1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio News. 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 2: All Right, we're already talking, we're already going because we're 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,079 Speaker 2: excited about this. I almost feel like we should just 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: jump in. Let's do that. Bloomberg News sports reporter Vanessa 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 2: Perdomo is with She joins us along with Carolyn Tish Blodget. 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 2: She is governor and lead owner of Gotham FC football club, 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 2: the National Women's Soccer League and WSL team, and she's 8 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 2: founder and CEO of Next three Ventures, is an investment 9 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: firm in sports, media and entertainment. Welcome, Welcome, Welcome. I 10 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: was going to start it off because Vanessa, you and 11 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: the sports crew, they put out a great story about 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: like trends to watch in twenty twenty six, and one 13 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 2: of it is kind of labor battles in women's sports 14 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 2: and talking about it getting messy, especially as you see 15 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 2: escalating salaries and you see more stars leaving for Europe. 16 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 2: So I kind of Carolyn, want to start that with you. 17 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 2: I mean, are you concerned about kind of losing players 18 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 2: to Europe and tea as we've seen salaries escalade and 19 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: welcome and die here. 20 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: Here, let's die right in. 21 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 3: So I'm a firm believer that rising tides lifts all boats. 22 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 3: We are If you think about where women's sports was 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 3: when we came in as new owners two years ago, 24 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 3: they were not being talked about on Bloomberg. They were 25 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 3: not no one was investing in it. And when we 26 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 3: came in, ninety nine percent of investments in sports went 27 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 3: to the men's went to men's teams, and so you 28 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 3: were starting to see that shift. You know, we came 29 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty three. There have been several new owners 30 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 3: that have come into the National Women's Soccer League that 31 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 3: we're in, as well as the WNBA and others. So 32 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 3: you're starting to see a real shift. And with that 33 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 3: comes challenges and you start to see you know, it 34 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 3: wouldn't I don't think our league would be as successful 35 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 3: as we have been if there weren't other leagues that 36 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 3: were competing for talent. This is good, So yeah, I 37 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 3: think competition is good. 38 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: But are you afraid of losing some key players? Yes? 39 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 3: I mean obviously there has been news of players leaving 40 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 3: for Europe. I think you'll continue to see that. You'll 41 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 3: also see players coming back. With Lindsay Horan, Lindsay Heaps 42 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 3: just signed with Denver, We've had players go play in 43 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 3: Europe and then come back. 44 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: So part of it, I think when you zoom. 45 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 3: In, I think it feels like, oh my god, this 46 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 3: guy is telling everybody's leaving for Europe. If we pull 47 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 3: back and say this is actually the we're competing for 48 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 3: global talent in a global game, this is kind of 49 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 3: the natural evolution of this. 50 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: So let me ask the question in a different way, 51 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: and it's about a strategy for making sure those players 52 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: don't leave. 53 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: It's a strategy for keeping those players on your team. 54 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: How do you do it without breaking the bank? 55 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 3: So that is something we talk about on a daily basis. 56 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 3: Our general manager ya Elle averbush West has put together 57 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 3: an incredible roster over the last year. So we've won 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 3: two championships in the last three years. And when we 59 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 3: think about why would a player want a question we 60 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 3: ask ourselves daily is why would a player who could play. 61 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: Anywhere want to come play for Gotham. 62 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 3: Part of that, you know, I think what they have 63 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 3: in Europe is obviously these brand legacies that it's hard 64 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 3: to compete with. Chelsea's been around forever. If you want 65 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 3: to go, if your dream has been to play for Chelsea, 66 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 3: that's hard to compete with. What we have is I 67 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 3: think some of the best coaching staff in the business. 68 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 3: We have We've been very much at the forefront in 69 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 3: terms of investing in medical so we probably have arguably 70 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 3: the best medical director in women's soccer, if not you 71 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 3: know women's sports today. We've invested in mental health, We've 72 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 3: invested in a performance coach. So we're kind of investing. 73 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 3: And if you want you if you're sitting here today 74 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 3: as a player and you say where can I get better? 75 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 3: I would arguably say Gotham is the. 76 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: Best place to go. 77 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 3: And so we're really thinking about what is our competitive 78 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 3: advantage and where can we compete and let's go invest there. 79 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 2: Well. 80 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 4: I think the interesting thing is, obviously Gotham had made 81 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 4: this really big effort to sign these huge stars the 82 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 4: US men's the national team. 83 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: That there's four or five stars. 84 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 4: You have Jane Show who just came in last year 85 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 4: at Midge Perse, Emily Sune Rose Levelle NWSL twenty twenty 86 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 4: five MVP, you know for the championship game. You have 87 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 4: these massive stars, and it was it was felt like 88 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 4: a concerted effort to do that to make sure you 89 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 4: have these big stars and the lead used to rely 90 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 4: solely on the USO International team stars. Tell me about 91 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 4: where that's gone. Why is it still important to the 92 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 4: business to have stars like that? But how much it's 93 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 4: grown over the last couple of years. So yeah, I 94 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 4: think it's a really good question. 