1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 2: Aaron Rogers is the biggest story in the twenty twenty 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 2: three NFL season. People who are curious. 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 3: Every time we stage a live event could be one 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 3: across ten different sports that we promote. That's our product. 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: Four point six million women are already sports starving in 7 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:18,119 Speaker 1: the US. 8 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 2: Digitization of ticketing has made things more transparent in some 9 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 2: ways and less transparent than others. 10 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 4: One of the coolest things about rugby it's the same 11 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 4: rules for men and women. 12 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 2: Golf is a sport you can play well beyond your years. 13 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 2: Unlike any other sports. You don't have college athletics anymore. 14 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: You have young people playing professional sports. 15 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. This is the 16 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports show where we explore the big 17 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: money issues in the world of sports. 18 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 3: Michael Bark and Damian sas Houer Scarlett. 19 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: Foo is off this week. Coming up on the show, 20 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 1: we'll talk some football and we bring in former NFL 21 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: executive Michael Lombardi for his perspective on the inner workings 22 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: of an NFL team, from scouting to coaching. And let's 23 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: talk about the co coaches and how they rank in 24 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: his mind. 25 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: You know, Andy Reid's going in the Hall of Fame. 26 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: Belichick's going to go in the Hall of Fame. Mike 27 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: Tomlin's going to go in the Hall of Fame. They 28 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: have it. You know, I think Sean McVay has the potential. 29 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: Kyle Shannehan has the potential to get into the Hall 30 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: of Fame. 31 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 3: Michael's here to talk a little bit about his latest book, 32 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 3: Football Done Right, setting the record street on coaches, players, 33 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:20,639 Speaker 3: and the history of the NFL. 34 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: Plus we'll hear about how Lionel Messi might be the 35 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: key to helping out the struggle in Chicago soccer franchise. 36 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: All of that straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of 37 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: Sports Show. But first, the NBA's most successful franchise over 38 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: the last decade is up for sale, and that'll do it. 39 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: It's over the Colin State. Oria's return to a familiar place. 40 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,199 Speaker 5: They're on top of the NBA World the fourth title 41 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 5: of eight years. 42 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: But Dubbs Donnason is still very much alive. 43 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 3: That's right. A group of minority investors is thinking that 44 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 3: selling a chunk of the Golden State. 45 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: Warrior here to talk to us about that is our 46 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: friend of the show Bloomberg US or it's business reporter 47 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,639 Speaker 1: Randall Williams Random Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports, Old. 48 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 5: Buddy, thank you for having me once again. 49 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: Well, first of all, who's up in play for thinking 50 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: about buying the Golden State Warriors. 51 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 5: Your guess is as good as mine. Yeah, that's one 52 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 5: of these things where sports franchises are getting so expensive 53 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 5: that the pool of people who can even buy into 54 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 5: a team it's just very, very small. So, I mean 55 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 5: me personally, I don't really understand why you would want 56 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 5: to sell the Warriors now, are there is some speculation 57 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 5: within the story about why someone would want to sell 58 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 5: the Warriors, or I wouldn't say speculation, but maybe some 59 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 5: ideas as to why the war you would want to 60 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 5: sell the piece of the Warriors. But this is one 61 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 5: of the most valuable sports franchises in the world and 62 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 5: there are some people who want to get out. 63 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 3: So who are those sellers exactly, Randall, I. 64 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: Don't know that they are. 65 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 5: They've made themselves public just yet. And one of the 66 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 5: reasons for that is because the quieter these things are, generally, 67 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 5: the more the quicker that the process can go along. 68 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 5: You open it up for everybody. Then you're gonna have 69 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 5: a bunch of people who may not even have the money. 70 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 5: They just want to throw their hats in there for 71 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 5: the publicity of saying I want to buy a piece 72 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 5: of the Warriors, and they can actually afford it. So 73 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 5: I'm not really sure. 74 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 3: You just remind me. I mean, we've seen, by the way, 75 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 3: we've seen and remind our audience, please, some really big 76 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 3: deals in the NBA just in the last year alone, 77 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 3: you know, talk to us about those numbers really quickly again. 78 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: I mean the Hornets. 79 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 5: Michael Jordan's sold the Hornets for three billion dollars after 80 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 5: purchasing them for I think less than three hundred million dollars. 81 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 5: And obviously Sarvar bought the Suns earlier this year for 82 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 5: four billion. And if you think about the Warriors, this 83 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 5: story has them at seven billion, which is. 84 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: More than both of them combined. Exactly. 85 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 5: This ten percent stake could go for seven hundred million 86 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 5: dollars or something along those lines. How many people have 87 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 5: seven hundred million dollars, whether that be in cash or 88 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 5: in investments all over the place to just offer up 89 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 5: and say, hey, I'm going to be a part of 90 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 5: the Warriors. It's a difficult thing to do. 91 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: Hell, I don't have seventy dollars right now my wallet. 