1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports, where in a situation 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, the pandemic 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: here has really accelerated the investments that we've been havocating 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: for for a year. From a macro standpoint, I think 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: our sport industry is really forced to look at the 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: business a little bit differently. In depth conversations with the 7 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: leaders in the sports industry and he sport, there's a 8 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: good admiration we're still moving forward with part of something 9 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: much bigger than the sport. Right now, the health and 10 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: vasty of our stakeholders a real smart important every moment. 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: I think we're all from a business respective thinking about 12 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: the impact that the virus is having across the country. 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: In Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio, Well, thanks 14 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: so much for joining us each and every week. For 15 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: you at the same time talking to the biggest names 16 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: in sports, I'm Jason Kelly, along with Michae Lynch and 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: Michael barn joining us now. Sam Kennedy, he is the 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: president and CEO of your and by that I mean 19 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: Lynch's Boston Red Sox. Say. I'm really good to have 20 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: you with us. I gotta tell you we're so excited 21 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: fancy in the stands fans at Fenway. Tell us what's 22 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: going on in Boston. Well, there's a definite feeling of excitement. 23 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: It has been an incredibly difficult year for our country 24 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: and all of our individual cities, and uh, we hope 25 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: it will be a day of sort of as we've 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: talked about, getting back to somewhat of a normal environment, 27 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: albeit with a smaller crowd. But baseball, I think always 28 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: is a symbol of renewal and hope and recovery in 29 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: our case here in Boston from a long winter. I was, 30 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: believe it or not, I got a lot of time 31 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: on my hands. I was actually reading a piece from 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: the great Mike Barnacle from the Boston Globe in three 33 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: talking about the renewal and hope and how baseball becomes, uh, 34 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: the sort of sign of of renewal. And the winter 35 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: is over and we're ready to play baseball. I'm glad 36 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: you guys are having a fewer fans in the stands, 37 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: but fewer fans are going to be allowed at the ballpark. 38 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: Are there any revenue concerns about that? Yeah, there there are. 39 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: You know, Unfortunately, our business is driven one percent by 40 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: our our fan base, and we have, with all due 41 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: respect to other markets, the most rabid and loyal and 42 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 1: passionate fan base around the country. And last year, you know, 43 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: playing with no fans in our ballparks and having no 44 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 1: ticket revenue, no food and beverage revenue, no ancillary events, UM. 45 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: That has a trickle down effect to sponsorship and UM 46 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: licensing and retail and everything we do to generate revenue. 47 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: So it's been very difficult from a business perspective, but 48 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: we've obviously we see the light at the end of 49 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: the tunnel, and it's great that Major League Baseball UH 50 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: and the players came together last year to stage even 51 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: a shortened season and really optimistic that we'll be able 52 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: to get a full year in and hope to get 53 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: back to quote unquote normal bo if at all possible. 54 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: So the governor only is allowing twelve percent of capacity, 55 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: which is roughly people in Fenway Park. You hold a 56 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: little bit shy of thirty eight thousand. How do you 57 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: proportion the seats? UM? Do you just spread them all 58 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: over the ballpark? There were different price points obviously with 59 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: field box seats, bleacher seats, UM, grandstand seats. How how 60 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: did you come up with a configuration. Yeah, well it was. 61 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: It was a little tricky, but we had some best 62 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: practices from around the country watching other venues have gone 63 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: through this. And then of course this past four weeks 64 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: down and at Jet Blue Park down in southwest Florida, 65 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: we had a bit of a dry run. We are 66 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: spreading fans out all across the ballpark to take advantage 67 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: of the space and um more selling tickets in pods 68 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: of two and four and six, obviously requiring masking and 69 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: creating a natural separation. And what we did was we 70 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: gave some priority to our season ticket holders, who obviously 71 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: are most loyal customers. We've affirmatively held back some tickets 72 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: for the general public, roughly sent for season ticket holders. 73 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: For the general public and essentially for April is a 74 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: bit of a lottery system in terms of getting in 75 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: and logging on and getting the ability to buy tickets. 76 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: So our hope is that we can engage as we 77 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: have for the past year with the governor um and 78 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: obviously you know north Shore guy, very reasonable, and he'll 79 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: lead us back to a place hopefully where we've got 80 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: full recovery, uh and and full capacity back at Fenway 81 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: Park at some point, we hope once the vaccines are 82 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: widely available and distributed. Boy, I can't wait. I can't 83 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: wait for that day. And uh, we're all starting to 84 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: see family members, some of our elderly family members, getting vaccinated, 85 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: and it's it's a sign of hopefully a return of 86 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: normalcy here. We hope by later this summer, if at 87 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: all possible. So you guys have had a role in 88 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: vaccinating folks as well, and will that continue. We we have, 89 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: