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 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, the pandemic 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: herey has really accelerated the investments that we've been advocating 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,680 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 is a 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: good admiration. Were 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 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: stadustry of our stakeholders are 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 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,959 Speaker 1: In Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio, everyone, I'm 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: Jason Kelly, and I'm Mike Lynch and I'm Michael Barr. 15 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: Over the next hour, we will explore the big money 16 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: issues in the world of sports and talk to some 17 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: of the biggest players in the industry. And a lot 18 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: happening in the world of sports is there always is 19 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: business in sports colliding. Later on we're gonna talk with 20 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: Todd LEWICKI. He is running the Kraken they are debuting 21 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: in the NHL. But one of the things that we've 22 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: got to talk about, guys, that really broke out this 23 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: week was the world of crypto. We talked about it 24 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: all the time across all the platforms at Bloomberg, and 25 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: yet it seems to be finding a foothold in the 26 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: world of sports for fans, teams, and players alike. A 27 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: month ago we talked to Dave Cavill. He was talking 28 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: about bitcoin being something he would accept for luxury suites. 29 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: He wasn't quite sure what was going to happen next. Well, 30 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: we found out what's happening next this week because doge coin. 31 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: Good lord, we've heard so much does cooin this week 32 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: across all of Bloomberg. They're now using that accepting that, 33 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: I should say, to buy seats for Oakland A's games. 34 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: Pretty amazing and I feel like this is a breakout moment, Lynjie, 35 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: I think so as well. We hear it more and 36 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: more every single day. Uh Now, some teams are a 37 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: little bit reluctant, Some teams are very skeptical about this cryptocurrency. 38 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: But Oakland seems to be diving in plays are as 39 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: we know. We heard from some individual players. Rob Gronkowski, 40 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: the tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has an 41 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: return in the last two months. His one point eight 42 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: million dollar investment in Ether is now worth over three 43 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 1: point three million dollars, and he says, I'm holding yeah, Well, 44 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: don't sleep on Gronk. The enthusiasm, we should say, guys, 45 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: is not universal. Steve Paliuka, of course, one of the 46 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: co owners of the Boston Celtics, isn't quite convinced. Personally. 47 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: It's hard for me to wrap my mind around bitcoin 48 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: being a viable currency, said, I see blockchain as extremely valuable, 49 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: but bitcoin is gonna have to go a long way 50 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: to go to be accepted in lots of places, you know. 51 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: Michael Barr we also heard and we always look at 52 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: sponsorships and what deals teams are doing. The New York 53 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: Football Giants they've got their first cryptocurrency partner, Gray Scale Investments. 54 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: And when these companies start to get in front of 55 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: the fans, I mean they're going to be a game 56 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,119 Speaker 1: day sponsored, They're sponsoring several of their elements of the Giants. 57 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 1: You know that they feel like there's a market there. 58 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: I'm trying to get my mind around cryptocurrency in general. 59 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: Remember when cash was king? What what happened? What? What 60 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: did I miss here? Doge Coin was supposed to be 61 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: a joke and and and look at what has happened now. 62 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: So yeah, the giants they're they're partnering with a cryptocurrency partner. 63 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: And this is, I guess, going to be the future. 64 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: I mean, it certainly is going to be the future, 65 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: I think, or it certainly feels that way right now. Lynchy, 66 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: You know when you think about you know, cash is king, 67 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: and how we went to credit cards and uh, the 68 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: evolution is so fast around crypto. I think one of 69 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: the interesting things to consider is that there are all 70 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: these different forms of it. But part of it is 71 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: about security, part of it is about you know, changing value, 72 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: and listen, everybody's in this to make a buck in 73 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: many ways, if you're a team or an athlete or 74 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: a league. It'll be interesting to see how regulation comes 75 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: on here. But but certainly it's being taken up in 76 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: a big way. Yeah. I remember our conversation midweek with 77 