1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports. Sports are the greatest 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: unscripted show owner. 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 2: The next generation of players who really grew up with 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 2: tech and believe in tech. 5 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 3: Your face is your ticket, your face is your wallet, 6 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 3: your face is your access to a club. These are 7 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 3: such iconic and important buildings for businesses. 8 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: For fans, COVID was one of the best things that 9 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: ever happened to go. 10 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 4: The NFL is a bulletproof business. 11 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 3: Racing is unique because there is absolutely no reason why 12 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 3: we can't compete with the guys. 13 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 4: I'm well, it's pro pickaball real. 14 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 5: Are people really going to tune into this? 15 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 6: If you're playing moneyball with a huge bag of money, 16 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 6: you're going to be really, really good. 17 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 18 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 7: Hello, this is the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we 19 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 7: explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 20 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 7: I'm Michael Barr, along with my coll leagues Damian Sasaur 21 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 7: and Vanessa Perdomo. Coming up on the show, we take 22 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 7: stock of the MLB season at its midway point with 23 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 7: MLB network end signer John Morosi. 24 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 3: The idea of this is entertainment, and I would challenge 25 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 3: anyone who even remotely likes baseball that if they spent 26 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 3: their evening on Tuesday watching the game and turned it off, 27 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 3: that anybody would have said, Ah, nothing entertaining about that. 28 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 7: Plus, the NBA is looking to expand for the first 29 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 7: time in more than two decades. We get the latest 30 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 7: and find out which cities are the early favorites to 31 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 7: land a new NBA franchise. All that is on the 32 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 7: way on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. But first, Apple 33 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 7: is diving into F one racing. Beyond the new movie 34 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 7: with Brad Pitt, the iPhone maker is set to win 35 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 7: the rights to stream Formula one in the US for 36 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 7: one hundred and fifty million dollars a year, a figure 37 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 7: up almost two times from the currently F one deal 38 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 7: with ESPN. For more on this and some of her 39 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 7: other recent reporting, we welcome back Bloomberg Intelligence senior media 40 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 7: analysts Geeza rackenoffin Giza. Welcome back to the Bloomberg Business 41 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 7: of Sports. 42 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. 43 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 7: The movie that came out with Brad Pitt F one, 44 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 7: the movie has it kind of supercharged the TV rights 45 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 7: here in the US for F one Racing. 46 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 2: I definitely think so. I think the success of that 47 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: movie has been kind of instrumental for really kind of 48 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 2: jolting this whole bidding process. Because we know that the 49 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 2: F one rights have now been on the market for 50 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: quite a while, everybody was kind of kicking the tires. 51 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 7: Right. 52 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: The rights are currently held by ESPN Disney's ESPN, which 53 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: is being about eighty five million dollars a year. These 54 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: are only for US telecast rights. We know Netflix was interested, 55 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: They probably looked at it. Amazon probably looked at it. 56 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 2: Warner Brothers said that they were probably interested, and you know, 57 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 2: we had some rumors or some inkling about Apple also 58 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: being interested. But I think after the F one movie 59 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 2: came out and performed as well as it did. By 60 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: the way, it's grossed about four hundred million dollars globally, 61 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 2: so it's you know, by is that all any account? Yeah, 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 2: it's done really really well. And this is considering that 63 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: the movie was produced by Apple, which by the way, 64 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 2: has had a pretty disastrous track record at the box office. 65 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 2: So you know, this movie really kind of surpassing expectations, 66 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: doing really well and kind of speaking to you know, 67 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: the popularity of the sport. It's a global sport. I 68 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: think that's what kind of really emboldened Apple to kind 69 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: of make that commitment and bid. What we've heard right 70 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: now about one hundred and fifty million dollars per year 71 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: just for the US rights for Formula one. So that's 72 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: a pretty healthy step up from what ESPN was paying. 