we've for the last several months we've been one of 90 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: the mass vaccination sites along with Jillette Stadium. The Boston 91 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: location which is ours is actually moving, um in the 92 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: next couple of days over to the Hines Convention Center. Um. 93 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: They're able to get more space, more supply, and better 94 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 1: access over there. So we were a bit of a 95 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: temporary location. We would have loved to have kept going 96 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: for you know, all summer in the next fall. We 97 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: have the ability to do it, but it's just a 98 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: function of supply and and from the federal government. So 99 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 1: we had an incredible experience. It was very, uh humbling 100 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: to be a small part of the recovery. We had 101 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: our day of game, staff which of course we're mostly 102 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: off all last season, had an opportunity to come in 103 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: and worked a vaccination site and really grateful for that. 104 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: It was pretty emotional. I was here most days watching 105 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: a lot of seventy eight, even a hundred year old 106 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: plus attendees come in and get vaccinated, and watching the 107 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: emotion was was pretty powerful. Yeah, it's interesting to hear 108 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: that from from a lot of your your fellow executives 109 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: and owners across the league. I mean, going back, even 110 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: with voting to vaccinations mean that that it's it's a 111 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: reminder of how central the sports teams are to both 112 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 1: sort of the economics and the cultural fabric in many 113 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: ways of our cities. I feel like we've been reminded 114 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: of that over the last year. Yeah, it's a great point. 115 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: We we obviously are in the baseball business, but more importantly, 116 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: we're a part of this broader community. And nobody knows 117 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: that better than Lynchy and having grown up here, you know, 118 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: nWay is situated right in the heart of the city, 119 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 1: right in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and a 120 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: neighborhood that is filled with hospitals and uh and and 121 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: data scientists and and actually the best Israel Deacon is 122 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: right down the street. Um, you had vaccine developed right there. 123 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: So it's a it's a great part of the city. Uh. 124 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: And we need to play a part of being a 125 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: good corporate citizens. So whether it's opening up for voting 126 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: centers or vaccination centers or naturalization ceremonies, which we've done 127 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: in the past. Um, Fenway has been in an incredible 128 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: sort of civic gathering place for years and we we 129 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: hope that continues. And it's such a small town on 130 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: once you can tell you it's it's really Uh. It 131 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: is a town, not a not a not a big city. 132 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: Until we're able to mobilize the the elected officials and 133 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: also the sports community to get behind different efforts. Patriots, 134 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: Red Sox, Bruins, Red and the Red Sox have come 135 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: together often. Lynch, My only problem with Fenway, as you 136 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: probably know, is the sit go sign. When you're running 137 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: the marathon. It is like it keeps moving, it keeps 138 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: moving further and further away, and I don't understand how 139 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: how you do that. But I don't know. You Boston guys, 140 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: it's magic. Oh well, marathon, that's that's no small seat. 141 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: It's Uh, it's it's a very Lynch and Bar and 142 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: I've talked about it a lot. It's incredibly there's nothing 143 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: like it, as you know. I mean, it's just it's 144 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: an incredibly in a in a city that is so 145 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: well known for so many sporting elements, and you know, 146 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 1: it's it's it stands about. It stands about, that's for sure. 147 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,719 Speaker 1: Michael Barr, Oh my god. And before I asked the 148 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: next question, I gotta tell you thank goodness for YouTube 149 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: because I got hooked on watching candle Pin bowling and 150 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: I love that. I found some old Don Gillis episodes. 151 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh my goodness, Oh it's beautiful. It's incredible. 152 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: What's made to come back in the pandemic? Right for Cash? 153 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: Oh Man, that was get four in a row Man. 154 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: It's like he's still alive. I love that sphrase. That's great. 155 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: What do you think of the rules for season? Uh? 156 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: Is the one that always sticks in my mind, and 157 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: I think it is a positive if you have a 158 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: double header that it's only just seven innings for each game. Yeah. 159 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: We're really excited about trying to push the game forward, 160 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: especially as we try and attract that next generation of fans. 161 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: You know, you're never going to have a time limit 162 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 1: on a baseball game, given the intricacies of the sport 163 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: and the beauty and majesty of it. But we do 164 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: need to, uh make sure we're doing everything we possibly 165 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: can to move the game along. I think we've slipped 166 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: in that area. I think the clubs and the players 167 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: and the broadcasters, the media, the front office or sand technique, 168 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: we're all aligned in that. So we're looking for ways 169 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: to eliminate some of the dead time between pitches, between innings. Uh. 170 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: In one, it's just important that we're keeping up with 171 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: with the mindset and the attention span of our of 172 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: our younger fans. Were always going to have people like 173 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 1: me and Lynch who could sider Fenway Park for eight 174 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: nine hours a day if we had to. But we 175 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,199 Speaker 1: also would love to get games back in a reasonable 176 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 1: time