1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. This is the business 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: of sports. 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: Our aim is always to leverage the global appeal of football. 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 2: Having representation in college sports is even more important than crow. 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,159 Speaker 2: Ten percent of Americans now claimed sock up to be 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 2: the favorite sport. 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: We estimate the UTH sports audience has three trillion dollars 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: in spending power. The nature of baseball is it is worldwide, 9 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: it is exploring. 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 3: I'm very happy for the WNBA and how the NBA 11 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 3: has embraced them. Sports books are not going anywhere, and 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 3: sports betting is only growing. 13 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 4: We have a super team running this league, and this 14 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 4: league is here and it's here to stay. 15 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 16 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 3: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports that we explore 17 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 3: the big money issues in the l of sports. 18 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 4: I'm Michael Barr, I'm gonna Prodoo Maglion, and. 19 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 5: I'm Randa Williams. 20 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 3: Coming up today, we are going to be talking about 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 3: Formula one with Racing Bulls Formula one team CEO Peter Bayer. 22 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 4: We are also going to speaking to one of the 23 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 4: co founders of Athletes Unlimited to discuss there recently wrapped 24 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 4: up second season of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. 25 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,559 Speaker 3: But before all that, Randall is actually joining us from 26 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 3: the Bloomberg DC Bureau, where he got a chance to 27 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 3: speak with Washington Commander's president Mark Klaus in a Bloomberg 28 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 3: Newsmaker's fireside conversation. 29 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 5: Yep, Mark and I chatted all things Commanders, including their 30 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 5: new stadium, which is estimated to be worth three point 31 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 5: eight billion dollars. If completed and they make that mark, 32 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 5: it'll be the second most expensive stadium ever built. But 33 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 5: of course they have four seasons to play or three 34 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 5: or four seasons left to play at Northwestfield. We talked, 35 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 5: of course about the team name. We talked the business 36 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 5: of the NFL's international aspirations and how Roger Goodell hopes 37 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 5: to build out a sixteen game international package. So it 38 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 5: was a wide ranging conversation. Mark was great. 39 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 4: Let's take a listen in to Andall's conversation with Mark Klaus, 40 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 4: President of the Washington Commanders. 41 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 5: Mark, thank you for doing this. 42 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 3: It's been to be here. 43 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 5: It's been about eighteen months since you took the job. 44 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 5: A little over that. We met right at the NFL 45 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 5: League meeting last year. Remember well, somewhere on the West coast. 46 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 5: But for those of you who don't know Mark, Mark Is, 47 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 5: before he was in the football business, had a very prevalent. 48 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 3: Past in the food industry. 49 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 5: Right, So when the commander's role team president opened up, 50 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,679 Speaker 5: what peaud your interest about it? That seems like a 51 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 5: dramatic shift from food team president. 52 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 6: Well, other than being you know, probably every twelve or 53 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 6: thirteen year old boys dream to work on a sports team. 54 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 6: For me personally, there were a variety of things. And 55 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 6: first of all, I should say loved, you know, feel 56 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 6: very lucky to have been able to spend the time 57 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 6: I did with the Campbell's Company, and that journey was 58 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,519 Speaker 6: an extraordinary guest. And you know, I was lucky enough 59 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 6: that I had a great successor there ready to go 60 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 6: and thinking about the next chapter. My life and so 61 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 6: many things in my life have revolved around sports, and 62 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 6: my you know, perspective was in this next chapter. I 63 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 6: wanted to try to go do something different, but I 64 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 6: wanted to be able to bring some of the things 65 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 6: that I had learned or that experienced and turning around 66 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 6: businesses or transforming brands. And you know, I couldn't have 67 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 6: found a better owner in Josh Harris and what Josh 68 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 6: has done consistently, what his vision was for the Commanders. 69 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 6: I don't think there's any mystery. We were a team 70 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 6: in transition on a lot of different levels, and that 71 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 6: opportunity to come into sports but also bring some things 72 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 6: to the table that are relevant from my past, I 73 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 6: thought was just this perfect mix. And so I went 74 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 6: through a very rigorous interview process, as Josh does most 75 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 6: things and his business life, but I think the combination 76 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 6: of those areas as well as the evolving world of sports, 77 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 6: and I'm sure we'll talk about that more made for 78 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 6: just really a match made in heaven and so be happier. 79 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 5: Based on your previous history. What is the biggest difference 80 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 5: that you find between corporate culture and team culture. 81 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 6: Well, it's you know, I tell people a lot of 82 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 6: times it's been kind of like fifty to fifty, right, 83 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,239 Speaker 6: Fifty percent of this are things that I know very well. 84 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 6: Like you know, the business is kind of the business. 85 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 6: It's not a particularly complicated business model. Doesn't mean it's simple, 86 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 6: but it's not particularly complicated. A lot of the organizational 87 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,799 Speaker 6: demands of what you're trying to do to set clarity 88 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 6: of direction and build culture very very consistent, but there 89 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 6: are some things that are quite different. I affectionately say 90 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 6: to people sometimes that there were many. 91 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 7: People that like soup. 92 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 6: These guys love football, right, and it's a different level 93 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 6: of passion, and that makes for this this kind of 94 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 6: added I think level of responsibility, I would say, or this, 95 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 6: you know, at least for me personally, feeling like, you know, 96 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 6: the things that we do, we've really got to get 97 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 6: done right. And you know, as it relates to culture, 98 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 6: I honestly think there's more like than there is difference. 