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: Noel la Montaigne of Verden's Capital Advisors in l a 78 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: a form of player for the Cleveland Browns, and he 79 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,239 Speaker 1: was still very very skeptical and his advising his clients 80 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: to jump into cryptocurrency. But sometimes, as you says, the 81 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 1: locker room could be a great place for camaraderie, but 82 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: it can be a bad place for financial advice. And 83 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: that's his big worry about professional athletes. Yeah, I mean, 84 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: it's It's interesting because we talked to a lot of 85 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: wealth advisors who are advising athletes about their portfolios, and 86 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: crypto is something that's coming up over and over and 87 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 1: over again in the sports world, in the celebrity world, 88 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: and you know, increasingly now into the everyday space. Well. 89 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: Speaking of which, you know, athletes are getting a lot 90 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: smarter about how they man it's their money. They are 91 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: much more sophisticated when it comes to their investments. Richard 92 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: Sherman heard of him Seattle Seahawks stand out. He spoke 93 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: with Matt Miller over in Germany about how he is 94 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: thinking about preserving wealth. It's going to continue to evolve, 95 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: and I think that's a testament to two more players 96 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: um asking more questions, getting more financially literate, more educated, uh, 97 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: putting their pride to side. I think sometimes you come 98 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: into a space and and it's human nature. You know, 99 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: you've never had things you've You've you live paycheck to paycheck, 100 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 1: barely make an ends, beach your whole live, and then 101 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: you get this huge sum of money and you're able 102 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: to do all the things you dreamed of doing as kid. 103 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: And I think it's it's human nature and it's and 104 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: it's unfortunate because a lot of the kids in the 105 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,799 Speaker 1: National Football League and NBA and in the leagues that 106 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: that UM players and and and players of color go to. Uh, 107 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: it changes, it changes everything. And I think now they're 108 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: not just looking at the short um the short answers. 109 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: Everybody's looking more long term and and finding long term 110 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: solutions and hearing that, hey, this money needs to last, 111 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: whether it's a hundred thousand dollars or a hundred million dollars, 112 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: Like you need to find a way to continue to 113 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: accumulate wealth, continue to to go out and find a 114 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 1: way to to to take this money, take this nest 115 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: egg and create more wealth and and more opportunities. And 116 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: I think in sports, people are using their name and 117 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: names and likeness rights to create more opportunities, more stakes, 118 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 1: and companies gaining equity ownership stakes. Uh. You see that 119 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: predominantly in the NBA, you know, with with players like 120 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: Steph Curry and k D and um Draymond. You know, 121 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: they've been in the silicon value making huge waves. You 122 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: see it with Lebron James uh In in NFL. You're 123 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: starting to see it, you know, with the quarterbacks. Obviously 124 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: it's always gonna start there taking equity in these companies 125 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: and really really changing the game. And I think all 126 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: those factors are are influence. See these these the younger 127 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: generations say, Hm, maybe I should look at this different, 128 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: Maybe I should think about this money different. And I 129 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: think it's going to continue to evolve and continue to 130 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: get better. Uh. And I'm happy to hear that, So, Lynchy, 131 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: this is a theme. We talk about this all the 132 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: time on this show. We talked with an advisor, former 133 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: NFL player earlier in the week. You can check out 134 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: that podcast. Burden's Capital Management is the firm, and you 135 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: know this is what they do. This is big business, 136 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: and it's an increasingly big business because it's not just Hey, 137 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: I'm gonna endorse this car dealership, or I'm gonna endorse 138 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: this watch, or I'm gonna endorse this serial. Uh. These 139 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: are investment stakes these guys are taking, and that has 140 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: utterly changed the landscape. And they're doing it while they're playing, 141 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: maybe even before they get into the league, when they're 142 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: in high school or college, starting to think about, uh, 143 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: you know, where they're putting their money. All of them 144 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: have an itch and some of them need to be 145 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: scratched long