92 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: Stop lying to the audience. I mean, this is the 93 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: valuations of just going through the roof. And I was 94 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: thinking about this because there's another story that broke about 95 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: another NBA great, Magic Johnson, who is thinking about for 96 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: the first time, maybe just maybe the New York Knicks, 97 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: because he doesn't want to buy a team that's going 98 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: to conflict with the Lakers, but he's maybe I could 99 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: buy the New York Knicks. 100 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's one of these things where you're better off 101 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 5: seeing four rainbows than James Dolan is to sell the Knicks. 102 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 5: There have been New Yorkers for many years who have 103 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 5: asked him to sell. I don't think it happens anytime soon. 104 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 5: And don't get me wrong, there is a long list 105 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 5: of people who would be interested in buying the Knicks, 106 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 5: who think they could run it better than James Dolan, 107 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 5: who think they could bring in superstar players better than him. 108 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 1: There's a lot of people. 109 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 5: But the price tag for the Knicks, I mean, I 110 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 5: can only imagine I would not be surprised at all 111 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 5: if it exceeded ten billion dollars. 112 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 3: So here's the funny thing. We said seven billion dollars, 113 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 3: I mean ten billion, while seven billion dollars for the 114 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 3: I mean what other teams are even in that ballpark, 115 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 3: not just in the NBA, but you know in other 116 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 3: sports as well. 117 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 5: It's the Cowboys, it's the Giants, it's the Jets, it's 118 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 5: the Rams, it's the Knicks, it's the Lakers, it's the Yankees. 119 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 5: It's not that many teams that get in that I'd 120 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 5: say six or five and a half to eight to 121 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 5: nine billion dollar range, depending on what you value the 122 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 5: teams at. There aren't a lot of teams. The NFL 123 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 5: has the most in large right because of their media 124 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 5: business and sometimes the businesses that the teams build around 125 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 5: the stadiums and the product on the field. It isn't 126 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 5: just about, oh, you know, we have a football team 127 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 5: that's very expensive. Naturally, these things are going to get 128 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 5: more expensive over time, but in terms of what else 129 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 5: can you bring fans and spectators to your stadium or 130 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,799 Speaker 5: the things around your stadium, those things matter. The Patriots 131 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 5: have Patriot Place and the Cowboys have what feels like 132 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 5: a palace down there in Arlington. So it's one of 133 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 5: these things where the more how you build around your 134 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 5: stadium and the facilities, the more people you bring, and 135 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 5: the more money you make. 136 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 3: You know, I mi call, I just have to I 137 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 3: wonder would that make the Warriors more expensive than the 138 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 3: forty nine ers. 139 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: It could be. 140 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 3: I mean, that's nuts, It's possible. 141 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: Yeah. I was just gonna bring up the point is 142 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: that all the teams that you mentioned, Randall, they have 143 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: one major thing in common, and they're all in major, 144 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: big league cities. 145 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 3: Exactly. 146 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 5: It's one of these things where if you're in a 147 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 5: big city, you can naturally assume that you are going 148 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 5: to make a lot of money just strictly from the 149 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 5: market that you're in. Now, the NFL, in some ways 150 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 5: it's more of the same, but you see some of 151 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 5: their smaller franchises who still have a bigger valuation. Whether 152 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 5: you look at Forbes or Sportedco. Their franchises are big, 153 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 5: like green Bay, for example, is valued higher than the Bengals, 154 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 5: which are in Cincinnati, and green Bay has done a 155 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 5: number of things to create different streams of revenue that 156 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 5: you wouldn't think of. I mean they sold stock for 157 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 5: three hundred dollars in their team, and that generated I 158 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 5: think sixty five million. It's one of these things, are like, 159 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 5: if you can come up with fun, creative ways for 160 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 5: fans to be a part of your franchise or feel 161 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 5: like they're part of your franchise, then they will engage. 162 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. 163 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, Randy, you rightly point out in your 164 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 3: article of that Arctos bought an eight percent state of 165 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 3: evaluation of five point five billion in the Warriors back 166 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 3: in December twenty twenty one, so you know, at least 167 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 3: we sort of have a framework for the valuation of 168 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 3: the team. I wonder if I could just shift gears, 169 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: you know, and ask you another. 170 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: Question Taylor Swift. 171 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 3: We go, No, Taylor Swift, we have to ask you 172 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 3: about Taylors. So I know you love Taylor Swift. Don't 173 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 3: say you know come on the Errors tour. I know 174 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 3: I saw you there. 175 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 5: You did not see me there, now, do not put 176 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 5: that out there. There are no photos of me at 177 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 5: the air stor. 178 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 3: But I mean, we got to talk about what just 179 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 3: happened and the impact on the NFL between the relationship 180 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,679 Speaker 3: between Travis Kelcey and Taylors Swift. I mean the numbers alone, 181 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 3: I mean the merch Sales talked to us about all that. 182 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 5: It's probably the craziest thing that I have seen in 183 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 5: terms of celebrity impact on something that is pure speculatory. 184 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 5: They when they walked out of the stadium, they weren't 185 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 5: even holding hands. They drove away, and everyone's like, oh 186 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 5: my gosh, it's this big thing. But the impact is undeniable. 187 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 5: I mean, everyone in connection to Taylor Swift gained followers. 