99 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 6: You know, this was an organization that had gone through 100 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 6: some tough times, and I think in many ways we 101 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 6: started kind of at the beginning again re establishing what 102 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 6: the purpose and the values of the organization was going 103 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 6: to be. Would never have come if I didn't have 104 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,679 Speaker 6: that alignment with Josh, who's got a very clear view 105 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 6: of how we want to do things and it's exactly 106 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 6: the way that that you know, I believe. 107 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 7: We should be doing it. 108 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 6: And so establishing that for an organization, and you know, 109 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 6: you evaluate the talent, do I've got the right piece? 110 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 6: People in the right shares a lot of really you know, 111 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 6: credit to Jason who had the job before me certainly 112 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 6: brought in some really talented folks, and so for me, 113 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 6: it felt very familiar. Most of my career on the 114 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 6: business side has been spent in businesses that were in turnarounds, 115 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 6: and you know, a lot of that playbook we applied here. 116 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 6: So probably from a cultural standpoint, I'd say more similarities 117 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 6: than differences. 118 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 5: Interesting a couple of years ago, when the Commanders, Jane 119 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 5: Daniels had been drafted and the Commanders are riding high, 120 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 5: I wrote this story that said the Commanders are the 121 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 5: most exciting team in the NFL, and I talked to 122 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 5: Josh about it, and I talked to some season ticket holders, 123 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 5: I talked to some fans, and one of the fans 124 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 5: that I spoke to said, you know, the previous ownership 125 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 5: was the previous ownership, but it feels like Josh owns 126 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 5: the team on behalf of the fans, and it feels 127 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 5: like he's one of us. Can you speak to that 128 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 5: side of him, maybe the passion that Josh has about 129 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 5: this team. 130 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think you know, there's no mystery in how 131 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 6: Josh and the broader ownership group has approached the team. 132 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 6: I think they've been very very clear that this is 133 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 6: more than just about a business right. Obviously, putting a 134 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 6: product on the field. The hiring of Adam Peters and 135 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 6: Dan Quinn were great first steps in the right direction. Obviously, 136 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 6: drafting Jaden and the commitment to investment and ensuring that 137 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 6: winning and championship football is part of what we're bringing 138 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 6: to our fans is obviously paramount. But I would also 139 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 6: say that the things that also make fans proud of 140 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 6: their franchise is also very important to Josh. So you know, 141 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 6: how we reflect on the heritage of the team, how 142 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 6: we treat our legends, how we engage and interact with 143 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 6: the community, all of that has been elevated as a 144 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 6: very significant priority in the agenda. And you know, to 145 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 6: be perfectly honest, we had some work to do there 146 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 6: rebuilding trust in those relationships in some cases were very important. 147 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 6: But from you know, day one, the clarity that Josh 148 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 6: has had on this, and you know, I think it's 149 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 6: born from you know, who he is, but it's also 150 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 6: born from the fact that he grew up here. This 151 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 6: in many ways is his team. Like he grew up 152 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 6: as a fan. He you know, treasured moments where he 153 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 6: was going to the stadium and to the game, and 154 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 6: I think that responsibility shapes a lot of his thinking. 155 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 6: But I will tell you in watching him more broadly 156 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 6: across the business world, he he brings very similar values 157 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 6: to those businesses as well. And that's something that I 158 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 6: really admire and you know, as someone who's working for him, 159 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 6: and that ecosystem is really encouraging. 160 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 5: So let's stay on business and sponsorship, I think is 161 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 5: something that is really important to NFL teams in terms 162 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 5: of the revenue that they're able to bring in. There's 163 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 5: no secret that before for Josh Harris's time that commanders, 164 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 5: the value of the commanders had decreased over time due 165 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 5: to a multitude of situations. But since then, I believe 166 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 5: there was a report last year that came out from 167 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 5: the Athletic and ESPN that said the commander's sponsorship revenue 168 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 5: was in the top third of the league. What has 169 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 5: your conversations or what have your conversations been like with 170 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 5: these sponsors who are now once again excited and being 171 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 5: welcomed back into the stadium. 172 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 6: Well, not that we're competitive or anything, but we are 173 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 6: actually in the top ten. 174 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 5: Now, excuse me, give. 175 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 6: A long way from where we were. No, we're I 176 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,839 Speaker 6: think you know again. I approached this through a couple 177 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 6: different lenses. The first is recognizing that building trust with 178 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 6: our partners was really important, and so spending time better understanding, 179 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 6: you know, what their concerns were, what their opportunities were, 180 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 6: was a big part of our outreach. There's no question 181 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 6: that improved performance on the football field helps. 