period. You know, I think I think back to 177 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: when I was growing up, games where two hours and 178 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: forty minutes probably on average something like that. Now we're 179 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: well over three hours, you know, three hours and eight 180 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: minutes or so, and so Major League Baseball and the 181 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: Players Association are talking about ways to speed up that 182 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: pace of play. UM, it's for me. It starts and 183 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: ends with the picture, you know, getting the ball, throwing 184 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: the ball, and it really just creates a better a 185 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: better brand of the game. Easy for me to say. 186 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: I don't stand out on the mount trying to get 187 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,199 Speaker 1: out made hitters. But if we could achieve some some 188 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: changes that pick up the pace, I think that'd be 189 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: a great thing for everybody. Yeah, I agree. I mean, 190 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: if Tom Brady throws four in complete path, oh, Bill 191 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: Belichick doesn't call time out and come out to the 192 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 1: huddle six times and visit him. I mean, you know, 193 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: it's the same thing in basketball. J he did that 194 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't go. Well, That's what drives me crazy. Sam still 195 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: a little bit mad at me. We have this award 196 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 1: I give every week called the High Five, and when 197 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: he was at Brookline High School, he was a two 198 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: sports star. He played baseball and he played hockey, and 199 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: he still miffed at me that I did not honor 200 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: him with the High five. So I hope this will 201 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 1: effect how we handled in What's go What's great with 202 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: about growing up in the seventies and eighties and early nineties, 203 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,839 Speaker 1: my senior year there was no video, so it's impossible 204 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,839 Speaker 1: for you to go back and check because obviously the 205 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: reports of of stardom greatly exaggerated. Hey, let let me 206 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: ask you this. This is a problem all around baseball, 207 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: but all the Major league sports franchises, corporate sponsorships, UH, 208 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: corporate partnerships from UH, what's been the retention rate for 209 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 1: people who had long term relationship that went through a 210 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: tough year themselves. It's a great question. We're we're fortunate, 211 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: I would say, hi, Cent, But what we've done is 212 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: inch is we've had to be very flexible in terms 213 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: of payment schedules and restructuring contracts for partners to make 214 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: sure that they get the benefit of the bargain. Because 215 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: when you only play thirty seven and a half percent 216 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: of your season or whatever it was last year, UM, 217 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, you have to make sure that you're being 218 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 1: a good partner and providing the value to the advertisers 219 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: that support you. Uh. We very much. We've been here 220 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: for twenty years, and we very much UH anticipate that 221 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: the John Henry Tom Warner ownership of this this club 222 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: in the ballpark will go for another twenty years. So 223 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: we tried to take a very long term view in 224 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: dealing with all of our customers are our corporate partners 225 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: and our our ticket buyers and suite holders, so making 226 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: whatever accommodations people needed, and frankly, as we deal with 227 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: this pandemic, we're happy to do that. Interestingly, many businesses, 228 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: as you guys know, technology companies especially, have really done 229 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: well in the pandemic. Ironically, so some some companies have 230 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: been incredibly supportive and even volunteered to stay on a 231 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: normal payment schedule. So it's been interesting to see the 232 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: businesses that have struggled. Obviously, the sports business, it's right 233 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 1: up there with travel and hotel. I mean, we're in 234 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: the mass gathering business by definition, so our revenues have 235 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: absolutely been decimated. So we've also had partners helping us 236 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 1: out through the pandemic, which has been really really gratifying. 237 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,079 Speaker 1: You know, same you mentioned the ownership group, and and 238 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: I want to talk a little bit more about that 239 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:08,599 Speaker 1: because everybody's attention was caught by, uh the recent inclusion 240 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: of Lebron Jameson and Maverick Carter into the into the 241 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: family as partners. And you have a special interest in 242 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: this because I believe you were involved in bringing them 243 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: in initially into the Fenway Sports Management arm of the 244 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: Empire as it were, UM, which was a novel deal 245 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: at that time, and tell us the significance of that 246 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: UM obviously, it's it's significant on a sports level, on 247 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: a cultural level, and in many ways tell us about 248 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: the Lebron and Mavericks arrival and what that means great Well, 249 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: first of all, we're still working through details and final elements, 250 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: but we hope to be in a position in short 251 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: order to announce something formally, and there there have been 252 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: many widespread media reports, so I think it's okay for 253 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: me too, at least a directed publicly UM, and especially 254 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: because we've had a decade long relationship with Maverick and 255 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: Lebron UH and Paul Walked or their business partner UM. 256 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: We started out with Fenway Sports Management, which we launched 257 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: back believe it or not in two thousand and four, 258 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: which is a sister company of the Boston Red Sox 259 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: to handle sales and marketing activities for third party clients. 