1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. The International Olympic Committee 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: is facing a crisis. Which sport would you point to 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: and say put your money here? Where the money is 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: flowing inside sports around the globe as NASCAR's business engine 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: lost some horse problem. Now I'm paying five or ten 6 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: percent what I used to pay to buy the whole team, 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: Michael Barr. Nothing like a cheap hot dog, which is 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: what you should get, Scott, How do you put your 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: brand outside of the United States? How do you capture 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: fans around the world? Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 11 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: I'm Michael and I'm Scottsnik. On this weekly podcast, we 12 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: explored the big money issues in the world of sports 13 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: and talk to some of the biggest players in the industry. 14 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: This week, we speak with Sam Porter's, senior vice president 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: at d C United and director of Business and Legal 16 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 1: Affairs at Swansea City, a f C. But first let's 17 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: look at the top stories of the week. Joining us, Hello, 18 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: welcome back Bloomberg Business of Sports reporter Evan Noby Williams. 19 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: Should we do the same thing? Evan? Did you listen 20 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: to the show's now? I can't see if he lies 21 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: I did not see how he just comes clean, bar 22 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: I love it well, don't worry, Evan. We did not 23 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: have an entire discussion about whether you would kill Janet 24 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: on your trip that did not have Janet is as assured. 25 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: Let's start with Yeah, Roger Federer, who has been with 26 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: Nike for for quite a long time, just signed a 27 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: monster contract with Uniklow reported three hundred million dollars over 28 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: the lifetime of the contract, whether he's playing or not, 29 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: which is I think a pretty important piece of that 30 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: because he's probably not going to be playing all that 31 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: much longer. It's a huge deal for Unilo, huge amount 32 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: of money. D Djokovic by the way. Yeah, and to 33 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: put that number in perspective, million dollars, Federer has only 34 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: made about a hundred and ten a hundred and fifteen 35 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: million in his entire career on the court, So this 36 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: is almost three x every piece of money he's made 37 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: in tournament winnings his entire career. Like he had a 38 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: chance to match, chose not to because the number is enormous. 39 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: But we'll be interesting to see what Unicload does now 40 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: that they have probably the most recognizable male tennis player 41 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: in there. You want the good or the bead. First, 42 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: let's start with the good. Ever been to Unical on 43 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: Fifth Avenue. Have you shopped in the store. It's one 44 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: of those places where I don't even bring the credit 45 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: card because it's like shopping hungry, you buy more. I 46 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: could easily spend ten grand in there. Unsolicited indorsements. Unsolicited indorsement, 47 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: I could easily right now. I mean, how many sweaters 48 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: do you need to buy? I mean, I love the play, 49 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: I do I and we do not get paid by Unico. 50 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: They not a sponsor. Hin hint if they want to be. 51 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: But I'm telling you I can't walk into un Clobe 52 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: without dropping big dollars. They had those dress sweatpants, which 53 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 1: you should definitely try. And I have discussed the dress 54 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: sweatpantis and whether or not you can really pull this off. 55 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: Totally totally willing to try, as everybody in this place knows. 56 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: Now the bad As far as this Federer contract, they 57 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,559 Speaker 1: weren't ready to go. There's no product. This big announcement 58 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: with Federer, he didn't didn't even really announce it. Federer 59 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: went out at Wimbledon wearing the Uni Glow by the way, 60 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: still wearing Nike sneakers. Little mixed message, but wearing the 61 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: uniglow shirt and then you go to the gold website. 62 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: You know you can't find Roger Federer anywhere. There's no 63 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: Federal collection, there's no federal shirt nothing. That's how you 64 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: capitalize on this momentum of the this guy going on 65 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,679 Speaker 1: to court at Wimbledon not well done. Roger has that 66 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 1: he has a logo through Nike that that r F 67 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: that's kind of interlaced. He doesn't have that yet, that's 68 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: kind of He hinted that, yeah, there was a chance 69 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: that he and uniclone might be able to use that 70 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: in the future, but for now that still rests with 71 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: with Nike. I agree with you, Scott, it didn't. This 72 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: didn't roll out all that well. I mean, it could 73 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: have been done in a more splashy kind of I 74 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: think about what Puma did to get into basketball last week, 75 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: which we talked about you need to have very different 76 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: than what you need to have something. Let's move on 77 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: now and talk about free agent. Well not anymore. I 78 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: guess John Tavares, it must be missing angel for the Islanders. 