73 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: Well, Githa, we know that Formula one was looking for 74 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: something on the order of one hundred and eighty million 75 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: dollars a year. Do we have any color as to 76 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: what Apple is has offered them with what they settled on. 77 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 2: The range has been anywhere from about one hundred and 78 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: fifty to two hundred million. That's what Apple is said 79 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: to have offered the final reports that have come in 80 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 2: and again nothing is official so far from either Formula 81 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: one or from Apple, but Business Insider and some of 82 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: the other new sources were reporting that they have offered 83 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty million, which is again a pretty 84 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 2: good step up. That's almost an eighty percent increase from 85 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 2: what ESPN is currently paying, which again is really healthy 86 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 2: because when you kind of look at the Formula one 87 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 2: bidding process, Yeah, initially there was a lot of excitement. 88 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 2: I mean, this is, you know, a global racing circuit. 89 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: People are interested it's a younger audience. There's a lot 90 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 2: of female interest that has been growing, so obviously it 91 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 2: would be a coveted property. But then you know Disney's ESPN, 92 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 2: which is the incumbent right now it holds the rights, 93 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: has been taking a very very measured approach, so they 94 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: have you know, they kind of let the exclusive period, 95 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 2: a negotiating period expire with Formula one. They did the 96 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 2: same thing with the UFC. They dropped out of the MLB, 97 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 2: So the making a very hard look when it comes 98 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: to renewing sports rights. And then you had you know, 99 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: obviously Netflix and Amazon and everybody. But I think what 100 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,239 Speaker 2: happened with those streamers is they really wanted global rights. 101 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: I mean, this is a global racing circuit. Obviously it 102 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 2: makes sense to have global rights. And because this is 103 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 2: only a domestic rights package, I think the bidding process 104 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 2: kind of cooled down quite a bit. So what happened 105 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: as investors were resetting their expectations, They were thinking that 106 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: maybe you know, Formula one is not going to be 107 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 2: able to get the increase that it was looking for. 108 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: Maybe the increase would be more in like the thirty 109 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: to forty to fifty percent range. But the fact that 110 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: Apple went out and got this, uh you know, basically 111 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 2: bid eighty percent over it just shows that again sports 112 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 2: market is healthy, Formula one isn't a good place. And 113 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 2: for Apple, of course, this is just a drop in 114 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: the bucket. 115 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 8: I mean, one hundred and fifty million dollars a year 116 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 8: really is in that much when you take a look 117 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 8: at a lot of the other you know, properties, even 118 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 8: in motorsport, NASCAR's deals seven billion for seven years. So 119 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 8: why is Formula one so much further behind there? 120 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: Do you think? 121 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 8: Is it just newer in the US or why is 122 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 8: it seen as a big deal just for one hundred 123 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 8: and fifty million. 124 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's definitely a much smaller kind of circuit when 125 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: it comes to the US. I mean, this is much 126 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: bigger popularity in Europe. So you know, we've been actually 127 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 2: kind of tracking the rise in popularity of Formula one 128 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 2: and how liberty Formula one has really been kind of 129 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 2: cashing in. Actually the launch of the Netflix series Drive 130 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 2: to Survive that really kind of broadened the appeal of 131 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: the sport. So I think in many ways that was 132 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: kind of instrumental. So if you just kind of Venessa, 133 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 2: if you just kind of track viewership just a few 134 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: years ago for Formula One races in the US, you know, 135 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 2: we're looking at about half a million. So today, with 136 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 2: all of that increased awareness, it's closer to about almost 137 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 2: one and a half million. So they've managed to almost 138 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 2: double to triple their audience space. But again, this is 139 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: small potatoes when you compared with some of the viewership 140 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: number in the European market. 