188 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 5: It isn't just Travis Kelcey who gained over four hundred 189 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 5: thousand followers. It's also his mother and his brother who 190 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 5: have also gained followers. And all of this is from 191 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:20,559 Speaker 5: being on an agency who tracks some of the social 192 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 5: media metrics and things like that. But it's one of 193 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 5: these things where like, I don't you can't expect it. 194 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 5: And I just got off the phone with the i 195 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 5: think the head of content at the NFL and social media, 196 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 5: and even he said like, this is a magic that 197 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 5: you just can't recreate. And they found out that she 198 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 5: was going to be attending a couple hours before the game. 199 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 5: Now the buzz that was recreated after my god, I 200 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 5: cannot escape it, I you know. 201 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: And I said when this story came out and said, 202 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: I'm not going to talk about this. I got the 203 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: other stuff, but then I'm forced to talk about it 204 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: exactly because Jersey sales for Travis Kelsey went up four 205 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: hundred percent since that you saw the shot of you know, 206 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: Taylor Swift yagg So I mean and you said this, 207 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: all right, d you got to bring this up. 208 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 3: Okay, So basically, I don't have my own TikTok account 209 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: with Mike Ball says, let's just hold me. I don't 210 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 3: have my own TikTok account, but my wife does. And 211 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 3: so we were looking at I guess wives are playing 212 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 3: swifties are playing jokes on their husbands. Oh yeah, yeah, 213 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 3: saying basically, oh, can you believe that Taylor Swift just 214 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 3: made this NFL player, Travis Kelce, like instantly famous overnight, 215 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 3: and they are going, yeah, that's a head explode. 216 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 5: Julius Randall's wife just did it on him, and it's hilarious. 217 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 5: But here's the thing that is outside of whatever. If 218 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 5: they're dating, if they're not, it doesn't really matter. But 219 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 5: this is an example of why the NFL tried to 220 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 5: book Taylor Swift for the Super Bowl. Right, this moment 221 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 5: is micro in comparison to what she would be, whether 222 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 5: that's the super Bowl in twenty twenty five or the 223 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 5: super Bowl in twenty twenty six. I don't think that 224 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 5: the super Bowl in twenty twenty six has a location 225 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 5: just yet, and who knows if they try to get 226 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 5: Taylor Swift in New Orleans. But if they go back 227 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 5: to let's say Sofi Stadium, that is the venue for 228 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 5: Taylor Swift, it's either so far or allegiant. And there 229 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 5: aren't many venues that can truly quantify how big of 230 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 5: a superstar she is. But if all of the things 231 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 5: that we've talked about, the Jersey sales, the social media metrics, 232 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 5: imagine what it would be if she did a super 233 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 5: Bowl halftime show. 234 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of super the super Bowl halftime show, we 235 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: got Usher. I'm ex had to do it, and that's 236 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: making big buzz right now. Yeah. 237 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 5: It's the biggest thing that I was disappointed with this 238 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 5: weekend is we did not talk about Usher and that 239 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 5: Super Bowl halftime show enough because of the Taylor Swift thing. 240 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 5: And it isn't anyone's fault in particular, it's just the 241 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 5: way that it works. But Usher couldn't have been a 242 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 5: better placement for Las Vegas. 243 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: Albert Thanks to Randa Williams, Bloomberg US sports business reporter. 244 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: Coming up next on the show, we turned to soccer 245 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: in a struggle in Chicago. Franchise looking to get a 246 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: boost from Messymania, had a straight ahead on the Bloomberg 247 00:10:53,920 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Around the world, You're 248 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. This 249 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show where we explore 250 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,439 Speaker 1: the big money issues the world of sports on Michael 251 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: Barr along with Damian Sasaur. Scarlett fu is off this week. 252 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: She missed a good one. This week, lion O Messi 253 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: and in he Miami head to Chicago to play the 254 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 1: Chicago Fire, and the team and its owner, billionaire Joe Mansueto, 255 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: is hoping Messi Mania can give them a boost. The 256 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: Fire they have struggled for years with some of the 257 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: lowest attendance numbers in Major League Soccer. 258 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 3: That's right, but the arrow is pointing up certainly if 259 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 3: you ask new general manager Dave bald And. He was 260 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 3: on Bloomberg and talked about how things are heading in 261 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 3: the right direction it seems for his team. Beyond Leo 262 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 3: Messi coming to visit. 263 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 4: We have a world class owner in Joe Mansuedo, who 264 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 4: invests really heavily in our club. So currently we're in 265 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 4: the midst of building one hundred million dollar performance center 266 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 4: here in Chicago. That is probably first and foremost right, 267 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 4: I think anytime you're investing in your players and you're 268 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 4: on field or on pitch, talent, data, analytics, nutrition, those 269 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 4: are all things that will impact play on the field. 270 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 4: We also invest really heavily in the city and have 271 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 4: a really robust community relations department that runs a youth 272 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 4: sports program, some of which is nonprofit, some of which 273 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 4: is pay to play, and so as revenues continue to 274 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 4: grow across the league, those are all some of the 275 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 4: areas that our club is investing in. 276 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: Here to talk with us about Lionel Messi coming to 277 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: town and what the Chicago Fire is looking to do 278 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: to help turn things around, we welcome Bloomberg Chicago Bureau 279 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: chief Isis Elmina. 