after they're playing. Days are over. Some are 146 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: done when they're playing days are over. And I applaud 147 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: these guys. I I never had great vision beyond what 148 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: was going to happen tomorrow afternoon, and a lot of 149 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: these guys do. And and you look at Lebron James 150 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: and so many other players. Michael Jordan's back in the 151 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: game right now, and Lebron is still active, as you say, 152 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: and he's already thinking and already planning for his post 153 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: playing days. Today, delighted to be speaking with the CEO 154 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: and president of the Seattle Kracking, Todd LEWICKI so, Todd, 155 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: really good to spend some time with you. Guessing you're 156 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: tired of all the release the cracking jokes, but you 157 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: should have anticipated that. It's an awesome name. I have 158 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: to say, give us the state of play here. Obviously, 159 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: it's all happening now it is, and you know, I've 160 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: been on the case three years now. I had lived 161 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: in Seattle. I ran the Seahawks for seven years and 162 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: helped get the Sounders going, and then left. And then 163 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: my brother who is uh, you know, he's prolific and 164 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: many things. You know, he was developing his company, H 165 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: the few groups ov G and and Seattle was the 166 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: largest city in the US without a winter sports team, 167 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: no NBA, no NHL, and and and significantly due to 168 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: the fact that they just couldn't solve the Erbick's cube 169 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: of how to fix an arena UM and the public 170 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,839 Speaker 1: was the public was in public officials were saying, hey, 171 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: we're not going to put public money into this again. 172 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: So it was you know, it was a standoff, and 173 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: it was tough because a lot of events that should 174 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: have come to Seattle didn't. It's a great music town. 175 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: Lots of music events just skipped because the building was 176 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: really dysfunctional for music. UM. And then the Sonics left 177 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: and I was running the Seahawks, and to see an 178 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: NBA team leave the town this vibrant was just shocking. UM. 179 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: So um, you know, my brother responded to the city's 180 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: RFP he put forth an incredible bold vision that said 181 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: he could hold that roof up, a forty million pound 182 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: roof while you built a new arena under it. UM. 183 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: And then you know, as he was awarded the RFP 184 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: and came to a memorandum of understanding, Uh, he would 185 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: call me every other hour saying you need to leave 186 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: the NFL and come back home and take the bull 187 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: by the horns, UM. And that's that's what we did. 188 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: So it's it's really been a thrilling ride over these 189 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: last three years. You're going to be compared, obviously to 190 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: the Vegas Golden Knights who came in four years ago 191 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: in their first year in the league and went to 192 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: the Stanley Cup Finals. Have you studied their blueprint at 193 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: all for their success or are you pretty much on 194 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: your own We're gonna do things a different way. No, 195 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: I think that we've absolutely we've not only studied it, 196 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: we've admired it. Uh. George McPhee is a longtime friend 197 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: of mine. M carry Bobus the president, and they did. 198 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 1: You know, I think many people on the front of 199 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: that said, really hockey in Las Vegas, UM, and it 200 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: proved to be an amazing success. George has made all 201 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: the right decisions. Bill Folly is on the truth of job. 202 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,319 Speaker 1: But one of the things that that I think to 203 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: find sports in America, and I think globally but certainly 204 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: in North America, is or how teams are position to 205 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: give back and be there to support community. We've certainly 206 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: done that during COVID, but so we admire what they've done. Uh, 207 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: we've learned from a lot of what they've done, and uh, 208 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: you know, but we've got to do it on our 209 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: own here, and we've got to do it in a 210 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: Seattle centric kind of way. And I think we're poised 211 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: to do that. So talk to us about that, Todd, 212 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: because you know, you know as well or better than 213 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: than almost anyone, what it takes to to bake a 214 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: team into the fabric of a city. You've done it 215 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: there in Seattle before, you've done it in other markets 216 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: as well, and part of that is