79 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: While you're looking at me. The long time Islander fan 80 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: grew up rooting for the Islanders back in the day 81 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: eight three, thank you very much. Uh interesting in that. 82 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: And we're discussing this because the Islanders are a very 83 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: interesting business story right now. This comes at a time 84 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: when they're trying to get that new building at Belmont Park, 85 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: when they're splitting their home games between Barkley Center, where 86 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: the fan base didn't really show, to Nassau Coliseum, which 87 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: is closer to the core fan. But if you're an 88 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 1: Islander fan right now and the team didn't quite get 89 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: to where you wanted them anyway, now you're best player 90 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: and captain is leaving. Yes, you can sell Martha Barsal 91 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: the rookie of the year exciting, but you just took 92 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: a big step back. What does this mean for the 93 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: business implications of the New York Islanders. It's not great. 94 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 1: I mean they have a new coach, Perry out to 95 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: just want to Stanley Cup with with the Capitals. A 96 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: lot of Islanders fans clearly thought that he might be 97 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: staying with with the new coach here and because the 98 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 1: Islanders declined to move him at the at the deadline 99 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 1: last year, which is usually what you do when you 100 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,119 Speaker 1: have a star you don't think you can keep. Given 101 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: everything the Islanders have going on, Losing one of the 102 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: best players in hockey is not the way to to 103 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: endeavor into this. Mr Novie Williams mentioned Mr Trots, he 104 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: did not mention Mr lou La Morello. So reason for 105 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: optimism on Long Island. But very interested to see how 106 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: it turns out this season. And let's talk about some 107 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: big news and soccer. No, I'm not talking about the 108 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: World Cup. I'm talking about Cristiano Ronaldo perhaps on his way. 109 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: Should I say the whole should be the soccer guy 110 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: and say juve Ordreventous the Italian champions. He's thirty thirty three, 111 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: thirty three years old. Shouldn't it be going to MLS? Yeah, 112 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 1: I did that for you, Evan. I did that. We're 113 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: gonna get We're gonna get to MLS trailers in a minute. 114 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: That's what the shows that we're gonna get there. But 115 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: this is the biggest name in soccer, Messi Runald though 116 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: Neymar that's it. If they can get Ronaldo, interesting boost 117 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: for the brand. Yeah, and a lot of money for 118 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: a guy who's getting old, you know, A hundred and 119 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: twenty million dollar transfer fee plus it sounds like about 120 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: thirty five million dollars a year salary. But he's one 121 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: of the best in the world and and is a 122 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: is an eyeball that sells. You know, he sells merchandise, 123 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 1: he sells TV rights, et cetera. Our thanks to Bloomberg 124 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: Business of Sports reporter Evan Nobie Williams. You can follow 125 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: him on Twitter at NOBI Underscore Williams. Now Scott, let's 126 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: get into this week's interview. He is the senior vice 127 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: president at d C United and director of Business and 128 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: Legal Affairs at Swansea City, a f C. He is 129 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: a former NBA agent and director of basketball at Exclusive 130 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 1: Sports Group, and he co represented about eighteen NBA and 131 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: NFL players. Certainly the resume is there, Mr Barr and 132 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: Sam Porter, thanks very much for joining us. Thanks for 133 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: having me, Scott. What is the excitement like in DC 134 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: these days? There's a man named Wayne Rooney coming to town. 135 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: The excitement level around DC United is really high right now. 136 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: We just signed Wayne Rooney and we're also in the 137 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: process about two weeks away from opening Autie Field, our 138 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: brand new stadium in downtown Washington, d C. He and 139 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: I have been talking about this for a while. Bar 140 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: look at how fast. He got to to Audie Field. 141 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: He took care of the sponsor. That's how you know 142 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: a guy's on the business office, he gets to the 143 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: sponsors right away. I mean it was the Audi Field, 144 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: Audi Field. We can say a lot. I want to 145 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: talk more about it, but you put the deal together. 