182 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 7: Those things are. 183 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 6: Certainly part of the you know, kind of the algorithm, 184 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 6: but we want to also be able to control the 185 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 6: variables that we can control. And so, you know, part 186 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 6: of what's helped me a little bit as I sat 187 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 6: on the other side of that table for many, many 188 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 6: years in the food business as a client, and so 189 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 6: what we've tried to do is adapt our model on 190 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 6: sponsorship from what used to be. 191 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 7: And it drove me crazy. 192 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 6: Are these very pedestrian conversations on how many signs do I. 193 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 7: Get my name on or No. 194 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 6: What we want to understand is what a business's goals 195 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 6: and challenges are. We want to establish a strategy where 196 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 6: we're able to address those those goals or those KPIs, 197 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 6: and then we want to hold ourselves accountable. So I'll 198 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 6: sit down with our top sponsors and you know, we'll 199 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 6: reflect on the past year. What were the goals we 200 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 6: agreed upon? Did we deliver upon that? 201 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 7: Yes? Great? 202 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 6: Or know what did we need to do differently to adjust? 203 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 6: And so what we're trying to do is differentiate ourselves. 204 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 6: At the same time, we're recovering from a period where 205 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 6: we weren't performing at the levels that we want. And 206 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 6: you know, I fully anticipate being in the geography we're in, 207 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 6: the team we have and the vision that we've got 208 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 6: going forward that you know, being in the top ten 209 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 6: is a great you know, measuring stick. But you know, 210 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 6: we we want to we want to chase the that 211 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 6: number one. Those those guys down in Dallas, we want 212 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 6: to go after them, and uh, they've set a great 213 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 6: bar for us. But uh, but I think we have 214 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 6: the ability to compete in almost every aspect of the 215 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 6: business with uh, with the best in class teams. 216 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 5: What area of the business do you think has the 217 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 5: most room to grow based on your first eighteen months 218 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 5: of the job. 219 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean there's no question that you know, one 220 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 6: of the things that that great teams have is this 221 00:11:54,720 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 6: loyal season ticket member fan base, right and you have 222 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 6: to earn that, like you don't you don't just get 223 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 6: that like you've got to that's a combination of what 224 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,839 Speaker 6: you're doing on the football field, but also the experience 225 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 6: for our fans when they come. And so when I 226 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 6: look at where we started from relative to other teams, 227 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 6: we were well behind. And so a lot of my 228 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 6: energy has been on trying to rebuild that season ticket 229 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 6: base because my feeling is, you know, those are our 230 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 6: most committed fans. Those are the folks that are investing 231 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 6: the most, you know, hard earned money on the experience, 232 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 6: and that's why we're doing You see a lot of 233 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 6: our marketing and what we're doing geared toward them. 234 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 5: That's a part of my conversation with Mark Klaus, president 235 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 5: of the Washington Commanders. You can hear more of it 236 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 5: now on the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. Get that 237 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 5: on Apple, Spotify, the Bloomberg Business app or wherever you 238 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 5: get your podcasts. 239 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 4: Coming up, we switched gears to talk about a true 240 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 4: summer sport, softball and how has the potential to be 241 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 4: the next big women's sport. 242 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 3: That is straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of sportscour 243 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 3: But that's it Belmo magleone and Randall Williams. I'm Michael Barr. 244 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 3: You are listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg 245 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 3: Radio around the world. 246 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 247 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 3: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We explore the 248 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 3: big money issues in the world of sports. 249 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,959 Speaker 4: I'm Michael Barr, I'm minn Si, Prodomo Maglione and Randa Williams. 250 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 3: He is on assignment in Washington. Now, let's dig into 251 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 3: a rising sport growing extremely popular at the college level 252 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 3: with a new path at the professional level. Softball. 253 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 4: This year, the College World Series was the most watch ever, 254 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 4: with Game two of the championship bringing in two point 255 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 4: two million viewers. 256 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 3: To talk more about how softball is growing at the 257 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 3: collegiate and professional level, we are joined by John Patrick Hoff, 258 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 3: CEO and co founder of Athletes Unlimited. John, Welcome to 259 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 3: the Bloomberg Business of Sports. I am always excited when 260 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,680 Speaker 3: you talk about women's sports because it is growing like 261 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 3: a week. 262 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 2: Well, great to be here with you, and thanks so 263 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,199 Speaker 2: much for making the time and it is Indeed, it's 264 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 2: still very early days and there's a lot to talk 265 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 2: about and a lot of opportunities still left to pursue. 266 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 2: And we couldn't be more excited at Athletes Unlimited for 267 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: what's happening in softball and beyond. 268 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, we'll get into the whole thing, and 269 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 4: I do want to take a step back quickly. I'm 270 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 4: go want to talk about softball because you just wrapped 271 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 4: up the second season of Athletes in a softball league. 272 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 4: But taking a step back for people who don't know 273 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 4: what Athletes Unlimited is and where you started, I mean, 274 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 4: you started investing in women's sports before the industry really 275 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 4: took you know, took Heed and back in twenty twenty. 