2: you played at Penn State in the fifties, sixty seventies, eighties, 322 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 2: if you came back in the nineties or two thousands, 323 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 2: you were welcome like it was your home right. It 324 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 2: was a tradition, it was an understanding, it was a standard. 325 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 2: It was a culture that will ever never exist again. 326 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: It came. You know, you have some individuals in this 327 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 2: year's draft class that have been in three colleges, four colleges, 328 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: so they don't even feel a part of anything. It's just, 329 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 2: you know, I'm a hired hit and I'm going to 330 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 2: go to whoever's going to pay me the most money 331 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: to play. And it's terrible for college and it's also 332 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,199 Speaker 2: not necessarily very good for these young men either. That 333 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 2: doesn't mean that I'm against the players being compensated. I 334 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,360 Speaker 2: think there has to be a better way to do it. 335 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: So what is the better right, Because that you went 336 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: right where we wanted to go Shafi, which is, how 337 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: would you fix the system or how would you change 338 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: it so that the players get paid the you know, 339 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: everybody continues to make the money that they want to make, 340 00:17:56,080 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: and yet there is that consistency, you know, truly and 341 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: for the schools and ken Ley like, for the students 342 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: and the alumni of those schools, like, what would you 343 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: do to change it? 344 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 2: I'll take it back to my experience in college, right 345 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 2: when I wasn't playing college football, if you transferred, you 346 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 2: would have to sit out a full season, right. If 347 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 2: you transferred in conference, you would have to sit out 348 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 2: two full seasons, right, And so it wasn't going to 349 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 2: be a situation where you were just going to jump 350 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: every year and jump into the portal, because there was 351 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 2: consequences and you couldn't just leave the team high and 352 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 2: drive and vice versa. Now I think two years is extreme, 353 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 2: But if there was some type of circumstances or consequences 354 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 2: that if you went into the portal were not for 355 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 2: a valid reason just because you want to go get 356 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 2: more money, then there should be some type of consequence 357 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 2: to you leaving, right. But currently, as it stands, you 358 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 2: can just leave because you want to leave. I don't 359 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 2: feel like this team is going to give me this 360 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 2: much money. They're gonna give me more, So I'm leaving. 361 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: Right or the coach hurt my feelings, you know, like 362 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, or I don't like this guy 363 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:05,919 Speaker 1: that I'm playing with. 364 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 2: Not the coach hurt my feelings. I just showed up 365 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 2: yesterday and I'm on a second team. That's not fair 366 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 2: to leave, right, And do you feel. 367 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,719 Speaker 5: Like it's gonna set that sort of mindset would then 368 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 5: set up, you know, college players for an unsuccessful professional 369 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 5: career if that's you know, what they're used to feeling. 370 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 2: Like, not only does it set you up for an 371 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 2: unsuccessful professional career, it sets you up for unsuccessful life 372 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 2: because you think that everything is just going to go 373 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 2: your way. You don't have to work for, you don't 374 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 2: have to put any time, and you don't have to 375 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 2: make any sacrifices. You just get what you want and 376 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 2: you get it right now. 377 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 1: And so sha Field like, talk to us about the 378 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: conversations you're then having with these players, because you're having 379 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:51,679 Speaker 1: to have these hard business conversations that are that are 380 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 1: about their careers, about their incomes, Like what's the advice 381 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: that you're giving them when they when they come to 382 00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 1: work with you or they come. 383 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:04,400 Speaker 2: To work with For me, again, it's not just about 384 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 2: college football or basketball. It's about life, right, and how 385 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 2: every decision that you make today affects your life tomorrow. 386 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 2: And so for me, a lot of times and a 387 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 2: lot of parents today they if you, if you think 388 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 2: these young men think about the dollars and cents, you 389 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 2: should see some of the parents. You know, it's gotten, 390 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,919 Speaker 2: it's gotten really bad. And so a lot of times 391 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 2: those families that want was best for their children, they 392 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 2: understand and they and they want to do it the 393 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 2: right way. But then you have the alternative where they 394 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 2: don't care, you know, because a lot of the time 395 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 2: these young men are now taking care of their families. 