146 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: You were the guy. How does one go about getting 147 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: a Premier League, premier star player to MLS. How does 148 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: that give me? From the first phone call? How does that? 149 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: I'm happy? I'm happy to do that. So we have 150 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: a great team at d C United. Uh, from our 151 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: ownership of Eric to Here and Jason Levy and down 152 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: to our general manager Dave Casper, who's very involved in 153 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: all of our player acquisition and recruiting and drafting and 154 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: everything else that goes on behind the scenes to build 155 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: out a roster. And so it was a many person 156 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: effort to get that done. So the genesis of it 157 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: came from we all know Wayne Rooney. He's kind of 158 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: been a household name around the world football, world soccer 159 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: for a decade and a half. Here's the test part. 160 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: You know Wayne Rooney Manchester United. That that means the 161 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: late person knows him exactly exactly what I was gonna 162 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: say something. But Wayne's right up there with with the 163 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: biggest names in the in that sport, in the in 164 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: the sport of soccer football. And he was coming off 165 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: of a season in Everton. We had seen him play 166 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: live a few times and he was Everton's leading score 167 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: this year. Everton finished top half of the table in 168 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: the Premier League. It was his first season back with 169 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: Everton after spending fourteen seasons with Man United. And we 170 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: now that we're opening the new stadium Attifield and have 171 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: revenues that can justify spending on a premier type of 172 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: a player like Wayne, we wanted to go get somebody 173 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,719 Speaker 1: that was going to make a difference to us, uh, 174 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: first on the pitch, but then also help us connect 175 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,439 Speaker 1: with fans and the broader socket marketplace in the country 176 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: and specifically in the DC market. And and so the 177 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: process was just like any other sports deal, reaching out 178 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: to the player's agent. So we connected with with Wayne's agent, UH, 179 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: lovely gentleman named Paul Stratford. Paul was like, hey, you know, 180 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 1: we didn't we weren't really thinking about this right now, 181 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: but but let's talk. And I wasn't thinking about it 182 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: at all. Because if I'm looking at David Va, if 183 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: I'm a player, I'm starting to think about, hey, how 184 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: much can I earn playing there? Not as much stress. 185 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: I mean, David Via walks around New York and Wold 186 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: knows who he is. They kind of like it at 187 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: this point in their career, that's right. So so Wayne 188 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: had a multi year deal with Everton, so I think 189 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: they weren't thinking about it at that juncture quite yet, 190 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: because I think they thought he was gonna be with 191 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: Everton for a couple of years, and for a variety 192 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 1: of reasons, I think that maybe maybe they're just a 193 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: disconnect between the player and the club there of what 194 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: that next couple of years we're gonna look like. So 195 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: it opened the door for DC United to come and 196 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 1: get involved. And DC Unit is a very historic club 197 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: in the MLS, the all time most trophy winning club 198 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: in the MLS, and uh, you know, has a has 199 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: a big presence, So I think there was a connection there. 200 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: Wayne is a very family oriented guy. He has four sons, 201 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: a wife who's also a celebrity in her own right, 202 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: and I think they were looking for a place where 203 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 1: they could come, you know, maybe live outside of the 204 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 1: downtown d C area, but be part of the city 205 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: and be part of the team and part of the culture. 206 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: And uh Wayne, his agent, liked the idea, like the 207 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: concept that we were working on and the kind of 208 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: the initiatives that we're working on. I've mentioned that the 209 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: new STADIUMTI Field a few times, but we're also building 210 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: out a fifty plus acre training complex DC United type 211 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: of camp campus in loud in Virginia. You mentioned Paul Strafford. 212 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: You used to be what Paul used to be. You 213 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: were a former sports agent and then you switched and 214 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: then you went to the front office. I was gonna 215 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: ask what what propelled you to do that? Well, I 216 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: knew the owner that the owner managing partner of DC 217 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 1: United personally Jason Levan, and I really was intrigued by 218 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: the way that soccer and the MLS in in the 219 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: US was growing and I saw it and I saw 220 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: it with with a lot of the Eastern Conference teams 221 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: and the you know, the expansion of n y C 222 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: f C. I joined DC Unity before ny FC launch, 223 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: but you could just you knew that was going on, 224 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: and you could tell that this was a sport on 225 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: the rise and to have an opportunity to you know, 226 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: take that make that move was very interesting to me 227 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: because I just saw soccer as a growth industry in 228 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: our country. And then with d C