141 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 1: Well, you know, Githa, I mean the implications looking ahead 142 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: here for the UFC, right, because they're up next. I mean, 143 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: and UFC is a bit of a different animal, right, 144 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: I mean, that's year round programming and they don't have 145 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: you know, the European you know, media rights aren't spoken 146 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: for already. You know, what can we look through? What 147 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: can we expect the UFC to get for for for 148 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: its service? 149 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so right away, you know, when we kind of 150 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: saw these numbers, our first knee jerk reaction was this 151 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: is really good news for the UFC. So we know 152 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: that currently again ESPN is the incumbent Namian for the 153 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: UFC as well. They're paying roughly about five hundred million 154 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 2: dollars for two separate packages. One is broadcast, one is 155 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: on you know, ESPN plus what we think is going 156 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: to happen since they've kind of walked away from the 157 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: exclusive negotiating period. We think UFC has by the way, 158 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: demanded at least a billion dollars, so they're looking to 159 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: double their fees. We think the UFC can easily get that. 160 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 2: And again, you spoke to all of these you know, 161 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 2: plus points with the UFC right again, you have a 162 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: year round programming, you have a global audience base, you 163 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 2: have this whole rise in this super fan base, if 164 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: you will, and all of that. There's so much engagement 165 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 2: that we're seeing right now in terms of you know, 166 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: fans for combat sports, and so UFC kind of ticks 167 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: all of those boxes. We see, you know, week after week, 168 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: we see WWE RAW doing really well on Netflix. You know, 169 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 2: anytime you open up Netflix Top ten, you see that 170 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 2: doing really well. But what we think is going to 171 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 2: happen with the UFC rights process is we think that 172 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: this is really going to be split up into multiple packages. 173 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 2: We saw that happen with the NBA, you know, the 174 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 2: NBA creating more packages and basically scoring almost a tripling 175 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 2: in their rights fees just by kind of introducing Amazon 176 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: and NBC into the mix, and so we think something 177 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: very similar is going to happen with the UFC as well. 178 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: You know, you probably will have a streamer like a 179 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: Netflix or an Amazon kind of get into the bidding 180 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 2: process here, and you'll have ESPN also kind of hold 181 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 2: on to at least one of the packages. 182 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 7: Well, what Apple is banking on from people like old 183 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 7: Man gearhead Bar and many others like me, is that 184 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 7: you got to get the Apple service to get the 185 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 7: streaming and pay for it. And likely yes, I'm now 186 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 7: going to pay for Apple, And that's what I think 187 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 7: Apple is banking on. 188 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 2: Either, You're absolutely right. I mean Live Sports is you know, 189 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 2: some of the most important program for streaming services. I mean, 190 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: time and time again, we've seen that premier sporting events 191 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: can drive subscriptions like nothing else. So you know, you 192 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 2: think about Peacocks during the paras Olympics. You think about 193 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 2: Peacock having that one NFL Wildcard game getting almost three 194 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: to four million subscribers just in a few hours. Or 195 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: you even think about Netflix with WWE eraw paramount plus 196 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: with UEFA Champions League. So all of these sporting sporting 197 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 2: you know, events really drive subscrib Amazon has seen the 198 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 2: same thing with you know, the NFL and now hopefully 199 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 2: with the NBA. So yes, absolutely Apple is banking on 200 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 2: the exact same thing too. The only thing that I 201 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 2: would add here, Michael, is that Apple has dabbled a 202 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 2: little bit in sports. So they did take the MLB, 203 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: the Friday night games, they did take the MLS. We 204 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 2: don't think that, you know, any of those have been 205 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 2: a game changer, if you will, And a lot of 206 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 2: that is just because Apple TV plus still is kind 207 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 2: of a laggard, just when you compare all of the 208 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: other streamers. So they have an estimated forty five million subscribers, 209 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: but you compare that to the big dogs out there. 210 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 2: You think of a Netflix over three hundred million subscribers. 