396 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 2: They're the main bread winners in their family, right, and 397 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 2: so the family just wants more. They want to get 398 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 2: as much as they can, and it's not necessarily again, 399 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 2: the best decision for the young man. Right. So do 400 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 2: you feel always work out in my friend? 401 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:06,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. 402 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 5: You know, I'm trying to like, does that make it 403 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 5: your job almost even harder? I mean, like we Jason 404 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 5: and I have talked to a lot of athletes who 405 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 5: are now in the business sector and they have this 406 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 5: unique experience, and you would think that obviously that makes 407 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 5: your job easier because you can connect with them better. 408 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 5: But then at the same time, you're kind of laying 409 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,719 Speaker 5: it down a little harsh for them, trying to, you know, 410 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 5: get them to understand life, not just the sports and 411 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 5: money of it. So does that make your job a 412 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 5: little bit harder? 413 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 2: Absolutely does. However, for me, more importantly, I want to 414 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:43,639 Speaker 2: be able to sleep well at night right And so 415 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 2: while a lot of others, I won't say most, I'll 416 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 2: just say a lot a lot of others tend to 417 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 2: simply sell and tell these young men and their families 418 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 2: what they want to hear. I want to tell you 419 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 2: and educate you what you need to hear. And whether 420 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 2: you accept it or not, I know I'm doing the 421 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 2: right thing. I know I'm trying to help you. And 422 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 2: so whether you decide to go in another direction because 423 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 2: you're hearing something different or better, at the moment, I 424 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 2: know I can sleep well at night because I did 425 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 2: right by you guys and your family, and so it's 426 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 2: easier for me to discontinue to do it the right way. 427 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 2: And again, it doesn't always work out in my favor, 428 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 2: but eight times out of ten they always circle back. 429 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so Shafi, But before we let you go, 430 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: I mean, we'd love to understand what the what the 431 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: impact is then on the NFL. I mean, we have 432 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: a recent example of Carson Beck, you know, playing for 433 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: the University of Georgia, declares for the draft, then basically says, actually, 434 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: never mind, I'm going to go play another year in college. 435 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: That would have been unheard of obviously in your era. 436 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: So what happens then at the NFL level with players 437 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: maybe staying longer in college making more money in college. 438 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: Does that fundamentally and how does it if it does 439 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: fund mentally change the business of pro football? 440 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 2: Yes and no? Right, so, and let's use Carson as 441 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 2: an example here. Carson would be able to make significantly 442 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 2: more money in college than he would have if he 443 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 2: were to enter the draft this year. 444 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 5: Wow. 445 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 2: And so from a business perspective for him, it made 446 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 2: sense because if I stay, I'll probably make two to 447 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 2: three times more than I would make if I went 448 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 2: to the NFL. And here's the thing. If every position, 449 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 2: in every situation and circumstance is different, right, and as 450 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 2: a quarterback. As a quarterback in particular, you, it behooves 451 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 2: you to get drafted as high as possible so that 452 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 2: you can get the opportunity to play right. Right, If 453 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 2: you're not a first round pick as a quarterback, chances 454 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 2: are you know you're going to have to sit and 455 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 2: wait for an opportunity to present itself, which a lot 456 00:23:59,920 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 2: of times doesn't happen. And so for him, if he's 457 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 2: not going to be an early first round pick, then 458 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 2: it just makes sense for him and go back to 459 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: school and get compensated handsomely. He's a professional football player. 460 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 2: He'll be a pro without a doubt. 