276 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 4: You saw something there and you started Athletes Ulimited, but 277 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 4: then you invested more into softball. So can you tell 278 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 4: us just about all of that and how the softball 279 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 4: league came to be as well? 280 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 6: Absolutely so. 281 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 2: We launched Athletes Unlimited on March third of twenty twenty, 282 00:14:56,080 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 2: great time, starting before COVID, great timing, and we kicked 283 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 2: off really with a huge belief in the opportunity around 284 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 2: around pro women's sports. We launched in softball and then 285 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 2: we added leagues over the coming years and other sports, 286 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 2: and in twenty twenty four we were then operating in 287 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 2: portfolio leagues. We really saw the sort of sport of 288 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 2: softball as the place where there was the biggest untapped opportunity. 289 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: We decided to double down in a very big way, 290 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 2: and we announced the launch of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, 291 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 2: which ended up playing its first season last year twenty 292 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 2: twenty five, and we've just completed our second regular season 293 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 2: last weekend, and honestly, the growth has been meteoric. The 294 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: stakes in women's sports have grown, the required capital has grown, 295 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 2: the expectations of fans, sponsors, athletes have grown. And that's 296 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 2: all great, and you know, we're excited to have been 297 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 2: one of the first and earliest to kind of see 298 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 2: the opportunity. And this journey, I think has prepared us 299 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 2: really well for this moment. We've learned a lot, we've 300 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 2: made a lot of you know, we've done a lot. 301 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 3: Of great things. 302 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 2: We've also made some mistakes and you always learn from 303 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: those mistakes as well as from those good things, and 304 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 2: so that's prepared us incredibly well for this softball season 305 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 2: which just concluded, and really to record numbers on all fronts. 306 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 2: And ultimately it's about driving and building a huge business 307 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 2: and we couldn't be more excited for where we sit. 308 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 3: We're talking with John Patrick off CEO and co founder 309 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 3: of Athletes Unlimited, and I want to get your reaction. 310 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:32,119 Speaker 3: We were talking about this off mic. But billionaire Larry Tannenbaum, 311 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 3: he owns the Toronto Temple. He's focusing on women's basketball 312 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 3: after selling his steak in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment 313 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 3: for the equivalent of about three point one billion dollars. 314 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 3: And a lot of it is because he is seeing 315 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:51,359 Speaker 3: growth in revenue in the WNBA with the average franchise 316 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 3: and this is cool to say, is now worth four 317 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 3: hundred and twenty seven million dollars. John, you know, back 318 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 3: in the day, you wouldn't even see fifty. Absolutely. 319 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 2: I mean, back in twenty twenty, w NBA teams were 320 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 2: selling for ten million dollars. In WSL teams were selling 321 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 2: for two. It's been it's been dramatic. Franchise values have grown, 322 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: I think truthfully catching up with where you know, a 323 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 2: lot of the data pointed in that direction even back then. 324 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 2: I mean you could see big audiences tuning in when 325 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 2: when these games were on broadcast networks, when they were 326 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 2: getting the type of promotion and investment, and it's a 327 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:34,479 Speaker 2: virtuous cycle and you know investors. Larry is a is 328 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 2: a usually ahead of the game. You know, he certainly 329 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 2: was with MLS and other sports investments he made. And 330 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 2: I think obviously you know him and many other investors 331 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 2: are also coming in now, and I think that just 332 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 2: shows that it's still very early days. I think in 333 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 2: the sport of softball, we have a unique situation with 334 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:57,439 Speaker 2: athletes unlimited. We are a single entity. We own and 335 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 2: operate all of the teams. So there's six teams in 336 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: our league and we and Major League Baseball, who's our 337 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 2: co investor along with Mark Attanasio, Reed Nolan Ryan. We 338 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 2: have a great group and we are really set up 339 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 2: not just as owner of teams, but also the owners 340 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 2: of the league, and that gives us a lot of 341 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 2: opportunity and a lot of control over the future of 342 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 2: the sport. And we look at the w NBA and 343 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 2: the NWSL and you know, we think we're you know, 344 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 2: the next you know, great women's sports league that are 345 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 2: out there and great to be in great company with them. 346 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 4: I think that's such a great point and to what 347 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 4: Michael was saying kind of just about the growth of 348 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 4: the w n b A and seeing these franchise valuations 349 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 4: at the way that they are. But years ago, the 350 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,439 Speaker 4: w NBA have this problem that I feel like is 351 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 4: kind of going on with softball right now, just in 352 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,400 Speaker 4: the way that it's so popular at the collegiate level. 353 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 4: Right we used to see women's basketball so popular at 354 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 4: the collegiate level, but they weren't able to translate it 355 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 4: to the w n B A. So right now, women's 356 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 4: college softball is one of the fastest growing, you know, 357 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 4: college sports. It's so well watched. This year's College Championship 358 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 4: got two million viewers in game two, so it's continuously growing. 359 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 4: And that's obviously what you must have saw when you 360 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 4: decided to double down, like you said, and make the 361 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 4: athletes unlimited softball league. So tell me how you get 362 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 4: from the college viewership and translate that over to the 363 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 4: professional game, because I think that's that's that WNBA model, 364 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 4: right following in those sorts of footsteps. 