280 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 6: Thank you for having me. 281 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: Let's start first of all with the Chicago That's a 282 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: great idea, because what Mansueto is saying is that, Hey, 283 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: guess who's coming to town on October fourth. Lionel Messi 284 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 1: and now it looks like where they're going to hold 285 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: the game at Soldier Field in Chicago is going to 286 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: be one of the biggest crowds ever in MLS history. 287 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think every team is trying to capitalize on Messi, 288 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 6: and I think it's a very very smart strategy for 289 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 6: the Fire. It's especially important that they play in Soldier Field. 290 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 6: They're one of the few MLS teams that actually play 291 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 6: on an NFL stadium, which tends to be much bigger stadiums, 292 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 6: so they can sell a lot more tickets. So what 293 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 6: we're seeing now is that you know, the game is 294 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 6: on track to sell out, and you know it could 295 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 6: also be the highest grossing MLS regular season match of 296 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 6: all times. So the Fire is really in to capitalize 297 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 6: on this. 298 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 3: Well, I just talked to us a little bit about 299 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 3: the Chicago Fire. Talk to us about Joe Monswedo. We 300 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 3: know he's a morning star fame, right, that's where he, 301 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 3: you know, kind of made his wealth. We Bloomberg nerds, 302 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 3: we know that kind of thing. But talk to us 303 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 3: about his road to the path of ownership here. I mean, 304 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 3: I think he purchased the team in twenty nineteen four 305 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 3: hundred million dollars. Take us through that. 306 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, So he purchased the rest of the team in 307 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 6: twenty nineteen, and a deal that actually value the team 308 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 6: at four hundred million dollars. You know, Monsto is also 309 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 6: owner of f CI Lugano. So I think that's really interesting. 310 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 6: You know, he got this team and it was the 311 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 6: end of twenty nineteen, it was just before the pandemic, 312 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 6: and then suddenly the pandemic hit and no one could play, 313 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 6: stadiums were closed. So I think it was actually a 314 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 6: really hard time after dad, and I think now that 315 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 6: the world is reopening and he has the opportunity to 316 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 6: capitalize on MESSI that's really what he's trying to do. 317 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: And when we talk about the Chicago Fire, by the way, 318 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: not about O'Leary's cow. We're talking we're talking about a team, 319 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: like you said, four hundred million dollars when he bought it, 320 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: and today that seems like a steal. 321 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I think you see the valuations that 322 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 6: are going on for like other teams, I think that, 323 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 6: you know, it seems like a steal. But if you 324 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 6: think about the Fire itself, it's valued at around five 325 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 6: hundred and thirty five million last year. But he was 326 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 6: you know, literally the only team in the NM in 327 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 6: the MLS franchise that an increase in value in twenty 328 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 6: twenty one and twenty twenty two. So I really do 329 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 6: think that they do want to turn it around, and 330 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 6: they do want to capitalize. And you know, he's pulling 331 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 6: all the stops with the messy game. 332 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, Michael and and Isis rightly points out in her 333 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 3: article that you know, he also spent a bit of 334 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 3: money to move the team back to Soldier Field, right, 335 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 3: because I think it had moved to another venue. I 336 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 3: think it moved to Bridgeview. But you know, we have 337 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 3: a lot of soccer coming through here in the US, 338 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 3: and then I mean we've got the World Cup coming. 339 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 3: I mean, so talk to us a little bit about 340 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 3: what this means, how this could kind of you know, 341 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 3: plant a few seeds as we look at to twenty 342 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 3: twenty six. 343 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. 344 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 6: I think they are looking at the messy effect and 345 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 6: this big wave of people getting interested in soccer for 346 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 6: twenty twenty six to try to like create and convert 347 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 6: some of those you know, casual observers into actual fans 348 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 6: of the Fire. And I think they're doing it. They're 349 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 6: doing it in a very smart way. So a couple 350 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 6: of things that they've done is, you know, it's really 351 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 6: linked this game the October fourth game with Messy two 352 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 6: season tickets. So if you're buy a season ticket, then 353 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 6: you get to go, you get free tickets to the 354 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 6: October fourth game. It is the same with like corporate 355 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 6: suites if you sell if they if you buy a 356 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 6: corporate suite for next season, you actually get to use 357 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 6: the same suite on the October fourth game. So it's 358 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 6: really looking at this game and the curiosity of people 359 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 6: in this game to capitalize for the future and convert 360 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 6: you know, people into like observers into new fans. 361 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: Damian and I were looking at the same thing on 362 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: the story that you had written that usually a ticket 363 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: can go anywhere between twenty two to four hundred and 364 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: twenty five dollars, and the four hundred twenty five dollars 365 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: ticket for a regular game is to actually you get to. 366 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 3: Sit with Joe. Now, yeah, right, you sit with Joe 367 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 3: crack crab and lobster for everyone. 