461 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,479 Speaker 1: Yeah. Interesting, all right, Well, last note for you. You 462 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: don't have a rooting interest I think directly in the 463 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: game on Monday, but I believe you have. You have 464 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: a client playing so all OSU for you. 465 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 2: So let me say this. Let me say this about 466 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 2: this client. This client that you speak of is Jeremiah Smith, who, 467 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 2: in my opinion, is the best college football player in 468 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 2: the country at this point. Wow, and he's a freshman. Rights, 469 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 2: He's the most dynamic wide receiver that I've ever seen 470 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 2: at this age. I've never seen a young man at 471 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 2: this stage and this age dynamic of this kid. He's 472 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 2: so different. Man. He's just fun to watch and a 473 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 2: joy to work with because he's so focused. With all 474 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 2: that being said, I'm gonna have to pull and it's 475 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 2: hard for me to say it as a Penn State guy. 476 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 2: It's so hard for me to say it, but I'm 477 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 2: gonna go with Ohios. 478 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: I was gonna say that. That's a tough one. That's 479 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 1: a tough one. All right. Well, it's been a pleasure 480 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: catching up with you. Thank you so much. Shoffee Fields 481 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 1: is executive vice president Team Sports for Washman, former standout 482 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: at Penn State University and yet he's rooting for Ohio State. 483 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: Really good to spend some time with you. 484 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 2: Thanks shoving absolutely, Thank God. 485 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: Up next, we head to Atlanta, host site of Monday's 486 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: college football championship game. We're gonna talk with Dan Corso, 487 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:51,199 Speaker 1: president of the Atlanta Sports Council. For Vanessa Prodomo. I'm 488 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: Jason Kelly. You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports 489 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio around the world. 490 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 5: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 491 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for joining us here on the Bloomberg 492 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 1: Business of Sports. Where we explore the big money issues 493 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: in the world of sports. I'm Jason Kelly, alongside Vanessa Perdomo, 494 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: your usual host, Michael Barr, Scarlett Foo, Damien sas Hour. 495 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: They will be back next week. 496 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 2: Well. 497 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: The first ever twelve team college football Playoff wraps up 498 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 1: on Monday at Mercedes Benz Stadium in my hometown of Atlanta. 499 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 1: Notre Dame fighting Irish versus the Ohio State Buckeyes. Here 500 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 1: to talk about how Atlanta is prepping for the big game. 501 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: We welcome Dan Corso. He is the president of the 502 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: Atlanta Sports Council. He has put together an unbelievable tapestry. 503 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,719 Speaker 1: I should say, I think, Vanessa, of folks who are 504 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: putting on together. I mean, it's the equivalent of a 505 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. If you're in college football, you care about 506 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: college football. This is the super Bowl, the national Championship, 507 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: the first ever of the twelve game Playoff. No small feet, Dan, 508 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:02,439 Speaker 1: Really good to have you with us. You're at the 509 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: state capitol. You've been, you know, making the rounds, hanging 510 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: out with the governor and all the top brass in 511 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 1: the Georgia state government. People pretty excited about this because 512 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 1: there's a lot of money coming into Georgia over this, right. 513 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, Jason Vanessa, thanks for having me on. And we're 514 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 4: really excited. You know. I was just mentioning the before 515 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 4: we started the state Capitol and all the legislators are 516 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 4: all excited about it. They're a little bumm that uga 517 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 4: that the Bulldogs are not in understandably, but they see 518 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 4: the value in the impact that having a matchup like 519 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 4: Ohio State and Notre Dame is going to have not 520 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:39,199 Speaker 4: just on city of Atlanta in the region, but the 521 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 4: entire state. I mean, this is going to be a 522 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 4: statewide economic impact for sure, and just having two great 523 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 4: brands like that coming to our state matching off in 524 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,360 Speaker 4: the in the championship game here in Atlanta, and quite honestly, 525 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 4: we're really proud in the fact that we're the first 526 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 4: repeat city of this great event. Yeah, to see if 527 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,120 Speaker 4: you have a lot of options to go for twenty 528 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 4: twenty five, and they called us and we made it workout. 529 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 4: So we're excited to host them again. 