United specifically, there 229 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: was the process and works to try to build this 230 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: new stadium, and I think there was certainly some skepticism 231 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: in the marketplace, but uh, to me, to have the 232 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 1: opportunity to work on a project like this, to get 233 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: behind the way, I mean, your look, tell me some 234 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: of those sponsors. We know the naming rights, we know, 235 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: we know that where the money come from. There's a 236 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: lot of owner money into it. The District of Columbia 237 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: who has been a partner with us on this project, 238 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: and you know we've we've done a lot with them. 239 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: They contributed about a hundred and fifty million dollars to 240 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: acquire and assemble the land and the infrastructure around the 241 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: new stadium. The stadium is about a block south of 242 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:07,719 Speaker 1: Nats Park. So there's this vision of a whole entertainment 243 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: and sports district in this in downtown watching everybody. You 244 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: know that, but everybody's talking about that l A Live. 245 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: Everybody's talking about sports and entertainment just Tampa. You know, 246 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: Vinnick is talking about doing the same thing. It right 247 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: that we talked about it all the time, that these 248 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: teams are parts of something. This is a real this 249 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 1: is a real estate play with a team as a centerpiece. 250 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: That's right. And we're for us, it's a it's a 251 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: team play, and it's a new home for for the club. 252 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: But there's a lot of real estate going on around it. 253 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 1: We are walking distance to the nation's Capitol building. I 254 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: mean that's where this this place is located. So we're right, 255 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: you see the Capitol building all around Addie Field, and uh, 256 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: we're also investing in some ancillary build out around the 257 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: stadium footprint, and so are other real estate developers. So 258 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: there is a certainly a real estate component to it, 259 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: and a kind of a bigger play of connecting this 260 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: part of d C with Knat's Park, the growth that's 261 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 1: going around there, with retail housinging. It's just a it's 262 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: a it's a flourishing area of the district and I 263 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: think that our stadium is gonna be a centerpiece of that. 264 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: Is it better to be part of an entertainment group, 265 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: as in the soccer club, as in a baseball club, 266 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: as in a football club, all under one umbrella or 267 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: is it better off for a team to be an 268 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: individual doing his business. I think there's there's plus pluses 269 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: and minuses to both. I think when you're the team, 270 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: you can be nimble and you can do things quickly 271 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: and to make the most sense for that specific entity. 272 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,839 Speaker 1: But then you also see groups like a e g. 273 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: That own multiple properties and are able to bundle them 274 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: together and do broader deal. So I think I think 275 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: it's a case by case scenario and there there's probably 276 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: you know, upside and downside to both. Really, Sam, what's 277 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: the reality of a big name soccer player coming in 278 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: in terms of moving that financial needle? What does Wayne 279 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,839 Speaker 1: Rooney do for d C United? In the ledger, what 280 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 1: we project Wayne will do is we we already had 281 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: really strong ticket sales and sweet sales and sponsorship sales 282 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: around the new stadium, and new stadium is a big 283 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: deal for any marketplace, but a guy like Wayne Rooney, 284 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 1: who's truly one of the you know, three or four 285 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: five most recognizable names in his sport, um it just 286 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: elevates things to a whole nother level for us, And 287 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: what that means is more interest from sponsors, more interest 288 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: from media, everybody reaching out to us wanting to get 289 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: how can they get involved with with Wayne, existing sponsors 290 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: who want to elevate their involvement, and then sponsors who 291 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: we hadn't connected with before who are now reaching out 292 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: and saying this has captured the interest around the DC 293 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: sports market. We're just coming off of the Capital's winning 294 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: the Stanley Cup and now it seems like the Wayne 295 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: Rooney Audie Field DC United story is kind of the 296 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: focal point in the in that market right now. That's 297 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: a nice thing because you're getting we talked about it earlier, 298 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: you're getting more sponsors now coming in, especially enjoying soccer. 299 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: You know, back in the days with like an old 300 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: coot like me and it's like soccer, isn't that thing? 