368 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're right there, man. But now this game, this 369 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: the high priced seats could go for five thousand dollars, 370 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: but he's also throwing in some goodies also, Man Swedo, 371 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: He's saying, look, okay, I'm going to give you some 372 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: LED bracelets. I'm going to give you some free parking, 373 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: and if you order right now, it's like, you know, 374 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: I'll even like, you know, you know, give you a call, 375 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: you know, but no, you're not gonna do that. But no, 376 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: he is throwing in some goodies in this isis. 377 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 6: Yeah, absolutely, And I think that's a smart way of 378 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 6: trying to keep people interested in the sport, right And 379 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 6: you know, I think the LED lights will be a 380 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 6: lot of fun. We've seen what they can do in 381 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 6: Coldplay concerts. You know, you've seen how popular those concerts 382 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 6: look and how great they look on Instagram and things 383 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 6: like that, and you'll be able to see that on 384 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 6: the Fire too, So they're thinking of lighting up these 385 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 6: bracelets away the anthem playser when the Fire score, and 386 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 6: they also have like the opportunity to do fun things 387 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 6: like if there's a corner kick, they can light up 388 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 6: just one corner off the stadium. So I think, like 389 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 6: Instagram is definitely going to be full of pictures of 390 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 6: this game, So I do fully expect that and free 391 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 6: be on the parking side, I think is really interesting too, 392 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 6: because you know, sometimes the parking is so your field 393 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 6: costs like thirty five forty bucks, and that can be 394 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 6: more expensive than the actual ticket to a Fire game. 395 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,199 Speaker 6: So I think that's really important. 396 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 3: In your opinion, your expert opinion. At what minute do 397 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 3: you think Leo Messi will enter the game? No, I'm 398 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 3: just kidding, but seriously, it is a kind of a 399 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 3: really important question. Right sixty three thousand fans are going 400 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 3: to be there. What are your thoughts? 401 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 6: Well, I think, you know, if you think about it, 402 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 6: everyone wants them to play. But it's just, you know, 403 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 6: it's not really up to the Fire or up to 404 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 6: anyone else to decide when Messi comes in. But I 405 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 6: do think that, you know, they all want to make 406 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 6: it to the playoffs and they're going to take this seriously, 407 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 6: so he is likely to play. I think that's that's 408 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 6: at least the expectation of Dave Baldwin of the Chicago Fire. 409 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: I know we are running out of time, and as 410 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: you know, Lionel Messi will only play on grass. That's 411 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: why it sold your field. You're seeing that instead of 412 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 1: like maybe at a midlife whatever. But even more important 413 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: to that is something that you had mentioned off, Mike, 414 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: and that is the Latino population is growing and they 415 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: are really excited about seeing Lionel Messi. 416 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 6: That's right. And I think most of you know the 417 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 6: Fires fans, you know all the Fire fans, not all, 418 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 6: but like most of the Fire fans are Latino and 419 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 6: there's a huge Mexican population in Chicago. The Latino population 420 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 6: overtook the black population in Chicago in twenty twenty. So 421 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 6: the Fire is being capitalizing on that. And I think 422 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 6: the big question for the team is when did they 423 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 6: bring a big Mexican player. 424 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, with thanks the Bloomberg Chicago Bureau chief ices Elnina 425 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: for joining us, Thank you so much. Up next on 426 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: the show, we turned to the NFL with former Super 427 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: Bowl winning executive Michael Lombardi. 428 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 2: You know, Al Davis, you still love Las Vegas. He 429 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 2: would go there for his birthday quite a bit. And 430 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,640 Speaker 2: you know, nobody really had the vision to think Las 431 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 2: Vegas was going to become a sports town because of gambling. 432 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 2: And yet it's a great sports town because it it's 433 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,719 Speaker 2: the confluence of all these fan bases coming together. 434 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: That is straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports 435 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. Around the world, you're listening to Bloomberg Business 436 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Thanks for joining us on 437 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business of Sports show All we explore the 438 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: big old money issues in the world of sports on 439 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: Michael Barr along with Damian Sasaur Scarlett foo is Off. 440 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 1: With the NFL season now in full swing, we wanted 441 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: to take a step back and talk with someone who 442 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: can take us beyond the weekly headlines and scores. Michael 443 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: Lombardi has served as GM of the Cleveland Browns, won 444 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: three Super Bowls as an executive, one with the San 445 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: Francisco forty nine ers and two with the New England Patriots. 446 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 3: That's right, and Michael Lombardi also has a new book 447 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 3: called Football Done Right, setting the record strate on the coaches, players, 448 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:58,360 Speaker 3: and history of the NFL. 449 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: To take us behind the sceneans of what makes an 450 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 1: NFL team work, from coaches to scouting. Welcome former NFL 451 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: executive Michael Lombardi. Michael, thank you so much for joining 452 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,360 Speaker 1: us here on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 453 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 2: Thank you, Michael, Thank you, dam and I appreciate it 454 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 2: good to be here. Thank you so much for having me. 455 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: Well, first of all, let's start out your new book 456 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 1: that's out, which obviously I'm going to have to run 457 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: to Barnes and Noble to get what made you want 458 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 1: to write this book? 459 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 2: Well, the NFL has been my life for the last 460 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 2: forty years, and as a young kid growing up here 461 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 2: on the beaches of New Jersey, on the Jersey Shore, 462 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 2: you know, I was influenced by a lot of factors, 463 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 2: and so you know what I wanted to present to 464 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 2: the people that love the league like I do, that 465 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 2: has grown up with the