530 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: Well, I wanted to we want to talk to you 531 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: about sort of how it all worked out, because this 532 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,880 Speaker 1: is a different beast. But before we get to that, I mean, 533 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: the reality from an economic perspective, I believe and keep 534 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: us honest here, is that this is actually a better 535 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 1: matchup economically, because you got a lot of people who 536 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: need to stay in hotel rooms versus if it's Georgia Alabama, 537 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 1: where it's a much more sort of endemic fan base. Right. 538 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a good point. I mean, in twenty eighteen, 539 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 4: our first hosting, we did have Georgia versus Alabama, and 540 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 4: those two teams are you know, obviously huge fan bases 541 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:36,719 Speaker 4: here in the Southeast, but they also matched up that 542 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 4: particular year in the SEC Football Champion, right, so they 543 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 4: were coming back a second time. But to have a 544 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 4: non regional game, if you will, in that regard and 545 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 4: having two national teams come in, you're opening up new 546 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 4: fan bases, right, and new alumni across the country that 547 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 4: have perhaps not been to Atlanta quite some time, or 548 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 4: perhaps ever. And so it's an opportunity for us to 549 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 4: showcase this community to a whole new audience and a 550 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 4: much broader audience. Yeah. 551 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 5: Absolutely, I want to get into that a little bit 552 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 5: about you know, you said you're the first repeat host city, 553 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 5: and you know you're awarded the you know, the game 554 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 5: in twenty twenty two, and then they expand into the 555 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 5: twelve team playoffs. Can you tell us a little bit 556 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 5: about how this one's different than the first one, if 557 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 5: the expansion has anything more of an impact, and how 558 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 5: you pivoted from what you were originally planned. 559 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, Vanessa, it's a good question. I'll give you the 560 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 4: exact months. August of twenty twenty two, we are officially 561 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 4: announced as the host city for the event for twenty 562 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 4: twenty five. That game date was supposed to be January sixth, Monday. 563 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 4: Then in December, to your point, the playoff expanded. It 564 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 4: officially announced has an expansion to twelve teams from four teams, 565 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 4: and because of that expansion, the playoff obviously was extended 566 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 4: longer on the calendar, which then pushed our game date 567 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 4: back two weeks. So a lot of work went into that. 568 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 4: You know, not only are we a great city for 569 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 4: hosting big sporting events, were one of the best out 570 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 4: there in the country, but we're also a top four 571 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 4: convention city. So the conventions use the same things that 572 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 4: the big sporting events use, and that's hotel rooms. So 573 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 4: we had to quickly get into the idea of okay, 574 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 4: if we're shifting back two weeks, how does the hotel 575 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 4: capacity look, How does the convention center space look from 576 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 4: a perhaps a convention standpoint, because that venue, which is 577 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 4: right next door to Mercedes Benz Stadium, will be used 578 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 4: for a lot of the fan events during the event 579 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 4: weekend coming up. Thankfully, we were clear moved a few 580 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 4: things around, but nothing too problematic, and we were able 581 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 4: to accommodate the new date. But believe me, we were 582 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 4: going to find a way to make it happen anyway. 583 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 4: So the idea that it expanded from four teams to 584 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 4: twelve teams, I think added what we said at the 585 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 4: very beginning, potential new markets coming in that we might 586 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 4: not have seen obviously increased by three three times to 587 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 4: get to some new teams in the mix. 588 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 2: Uh. 589 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 4: And the idea that you know, the Chick fil A 590 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 4: Peach Bowl served as a quarterfinal. They're in this expanded playoff. 591 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 4: Back on January first, we had Texas versus Arizona State. 592 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 4: So now we've got really two big parts of the tournament, 593 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 4: if you will, calling Atlanta. 594 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: Home, yeah, I mean, and that was probably the best 595 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: game of the of the entire playoff, you know, maybe 596 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 1: leading up to the semi finals and obviously expecting a 597 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,640 Speaker 1: good game in the finals coming up on Monday. You know, Dan, 598 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 1: I do, and and you know, full disclosure, I'm an 599 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: Atlanta guy. As you know when you're going to bring 600 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: that up. I was waiting for you to bring it up. 601 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 1: So spent a lot of my growing up years there. 