211 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 2: You think of you know, an Amazon Prime about two 212 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 2: hundred and seventy five million, Disney well over one hundred 213 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: and fifty million. So Apple, I think the problem for 214 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 2: them is going to be reach. But you're absolutely right, Yes, 215 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: they are going to use this property to basically boost 216 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:01,319 Speaker 2: subscriptions to basically not just boot subscriptions, also retain subscribers 217 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:01,680 Speaker 2: as well. 218 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 7: One's a great product. There were concerns though, that the 219 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 7: bidding process wasn't very competitive. Why is that. 220 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, So they're just a whole different set of reasons 221 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 2: for you know, why it wasn't competitive. One is that 222 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: the incumbent, which is you know, Disney's ESPN, is really 223 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 2: on this cost cutting drive. So just a few years ago, Michael, 224 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 2: their content budget was thirty three billion. After Barb Bieger 225 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 2: came back, they basically, you know, said they're all about 226 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 2: riding the ship. They're all about kind of really cutting 227 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 2: down the fat, cutting down the bloat, and so they 228 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: are actually they committed to a content budget of about 229 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,439 Speaker 2: twenty three billion dollars. This means that any sports rights, 230 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 2: anything that comes up for renewal, they are taking a 231 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 2: very very hard look at it, which is why they 232 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 2: didn't go jumping, you know, to renew the UFC, they 233 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 2: didn't go jumping to renew the Formula one. They've opted 234 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 2: out of MLB, so they're, you know, they are really 235 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 2: on this cost cutting drive. And then in terms of 236 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: the other streamers, like you know, in Netflix or Amazon, 237 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: I think what they really wanted was global rights. And 238 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 2: with the fund, what we're seeing is this is only 239 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 2: the US rights package, So it's just a small sliver 240 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 2: of the you know, the entire property, and we don't 241 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: think Netflix was necessarily interested in that because you know, 242 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 2: this is a global racing circuit. You do want to 243 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: have global rights to to kind of be able to 244 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 2: get that reach, to get that engagement, and so that's 245 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 2: why we think that the bidding process kind of lost 246 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 2: a little bit of momentum. But I think again the 247 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 2: movie came and it really kind of jolted that whole process. 248 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 7: Our thanks to KEITHA. Raghanoff, and she is Senior Media 249 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 7: Analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence. Up next, we turn to the 250 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 7: NBA and its plans to expand for the first time 251 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 7: in decades. Amian sasaur and Vanessa Berdomo. I'm Michael Barr. 252 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 7: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberger 253 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 7: Radio around the world. 254 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 6: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 255 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 7: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports where we explore 256 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 7: the big money issues in the world of sports. Michae L. Barr, 257 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 7: along with Damian Sasawer and Vanessa Bernomo, the NBA de 258 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 7: eyeing expansion for the first time since two thousand and four, 259 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 7: and here to take us through what we know and 260 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 7: which cities might get a new NBA team soon. Is 261 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 7: Bloomberg US sports business reporter Randa Williams Randall, Welcome back 262 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 7: to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 263 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 5: I appreciate you all for having me. As always, we. 264 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 7: Got to talk about, first of all, the NBA and 265 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 7: your story. Looks like the league is going to have 266 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 7: its first expansion in twenty years unless you know, unless 267 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 7: something changes. But there's been a lot of heavy chatter 268 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 7: about it. Randall. 269 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 6: Look, I spent a couple days in Vegas and that 270 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 6: was the biggest topic of the week was with the 271 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 6: NBA officially now expansion, and they did just didn't happen 272 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 6: in the way that I think a lot of people 273 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 6: expected it to. When you announced expansion, people think like, oh, well, 274 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 6: I can put my bin in tomorrow. I want to 275 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 6: be in Nashville, I want to be in Seattle, I 276 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 6: want to be in Las Vegas. And that's not what 277 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 6: the league did. The league said, look, we're starting the 278 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 6: expansion process. We have to analyze things both economic and 279 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 6: non economic. So you have people excited, but not the 280 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 6: level of excitement. Did you think, Well, here's the thing. 