301 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: You know, you kick the ball around whatever? As years ago, 302 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: he's still one of those he's still asking when and 303 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: if soccer is going to make it. He actually asked 304 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: that question, said that I did, and I finally realized 305 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: that I need to shut up because this is getting 306 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: off and getting big. Don't don't let your wife might 307 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: listen to the show. She's gonna hear you finally realized 308 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: you should shut up. That was like you missed that 309 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: boat along time ago. But the sponsors are coming in 310 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: and that's gotta be a great thing. Yeah, we have 311 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: some great marquee sponsors with with DC United, we have 312 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: Heineken who's actually built out the deck within the stadium. 313 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: That's a multi year deal. They're a league sponsor, but 314 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: they also want to do something special with DC United 315 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: in the new stadium. Obviously, we mentioned Autie several times. 316 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: Our front of shirt sponsor is a company called Ltos, 317 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: which is a technology company. We did a private event 318 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: for them in Autie Field last week to kind of 319 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: open the stadium and get a test run in. So 320 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: those are kind of three of our big major sponsors now, 321 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: but they were in talks with a bunch of people 322 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: that are coming in and wanting to get involved in 323 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: and and Wayne really helps energize that. Sam, we're talking 324 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: about the popularity of soccer. One question I post to 325 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: Mark Abbott when he was on this show is justify 326 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: the growing valuations because on the media side anyway, the 327 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: numbers aren't there. This is not one of the big 328 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: four sports in the dollar take. What do you see 329 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: that justifies the growing revenue and and the valuations of 330 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: MLS teams. Well, it's a good question because we have 331 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: the World Cup on right now, right and it's a 332 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: time where soccer is a popular sport. It's the most 333 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: popular sport on the globe. And so what what the 334 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: MLS is doing is I think becoming the best soccer 335 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: league right now, is working to be the best soccer 336 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: league in the Western hemisphere. So a lot of talent 337 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: comes out of South America, but the leagues have a 338 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: lot of issues. They're not um, you know, run really 339 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: well top to bottom from an infrastructure perspective, and so 340 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: what the what the MLS has the opportunity to do 341 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: and it is doing and should continue to is be 342 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: that best league in the Western hemisphere. And we have 343 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: a lot of fans globally. When I go to the UK, 344 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: there are always people asking about MLS. There's a lot 345 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: of interest there. So there's no relegation in our league 346 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: and there's there's relegation and essentially every other soccer league 347 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: around the world. So what that means is you never 348 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 1: have to worry year over year if you're going to 349 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: be in the league or not. So right there, you're 350 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: locked in. You have your spot in the league, locked in. 351 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: And we know that live sports and you guys probably 352 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: know more about this than I do, but we know 353 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: that that live sports truly are the driving force of 354 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: subscriptions for for cable services and and O T T 355 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: bundles and everything else. So live sports and and and pop. 356 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: You combine the attractiveness of live sports with the sport 357 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: of soccer, which is going to be popular, and then 358 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: kids who grew up with the MLS being the norm 359 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: as opposed to people who got to it later in life. 360 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: I think that's what justifies the level of of valuation 361 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: the teams that people are putting on MLS clubs. Now, 362 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: what do you see as the future sure of the 363 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: media deal? Do you see because of the nature of 364 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: the fan base, younger skew, tech savvy, that MLS might 365 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: be one of those leaders in sort of O T 366 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 1: T push instead of the traditional linear television. It's certainly possible. 367 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: You know, not my that's going on at the league level, 368 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: and I talked to those folks on a regular basis, 369 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: but I think that's certainly possible. I think digital and 370 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 1: that that next generation of of media rights, I think 371 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: the MLS will probably be one of the four runners 372 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,719 Speaker 1: into that because you're right, our demographics do skew younger. 