602 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 1: My parents still live there. And one thing I know, 603 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 1: and you know as well as anyone, in part because 604 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: it's part of your family business. Obviously, we all know 605 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 1: your legendary dad, or we feel like we know him. 606 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:58,000 Speaker 1: College football is probably the number one sport in the 607 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 1: city of Atlanta. I mean, I'm a big Falcons fan, 608 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,160 Speaker 1: I'm a big Hawks fan, I'm a big Braves fan. 609 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:05,719 Speaker 1: And yet I think if you ask a lot of people, 610 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 1: what's the number one team in the city of Atlanta, 611 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 1: it's probably the Georgia Bulldogs, much to the chagrin of 612 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: my Georgia Tech yellowjacket dad. But why is that and 613 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 1: what are the economics of college football and why have 614 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: they blossomed so much, and especially there in Atlanta. 615 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:26,479 Speaker 4: I think if you were to take a sport and 616 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 4: a city and try to find the best combination that 617 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 4: you could out there it would be college football in Atlanta. 618 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 4: It is just something that's historically within and you know 619 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 4: this Jason growing up here and you referenced it historically 620 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 4: within our DNA. It's part of our culture here. We've 621 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 4: got a great lifestyle, a great quality of life, music, food, entertainment, 622 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 4: a great region and city and state to do business in. 623 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 4: It's a great quality of life from an educational standpoint. 624 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 4: But part of that quality of life and it involves 625 00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 4: sports and the recreation, and college football is just part 626 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 4: of it. You're born and raised following college football and 627 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 4: as you said, either George or Georgia Tech for the 628 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:09,479 Speaker 4: most part. But we're also a transient city, right, so 629 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 4: we've got expansion of people coming in from all over 630 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 4: the nation moving in here as a top ten popular 631 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 4: heated city, and as college football grows across the country, 632 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 4: those fans are bringing. Those folks moving here are bringing 633 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 4: their affinity for college football. 634 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 2: With them here. 635 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 4: So it just continues to grow upon itself, both you know, 636 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 4: endemically to the residents here then also the visitors that 637 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,800 Speaker 4: relocate here. So it's an important part of it. I mean, 638 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 4: you know, we're a big sports event town. We're a 639 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 4: big sports town. We've got a lot of teams, both 640 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,800 Speaker 4: collegiately and professionally, but college football just seems to resonate. 641 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:47,640 Speaker 4: And we've got a lot of games here with the 642 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 4: Chick fil A Peach Bowl, the Celebration Bowl, the SEC Championship, 643 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 4: which is like a playoff every year that calls Atlanta home. 644 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 4: And you know, we have those three great sporting events 645 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 4: in college football each and a year. 646 00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm curious. You know when you talk about that 647 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 5: and you talk about how important it is to host 648 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 5: these big, major events and how good you guys are 649 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 5: at it and things like that, what makes Atlanta such 650 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:13,920 Speaker 5: a good host city and how important is it to 651 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 5: the local economy that you continue to host these major events. 652 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 4: Well, we look at it as a hosting not just 653 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 4: city or downtown Atlanta where you know, that's where the 654 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 4: competitions are held, and that's where the bulk of our 655 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 4: twenty one thousand hotel rooms in this case that are 656 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:32,719 Speaker 4: booked for the CFP weekend are located. That's quite a 657 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:35,400 Speaker 4: big number. But we look at this as a regional 658 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 4: in a state white hosting, So we engage with the 659 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 4: state of Georgia and the tourism Department to promote Savannah, 660 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 4: make and Columbus Augusta other really cool parts of this 661 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 4: state to the visitors that are coming in because you know, 662 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:51,200 Speaker 4: the visitation is multiple days, and so while there are 663 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 4: fan events happening over the weekend, there's other things to 664 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 4: do while you've got some downtime, and we try to 665 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 4: push tourism to the other parts of the state. The 666 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 4: reason I think we're successful in the effort to get 667 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 4: these events to come here and our hosting is because 668 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,839 Speaker 4: we've got, you know, great venues, starting with Mercedes Benz 669 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:11,759 Speaker 4: Stadium right one of the top in the world. And 670 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 4: I know you've been there, surrounded by fourteen thousand hotel 671 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:19,520 Speaker 4: rooms that are all all in walking distance to the stadium. 