281 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: Let's just say, for example, it's Las Vegas against Seattle, right, 282 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: and it had to go to one of the two, 283 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: you know, or Nash whatever. 284 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 7: But you know, here's my question. 285 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: You've got, I mean the money behind the Las Vegas team. 286 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm talking Lebron, James Fenway Sports Redbird, I 287 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: mean the full smash. And then you know, I don't 288 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: know what's going on in Seattle, but wouldn't it be 289 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: awesome to see Sean Kemp and Gary Payton and those 290 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: old supersonic jerseys back. I mean, like, I mean, like, 291 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: how do you compete against Las Vegas? 292 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 6: Well, I think that those are two completely different situations. 293 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 6: In Seattle, you have Samantha Holloway who's the daughter of 294 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 6: David Bonderman, and she owns the Seattle Kraken and also 295 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 6: has the stadium ready to go. And then in Las Vegas, 296 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 6: as you said, there's the Fenway, Redbird and Lebron group. 297 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 6: There is Bill Foley, and then Mark Lazari is also 298 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 6: in the hat as well. But I'm told that they 299 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 6: are not the only people who are interested. There's plenty 300 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 6: more people involved. And what it becomes is, you know, 301 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 6: what is the expansion fee going to be last summer? 302 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 6: People told me they expected it to be between four 303 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 6: and five billion, But that was before the Celtics sold. 304 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 6: That was before the Lakers sold, And so now it's 305 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 6: a thing of like if the floor and reminder that 306 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 6: the Lakers and Celtics sold without owning their arena, meaning 307 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 6: they don't make money from these concerts and things like that, 308 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 6: the same way it's let's say, you know, Madison Square 309 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 6: Garden would with that in mind, what in the world 310 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 6: would is this expansion fee going to be and who's 311 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 6: going to be priced out of it? 312 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 9: So the question there that is interesting to me is 313 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 9: if there's this bidding war going on in Vegas, does 314 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 9: that mean the expansion fee for Vegas or whatever is 315 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 9: going on there can be different than if Seattle gets 316 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 9: a team and it's just given to Samantha Holloway or whatever. 317 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 6: It's still to be determined. That's the best answer I 318 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 6: can give. I would imagine that this Seattle, if Seattle 319 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 6: is chosen, that Seattle would go for less than Vegas, 320 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 6: just because I think competition is going to drive that 321 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 6: Vegas price way way up. I wrote like last summer 322 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 6: that that team could sell for seven billion, and people 323 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 6: looked at me like I was crazy in large part 324 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 6: because you know, there's Team Mobile Arena there, but there's 325 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 6: no guarantee that someone doesn't want to build their own 326 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 6: arena and doesn't want to strike a deal with Bill 327 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 6: Foley and the people who operate Team Mobile Arena. And 328 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 6: so you know, you look at what stadiums and arenas 329 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 6: are going for today, they're two to three billion dollars, 330 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 6: and you know, it could be a five billion dollars 331 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 6: mansion fee, it could be a four billion dollars mansion fee, 332 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 6: and that cash is just very, very steep. And something 333 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 6: we also haven't mentioned is what are the Trailblazers sell for? 334 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 6: That could be the floor of this. 335 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 7: And keep in mind too and lant As, you guys 336 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 7: have mentioned that Samantha Holloway as co owner of the 337 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 7: NHL Seattle Kraken, and she is probably a very pivotal 338 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 7: part in getting the team, or at least bringing a 339 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 7: team back to Seattle. And I think they should just 340 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 7: use the SuperSonics team name, just bring it back. 341 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think that's likely to happen, but it just 342 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 6: begs the question again of like what's the price going 343 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 6: to be? Because the reality is that there can be 344 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 6: people priced out of this. 345 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 5: There are some looks. 