260 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: And we were very fortunate in two thousand and ten 261 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: to be connected to Lebron and MAV and Paul through 262 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: our chairman Tom Werner, who's had a long standing relationship 263 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: with them, and our group at Fenway has represented Lebron 264 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: uh And and his off court endeavors and that's led 265 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: to frankly, just a great business partnership and friendship. And 266 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: as we're potentially considering a significant investment into the team, 267 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: um the idea is that they be a part of that. 268 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: And so my fingers and those are across that we 269 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: get this thing over the line, because it would be 270 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: incredibly significant. Of course, Lebron one of the world's most 271 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: famous athletes and Maverick, one of the world's most famous 272 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: business magnates, coming together to be an investor with the 273 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: Fenway Sports Group would be a really great for for 274 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: our businesses, which include the Red Sox and messen and 275 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: real estate and Liverpool Football Club and a NASCAR team, 276 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: and we have ambitions to continue to grow, so that's important. 277 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: And then obviously to have two African American investors in 278 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: our family at our ownership cable would be incredibly significant, 279 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: important and welcomed by our group. The Red Sox of course, 280 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: have a checkered paths with respect to race relations. The 281 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: last team to integrate and Major League Baseball all obviously 282 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: Boston dealing with race issues for as I've been alive 283 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: and continue to try and do better here, So it 284 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: would be very significant, and we're hopeful that will be 285 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: in a position to announce something very very soon. For 286 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: old geezers like me who watch baseball, warming up the Dumont, 287 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 1: trying to watch television, it's it's it is all guys 288 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: like me we're used to do just watching the TV 289 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: and watching the games. But obviously that has all changed. 290 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: How you guys have Turner and Fox, you have deals 291 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: with them, But is this going to be more of 292 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: the regional consumer, and for that matter, will traditional broadcast 293 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: media still stay alive in the future. That's great question. 294 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: You know, we see the pay TV ecosystem change grammatically 295 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: over the last five years or so UM, and I 296 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 1: think the the sort of anticipated decline uh an unbundling 297 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: of the cable bundle in terms of consumers buying internet 298 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: and TV, phone, landline cone service together UM has has happened, 299 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: but maybe not as quickly as people saw it. And 300 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: I also think that the analysts to predict that there 301 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: will be a sort of leveling off area whether I 302 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: don't know if that's seventy sixty fifty million households across 303 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: the country that's still subscribed to pay TV. Of course, 304 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: there will be a migration and a shift. I've got 305 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: a seventeen and a sixteen year old, and they consume 306 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: their media in very very different ways, more short form 307 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 1: content on their phones, sort of where they where they 308 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 1: want it, when they want it. But I do think 309 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: there's a balance because you start to look at all 310 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: these streaming services and these new platforms, and you pay 311 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: for them on on all a card basis. And I've 312 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: been reading a lot and our analysts have been doing 313 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: a lot of research. All of a sudden, you look 314 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,679 Speaker 1: at everything you're paying for and then you start to 315 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 1: add it up and it could equal more than your 316 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,880 Speaker 1: your bundles pay TV package. So I think it will 317 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: be it will start to level out, and I think 318 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: there will be, like anything, Uh, somewhere in the middle 319 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: is where it will shake out. There will still be 320 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: a healthy, robust pay TV ecosystem for regional sports networks. UH. 321 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: There will be the direct consumer market where people just 322 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: by what they want a streaming uh, you know, a 323 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: game stream directly to their phone. And it's a really 324 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: challenging time for those of us in the sports business 325 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: at the local teams at the league level to sort 326 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 1: of figure out how this is all going to work. 327 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: But I do think that I'm biased, of course. I 328 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 1: do think that the sports business is well positioned in 329 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: the media landscape and ecosystem generally because live sports obviously 330 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: need to be consumed live. It's not as interesting to 331 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,120 Speaker 1: watch a game that happens sometime in the past, whereas 332 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: a lot of these other streaming services Netflix and Hulu 333 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: and Disney Plus offer content that you can sort of 334 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: watch at any time. But sports needs to be consumed live, 335 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: and that's a big competitive advantage for i P intellectual 336 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: property holders of sports content. And so that's why I 337 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: think you continue to see sports team valuations continue to 338 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 1: increase and and fans continuing to support their teams. It 339 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 1: just may be that they consume the games, uh in 340 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: a video and audio format, in a little bit of 341 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: a different platform than than we grew up with. So 342 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: we'll have to be nimble and be ready to adjust. 343 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: And it's a really important um moment for our industry. 