ensuring that you 217 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 1: get the right companies behind you, the right sponsorships, the 218 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: right community engagement from from a fan perspective. So walk 219 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: us through the playbook there. I mean, in the purest forms, 220 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: we build a brand, and the brands feels so good 221 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: that partners want to tap into that brand equity to 222 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: build their brands. But that's actually a two way street, 223 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 1: and so having the right partners can really also build 224 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: your brand UM. But there had to be a base 225 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 1: premise and a base promise to those partners of what 226 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 1: we were going to build. And you know for us 227 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: that that was one of the most beautiful arenas in 228 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: the world, and it's going to be It is just spectacular. 229 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: It's it's scales, it's subterranean, it's in a park. Uh, 230 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: the historic roof gives instance sold to the project UM. 231 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: So the arena events, so we're going to be busier. 232 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: We're going to be one of the busiest concert venues 233 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:45,079 Speaker 1: in North America. The promise of the team and fandom 234 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: the fans here have been incredible. But then there's other 235 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: values you have to stand for. And I'll give you 236 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: an example for us is diversity, equity and inclusion UM. 237 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: And we built from day one, we committed to building 238 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: one of the most diverse staffs all sports, and today 239 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 1: of our staff for women and of our staff represent 240 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: BIPOC leaders. And so you know, I think people say 241 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: hockey really diversity, Well, we have a terrific staff. I 242 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: think it's a high performance organization, but they represent and 243 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: it's something I'm so proud of because I love the 244 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: game of hockey. Hockey needs more diversity, and we feel 245 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: like we're really playing an important role in that. Trying 246 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: to play sports in a COVID world, and what's important 247 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: for any team, NHL, NFL, whatever is getting bodies in 248 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: the seats fans to watch the sport. How can you 249 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: guys do it and how do you plan to do 250 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: it safely? Well, you know that we're listening every single 251 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: day to leaders, leaders in the medical field, you know, 252 00:13:56,760 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: leaders here in the state who are advising us and 253 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: trying to give us UH insights as to what's coming. Um. 254 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: I think these facilities are facility for sure. He's going 255 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: to have policies and procedures relative to cleaning and air 256 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: filtration that are substantially enhanced but serve their own purpose 257 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: beyond COVID and UH. But you know, we do have 258 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: one other group we listened to, and it's the people 259 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: who have bought tickets and we're sold out for next year. 260 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: I think we'll be sold out for years to come. 261 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: And they have voted they want to get back, they 262 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: want to get into an arena. They want to share 263 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: a team. Uh. They want to be with neighbors, they 264 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: want to celebrate community. Um. And they have been unwavering 265 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: this entire journey. Uh. March first, eighteen, thirty two thousand 266 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: depositors put money down, um, you know, and they accepted 267 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: thirty two thousands of positors because they thought there'd be 268 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: some fallout. There wasn't a whole bunch. We ended up 269 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: taking full season tickets sporting him and I don't know 270 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: that any team, and an expansion team has ever done that. 271 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: We took sasan tickets and cut them down the middle 272 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: to try and uh, you know, meet the demand. And 273 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: even that we didn't get everyone seated. Um. So the 274 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: fans have spoken. They want to get back, they want 275 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: to cheer uh. And I think they believe that by 276 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: the time we dropped the puck in the fall some 277 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: time in October, that our world will be returning to 278 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: some normality. So Todd talked to us about Seattle as 279 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: a sports fans paradise. It in many ways. So Todd 280 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: talked to us about Seattle from a sports fans perspective. 