346 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 6: All billionaires are very rich, but you're talking about if 347 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 6: it's six billion or five and a half billion, that's 348 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 6: a lot of cash. And I mean you think about 349 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 6: what the Commander is sold for a six point five 350 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 6: and Celtics is six 't one. 351 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 5: But this expansion fee is huge. It's huge. 352 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 6: And the longer that this process goes on, the NBA's 353 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 6: process of evaluating things and doing this analysis that Adam 354 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 6: Silver has spoken of, I think the price is going 355 00:17:59,280 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 6: to continue to grab. 356 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: Julie Rise, well, you know, Randal, I mean, when you 357 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: just look at the average NBA team's full year twenty 358 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,679 Speaker 1: three twenty four revenue, you're talking something on order of 359 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: what three hundred and eighty eight million dollars per year, 360 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: you know, so there's still a lot of untapped inherent 361 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: value in there at yet. Yet you know where I 362 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: get a little bit confused is you know, there's no guarantees, 363 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: as you rightly point out, there's no guarantees there's a stadium, 364 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: there's no guarantees that they're going to do their job creative, 365 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: you know, franchise values, create a brand, get people to 366 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: reach into their pockets and pay for those tickets. There's 367 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: no guarantees of anything, so there is you know, some 368 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: modicum of risk here, right, And I would imagine that 369 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: risk is a little bit greater in smaller mockerts like 370 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: Seattle or Nashville. I'm just comparing to Las Vegas. I mean, 371 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: or am I mistaken there? 372 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:41,719 Speaker 5: Now? 373 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 6: I think that the risk really for the league is 374 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 6: that you have some owners who are interested in that 375 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 6: expansion fee, because you have to remember that this expansion 376 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 6: fee is split between all of the owners. Of course, 377 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 6: so if it's you know, let's say six billion, it'll 378 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 6: be split between. 379 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 5: The thirty are the owners. 380 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 6: But Adam Silver has pointed out some really good points, 381 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 6: and you know the RSN issue, which is, you know, 382 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 6: the regional sports networks, and then of course. 383 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 5: Like does it dilute the talent? When can they start playing? 384 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 6: All of these things that the NBA is going to 385 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 6: have to analyze and figure out is this the best 386 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 6: economic driver or do we have some other issues that we. 387 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 5: Need to solve first. 388 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 6: So if you're an investor who's been waiting for this 389 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 6: since Adam Silver, I believe he first mentioned it maybe 390 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 6: in twenty twenty or twenty twenty one. This was the 391 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 6: moment that you thought he was going to be like, yes, 392 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 6: like we are expanding, this is it, and that's not 393 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 6: exactly it. Yes they are expanding, but he's also said 394 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 6: that there is no guarantee that after the analysis that 395 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 6: they come back and say, eh, you know, maybe we 396 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 6: don't want to expand just yet. 397 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 5: There's no guarantees with anything. 398 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 8: And the interesting thing too about you're saying there's no 399 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 8: guarantees and we're almost talking about if they do expand, 400 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 8: it feels like Vegas and Seattle are unlocked and they're 401 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 8: already there, but before there, you know, uh, there's men 402 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 8: of expanding into Mexico internationally and all of that. Is 403 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 8: that kind of closed off or is there stills potential there? 404 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 6: I think that Las Vegas and Seattle are the overwhelming favorites. 405 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 6: Seattle because they have a stadium set up, they owned 406 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 6: a team, there was a team there previously, and then 407 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 6: Las Vegas, like that team is just going to go 408 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 6: for such a price that you're going to have everyone 409 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 6: both domestic and internationally interested in that team. I do 410 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 6: think that if there was a city that could potentially 411 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 6: rival these, it is Mexico City. It's the largest city 412 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 6: in North America. But who's gonna who's going to raise 413 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,160 Speaker 6: their hand from that? Who's going to want to compete 414 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,399 Speaker 6: against Seattle and Las Vegas? Who are these favorites? And 415 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 6: of course there's the issue there's like political issues. I 416 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 6: got it, Mexico. You know, there's there's a lot of 417 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 6: things to figure out there. But other cities like Nashville, 418 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,439 Speaker 6: Kansas City come to mind, maybe Vancouver, but it's a 419 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 6: steep hill to climb to get over Seattle in Las Vegas. 