365 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, So. Well, we have just concluded our second 366 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 2: regular season, and just to give you a sense of 367 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 2: kind of where we are, you know, our viewership on 368 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 2: ESPN increased over one hundred and eighty three percent over 369 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 2: last year. 370 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 3: So our final. 371 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 2: Game this season, we played our Championship. We had best 372 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: two out of three set. Our first game of that 373 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 2: series was on ABC, first time you had ever had 374 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 2: a pro softball game on broadcast television. We did seven 375 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 2: one hundred and thirty two thousand viewers. Game two then 376 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 2: was on ESPN, and we are just really crushing it 377 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 2: out all fronts. But you're absolutely right, a huge part 378 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 2: of the strategy is leaning into and working from the 379 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 2: momentum that exists in college softball. So our season started 380 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 2: June ninth, just a few days after the College World 381 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 2: Series finished. We had over fifty games on ESPN this 382 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 2: season and they are incredible partners. ESPN's an incredible partner. 383 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 2: Major League Baseball has been an incredible partner, and then 384 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 2: with college softball momentum as well. One of our most 385 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,640 Speaker 2: successful promotions was our Golden Ticket Moments, where we actually 386 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 2: handed out golden tickets to players after a regular season 387 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 2: game and surprised them that they were going to be 388 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 2: drafted into the league and it went viral and these 389 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 2: amazing moments. So we really lean into the college audience, 390 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,679 Speaker 2: but we also really have worked very closely with MLB 391 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 2: to work across all the MLB platforms and then ESPN, 392 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 2: who's been probably the biggest supporter of this board at 393 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 2: the college and pro level, and they've just been awesome 394 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 2: partners to us. 395 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 4: That you know number that you said, one hundred and 396 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 4: eighty three percent over you know, the year one for 397 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 4: you guys, what do you think that it was that 398 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 4: you've seen in that growth? Was it just the visibility? 399 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 4: Was it just awareness that now it's the second season, 400 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 4: people know about it a little bit more or what 401 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 4: did you do do you think to garner that type 402 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 4: of growth? 403 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 7: Yeah? 404 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 2: So, I mean I do think, you know, the momentum 405 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 2: builds and it does snowball, and that's that's certainly a 406 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: reality I think that we had, you know with twenty 407 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 2: twenty five, you know, we kicked off, we launched the 408 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 2: season in June. What really we had then, you know, 409 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: after we concluded season one was an entire off season 410 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 2: where we really didn't pick our foot off the pedal. 411 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 2: We had our college draft, we really leaned in with MLB, 412 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 2: We had a presence at spring training across the country, 413 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 2: and then we have also moved towards now a city 414 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 2: based format, so we went from four teams last year 415 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five. That were playing basically a touring model. 416 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 2: This year, we went to six teams and they were 417 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 2: all situated in home home markets and we played in 418 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 2: you know, we have six teams, one in Portland, one 419 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 2: in Austin, one in Salt Lake, Oklahoma City, Chicago, and 420 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 2: Rally Durham. And we saw the kind of feedback from 421 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 2: local fans really just off the chart, and and that 422 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 2: I think is another big push and as we look 423 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 2: ahead to the future, we clearly are thinking about, you know, 424 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 2: even further expansion. Softball really is a national sport. It 425 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,439 Speaker 2: plays really well in certain geographies in the country, but 426 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,719 Speaker 2: it has fans across the board. Portland's probably the biggest surprise. 427 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 2: People don't typically think of the Pacific Northwest for softball, 428 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: and we had sellouts across the board. Up importantly, had 429 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 2: twenty three sellouts across the country for for our games, 430 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,159 Speaker 2: and we saw fans come out everywhere. So this is 431 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,199 Speaker 2: a national sport with a lot of momentum. And you know, 432 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 2: I think for for any league, you know, you really 433 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 2: have to pull every lever here, and for us having 434 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 2: partnerships with MLB, having partnerships with ESPN, ridging college softball, 435 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 2: it all kind of feeds together to create that virtuous cycle. 436 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 3: We're talking with John Patrick, cooff, CEO and co founder 437 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 3: of Athletes Unlimited, and this is the just blunt cut 438 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 3: to the chase question. With the big growth now in 439 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 3: women's sports, what in the hell happened? Why it has 440 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 3: taken so long for that to take place? 441 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 2: You know, it's a reality. I feel like in business 442 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 2: across the board, where there is evidence, often out there 443 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 2: there's data, and honestly, it takes a few entrepreneurs. It 444 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 2: takes a few people to be ahead of the curve 445 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 2: and pay attention to it. I mean, I do want 446 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 2: to say that this has been a long time coming, right, 447 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 2: I mean Title nine is now over fifty years old. 448 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 2: You've got the w that's been out this now for 449 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 2: thirty years. I think we're the beneficiaries of all that 450 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 2: of that work that's been done. But I think live 451 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 2: sports is growing, This category is growing generally, and societal 452 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 2: kind of views of women in opportunity have all changed. 