league. I wanted to kind 466 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 2: of present some of the things that often aren't talked about, 467 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 2: Honor those before us, talk about how we got to 468 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 2: where we are, and try to bring some light to 469 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 2: where we started, where we ended up and the people 470 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 2: that influence is this game that haven't been recognized, and 471 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 2: so it started out as a journey of perhaps to 472 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 2: help people get into the Hall of Fame, and it 473 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 2: ended up being the way I see the NFL through 474 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 2: my eyes. 475 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 3: Well, mister Lombardi, unlike Michael my colleague here, I actually 476 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 3: have Kindle on my iPhone, so I can actually download 477 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,120 Speaker 3: your book and read it, which is what I've done 478 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 3: so I want to ask you a question here. What 479 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 3: you propose is a standard of excellence for coaches to 480 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 3: be admitted to the Hall of Fame. I'm wondering if 481 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 3: you could just expand on that a little bit for 482 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:32,360 Speaker 3: our audience. You know who would and wouldn't qualify? 483 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 2: Well, you know this is you guys are Bloomberg News, right, 484 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 2: So you deal with sports, but also sports is business, 485 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 2: and whenever you are procuring talent, whether it's for the 486 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,199 Speaker 2: NFL Draft or whether it's for some major company, you 487 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: must start with the criteria. Because most people think scouting 488 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 2: is about finding, hiring is about finding, and it's not. 489 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 2: It's about elimination. So what you must do is set 490 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: a criteria that eliminates people from your even giving them considerations, 491 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 2: so you could focus on the people that have the 492 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 2: qualifications that you need to study. And so what I 493 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 2: try to do, and this is what's been wrong with 494 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 2: the NFL. There's never been a criteria for coaches to 495 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 2: enter the Hall of Fame. Is it a Super Bowl win? 496 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 2: Is it not a Super Bowl win? Is it a 497 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 2: seventy percent winning percentage? Is it not? Is it because 498 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 2: John Elway played on your team and you didn't have 499 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 2: John Elway. Is it because you know Joe Namath predicted 500 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 2: the greatest win of all time and you're a five 501 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 2: hundred coach? Is that why you get in? Like all 502 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 2: these things kind of they're just all over the place. 503 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 2: It's random, and whenever you have a sense of randomness, 504 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 2: you have an injustice. 505 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 3: So I completely agree with you. And by the way, 506 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 3: for our audience, you know there I believe six criteria, 507 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 3: but I mean, really quite fascinating. What I thought was 508 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,120 Speaker 3: interesting was then if you kind of, you know, kind 509 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 3: of read through it and you look at who you believe, 510 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 3: or at least who you are, your analysis would lead 511 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 3: you to believe who those top ten coaches of all 512 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 3: time aren't. I had to have to say, and I'm 513 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 3: not a Giants fan here, but Bill Parcells not making 514 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,640 Speaker 3: the top ten? I mean, how much he? Michael? Are 515 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 3: you feeling from someone who's so close? 516 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,199 Speaker 2: I love Parcells and like a father figure to me. 517 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 2: I really mean that. And you know I should have 518 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 2: probably as a regret, I should have made him. I 519 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 2: should have made curly Lambeautene and him tend and cheated it. 520 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 2: I should have, and I feel badly that I didn't 521 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 2: do that because he's been instrumental in my knowledge of 522 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 2: the league and being able to have conversations with him 523 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 2: and talk. 524 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: To him and do all that. 525 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 2: But to me, I had to have a cutoff at ten, 526 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 2: you know, and that's why. But he certainly is very 527 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 2: instrumental in the league. I wish he would have coached 528 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 2: longer at one place, he kind of kind of left 529 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 2: and went. But I think ultimately, you know, his influence 530 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 2: on the game and his game strategy I think cannot 531 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 2: be overlooked. 532 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: Well, I don't want to give away the book, but 533 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 1: you got to tell us who's number one and number two? Right? 534 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 2: Well, you know, everybody thinks because of my relationship working 535 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 2: with Bill Belichick, that I would have made Belichick to 536 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 2: number one. But without Paul Brown, there can't be a 537 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 2: number one. Yeah, because Paul Brown was what I refer 538 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 2: to in the book, the operating system for the NFL coaches. 539 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 2: They would not have had a coaching system if it 540 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 2: wasn't for Paul Brown. He developed the scouting reports, game planning, 541 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 2: the messaging, communication from the press box to the coaches, 542 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 2: everything that went involved with turning the occupation of coaching 543 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 2: into a full time profession starts and ends with Paul Brown, 544 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 2: and he doesn't get enough credit for it. He should, 545 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 2: but he doesn't get enough credit because time has come 546 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 2: through and because the NFL doesn't do a great job 547 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 2: of really honoring those before him. They pretend they do. 548 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 2: But we should have a there should be the Coach 549 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 2: of the Year Award, should be the Paul Brown Award, 550 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 2: like the Lombardi Trophy as a Super Bowl trophy. 