344 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: So Sam, following up on that, the Yankees obviously are 345 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: going to stream twenty one games on Amazon. Will you 346 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: be watching that with a great deal of curiosity. Absolutely, 347 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: And yeah we we we watch the Yankees closely and 348 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: everything they do, no lotter what I'd love to say, 349 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: We don't, We don't care, we don't follow them, but 350 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: we know we've got not only do we have a 351 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: great deal of respect for for Brian Cashman and and 352 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: and and Boone and the crew, and what they've done 353 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 1: has been remarkable. It's been a great rivalry and and 354 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: and hopefully we'll both be battling it out in the 355 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: Al East this year. But off the field, when you 356 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: think about what health Teim Brenner and Randy Levin and 357 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: the group has done with you know, selling the S 358 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: network and buying it back and taking on all sorts 359 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 1: of strategic partners and you have a company like Amazon 360 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: in the mix, it's it's really exciting to see what 361 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: they're gonna do. So yeah, we'll be watching it carefully, 362 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: um and we'll watch the results and see how it 363 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: goes because we are in that business. We own in 364 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 1: partnership with Jeremy Jacobs and the Bruins, we own the 365 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: New England Sports Network and so we will be watching 366 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: very carefully and we won't be afraid to steal a 367 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 1: really good idea is well speaking and speaking along those lines, Sam, 368 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: you know you mentioned the broad portfolio that that Fenway 369 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: has and I'm especially interested in in what you may 370 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: have picked up in your work with Liverpool because you know, 371 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 1: obviously a different sport, but a global one, a very 372 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:24,719 Speaker 1: successful franchise and team that's part of the family. You know, 373 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: what do you pick and choose from as you look 374 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: across the portfolio that that you then put into practice 375 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: for the socks. Well, I'll tell you it's interesting. We 376 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: we uh, we got involved with English soccer first that 377 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: you know, it's star getting it starts small and then 378 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: I can grow. Um. John Henry and Tom Warner launched 379 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: the Fenway Sports management business and our first flore in 380 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:51,120 Speaker 1: the English soccer was we pitched Fulham, which is an 381 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: English Premier League club that's sort of back and forth 382 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: between the Premier League and the Championship Division, constantly on 383 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: the verge of relegation or promotion, right and it's exactly 384 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 1: a stressful place to be for sure. But our little 385 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 1: group here worked with them and their commercial director. I'm 386 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: trying to find a sponsor for the front of their shirt, 387 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 1: especially covering the North American region. Um, that got us 388 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: into it. And then when Liverpool was going through some 389 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: financial difficulties, are group stepped in and so we've learned 390 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: a ton. I mean, I'm one of these uh uh, 391 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: you know Americans who absolutely did not understand global football, 392 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: the passion, how big it actually is, why it's so exciting, 393 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 1: and now it's become a huge Liverpool fan. It's obviously 394 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 1: good to say that because I worked with John Henry 395 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: and Tom, but I really am into it. And Billy Hogan, 396 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: who's the CEO of Liverpool, was a Fenway Sports management 397 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: alone and we've got a great connection. Um. A lot 398 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: of the same principles apply on the business side with 399 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: respect to negotiating broadcast agreements and ticketing and events and 400 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: marketing retail on the on the football side, football operations, 401 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: soccer operations and baseball operations. Those guys are constantly talking 402 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 1: back and forth about, you know how the differences and 403 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: best practices and respect to deploying the analytics. It's really interesting. 404 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: Alex Cora has become a huge Liverpool fans, a massive 405 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: Rignan klop fan. Um, I wouldn't say that the Liverpool folks, 406 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: I don't think we've converted them totally to be baseball fans. 407 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: They're still trying to figure the sport out. As foreign 408 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: as we we ma think soccer is, baseball is even 409 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: more foreign, especially given the makeup of our roster over 410 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: in Liverpool, we're represented by just about every continent in 411 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: the world. It's really cool how global the game is 412 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 1: and the following and the passion and so it's been 413 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: it's been great to to learn a little bit and 414 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 1: share ideas and and and in the end, look, it's 415 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: it's a zero sum game for all of us. You 416 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: gotta win. I'm sure the people are overseas are thinking, 417 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: let's this weird cricket game and I'm watching right right 418 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: exactly exactly. Well, cricket goes on for days, as you know, 419 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: so our games, if they go four hours, we complain, 420 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 1: but well we don't go on for days. I am 421 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: a huge supporter of minor league baseball and obviously, as 422 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 1: we all know, last year was just a disaster. What happened. 423 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 1: Where do you see the future of minor league baseball heading? 