420 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,360 Speaker 1: Well, you know, Randall, I mean, just to your point. 421 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 1: You know, again, if you look at just regular old 422 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: sportc data, you know, the average NBA franchise value was 423 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: something on the other four point six billion. And that 424 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: was a while ago. They ran these numbers last year. 425 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 1: You know this, and you're and I think you're spot 426 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 1: on here because you know, if you just look at 427 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 1: the Lakers at that in that analysis, they were at 428 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 1: like eight billion, they just went for ten. You know, 429 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 1: you look at the Celtics, they were like five and 430 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: a half. They just went for six point one. So 431 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, seven billion is is I dare 432 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: I say? 433 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 7: Yeah? 434 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: And that may just be like a median estimate. You know, 435 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 1: it could be even hot. I mean, it's pretty unbelievable, 436 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: these numbers. It's just it's kind of mine numbing. 437 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 6: I mean, if you look at One of the things 438 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 6: that's interesting to look at is if you look across 439 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 6: sports in the bigger leagues, the NFL, NBA, and MLB, 440 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 6: and you compare the valuations of the professional franchises there. 441 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 6: So you compare the Knicks to the Yankees, of the 442 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 6: Giants to the Jets, all of those, the Mets, of course, 443 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 6: you compare those franchises and they're all in the same ballpark. 444 00:21:58,440 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 5: In Las Vegas. 445 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 6: There's a little bit less of that just because the 446 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 6: Raiders are there, you have the aces there, the athletics 447 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 6: aren't playing there yet, and so then you have the 448 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 6: NBA coming in and whoever owns that franchise is not 449 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 6: going to have any trouble selling luxury suites. You're not 450 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 6: gonna have any trouble selling courtside tickets. 451 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 5: Pretty much the. 452 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 6: Exact same thing in Seattle because they have tech, the 453 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 6: tech presence there. 454 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 5: But with that in mind, that's going to bring in 455 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 5: the big investor pool. 456 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 6: It's like everybody is going to want that last golden Goose, 457 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 6: which is Las Vegas. Because I don't know if any 458 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 6: of you have been to a Raiders game, but Allegiance 459 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 6: Stadium is very nice and they have crazy fans, and 460 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 6: Las Vegas is a basketball town. I mean, if you 461 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 6: go into the March Madness history and their event hosting there, 462 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:44,199 Speaker 6: it's it's going to be crazy. 463 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 7: Well that brings me to Goofy question number two forty 464 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 7: five A and about Las Vegas, and then hear me out, 465 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 7: why can't Las Vegas have two NBA teams? We got 466 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 7: two NBA teams here in the New York area, two 467 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 7: NBA teams in the Los Angeles area. Why can't Las 468 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 7: Vegas have two NBA teams? Because yeah, I get it. 469 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 7: You know, they're they're growing, but they're expanding fast, and 470 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:15,959 Speaker 7: you're talking about a city that's on the runt. 471 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 5: I mean, I think it's a good question. I just 472 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 5: think it's unlikely. 473 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 6: And the reason for that is because, yes, like you 474 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 6: look at all the markets out there that own or 475 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 6: have two teams, and it's basically LA and New York 476 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 6: and Las Vegas does have the capabilities of it. 477 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 5: But does the NBA want to put. 478 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 6: Two teams there versus Seattle, and you're thinking about it 479 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 6: from a market perspective, Seattle might do a little bit 480 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 6: more than two teams in Las Vegas. And then, of 481 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,879 Speaker 6: course you have the split between who's let's say it's 482 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 6: the Las Vegas Outlaws versus the Las. 483 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 5: Vegas Rattlesnakes or something. 484 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 6: You split a fan base and don't I don't particularly 485 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 6: think that's why that would be wise of the league. 