95 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 3: So I'm a big believer that stars dry viewership, and 96 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: stars drive particularly a casual fandom. I built my career 97 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 3: in marketing. I used to run marketing at Peloton, and 98 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 3: that was really our model was help these instructors turn 99 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 3: into stars. That is something we've brought to Gotham, and 100 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 3: we've taken not just the stars that we inherit like 101 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 3: we brought in like a Rose and a Sonnet, but 102 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 3: also helped someone like a Jalen Howell kind of find 103 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 3: her voice and become more of a star. 104 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: Robin I was thinking I was Robin Arzon. 105 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, Robin and I worked very close together, killer right, 106 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 3: But we helped her and she really knows how to 107 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 3: build her own brand. So I don't want to take 108 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 3: we get any credit of that, but we helped these 109 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 3: instructors really turn into the house. 110 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 2: But you guys appreciate it certainly as part of the Piloton. 111 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: Brand exactly, and that's what we're helping to do. 112 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 3: I think for a lot of our stars at Gotham, 113 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 3: I think that really again that drives viewership. That brings 114 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 3: at the US woman's national team is or is an opportunity. 115 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: To bring a casual fan in. 116 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 3: If you think about how many people watched the Olympics 117 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 3: last year the US team win a gold medal, I 118 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 3: think it was like nine million people. We have an 119 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 3: opportunity at Gotham. Six of those players played for Gotham 120 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 3: at the time. We can help bring those people and 121 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 3: bridge that gap from US fandom to Gotham nuts. 122 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 4: I mean, six people is amazing to have that kind 123 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 4: of power. I mean, let's talk a little bit more 124 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 4: about the overall business of the NDWASEL. 125 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: You had mentioned it before. 126 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 4: You the new owners coming in and one of them 127 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 4: is a colleague from the NFL or if they're blank, 128 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 4: played one hundred and sixty five million dollars to bring 129 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 4: an end of asale team to Atlanta. 130 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: How big this business has. 131 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 4: Got from twenty nineteen from a two million dollar expansion. 132 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: Of to one hundred and sixty five million. What's the 133 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: next step? But how does that keep going and how 134 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: do you make sure. 135 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 4: That it doesn't plateau after such a big year. 136 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, we write there's been so much news in the 137 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 3: End of Yourself we haven't. 138 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: Even talked about the Blanks hugging it. 139 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 3: Yes, we're so happy that Arthur and his son Josh 140 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 3: have have joined us in the league. I think one 141 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 3: of the one of the real bright spots of the league, 142 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 3: I think is the boardroom and is the compilation of owners. 143 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: In this room. 144 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 3: You have owners like the Wilfs from the NFL, the 145 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 3: Blanks now and obviously our family. You have owners from 146 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 3: the NBA, from MLS, from European league. 147 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: So you really have a and they believe in it. 148 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: They believe in the End of your Self product. 149 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 4: Right, these long term sports owners, you very much feel 150 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:45,239 Speaker 4: that there. 151 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 3: Is The conversations at the board are about how are 152 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 3: we going to grow sustainably? 153 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: How are we going to reach the next level? 154 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 3: As you asked, it is not about like how can 155 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 3: I make a quick dollar and turn around and sell it. 156 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 3: This is a group of owners that want to be 157 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 3: there and want it, you know, in invest in its. 158 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: Future, building out their portfolio. 159 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, big way and deeply care. 160 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, you talk about investing in the future. Before we 161 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,239 Speaker 2: got going, I talked about growing up watching the Giants seasons. 162 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: Tickets my dad had and we all kind of went 163 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: to games. They've had some highs and lows. They need 164 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: a new head coach. Any update, and I'm just curious 165 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 2: Jason Harbaugh, like, is are you guys talking to him? 166 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: John Harbaugh? Sorry? Are you guys talking to him? 167 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: I definitely cannot be the one to break any news here. 168 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: We did not time this interview with the. 169 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 3: Coaching sir, So nothing to say, but excited obviously for 170 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 3: the Giant's future. 171 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 2: But there'll be a new coach soon. 172 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: Well, obviously there will be a coach. Just help me 173 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: naming who it is? Do you have one? I cannot know. 174 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 3: Hey, listens, nothing, I've just been in my office all day. 175 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: It's John calling. No, no, no, hey, Just quickly twenty seconds. 176 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 2: You got you have invested in volleyball, You invested in 177 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: sale GP, which is something we've covered here. Anything else 178 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 2: you're looking at for your portfolio? Just got about twenty seconds. 179 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, nothing to announce today. 180 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 3: But we're continue to look at emerging leagues, look at 181 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 3: emerging sports, and we're very focused on youth sports and 182 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 3: who are the leagues that are really building up the 183 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 3: kind of grassroots sports from the ground up. 184 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 2: Okay, will you come and tell us when you've got 185 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: a Nico run right over? Thank you, Thank you, Vanessa, also, Carolyn, 186 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 2: thank you so much, really appreciate it. Carolyn Tish Blodger, 187 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: lead owner of Gotham Football Club, and of course our 188 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: Vanessa Prodoma, she's Bloomberg New Sports reporter. Thank you. Thank 189 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 2: If you missed any of it, check it out on 190 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 2: our podcast feed.