672 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 4: So you know better than anybody. When you travel to 673 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:24,800 Speaker 4: an event, whether it's sports or cultural or anything else, 674 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 4: you fly into the airport, you get your ride share 675 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:30,440 Speaker 4: to your hotel, and you hope just to be able 676 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 4: to not get another vehicle until you go back to 677 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:35,839 Speaker 4: the air That's the case here and again that's how 678 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 4: that's how are set up here is in Atlanta, it's 679 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 4: very user friendly, and that user friendliness for the fans 680 00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:47,279 Speaker 4: becomes very friendly for the organizers as well CFP, fIF NFL, NCAA, 681 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,280 Speaker 4: whatever the case may be. So I think the connection 682 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 4: of all of how compact our footprint is, of the 683 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:58,440 Speaker 4: venues and the hospitality areas, the restaurants, the bars, the 684 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:02,120 Speaker 4: attractions surrounded by fourteen thousand hotel rooms and the world's 685 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 4: business sedest airport to get everyone here, that combination is 686 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 4: really tough to be. 687 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 1: So, Dan, before we let you go, I mean, I 688 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 1: want to go a little offscript here and just talk about, 689 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:15,879 Speaker 1: like what a fascinating job you have, because like you're 690 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 1: not only dealing with college football, Like you've got the 691 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:22,920 Speaker 1: All Star Game MLB coming up, You've got the you know, 692 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:27,360 Speaker 1: FIFA World Club Cup coming up this summer, obviously, the 693 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:30,959 Speaker 1: World Cup coming up in twenty twenty six, You're gonna 694 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:34,400 Speaker 1: have a Super Bowl, et cetera. How does that work? Like, 695 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 1: I mean, do you just sort of are you just 696 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:40,080 Speaker 1: constantly like kind of parallel tracking all these different sports? 697 00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 1: Like how do you pull all this together? 698 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 4: Well, we do it with really good partnerships, and you know, 699 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 4: I do run the Atlanta Sports Council. It's my twenty 700 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 4: fifth year with the organization. It's been a great run. 701 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 4: I consider this an honor in a position. It's a 702 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 4: it's not a job, you know, it's there's only one 703 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:58,799 Speaker 4: of its kind here in the city, and I take 704 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 4: it very seriously and I'm a real or to have it. 705 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:02,759 Speaker 4: We've got a great staff, were lean and mean as 706 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 4: a nonprofit, but we have an extension to our small 707 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:10,320 Speaker 4: staff of five by partnering with the stadium, the city, 708 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:14,280 Speaker 4: the ACVB which is our hospitality community, and other partners 709 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:17,239 Speaker 4: and utilize their staffs to come in and help us 710 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 4: organize these big sporting events. And I think that model 711 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:26,000 Speaker 4: creates a sense of real engagement and collaboration. All the 712 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 4: stakeholders are involved, all of their full time staffers are involved. 713 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:31,840 Speaker 1: Well, Dan, it's been really really good talking to you. 714 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,399 Speaker 1: Last question before we go, I have to ask you. 715 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:35,839 Speaker 1: You know, as you look at to this national jam, 716 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: as you said, two blue Bloods, we know a certain 717 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:43,839 Speaker 1: very famous sportscaster is either gonna, you know, don his 718 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:48,279 Speaker 1: Leprechaun outfit or put his buckeye had on. Do you 719 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:48,920 Speaker 1: have a prediction? 720 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 4: Well, I know his prediction and I'm not going to 721 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:54,959 Speaker 4: share it with you. And only one cours gets paid 722 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 4: to make predictions leave it. 723 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:00,680 Speaker 1: Well, that's great. Well we'll look forward to that. Thanks 724 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:03,960 Speaker 1: so much. Dan Corso, President of the Atlanta Sports Council, 725 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,360 Speaker 1: the busiest man around, getting ready to host a whole 726 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:10,719 Speaker 1: host of big events this coming week and on and 727 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:12,920 Speaker 1: on and on for the city of Atlanta. Really good 728 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:15,080 Speaker 1: to spend some time with you. Thank you for having me, guys, 729 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:18,200 Speaker 1: and thank you for joining us. For Vanessa Perdomo, I'm 730 00:38:18,280 --> 00:38:22,160 Speaker 1: Jason Kelly. Don't forget to catch our podcast. Subscribe now 731 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:26,000 Speaker 1: on Apple, Spotify or anywhere else to catch podcasts. Tune 732 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:29,240 Speaker 1: in again next week when Michael Scarlett and Damien they're 733 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,320 Speaker 1: bringing it back and they'll take you through the latest 734 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,960 Speaker 1: on the stories moving big money in the world of sports. 735 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:38,280 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio 736 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:39,440 Speaker 1: around the world.