424 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:33,120 Speaker 1: And can it rebound? Yeah? I really think it can, 425 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 1: and I think it's actually very very well positioned now 426 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: for the future. We went through exactly what you said. 427 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 1: It was a disaster losing a season and at a 428 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: time when we were downsizing two D twenty clubs UM, 429 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,400 Speaker 1: which which was difficult I know in in some communities, 430 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: even communities here in New England. But we kind of 431 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: have things right size now and I think that the 432 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty teams with in great markets and great 433 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:07,199 Speaker 1: facilities are positioned well to to rebound. And there's nothing 434 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: better in terms of fun, affordable family entertainment and minor 435 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: league baseball, especially when you have affiliates the way we do. 436 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: We're blessed to be in Portland, Maine, and UM and Worcester, Massachusetts, 437 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: you know, being local here. We've got the stars of 438 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: the future playing in New England. Obviously we're down in Salem, Virginia, 439 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: in Greenville, South Carolina as well, but we we really 440 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 1: think that it will be a much better year. We're 441 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: hoping to kick off the Triple A season in early May, 442 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 1: along with the rest of the minor league baseball season 443 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: following shortly behind. We missed a whole year of development, 444 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: which is really bad, so we're hoping to get going 445 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 1: with uh with you know, managing COVID and getting back 446 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: on track here in twenty one. So Sam, I'm the 447 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 1: big logistics guy of the group. So Mike Lynch is 448 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: coming to opening day. He bought two tickets. I know 449 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 1: that just flew at half of worship right there. Mike 450 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: actually bought to what he did you do that? So 451 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: I'm coming to the ballpark. What do I need with me? 452 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,120 Speaker 1: Do I need proof of vaccination? Do I need a mask? 453 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 1: Do I need? What do I need? Great question? Well, 454 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: first of all, we asked for everyone's patient patients, because 455 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: especially people like my eight year old father who might 456 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: not be as quick with their mobile device. But number one, 457 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 1: all the all the tickets are being delivered electronically through 458 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: the red Sox app on your on your phone. UM 459 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: and I won't go into all the details, but if 460 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: anyone needs any help with that, they can get go 461 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:44,199 Speaker 1: to red sox dot com and it's very clear how 462 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,880 Speaker 1: you download. We what we all went through the customer 463 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 1: experience to see what it's like. Uh went through the 464 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: TV garden procedures the other night to see how that went. 465 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: They went prayed. So electronic ticketings number one. A mask 466 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: is number two. When you come in we're going to 467 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,119 Speaker 1: record wire masks and then we just ask that people 468 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: stay in their their their seating pod. Obviously the restrooms 469 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,640 Speaker 1: and the concession stands are going to be marked with 470 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,880 Speaker 1: markers for social distancing and the like. Um. And then 471 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:15,640 Speaker 1: you know, other than that, let's uh, let's let's let's 472 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: hope for a couple three round homers from the Red 473 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,640 Speaker 1: Sox and uh seven eight nine innings from nybe Vivaldi 474 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: and we'll go from there. Sam, So let me follow 475 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:28,400 Speaker 1: this up. Everyone has a plan to getting into these stadiums. 476 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 1: What is the exit strategy? Because you know, if you know, 477 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: if you're up nine nothing in the seventh, everyone might 478 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: be running to catch the subway. Will everybody be able 479 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: to leave the ballpark at the same time? Great questions. 480 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, well, first of all, if if you're leaving early, 481 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: don't even bother coming right exactly just as a little guy, 482 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 1: you never leave sent Away Park early. In this ballpark, 483 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: anything could happen. But yeah, our our service reps are 484 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: are going to be working with the patriots in each 485 00:28:56,600 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: section for an orderly sort of church style exit believe 486 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: it or not, you know, with with with twelve percent capacity, uh, 487 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: it's really low and and the ingress and the graph 488 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: I don't want to under downplay it. It's important that 489 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: we follow procedures and protocols. But with that small of 490 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: a crowd, I think our fans will find it very 491 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: easy to get in and out. UM. It will you know, 492 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: hopefully be expanding as we get into the warmer weather 493 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: and and let's call it post vaccination days, but for now, 494 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: we think it should be orderly. And yeah, if you 495 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: just pay attention to our public service announcements and uh 496 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: and the fan service reps, who I can't tell you 497 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: how excited they are to be back here. We've had 498 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: intake testing for COVID testing for all of our employees 499 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: or the last forty eight hours, and UM, people who 500 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: are eligible to get vaccinated or getting vaccinated, so it 501 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: will be safe. We're outdoors, you'll be wearing a mask. 502 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: And uh, we we have not seen across the country 503 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: and I knocked on wood. I crossed my fingers into 504 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 1: as we have not seen any outbreaks related to sporting events, 505 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: which is really important. And so I think that gave 506 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: the governor, Lieutenant governor, our mayor UM the confidence to 507 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: to push forward here with this plan for the garden 508 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: and for Fenway Park and Joe Stadium soon enough, and 509 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: so saying before we let you go, got to ask 510 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: you about one for so many reasons. Going to be 511 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: a critical year for the world, really, but for baseball 512 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 1: specifically getting back to business, but also the business of 513 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 1: that pesky c b A that you're going to have 514 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 1: to renegotiate. What are the critical elements going into that, 515 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 1: especially given some of the drama that we saw last summer, 516 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:44,719 Speaker 1: trying to get everybody on the same page. How are 517 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: you feeling about it? What's on your mind? Yeah, well, 518 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: it's a it's a really important year obviously, um tisher 519 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 