281 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: From that vantage point, you've seen this from a lot 282 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: of different perspectives, the demographics, the characteristics of the Seattle fan. 283 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: It's a fast growing, affluent fan base. There is something 284 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: a little bit different about the vibe that you know 285 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: better than anyone tell us about it. Well, I just 286 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: love fandom and understanding it and studying it and uh, 287 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: you know, and I'd say, in my career, Um, the 288 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 1: greatest privilege I've had is serving the fans. And that's 289 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: really what I believe we do. And when I came 290 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: here with the Seahawks, um, I felt that these were 291 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: you know, there was a different kind of fan here. Um. 292 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: And I think to really understand fandom you do have 293 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: to look at it almost in its broadest form, looked generationally. 294 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: And you know, in the day, this was a long 295 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: way away from the rest of the United States and 296 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: it was kind of the last stop and people who 297 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: came here were different and that held true. Lots of 298 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: different companies were incubated here, and then you know, there's 299 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: World's Fair happened here and the city leaders moved, you know, 300 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: having an earth to facilitate a World's Fair right in 301 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: the heart of the city. That's when the Space Single 302 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: was built. That's when our arena Ruth was born. But 303 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: that World's Fair focused on future, It focused on technology. 304 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: So you have a really an experience here. But people 305 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: like belonging here, and they're willing to give up wherever 306 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: they're from. They're willing to kind of drop that hometown 307 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: Jersey at the border of the state and belong and 308 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 1: they belong to the Mariners and the Sounders and the 309 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: Storm and they're going to belong to, you know, the Crack. 310 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: And so you've got a lot of expenses of the 311 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: expansion fee, the rebuilding, the arena, training facility, etcetera, etcetera. 312 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: What does the new TV deal with the ESPN and 313 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: Turner mean for your your club in this first year 314 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: with all those big expenses. Gary Batman is the longest 315 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: serving commissioner Major League Sports. I think he's just done 316 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: a terrific job at the league. I think the game 317 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: today is is is a really beautiful game the way 318 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: it's played. UM. I think he's done a great job 319 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: with he's two expansion teams, UM. And I think he 320 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: did a great job of the broadcast deals. To be 321 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: back on ESPN is is really thrilling. I've been a 322 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: hockey fan my whole life. Uh, the opening you know jingle, 323 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: the opening music for esp NHL on ESPN. You know, 324 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: to hear it again was just like fantastic. We're gonna 325 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: play it in the arena and we're gonna honor it. 326 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: But then you know, to go to Turner and create 327 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 1: a partnership. There so a lot of people focused on 328 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: the dollars, and certainly there was a hefty increase in 329 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: rights fees, but for me, more than that, it's these 330 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 1: two partners who are really committed to the storytelling, to 331 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 1: showcasing the league like it deserves. And I'm super excited. 332 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 1: You know, Todd, You've got a couple of high profile 333 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: owners more than a couple uh involved here, you yourself 334 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: from a minority owner I believe of the club. And 335 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: you also have David Bonderman, who is the majority owner 336 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: of very well known private equity investor and philanthropist Jerry Bruckheimer. 337 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: We've seen many of his movies. It's a fascinating ownership 338 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: groupie in many ways, at a time when there are 339 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 1: a lot of interesting and different people coming into a 340 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: sport and coming into ownership in general across all major sports. 341 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 1: Tell us about this ownership group, what the vibe is 342 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: what you think is different and unique here, Well, David 343 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: Bonderman is different and unique, that's for sure, to say 344 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: the least, to say the least, Yeah, and you and 345 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,239 Speaker 1: you and I have talked about this, but he's uh, 346 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: you know, he's a remarkable person. And uh, I didn't 347 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: know him very well. He didn't know me very well, 348 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: but we built a great relationship. And but here Jerry 349 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: Bruckheimer had really been looking. And Jerry's a lifelong hockey fan. 350 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: He grew up in Detroit, he moved in l a 351 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: and kinda he's still followed hockey, but at some point 352 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: in time, some you know, a number of years ago, 353 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,959 Speaker 1: he started skating again. And his passion for the sport 354 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: is it's pretty intense. And Jerry can do anything he wants. 355 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: He can go to any of any wants, but he 356 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: loves the game of hockey, and so he he and 357 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: Bondo looked. They actually looked early on in Las Vegas. 