453 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 2: And then finally, I think from a business standpoint, the 454 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 2: rise of social media. I mean, what what is one 455 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 2: thing that does a huge tailwind for women's sports is 456 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 2: that we all know how important individual athletes are you know, 457 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 2: them connecting in their fan bases. And these women athletes 458 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 2: are absolutely incredible storytellers. They absolutely are incredible both on 459 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 2: the field and off the field, and that plays really 460 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 2: well and as a big part of the success for 461 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 2: for for women's sports generally. I say today, like if 462 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,399 Speaker 2: you're a sports fan today, you know, if you go 463 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 2: back five years ago and you know you had to 464 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 2: be able to be fluent about the NBA or the 465 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 2: NFL or you know, Major League Baseball. Today you have 466 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 2: to be able to talk about and know about, you know, 467 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: your local women's sports team or to know what's going 468 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 2: on in women's sports. That's just now part of the culture, 469 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 2: and I think that bodes incredibly well for for what 470 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 2: the opportunity is going forward. You know, we we really 471 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 2: believe in that, and we think softball is incredibly well 472 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 2: positioned that it's a sport everybody loves, It's incredible to 473 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 2: watch on television. I've yet to run into somebody who, 474 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,479 Speaker 2: you know, comes across one of our games and watches 475 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 2: it and doesn't isn't entertained and doesn't find it fascinating 476 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 2: and loved watching the players. So we got a great 477 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 2: product you know, and there's just a lot of continual 478 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 2: work to do to commercialize it and build that ecosystem, 479 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 2: and that's what we spend our day doing. 480 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 4: That was CEO and co founder of Athletes Unlimited, John Patchrikov. 481 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 4: Coming up next, we are talking F one Racing with 482 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 4: Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer. 483 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 3: That is straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports 484 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 3: for Vanessa Perdomo, Magleone and Randall Williams. I'm Michael Barr. 485 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 3: You are listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg 486 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 3: Radio around the world. 487 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 488 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 3: Thank you for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports, 489 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 3: where we exclude were the big money issues in the 490 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 3: world of sports. 491 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 4: I'm Michael Barr, I'm Vanessa Pronomo, Maglione. 492 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 3: Randon Williams. On assignment in Washington. A few weeks ago, 493 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 3: we were able to catch up with the CEO of 494 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 3: Racing Bulls Formula One team, Peter Bear, before the World 495 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 3: Cup took over our whole lives. 496 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 4: Peter gave us a good mid season breakdown how the 497 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 4: new regulations have been going for the team and what 498 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 4: goes into making all those adjustments and what they're looking 499 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 4: to achieve in the second half of the year. 500 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 3: Now, let's take a listen to our conversation with Peter Baer, 501 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 3: CEO of Racing Bolls Formula one team. I want to 502 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 3: talk to you about the fan base that continues to 503 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 3: grow in F one. Explain why this is happening. I'm glad, 504 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 3: by the way, because I'm a motorhead. Explain to the 505 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 3: audience the growth that we've been seeing for a little 506 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 3: bit now in F one. 507 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 8: Yeah, well, thank you for having me. First of all, 508 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 8: it's a great pleasure. Yeah, Formula one. Look, Formula one 509 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:03,920 Speaker 8: has gone through an incredible transformation. It basically reinvented itself 510 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 8: over the last years. And you know, there's many different factors. 511 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 7: I guess. 512 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 8: You know, we have to go back to twenty seventeen 513 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:17,120 Speaker 8: when Liberty took over and they took some very very 514 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 8: important steps to you know, first of all, make the 515 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 8: sport healthier but at the same time make it a 516 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 8: lot more accessible. 517 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 7: What do I mean by that? 518 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 8: They you know, they've been working on concepts with us 519 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 8: back then when I still was at the FIA, like 520 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,879 Speaker 8: the cost cap. They've been introducing a franchise system for 521 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 8: the teams, you know, which allowed the team values to grow, 522 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 8: and obviously that also allows the team owners and management 523 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 8: to investigate into the sport. 524 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 7: They've been they've been amazing. 525 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:51,959 Speaker 8: When COVID hits us and you know, it's it's twenty twenty, 526 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 8: Formula one was the first global live sport that would 527 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 8: come back on TV and so people were sitting at 528 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 8: home and everybody was discover ring Formula One. And the 529 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 8: amazing opportunity for us back then was actually to combine 530 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 8: that with the success of Netflix, which was which was 531 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 8: taken off back in those days as well, so people 532 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 8: could actually you know, get all the behind the scenes 533 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 8: and get to know the people, get to know the drivers, 534 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 8: get to know the people behind the scenes, and you know, 535 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 8: learned a bit about the you know, the pirates we are. 536 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:27,919 Speaker 8: And so I think people fell in love with it 537 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 8: and at the same time they had it life on 538 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 8: television and from that moment on, it literally took off 539 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 8: and you know, we kept developing ever since. Obviously, Liberty 540 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 8: again going back to them, they have opened Formula One 541 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 8: to social media, which was something that you know, before 542 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 8: their ownership was not allowed you wouldn't be allowed to 543 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 8: take a photo in the paddock, you wouldn't be allowed 544 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 8: to film in the paddock, and that has obviously changed. 