373 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: We I think we have the youngest demographic out of 374 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: the NFL, MLB, n B A. They were right there 375 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: with the NBA of having very young demographics compared to 376 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 1: the MLB or the NFL. So I do think there's 377 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: a real chance for us to be a, you know, 378 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: kind of a first mover in that space. Sam, would 379 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: programs do d C United have to help the kids 380 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: get into soccer today and hopefully one day become a 381 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: member of DC United. Yeah, that's a great question. We 382 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: have in a cat of me all around the d 383 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: m V area with about a seventy five mile footprint 384 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: radius where we're out there attracting young players, and we're 385 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: investing a lot into that now with the campus in 386 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: Loudon County that I referred to earlier. It's going to 387 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: be about a fifty plus million dollar project and we're 388 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 1: gonna run all of our academy programs through there while 389 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:23,679 Speaker 1: still maintaining a couple of pitches in the district to 390 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: make sure that we don't lose our connection to the 391 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: to the city itself. Um, and we've had homegrown players 392 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 1: A guy named Andy Nahar, who we got, who we 393 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: sold to a Belgian team, who has been rumored to 394 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 1: go to Premier League teams. Um Bill Hamid, who was 395 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: a homegrown player who's now playing in your We've had 396 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 1: some real talent come through our our academy system, and 397 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,880 Speaker 1: our next step is to kind of bring in more 398 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 1: because the d m V is really a hot hotbed 399 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: and we're investing in this Louden campus and academy to 400 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: help energize that and bring in even even more that 401 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: we hope that, you know, signing a player going back 402 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: to the whole Wayne rooneything, signing a player like Wayne 403 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: and having him be a local sports icon will energize 404 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: that even further. And there's already a huge amount of 405 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 1: interest in US soccer around our area. I played some 406 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: fairly high level soccer growing up. Is it still the 407 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: same wheat in Maryland? Rest In Virginia, Springfield? Those are 408 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: the teams I remember playing that? Is that still the 409 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 1: hot But yeah, I mean that area in northern Virginia, 410 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: all around between d C and Baltimore, all all hotbeds. 411 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: Loudon County, Arlington, Reston still remains a hotbed all the 412 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: hated the Wheaton Bears. I hated then I did so 413 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: had it. I just still still hear the coach. Let's 414 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: go back. I can still hear that coach. I can't 415 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: couldn't stand them, but they were good. And the local 416 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: colleges are always have really good college programs as well. 417 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: Uv A, Georgetown, Maryland are always amongst the strongest teams 418 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 1: in the country from a college perspective. So it's it's 419 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: bringing all that together and really being a you know, 420 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: a driving force for growth, the growth and development of 421 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: the sport, and a higher level of coaching and all 422 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: the things that we plan to bring to the market 423 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: and enhance what we already have. We chatting with Sam Porter, 424 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: runs business and legal at DC United. Wayne Runey's coming 425 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,400 Speaker 1: on board. Sam. You know what we hear from guys 426 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: like bar and I don't know if it's still true. 427 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: It seems like maybe he's seen the light. But people 428 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: are coming over. These stars are coming over. Wayne's what 429 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: thirty one two coming. Let's say in the close of 430 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: their career. MLS needs players in their prime, not going 431 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: to happen in the next five years. I mean, the 432 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 1: best of the best is still playing in the e 433 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: p L in Syria in La Liga. Does that have 434 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: to happen or is there room for a product that 435 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: is the best soccer in the America's and doesn't have 436 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 1: to be the EPO. You don't have to compete with 437 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: the e p L, just have to be what it is. Well, 438 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: I think you're what you'll see is a combination of both. 439 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 1: So we've seen this fantastic success story with Atlanta United. 440 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 1: They they haven't won a champion ship or MLS Cup yet, 441 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: but what they have done is, uh exceed everybody's expectations 442 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: from the house and they made the playoffs in year 443 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: one and they've been at there really strong. You know why, Well, 444 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: what's the best thing Arthur Blank did with that team? 445 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: And we're going to see if others And this is 446 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 1: sports business, I want mar let's I know this is 447 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 1: big for you. The community pricing, it's very reasonably price. 448 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: It's like two bucks for a hot dog, three bucks 449 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: for an all you can drink bottomless soda. Whatever the 450 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: rule is, like whatever the item would sell for in 451 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: the five mile radius of the community, that's what the 452 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: price has to be. In the stadium for all events. 