358 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: They looked at other places, but it was when they 359 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 1: connected with my brother Tim and said, hey, Seattle's the place, um, 360 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: And so that was they were really the two guys 361 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: that got this going. The family owned space able to 362 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 1: right family Dave Wright is is a significant investor. Uh 363 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: Andy jazz E thro ceo Amazon. Um. You know, I 364 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: know Andy when when he was just CEO of a 365 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:26,120 Speaker 1: WS but he's Andy Jazzy's one of my favorite guys 366 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: in the whole world. He is a just a true 367 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 1: blue guy. And when you go on a journey like this, um, 368 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: you know, it's not for the faint of heart. Our investors, 369 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: I think are having the time of their lives and 370 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: to be able to do this, to bring a team 371 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: here to fix the arena, and then at some point 372 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: in tom I do believe the NBA comes. Um, It's 373 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: it's really for many of them have been incredibly wonderful 374 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,120 Speaker 1: and fulfilling journey, and you know, for me, I want 375 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: to win the Cup. So it's something that stood out 376 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: to me. I noticed that your local television broadcast network 377 00:20:55,880 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: you've expanded into Alaska. What went into that? Thinking, Well, 378 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 1: that was that was something else that was important to 379 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: us when I was here during my tenure with the Seahawks. 380 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: You know, I fell in love with Alaska and traveled 381 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,640 Speaker 1: up there a lot on business, but also catching release 382 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: of salmon fishing and just seeing what is you know, 383 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 1: the Serengetti of North America. It's an amazing place. So 384 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: when we were granted our territory, we really pushed pretty 385 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 1: hard that we wanted Alaska to be a part of it. 386 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: Um flow and behold. We were given the territory, and 387 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: lo and behold. One of the things that we realized 388 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: this year was that the University of Alaska Anchorage facing 389 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: massive budget cuts uh dear to boil and other challenges 390 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 1: with the state budget. Um you know, a forty two 391 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: year program was about to add and so we jumped in. 392 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: Uh there's three million dollar campaign that's ongoing right now 393 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: to save the Seawolves hockey program. And I am now 394 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: super optimistic that that program is going to be saying 395 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: it and it's a fantastic opportunity because we don't you know, 396 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 1: just ordain, Hey, you're part of our territory. You're now 397 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: crack and fans. You have to earn it. And so 398 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: the chance to earn it, it was such a significant 399 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: issue right there in front of us, was terrific. I'm 400 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: headed up there in two weeks. We're going to rally 401 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 1: the Business Committee a little bit more. But it's the 402 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: people on the ground that are doing it. Would you 403 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: ever think about taking a game on the on the 404 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:29,120 Speaker 1: road up to Alaska? Wouldn't it be fantastic? Um? And 405 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: so you know Mystery Alaska. Howard Baldwin's movie was you know, 406 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: was that premise? But you know, I think that could 407 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: be a spectacular one time event. I think, really what 408 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: we want to create his day in and day out engagement. Um. 409 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: And you know the other thing, you know, taking a 410 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: game up there is a logistical issue, and the Sullivan Arena, 411 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: the logical arena is actually an Olympic sheet of ice. 412 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: But you know, part of what I'm going up there 413 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: is to better understand their facilities. But for sure we 414 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: can honor the game, all that Alaska's contributed to the 415 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,880 Speaker 1: great game of hockey and our building, and we're intending 416 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: on doing that this year. Todd, Uh, you dropped a 417 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: little crumb earlier that I want to pick up, which 418 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: is about the NBA and you know the this the 419 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: Tale of the Sonics. There have been podcast, books, articles, 420 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: many late night i'm sure sessions in bars lamenting uh 421 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 1: that team and what happened there? What needs to happen 422 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: to get the NBA back? Well, pretty simply you get 423 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: to have an arena that's capable of hosting a team 424 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: and generating economics commencement with NBA teams, and we've done that. 425 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: This arena is going to be absolutely perfect. Um, everything 426 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: is built out, the economic model is built out. And 427 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: some have said, well, the hockey team took all the economics. 