1: Manfred and executive director Tony Clark, who's former Red Sock 520 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: by the way and a great guy. And I just 521 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: I just hope that there's uh, there's productive conversations early 522 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: and often, as we say in sports, and let's get 523 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: the two sides talking and get to a place where, 524 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 1: um we find common ground and alignment of interests. We've 525 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: got uh the greatest sport in the world. Uh, an 526 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 1: industry that pre COVID was incredibly healthy and now that 527 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: is in major recovery mode. The good news is they're still, um, 528 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 1: you know, revenues are going to start to come back. 529 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: Players are still finding big contrast, big deal, so owners 530 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 1: have been willing to invest, and so, UM, I just 531 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 1: hope both sides, you know, begin dialogue early and we 532 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 1: find alignment of interest and keep this labor piece going, 533 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 1: which we've enjoyed now for many decades and it's really 534 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: served the game. Well. So I'm an optimistic person, as 535 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 1: lyndsay knows, by nature, and I'm really optimistic that both 536 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: sides will will will come to an agreement. And but 537 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: I'm glad that's obviously, uh, several layers above my pay grade. 538 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: So I can, I can root from the sidelines of 539 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: a fan and we'll just keep doing our thing here 540 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 1: in Boston. Well, Sam, you're very generous of your time, 541 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: and uh, I hope you get to see the miracle 542 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: of Lynch buying a ticket to your ball park for 543 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 1: too long, and you know, who knows, maybe maybe we'll 544 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: all show up on your doorstep one time with tickets 545 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: on our phone taking a game by buying the ticket 546 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: isn't the miracle If you can figure out how to 547 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 1: use his ballpark, app well played, well played, you said 548 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: it so we didn't have to see. Great great to 549 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: be with you guys. Come see us at Fenway. We will, 550 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 1: we will, thank you so much. Thanks well, guys. A 551 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 1: little bit of a homecoming there for for Lynch, you know, 552 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 1: sort of meat and meet and greet with the with 553 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: the boss of you know, really one of the most 554 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 1: impressive franchises by any measure, uh, across all of sports. 555 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 1: I mean, this has been a story that obviously you 556 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 1: have followed more intimately than than almost anyone, Lynchy. But 557 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 1: you know, this is a guy who has been there 558 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 1: for the crowning decades now of of this Boston Red 559 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:19,400 Speaker 1: Sox team. It's a great success story. He grew up 560 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 1: literally one mile from fem Way Park in Brookline and 561 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 1: worked his way up. He went out and worked with 562 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 1: the Padres for a little while, came back here, he 563 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: helped build their spring training facility, Jet Blue Park down 564 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 1: in Fort Myers, and he has risen up to the 565 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 1: presidency and CEO of the Red Sox. It's a great 566 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,400 Speaker 1: success story. He's a congenial guy, he's a smart guy. 567 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: He listens, Uh, his employees all love him, and he's 568 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 1: very much restricted respected around Major League Baseball. Bar what 569 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 1: what did you think. I liked your question about the 570 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 1: minor league parts. It feels like there's a little bit 571 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 1: more optimism coming into the minor league side, um optimism 572 00:33:57,600 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 1: that was not there a year ago. That's for sure, 573 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 1: certainly last summer. Yeah, I I always worry about the 574 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: minor league game, and I've always I've said it many 575 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: times and I'll say it again. Yes, major league baseball 576 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: is going to be king. But if you want to 577 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:13,759 Speaker 1: take your family to see something affordable, if you want 578 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:15,600 Speaker 1: to go out and have some fun, if you want 579 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 1: some three dollar beers or whatever, go to a minor 580 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 1: league baseball game. The food is reasonable reason and the 581 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,439 Speaker 1: price is right, and kids can have a lot of fun. 582 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:30,839 Speaker 1: I mean, they have all those promotions where you know, 583 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:34,879 Speaker 1: people are throwing marshmallows and moving cars and everything like that. 584 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 1: I want to see that continue, and I'm and I'm 585 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 1: hoping that it will. The future will be brighter for 586 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:47,440 Speaker 1: minor league baseball and and people will go to those games. So, Lynchy, 587 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:50,239 Speaker 1: how you feeling about the Red Sox these days. I 588 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:53,319 Speaker 1: don't think it's going to be a great season for them. Uh. 589 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 1: They probably they'll finish ahead of the Orioles in the 590 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:58,920 Speaker 1: American League East. Um, they had the best outfield in baseball, 591 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: like eighteen months ago with Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. 592 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:05,480 Speaker 1: And of the Killer Bees. All three Bees Bets traded 593 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:08,719 Speaker 1: to the Dodgers, been intended traded to Kansas City, and 594 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:14,040 Speaker 1: Bradley signs with the Milwaukee Brewers. So Xander Bogas is 595 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: really your go to guy and J. D. Martinez will 596 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 1: be the designated hitter. But you know they had a 597 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 1: great pitching staff before. They had Rick Porcello, who want 598 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 1: to say Young Award, They had David Price, who want 599 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 1: to say Young Award? All these guys are gone. Now 600 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,400 Speaker 1: they had Water Rodriguez, and they had Valio the two pictures. 