453 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 1: I'm not going to break my household budget going to 454 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: a game. That's got to make a difference. So for them, 455 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: they built an NFL stadium and they they I think 456 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: to a degree, they they've got the MLS team and 457 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 1: they're thinking that it was going to be a secondary 458 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: programming opportunity for the for the building and end up 459 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,360 Speaker 1: really connecting with the community. And where I was going 460 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: with it is that they've done the player model where 461 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: they brought in young talent from South America and Central America, 462 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: and those guys have been have been really good players, 463 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: and they they've spent on them. And so I think, 464 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: what the MLS it's you're you're talking about. Is it 465 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 1: David Va, is it Wayne Rooney or is it these 466 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 1: young guys. I think you can have a combination of both. 467 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: Prior to us buying Wayne Rooney or bring Wayne Rooney over, 468 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: we our last several investments have been on Latin American players. 469 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 1: We have paul Aariola, a designated player of ours who's 470 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 1: as on the US men's national team but has dual 471 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 1: Mexican American citizenship. UM we got a player from Argentina 472 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: named Luco Acosta, who was our previous highest spend on 473 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: a transfer fee before that. So we've worked kind of 474 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: in that space where we're doing a little bit of both. 475 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: We want to bring in the young talent that makes 476 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: sense that that maybe isn't going for the huge transfer 477 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: fees in Europe, but then bring in a guy like Wayne, 478 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: which are there are on a lot of guys like Wayne, 479 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: but a guy like that who can show leadership, who's 480 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 1: been there and done it on the biggest stages time 481 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: and time again, who can help develop our young guys 482 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 1: and also still be an absolute stud player on the pitch. 483 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: Force Sam, you know why I've seen the light because 484 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: you can bet on soccer and being that even that 485 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 1: I am, I have to ask this question. Gambling and 486 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: it's now gonna be legal to any state that wants it, 487 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: what is the impact on that for soccer in general? 488 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:26,360 Speaker 1: I think that soccer actually has a really a lot 489 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: of existing models to look at because it's so it's 490 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: the most popular sport in Europe by a mile, and 491 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 1: it's all Betting has been legal on the sport there 492 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 1: for for quite some time. So you're walking to the 493 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: owner's suite right before the game and they're taking bets 494 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: to a degree, Yeah, and so that's going on in Europe. 495 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: So I think what the MLS can do and what 496 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: these other leagues can do is take a look of 497 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: how it's been existing there. We can figure out some 498 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: way to work with it here. I think that's gonna 499 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: be largely up to the league to figure out how 500 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: they best want to handle that, and I think the 501 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 1: clubs will follow their lead and how to monetize it 502 00:24:57,680 --> 00:24:59,679 Speaker 1: and work with it as as this evolves, because it's 503 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: still an evolving thing from our perspective, but certainly there's 504 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: a lot of opportunity there. So what else are you're 505 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: looking at? I mean a lot of sports team owners 506 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: looking at tech, they look at media, they look at 507 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: real estate. We know the real estate part here. What 508 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: else does the ownership ownership group look at and say 509 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: we should be playing in the sandbox? I think you 510 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: hit on the big ones. Obviously, real estate is a 511 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: big thing. And you know, we look at our our 512 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: neighbors in the district with the Washington Wizards and they 513 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 1: just build a training facility downtown, and you think about 514 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: the room that as that that a bestketball team and 515 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: NBA team needs for a training facility. Is a is 516 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: a building and you look at what a professional soccer 517 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: team needs. You need many many pitches because you you 518 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: have to have the academy, you have to have your 519 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: second team, you have to have all these all these fields. 520 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: So real estate is certainly a big part of it. 521 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: And then and then tech with monitoring the players, uh, 522 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 1: the best way to utilize their their strength, they're conditioning, 523 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,640 Speaker 1: the sports science stuff, those are all the big things. 