428 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: Not true. We've built this so uh that NBA team 429 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 1: can come in plug and play in one of the 430 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: most beautiful arenas in the world and also enjoy unfedered economics. 431 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: And so we've been deliberate about it from day one. 432 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 1: I feel it's it's part of the pledge that was 433 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 1: made to the city when we said we would do this. Um, 434 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: we won't rest until the NBA is back in Seattle. 435 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: You know, Todd, given your experience across all the pro sports, 436 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:19,719 Speaker 1: I gotta ask you because we've all been talking about it, 437 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: and I'm guessing you have as well, uh, given your 438 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 1: intimate knowledge of ownership and management of teams and as 439 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 1: you say, you know, studying fan bases and fan behavior. 440 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 1: Super League I mean unbelievable to watch from the from 441 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 1: the sidelines as someone who knows that sport, the sport 442 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 1: of soccer slash football intimately as someone who understands ownership 443 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: and fans. As I said, what do you make of that? Well, Um, 444 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 1: you know, first, uh, you were trying to get something 445 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: organized across uh, you know, different countries, different cultures, um. 446 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,919 Speaker 1: And I think that you also trying to do it 447 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: in the midst of a global pandemic. Um. And so 448 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: you know when I look at it, um, you know, 449 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: economics do drive lots of big ideas, and so you 450 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: can see the economic idea there that we're going to 451 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 1: get the top teams. And you know that's actually what's 452 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: happened in sports. The NFL is the top and the 453 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: NHL is the top. Uh. Soccer didn't have that distinct pyramids, 454 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: so they made a run at it. I think the 455 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 1: COVID world perhaps kept them from truly understanding what public 456 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 1: sentiment might be. And uh, you know, I think that 457 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: fans do rule the day, and the fans spoke, they 458 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 1: spoke decisively. When the government spoke, those were also fans 459 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: within government speaking um. And uh. You know that passion 460 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: is what fuels sport. And so I think even those 461 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: who might not have might have been on the losing 462 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: side of that debate. Those who were promoters can take 463 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: comfort that the passion for those teams is live and 464 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: well uh, and the fans do it as though emotionally 465 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,439 Speaker 1: they almost stamps, and that's really what the whole thing 466 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 1: is about. Well, Todd, thank you so much. It's really 467 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:15,880 Speaker 1: great to catch up with you. You know, it's such 468 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: a fun, wide ranging conversation given your fun and wide 469 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 1: ranging career, a lot to look forward to. It sounds like, 470 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:26,640 Speaker 1: uh there in Seattle with the Kraken released as it were, 471 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: and I can't wait to see all the events that 472 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: that you're abled to put together. And I think we 473 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: all know as as sports fans that the Seattle fans, 474 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 1: as you said, are a special breed in many ways. 475 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: And I'm I'm especially taken by what you said that 476 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: that a lot of people show up there and sort 477 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:48,120 Speaker 1: of leave their their previous hometown allegiances aside. There's there's 478 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: a fervor in that city that is uh, there's really 479 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: something to behold. So best of luck. We really appreciate 480 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 1: and listen. The only way for you guys really to 481 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: experience it is to come on out here. By inviting 482 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: you guys to come out uh see a game, you'll 483 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 1: be my guest. I'll buy a dinner in a beer 484 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: after the game. But you know, you get out of 485 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: the studio and get some fresh air and come out 486 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: and see his play. Absolutely, I'm lacing up my shoes 487 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: right now, exactly, and I'm googling. I'm biggling plane tickets. 488 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: I'm kids. Feels better to be than the one, than 489 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 1: number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. We 490 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:28,199 Speaker 1: have a chance to go for three in a row. 491 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 1: Good numbers are a good time. When I first started 492 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: wearing the number, how we just have been proud Bloomberg 493 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: Business of Sports. The number of the week. All right, 494 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: you know what, it's time for the fabulous number of 495 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: the week. Now. Remember when Lynch he said that he 496 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: had to get in my head because and that's how 497 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: he was figuring stuff out. Now, he probably thought the 498 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: question was gonna be about New England Patriots owner Robert Krafft. 