551 00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 3: Did you Vince Lombardi died in nineteen seventy eight, just 552 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 3: fifty seven years old, in the prime of his coaching career, 553 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 3: and he was still I believe, I mean, Michael, correct 554 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 3: me if I'm wrong, number two on your list. 555 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was. And you know a lot of people 556 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 2: think I should have made him one. I mean, he 557 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 2: would have been able to continue to do because I 558 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 2: think what's misunderstood about Lombardy and his leadership. And this 559 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 2: is why the beginning of the book is so important, 560 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: because when he was a coach at Fordham and he 561 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 2: took a job at West Point to go work for 562 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 2: Earl Red Blake, who's in the book as one of 563 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 2: the pillars. It's one of the coaching trees what I 564 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 2: call the White Oaks, and he took that job, and 565 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 2: Earl Blake taught him what leadership was all about through 566 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,879 Speaker 2: Blake's ability having gone through the academy at West Point 567 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 2: and also having coached at West Point, and that really 568 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 2: shaped Lombardy. And Lombardy is kind of equated to yelling 569 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,679 Speaker 2: and screaming, That's really not who he was. He was 570 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 2: very much a teacher. In fact, if he went into 571 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 2: his office in Green Bay, there are two plaques on 572 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 2: the wall, both of them for teacher of the Year 573 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 2: Saint Cecilia's High School in Red Bank, New Jersey. That's 574 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 2: how much he prided himself on being a teacher. So 575 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:08,920 Speaker 2: I think there's a little bit of a misunderstanding because 576 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 2: there is a perception of a portrait of him as 577 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 2: being a screamer and a yeller and a driver. But 578 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 2: he was intellectual and I think that's why he was 579 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 2: so successful, and he would have continued. But you're right, 580 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 2: fifty seven. He dies at fifty seven. I mean, you know, 581 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 2: I can't remember the day my mother. 582 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 1: Told me that. 583 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 2: And the reason I'm in football is because of him, 584 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 2: because I saw him on the sidelines and he looked 585 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 2: like somebody that belonged to my family dinner. 586 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 3: Well, Michael, Michael, I mean, we say fifty seven years old, 587 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,120 Speaker 3: I'm going to give you another twenty seven years old. 588 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 3: Nineteen eighty six. You are credited for having discovered Hall 589 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 3: of Fame defensive end Charles Haley. Now take us to 590 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 3: today's game, right, and the coaches today and the scouts today. 591 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,120 Speaker 3: I mean, does that even happen anymore? I mean, what coaches, 592 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 3: I mean, what scouts have the ability to uncover a 593 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 3: Hall of famer of that magnitude. Talk to us about 594 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 3: game and which coaches have that Hall of Fame potential 595 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 3: in your opinion? 596 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, look, you know, Andy Reid's going in 597 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 2: the Hall of Fame. Belichick's going to go on the 598 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 2: Hall of Fame, Mike Tomlin's going to go in the 599 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 2: Hall of Fame. They have it, you know. I think 600 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 2: Sean McVay has the potential, Kyle Shanahan has the potential 601 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 2: to get into the Hall of Fame as they keep 602 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 2: developing and winning, as they're going forward. I think the 603 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 2: Halley's story proves my original point. It's about elimination. So 604 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 2: as a young kid, I get called up into Bill 605 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 2: Walsh's office, by a secretary, Nicole, and Nicole says the 606 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,880 Speaker 2: coach loss wants to see it, which is usually never good, right, 607 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 2: So that's not going to be good. So I go 608 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 2: up to his office and he says, here's what I 609 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 2: want you to do, and he lays it out for me. 610 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: I want you to go through all the notebooks. Now, 611 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 2: there's no computers in eighty seven so, and there's no 612 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 2: video tape in eighty six is when this happened. There's 613 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 2: no video. It's all sixteen millimeter and so there's no really, 614 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 2: so you have to read the reports to get an 615 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 2: understanding of what's happening. So I went through all the reports. 616 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 2: He gave me a criteria to look for, and essentially 617 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: I came up with about three names. Dan McMillan from 618 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 2: Colorado State, Romel Andrews, Mississippi from Tennessee University of Tennessee 619 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 2: at Martin Not at Knoxville at Mark and Charles Tally 620 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 2: at James Madison. And that's just from reading the reports. 621 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 2: And then I got the video in I got the 622 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 2: sixteen millimeter tape on it and watched it. And then 623 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 2: he called a meeting and we went upstairs to the 624 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: meeting room which was very small, and we put the 625 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 2: can I put I threaded the tape through the sixteen 626 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 2: millimeter projector and he watched one play and turned off 627 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 2: the machine and says, we don't need to look at 628 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 2: anything else. 629 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 1: That's Michael Lombardi, a former Super Bowl winning NFL executive. 630 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: We've got more with him up next, so stick around, 631 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: including one story we cannot get around, Travis Kelcey and 632 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 1: Taylor Swift sitting in a tree. 633 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 2: She is incredible in the fact that her demographics follow 634 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 2: or where everywhere. And you know, you look at what 635 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 2: I mean, all of a sudden, you get three hundred 636 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 2: and fifty increases in your Instagram following I mean, Kelsey 637 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 2: the smartest thing he ever did. Try to get a 638 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 2: date with her. 639 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,120 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports and Bloomberg 640 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: Radio around the world. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of 641 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio. This is the Bloomberg Business of 642 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: Sports Show. Will we explore the big money issues in 643 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: the world of sports on Michael bar for Damian Sas 644 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: hour Scarlett fu is off. This week, We're talking with 645 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive with a couple of 646 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: Super Bowl wins in his resume. Let's make that three, 647 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 1: so let's continue with our conversation. I got to bring 648 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: this up when back in the day when they had 649 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,719 Speaker 1: the sixteen millimeter film, and what they used to do, 650 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 1: you show the game film of one of the opposing 651 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: team and this and that whatever. But what they and 652 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:55,239 Speaker 1: they shipped it to the other team that they were 653 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: going to play for that weekend. But what some of 654 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: the coaches did was they cut up the film. They 655 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 1: they were really tricky back then, back in the day, Michael. 656 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, they were very kind. I mean Barry Sanders. I 657 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 2: tell a great story in the book about Barry Sanders. 658 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 2: The coaches from Oklahoma State knew how good he was, 659 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 2: They knew how talented he was, but nobody really knew. 660 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 2: So they kept all the tape in their office. They 661 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 2: wouldn't send it to other colleges. The only team that 662 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 2: really knew who he was was Tulsa, which is kind 663 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 2: of where he grew up. He grew up in Wichita, Kansas, 664 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 2: so you know, they really didn't see him. And that 665 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:35,640 Speaker 2: was kind of one of way you could find your 666 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 2: way around it. So yeah, there's always that kind of stuff. 667 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 2: You don't want to do that, but you're kind of going. 668 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: To do it. I know time is running out, but 669 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 1: I have to bring up about the Super Bowl in 670 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: Las Vegas. How big is that for the game? 671 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, it's huge. I mean, did you see 672 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:54,719 Speaker 2: them the past week Monday Sunday night. I mean, my wife, 673 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 2: my two sons both coach at the Raiders. So my 674 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 2: wife was at the game and she came home from 675 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 2: it and said, it was like a super Bowl and 676 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 2: that's a regular season game, and so this is I 677 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 2: can only imagine what this is going to look like. 678 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 2: And good for the league, and it's always good. You know, 679 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 2: Al Davis used to love Las Vegas. He would go 680 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,479 Speaker 2: there for his birthday quite a bit. And you know, 681 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 2: nobody really had the vision to think Las Vegas was 682 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 2: going to become a sports town because of gambling. And 683 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:21,880 Speaker 2: yet it's a great sports town because it's a confluence 684 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 2: of all these fan bases coming together and you know, 685 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 2: it's it's kind of it. It's an event to go to. 686 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 3: Mister Lombardi, A really important question here, So have you 687 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,239 Speaker 3: ever listened to Taylor Swift? Because I don't know if 688 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 3: you happen to catch last week? 689 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:36,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I did. 690 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 3: My god, what is I mean, the internet blew up? 691 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 3: I wonder if I mean, what was going through your mind? 692 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 3: I mean, I mean when you're watching this go on? 693 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 3: I mean, I mean, I don't know. I mean, for me, 694 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 3: it just seemed like any other regular game, but apparently 695 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 3: it was not. I'm wondering if you could just comment 696 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 3: briefly it's trailer now good. 697 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 2: H I think it's the power of you know, her 698 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 2: fan base is credible, They're loyal, they're engaging, and you know, 699 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:08,719 Speaker 2: they'll cross over any medium. And look, let's face it, 700 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 2: one of the reasons I wrote the book is because 701 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 2: two gentlemen will really three, but one's been honored correctly. 702 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 2: Howard Cosell, Brett Musburger, and John Madden promoted this game. 703 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 2: They were the Taylor Swift, if you will, of the era, 704 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:28,479 Speaker 2: and they drew their audience into the NFL, which is 705 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 2: now why the teams are worth over six billion dollars 706 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 2: in Washington. So that's part of the reason why I 707 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 2: wanted to write this book. But she is incredible in 708 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 2: the fact that her demographics follow her everywhere, and you know, 709 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,719 Speaker 2: you look at what I mean, all of a sudden, 710 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 2: you get three hundred and fifty increases in your Instagram following. 711 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 2: I mean, Kelsey, the smartest thing he ever did is 712 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 2: try to get a date with her. 713 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 1: Oh you've been so kind. Michael Lombardi, you are too 714 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: kind to come and join the show. Former NFL general manager, 715 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 1: three times Super Bowl winning executive. Thank you so much, 716 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:08,360 Speaker 1: sir for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 717 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 1: We appreciate it. 718 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me our. 719 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 1: Thanks to Michael Lombardi for joining us. He's a former 720 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:18,319 Speaker 1: NFL executive and author of the new book Football Done Right, 721 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: setting the record straight on the coaches, players, and history 722 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: of the NFL. And if you missed any of our conversation, 723 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:27,800 Speaker 1: shame on you. But you can make it up because 724 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:30,240 Speaker 1: you can check it out now on the Bloomberg Business 725 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:33,280 Speaker 1: of Sports podcast. You can find it on Apples, Spotify, 726 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: and everywhere else you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening 727 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:39,879 Speaker 1: to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show. We're here each 728 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 1: and every week at the same time. I'm Michael Barr 729 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Big Bar. 730 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:45,280 Speaker 3: Sports and I'm on x at d SASO. 731 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 1: I keep saying Twitter saying I cannot get that out 732 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,879 Speaker 1: of my head. Thank you so much for joining us. 733 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:52,880 Speaker 1: Tune in again next week for the latest on the 734 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:55,320 Speaker 1: stories moving big old money in the world of sports. 735 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg Radio around 736 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 1: the world. 737 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 2: I