545 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 8: So it is suddenly becoming this accessible sport that has 546 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 8: also so many so much more you know, accessibility, it 547 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 8: has more dimensions. 548 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 7: It's not only the sport. 549 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 8: It's you know, it's a celebrity culture around it has developed. 550 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 8: Entertainment plays a huge role, and we've opened a new 551 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 8: market literally with the United States of America, which we've 552 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 8: you know, never managed to really enter at the right scale. 553 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:25,480 Speaker 8: And you know, we had back then Austin and I 554 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 8: remember back in twenty seventeen when we were organizing the 555 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 8: races in Austin, we actually had to argue with Liberty 556 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 8: and others about the date because they people in Texas 557 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 8: would say, look, guys, there's a big basketball game of 558 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 8: that weekend, and then there's a NASCAR event the week 559 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 8: before and an Indy Car race the week after, and 560 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 8: we and we were struggling, honestly to find a date. 561 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 8: Whilst now Austin is one of the biggest races on 562 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 8: the calendar, half a million people attending the weekend, and 563 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,920 Speaker 8: we've added Miami that within a short amount of time 564 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 8: became one of the hottest metaphoric racist on the calendar. 565 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 8: And Las Vegas, which is you know, which is offering 566 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 8: a whole different level of entertainment, fun and and and 567 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 8: you know program to everyone. 568 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 7: So yeah, Okay, I was a long answer. 569 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 8: Sorry, but it has the sport has reinvented itself, and 570 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 8: I wanted to give you a bit of depth really 571 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 8: in in you know, into what happened. 572 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's great to get that context for all of 573 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 4: F one, but also for Racing Ball specifically. I mean, 574 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 4: you guys have grown your fan base year over year, 575 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 4: even thirty four percent, I believe it is. Can you 576 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 4: tell us a little bit about how you've done that specifically? 577 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 4: And I know you mentioned it a little bit about 578 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 4: unlocking social media for the first time, and was that 579 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 4: a big part of it? You know, what do your 580 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 4: new fans look like and how are you reaching them? 581 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 7: Yeah? 582 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 8: For us, you know, obviously, the new fans joining the 583 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 8: sport have presented a unique opportunity. We you know that 584 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,959 Speaker 8: we be onto Red Bull, Red Bull runs two teams 585 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 8: red Bull Racing. 586 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 7: Those guys are. 587 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 8: Fighting for the world championship with Max Verstappen, Isaac Hadjar, we. 588 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 7: Wants the decision. You know, there was a bit of 589 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 7: a debate. 590 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 8: Around this team when unfortunately our founder, mister Mantischetz passed 591 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:22,959 Speaker 8: away in twenty twenty two, whether this team you know, 592 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 8: should be sold, whether actually and you know, sort of 593 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 8: really trying to understand what is the purpose of this team. 594 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 8: And quickly the shareholders then decided that definitely they want 595 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:36,880 Speaker 8: to keep the second team, but they want to give 596 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 8: it its own very strong identity. They want to make 597 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 8: sure that we keep continuing developing young talent. They want 598 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 8: to make sure and I'm coming to your question, and 599 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 8: they wanted to make sure that we address a different 600 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 8: target audience than Red Bull Racing, and that meant that. 601 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 7: We were moving towards all the. 602 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:58,520 Speaker 8: Young fans joining the sport, which and that's what happened. 603 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 8: Through liberties change of the sport, there was suddenly, you know, 604 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 8: there was social media was a big thing. We have 605 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 8: seen the fan base rejuvenating itself literally and and we 606 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 8: we understood very quickly that that offers a unique opportunity. 607 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 8: Why because then I said, we develop young talent. Two 608 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 8: young drivers today are with Lindblad and Liam loss and 609 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,479 Speaker 8: are with eighteen Liams twenty four and they allow us 610 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 8: to authentically connect with the young fan base at the 611 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 8: same time we have and I know I can see 612 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 8: that because it's black and white proven by now. We 613 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:36,520 Speaker 8: have the best social media team in the paddock. We 614 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 8: had latest figures from Formula One where all Formula One 615 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 8: fans globally, when asked they would consider sixty percent would 616 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 8: consider our content excellent. And to give you an idea, 617 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 8: other teams like Mercedes probably come in at thirty four 618 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:56,480 Speaker 8: to thirty five and other the other teams are even 619 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:00,080 Speaker 8: below that. So so we've we've developed a very you know, 620 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:04,240 Speaker 8: unique way of addressing the fan base and we see 621 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 8: as you know, as you said, we see that it's 622 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 8: paying out. We had We've been last year from from 623 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 8: twenty five to twenty six, the team with the biggest 624 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 8: growth in our fan base. We've added seventy eight million 625 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:21,479 Speaker 8: fans in one year and we keep growing and we 626 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 8: keep you know, we keep engaging with our fans and 627 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 8: that really makes it makes it, you know, honestly, I 628 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 8: think is a unique proposition in the paddock. We obviously 629 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 8: therefore all. 630 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 7: Now speaking about the success of these campaigns. 