499 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:58,120 Speaker 1: He bought a house in the Hampton's in an off 500 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 1: market deal for forty three million dollars. Oh, no, Lynch, 501 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: that's not your question. Now this one, now, I'll be 502 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: a little serious about to this here, um, the great 503 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: Bobby answer. One whale of a racing driver. He passed 504 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 1: away this week at age eighty seven. He was a 505 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:23,360 Speaker 1: three time winner of the Indianapolis five one in nineteen 506 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: sixty eight, nineteen seventy five, in nineteen eighty one. What 507 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:31,159 Speaker 1: I'm asking you, guys, what was Bobby ANSWER's share for 508 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: winning the nineteen sixty eight in D five hundred? What 509 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 1: was the purse? His share of the purse? His share 510 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: of the purse. Now, if you want a clue, I 511 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: can give you the purse. That would be great. I'm 512 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: gonna give you the purse. The purse was seven hundred, 513 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: twelve thousand, two hundred sixty nine dollars. That's the purse, 514 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: So that's the total. What I want is what did 515 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 1: he take away as the winning chap out of seven twelve. 516 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: I'm glad you give me that because the out God 517 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 1: knows what I would have guessed without that guidance. Um, 518 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 1: let's say two. I think that's high. I'm gonna go 519 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 1: a hundred thousand. Well it's one thousand, one hundred thirty 520 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: nine dollars, and I think if I'm doing the math quickly, 521 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: Actually you went over, well, Jason, you went over, but 522 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: you were closer. It's not prices right when I want 523 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: to win. It's not prices right here, that's how hold on, 524 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: I'm reaching it. I'm reaching to my sock. I'm throwing 525 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: the red challenge. What's funny is we were so he 526 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: said a hundred thousand. I said it was like dead 527 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: in the middle. Yeah, that's funny, it was. That was 528 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: pretty good. That's good. Well, I mean I wonder what 529 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: we could do a quick calculation, which I will not 530 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: do because I'm not in front of my trusty Bloomberg 531 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 1: terminal at the moment um. I mean that that's still 532 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: a pretty good pay day and like, yeah, it's in 533 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: this Yeah, And I mean that was very good. So 534 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: uh it was. By the way, Uh, that car, if 535 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: anybody is a fan of Paul Newman, car that Bobby 536 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: Answer drove was the centerpiece in the movie Winning was 537 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: the car. So when you see that car, that's that's 538 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,719 Speaker 1: the one that Bobby Answer drove. There you go, alright, 539 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: little history. I mean learned so much history in this episode. 540 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: I mean between Bobby Unswer and Paul Newman and the 541 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: you know, Spanish influenza affected season of the National Hockey League, 542 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: you know Lynchy reaching deep, uh, you know, drawing some 543 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: historical parallels for the Seattle crack and uh listen, here's 544 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: here's a deep one. There's a golf course inside the track. Yes, wow, 545 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 1: yeah no. But when the Patriots played the Giants, they 546 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: had the media party at the fire at the race rate. 547 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 1: So we're in the pagoda having Hamburg sliders and sodas, 548 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: and then they let us all go down to the 549 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: finish line and bend down and take our picture kissing 550 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: the bricks. Got it? And you're like, I don't need 551 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 1: to kiss the bricks, but can I go? Just wasn't 552 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 1: wasn't nine o'clock at night? I would have been over 553 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: with my golf clubs playing that turf. Let's what's happening here? Well, 554 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: you've been listening to the Bloomburn Business of Sports. We're 555 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: here each and every week right here at the same time, 556 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: plus online wherever you get your podcast. Let's drop on Monday's, 557 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 1: Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Jason Kelly. Find me on Twitter 558 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: in the meantime at Jason Kelly News and someone please 559 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 1: let me know if my protest is going to be 560 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: upheld on Mike Linchall, met lynche W CBB and I 561 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 1: would have licked the bricks, but let's see if that 562 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: stays in the show. I'm Michael Barrow on Twitter and 563 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: Big bar Sports. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 564 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 1: and Bloomberg Ready around the world. M