524 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: We're not a big group on getting away from the core. 525 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: So the real estate, that the tech when it comes 526 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 1: to the sports science side, but we're not I don't 527 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: think looking at anything that's media of course as well, 528 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:02,680 Speaker 1: but I don't think we're looking at anything outside of 529 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: the box away away from those areas that I'm aware of. 530 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:11,439 Speaker 1: No Wayne Rooney channel coming to YouTube maybe, but you 531 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 1: know yeah. Sam Porter, the director of Legal and Business 532 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: Affairs for DC United and Swansea City PC, Thank you 533 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: sir for coming in and joining us. Thanks guys who 534 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: was great takeaways. I am just really impressed with Sam 535 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: about how he changed from being an agent to where 536 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: he is now because my first thought is like, well, boy, 537 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: there's a lot of money involved and being an agent, 538 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: but sometimes sometimes thank you Jason Levy and for getting 539 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 1: him out of that because exactly, and so I guess 540 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: it depends on you know what, what you have ahead, 541 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: and he's obviously he's big and what he does. My 542 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,479 Speaker 1: takeaway is that we've finally converted you into a believer 543 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 1: at soccer and not one day going to arrive that 544 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 1: It's a real thing. Maybe not the justification for the 545 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: valuations that are out there. We talked to Sam about that, 546 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: but in a world that is changing, in a media 547 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,679 Speaker 1: perspective where you have ESPN Plus and everybody else has 548 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 1: an O T T this sort of product, younger demographic, 549 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,199 Speaker 1: tech savvy, there's a market place for that. There is 550 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: value for that, and you can get in at a 551 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: lower number than say a Big four sport. So if 552 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: you can get in, and if soccer continues the pace, 553 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 1: and if everybody that thirst for content stays, there's a 554 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 1: good investment. It feels better to be a number one 555 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 1: than number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. 556 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: We have a chance to go for three in a row. 557 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: Kid numbers at a good time. When I first started 558 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,680 Speaker 1: wearing the number, I would just have the Bloomberg business 559 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: of sports. The number of the week time. Now for 560 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: a number of the week. I love this one. This 561 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 1: is one of those we discussed. We discussed, and this 562 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: is about bowling, and I gotta explain something I used 563 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: to Actually, I was saying, you probably have a shirt 564 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: on what I do. I'm not kidding. Colin tipped in 565 00:27:57,359 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: producing this week. We need it. We need an entire 566 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: episode on a bowling pest of Michael Balls. I was 567 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: a strong amateur involved in this. I won a couple 568 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,920 Speaker 1: of tournaments and you put two fingers up and put 569 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: two fingers. I mean, there's only one question for you. 570 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 1: Ask a bowler high game, of which frame did you this? 571 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: Obviously the tenth frame, but it was the last shot 572 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 1: I threw and I left the nine pins came in 573 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,479 Speaker 1: too strong. Alright. Should have been the number of the week. 574 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: But we'll do the number one, number one, because I 575 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: have never heard of this before. A bowler has actually 576 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,919 Speaker 1: been stripped of her medal. It happened to German bowler 577 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: Laura Blue. You know why you've never heard of it? 578 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: The first time it's happened. It's first time it's ever happened. 579 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: That's why the number one number one. The first time 580 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 1: it had number one at the seventeen World Games. She 581 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: won the gold medal, but then she tested positive for 582 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: a manned subthing. Both both samples tested positive. What she 583 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 1: tested positive for was hydro chloral thire side. Now what 584 00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 1: it is is that that's supposed to be a mask 585 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: agent for hiding something to take something else and then 586 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 1: you take something out. That happens all the time. That's 587 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: why these masking agents are on the list of banned substances. Now, 588 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: she says she doesn't know how this happened. That's that's 589 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: that's the standard response. I don't know how this could 590 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: have happened. You're a bullet tummy, what what advantage could 591 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 1: you possibly get? Do you really get that winded? Well, 592 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: this is not like cycling, where is about endurance or 593 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: football or moving on. You're trying to make athletes out 594 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: of this. It's just number one first time it's ever happened, 595 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: and just thought everybody'd like to know about it. Well, 596 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: thank you very much. You've been listening to Bloomberg Business 597 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: of Sports. We are here each and every week at 598 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: the same time exploring the world of money and sports. 599 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Bar on Twitter at pick Bar Sport, Big 600 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 1: Bar and I'm Scott Sasnik. You can follow me on 601 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: Twitter at s Thanks for joining us, and please tune 602 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 1: in next week when we speak with the biggest and 603 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: brightest in the sports business industry. Thank you, Scotty. You're 604 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around 605 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: the world.