631 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 8: We also have the youngest fan base in Formula one 632 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 8: and we are the team with a real gender balance 633 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 8: in our fan base. We're almost running fifty to fifty 634 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 8: male and female fans in our team. 635 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 3: We're talking with Peter Bear, the CEO Visa Cash app 636 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 3: Racing Bulls Formula one team, and I want to go 637 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 3: back to the popularity exploding with F one. I got 638 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 3: to talk about former Liberty Media president Greg mfay because 639 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,480 Speaker 3: he was instrumental in raising F one's profile. Now he 640 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:13,280 Speaker 3: is starting a whole brand new a horse racing league. 641 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 3: I want to see how that goes. But anyway, can 642 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 3: you talk about Greg mffay's impact on F one. 643 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 8: Yes, Look, Greg, you know, was a visionary who came 644 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 8: into the sport and he opened our eyes in you know, 645 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 8: what is actually possible with the sport, how. 646 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 7: You can transform a sport. 647 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:37,040 Speaker 8: I'll tell you an inside story of how Greg approached this, 648 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 8: you know, he and and also I have to mention 649 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 8: Chase Carrey, who was running the show on a day 650 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 8: to day basis. They have opened our eyes into you know, 651 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 8: how global businesses, how global sport promotion actually works, and 652 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:54,560 Speaker 8: what we're missing And my favorite example is when they 653 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:58,920 Speaker 8: came and visited the teams in Bahrain before the season started. 654 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 7: This must have been twenty eighteen in. 655 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 8: March, and they presented a concept around the company called Netflix. 656 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:11,040 Speaker 7: Now in that room, nobody. 657 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:16,840 Speaker 8: Has ever heard of Netflix, and Jason and Greg were like, look, guys, 658 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 8: will will we have something unique? These guys want to come, 659 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:24,400 Speaker 8: they want to invest money into telling the story. 660 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 7: They want to they want to try and you know, explain. 661 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 8: The sport to people, because no, it's too complex, it's 662 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 8: too European. At the same time, we have to do 663 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:35,200 Speaker 8: something about that, and these guys will help us. Two 664 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:38,359 Speaker 8: big teams then back then Ferrari and Mercedes I can 665 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 8: name them today, I guess after a couple of years 666 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 8: down the river they said, and they were asking you 667 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 8: about how much money are they paying us and and 668 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 8: Greg said, look that they're not paying anything to the teams. 669 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:55,840 Speaker 8: They will just you know, invest into the production and 670 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 8: then we'll take it from there. And that is the 671 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 8: reason why if you remember where cities in Ferrari have 672 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,120 Speaker 8: not been part of that very first Netflix season, because 673 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 8: they said, like, why why. 674 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 7: Would we do that? 675 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:09,279 Speaker 8: And that's for me that you know that this is 676 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,040 Speaker 8: you know, where they have taught the teams how to 677 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 8: actually open themselves up, how to how to live with 678 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:18,000 Speaker 8: you know, in this new world of of you know, 679 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 8: accepting cameras, microphones all day on yourself, cameras around you, 680 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:25,799 Speaker 8: allowing social media to grow at the pace that we 681 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 8: have seen it. 682 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 7: And and yeah, so so I mean and Greg and. 683 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:34,839 Speaker 8: They, you know, Chase, they moved on with with establishing 684 00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:39,239 Speaker 8: the cost cap, which was, you know, a crucial instrument 685 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:42,480 Speaker 8: to make sure that the teams remain healthy because you know, 686 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:45,400 Speaker 8: it was a bit of time an era in Formula 687 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 8: one where you could outspend your competitors and and they said, 688 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 8: you know, and and again Formula one teams wouldn't believe them. 689 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:55,000 Speaker 8: They said, look, this has been tried many times, and 690 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 8: you know, everybody was explaining us that a cost cap, 691 00:36:58,080 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 8: you know, is something that we should. 692 00:36:59,239 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 7: Try and do. 693 00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:03,880 Speaker 8: And then I remember Chase saying in that case, saying, guys, 694 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 8: you know, you know you're all engineers. Engineering is very 695 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:10,920 Speaker 8: very precise business. You know, an engine is either owner 696 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:13,880 Speaker 8: of it's a zero one business. And the same is 697 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:18,080 Speaker 8: accounting to numbers. In today's world, if you spend money, 698 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:20,799 Speaker 8: you have to account for it. And that's actually that 699 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:23,319 Speaker 8: was the breakthrough moment where teams will be like, yeah, okay, 700 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:26,759 Speaker 8: well let's give it a try. And that's that's how 701 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:30,359 Speaker 8: we started developing the cost cap, which has led, you know, 702 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:34,480 Speaker 8: to this incredible increase of team's equity value, which I'm 703 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 8: sure you've heard of. You know, you could you could 704 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:39,040 Speaker 8: buy a team in twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen maybe for 705 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 8: one hundred or hundred and twenty million dollars. Today even 706 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 8: the smaller and midfield teams run around perhaps between two 707 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:51,879 Speaker 8: and three billion dollars in market evaluations. 708 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:54,960 Speaker 4: That was CEO of Raising Balls of Formula One team, 709 00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 4: Peter Bayer and what happened to the time. 710 00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 3: That's it for today. Thanks for joining us student again 711 00:37:59,680 --> 00:38:02,600 Speaker 3: next week for the latest on the stories moving big 712 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,799 Speaker 3: old money in the world of sports, and. 713 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:07,800 Speaker 4: Don't forget to catch our podcast on all your podcast platforms, 714 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 4: and go to Bloomberg dot com to subscribe to the 715 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 4: Bloomberg Business of Sports newsletter to stay up to date 716 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:14,520 Speaker 4: on all our juicy insights. 717 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:18,560 Speaker 3: Juicy you're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg 718 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 3: Radio around the world. 719 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:23,320 Speaker 4: Stay with us today's top stories and global business headlines 720 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:25,040 Speaker 4: are coming up right now,