601 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: So they get their work cut off for them this year. Yeah, 602 00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 1: it'll be interesting to see how the season plays out. 603 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:37,360 Speaker 1: I mean that a l East is never never a 604 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: dull moment. There is, uh As Sam alluded to. You know, 605 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:43,279 Speaker 1: I was also fascinated, and I was glad that he 606 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: didn't um demurred too much about it. You know, this 607 00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: edition of Lebron James and Maverick Carter to to the 608 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:52,960 Speaker 1: ownership group and he mentioned the banker who is sort 609 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: of pulled all this together Paul Walker. Um, that's a 610 00:35:56,600 --> 00:36:00,839 Speaker 1: big deal and and I think a sign uh of 611 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 1: a very progressive ownership group in many ways. And I 612 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:09,080 Speaker 1: also and you obviously know this as well, Lynchy and 613 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 1: and he he took it straight on. Uh, you know, 614 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 1: the past of Boston is something that everybody has to 615 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:19,360 Speaker 1: reckon with and and this is an interesting and important 616 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 1: step for that ownership group, which really, you know, two 617 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:26,120 Speaker 1: decades or so, John Henry and Tom Werner have have 618 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 1: owned that that team and the entire portfolio that they've built, 619 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 1: and uh, they have they have built a model in 620 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:36,320 Speaker 1: many ways. So obviously watched this space. You've been watching 621 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: it for a long time. But I think that was 622 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,759 Speaker 1: another important element of that discussion with all question and 623 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,239 Speaker 1: this ownership has been very proactive. A former owner of 624 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 1: the Red Sox, Tom Yaki, who who had very questionable 625 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:53,080 Speaker 1: racial practices. The street was named after him outside they 626 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:54,880 Speaker 1: got the City of Boston to remove the name and 627 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:57,399 Speaker 1: now it's back to its original named Jersey Street. So 628 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 1: they're very serious about this. Um. I think it's a 629 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:03,120 Speaker 1: great move. And you know, Sam was great because if 630 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:04,800 Speaker 1: there were no secrets with Sam, he goes because the 631 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:07,320 Speaker 1: steel is an official but Sam basically told you it's official, 632 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:10,320 Speaker 1: which is great. So for for for all kinds, this 633 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: hare's so much significance on so many levels. It's America's 634 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:19,200 Speaker 1: past time. Put me in Lynchy Pig. That's something not 635 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:21,000 Speaker 1: in German number kids. It feels better to be a 636 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:23,160 Speaker 1: number one than number five. I'll wear a number because 637 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 1: of mine. We have a chance to go for three 638 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:26,359 Speaker 1: in a row, good numbers of a good time. When 639 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 1: I first started wearing the number, I would just have 640 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:32,399 Speaker 1: the Ploomberg business at sports the number of the week. 641 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 1: All right, let's do the number of Look, oh boy, 642 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,560 Speaker 1: all right. You know it's got to be a baseball theme. 643 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:50,359 Speaker 1: So in this and I'm dating now, November nineteen fifty two, 644 00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: tops Mickey Mantel baseball card sold for this amount. The 645 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:02,799 Speaker 1: blond card I think was like around seven or eight. Yeah, 646 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:05,520 Speaker 1: you would think it would be. I think you'd be 647 00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:08,759 Speaker 1: more than that, But you got a guess, Lynching, I 648 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 1: can get one if I want to go, like five million. 649 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:14,719 Speaker 1: I think it's more than that, but I don't want 650 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 1: to go. I want to I'm gonna price prices right 651 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:21,359 Speaker 1: the heck out of this one, Um, I'm gonna go 652 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:29,719 Speaker 1: five million dollars, five million and one dollars just to 653 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:35,760 Speaker 1: get you, just to get gets five point two million dollars. 654 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 1: And I'm trying so hard to keep quiet, like, yeah, 655 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:48,359 Speaker 1: I didn't even get the benefit of us Jesus, Like yeah, 656 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:53,600 Speaker 1: it's h that Uh that actually that's low. I feel 657 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:55,760 Speaker 1: like that's low. I mean it's a lot of money, 658 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,279 Speaker 1: but I mean, Lynchi, wouldn't you think I don't know 659 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,200 Speaker 1: that this is all of us showing our age, but 660 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 1: I would think a rookie card would be I think 661 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:06,200 Speaker 1: you mean a rookie card be more than that. You 662 00:39:06,239 --> 00:39:08,279 Speaker 1: know what I'm thinking right now, I'm thinking about my father. 663 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:15,000 Speaker 1: Here we go. I'm sorry, subject Lynch Senior looking down 664 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:17,759 Speaker 1: as like is he ever gonna let this go? Seriously? 665 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 1: Things turned out okay. I want to bring up a 666 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:25,759 Speaker 1: question about you teaching writing checks man, when you were 667 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:34,000 Speaker 1: a teacher balancing the checkbook. Oh well, happy opening day 668 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:37,080 Speaker 1: and opening weekend. Everyone. This has been it's a fun 669 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,560 Speaker 1: show to catch up with all these guys. And yeah, 670 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:41,759 Speaker 1: a baseball card. If if Lynch you still had his 671 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,279 Speaker 1: baseball cards, he he actually would buy a ticket to 672 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:46,680 Speaker 1: uh to finn Waite Park. Well, you've been listening to 673 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Businesses Sports. We're here each and every week for 674 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:51,680 Speaker 1: you at the same time, plus online wherever you get 675 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:55,080 Speaker 1: your podcast. Catch those Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the meantime. 676 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:57,839 Speaker 1: Find me on Twitter Jason Kelly at Jason Kelly News 677 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,480 Speaker 1: and I'm Mike Lynch. Happy Opening Day everybody, and sorry 678 00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:03,000 Speaker 1: Michael Barr about Michigan not being in the final four. 679 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:05,880 Speaker 1: I'm Micha Lynch. You can follow me at Lynch w CVV. 680 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 1: Oh we didn't have enough Kleenex in this house. I'm 681 00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:11,719 Speaker 1: Michael Barr on Twitter at Big Bar Sports. You did 682 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,560 Speaker 1: a great job, Jaman. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of 683 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:18,719 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world.