486 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 6: But could Las Vegas sustain it and could they make money? Yes, 487 00:23:57,880 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 6: but I think they would cannibalize each other. I think 488 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 6: that one team would be more successful, and then it 489 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,919 Speaker 6: would be sort of the relationship between. 490 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 5: I wouldn't say that Nixon the Nets. 491 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 6: Because I think that the Nets have the liberty and 492 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 6: the liberty pack out stadiums arguably more than the Nets do. 493 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 6: But it would be it would create a situation where 494 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 6: I think people would point at one team and be like, oh, 495 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 6: you're lame for liking them, and rally towards the other team. 496 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: I mean, you, Mike, you're asking about two teams in 497 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: Las Vegas when the Moines doesn't dwin, Iowa doesn't even 498 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,239 Speaker 1: have one. I mean, come on, grow up. 499 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 7: I mean, you know, I'm sorry. 500 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: Then by Damien Sassara and Michael Barry can see it. 501 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 6: What would do more? 502 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 7: Team Luxury Boxes? 503 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 6: What would you all name the Las Vegas team? The 504 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 6: oh pretty good? 505 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 7: I was thinking the Las Vegas seven out line away team, 506 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 7: but that's another story. That's what I hear all the time, 507 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 7: right williams Man, I love you, Thank you so much 508 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 7: for joining us once again on the Bloomberg Business of Sports, Budd. 509 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 5: I appreciate you all for having. 510 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 7: Me hop Next, the MLB is officially back from its 511 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 7: All Star break. We'll take a look at some of 512 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 7: the biggest headlines from the first half and more for 513 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 7: Damien Sasaur and Vanessa Berdomo. I'm Michael Barr. You are 514 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 7: listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg Radio around the world. 515 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 6: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 516 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 7: Thanks for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports, 517 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 7: where we explore the big money issues in the world 518 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 7: of sports. I'm Michael Barr along with Damian Sasauer and 519 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 7: Vanessa Berdomo. The MLB season is back earned away after 520 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 7: taking its All Star break. Now it's swing off, baby, 521 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 7: to the postseason with a lot of teams looking to 522 00:25:56,359 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 7: bolster their rosters ahead of the July thirty first trade deadline. 523 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 7: Here to take a look back at the first half, 524 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,360 Speaker 7: preview was to come and the trade deadline. We welcome 525 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 7: MLB Network insider John Morosi. Hey there, John, Welcome back 526 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 7: to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 527 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 3: Damian Michael Vanessa. Great to be with you. Happy second half. 528 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 3: What an All Star game this witnessed on Tuesday. 529 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 4: How about that? 530 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 7: You know, I want to start with that all right now, 531 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 7: and I listen. There's some high points and some low 532 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,639 Speaker 7: points about it. I loved that we went back to 533 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 7: the uniforms for each team instead of, you know, one 534 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 7: for the National League and one for the American League, 535 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 7: because as the Detroit Tigers fan, I wanted to see 536 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 7: the old English d. 537 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 5: Out tag the Tiger Rhodes. 538 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 1: Now, you know, I got to tell you, Schwarber doing 539 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 1: Schwarber things right. And the coolest thing about it, I 540 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: have to say was you've got Braves fans cheering for him, 541 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: you know, like out of their seats, and you know, 542 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: Mets fans too. You know, it was kind of cool 543 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,199 Speaker 1: to watch. But I guess from the negative side, I mean, 544 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: and John, correct me if I'm wrong. It's almost like 545 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: penalty kicks or like a shootout hockey, right. 546 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 4: But I thought it was the way to do it. 547 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 3: And listen, it's it's not a regular season game. 548 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 4: It does not determine home fult advantage. 549 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 3: For the World Series any longer. So the idea of 550 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 3: this is entertainment. And I would challenge anyone who even 551 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,199 Speaker 3: remotely likes baseball that if they spent their evening on 552 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 3: Tuesday watching the game and turned it off, that anybody 553 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 3: would have. 554 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 4: Said, Ah, nothing entertaining about that. That was a complete dudge. 555 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 1: J John, you must be talking about Showhea Tani and 556 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge, who actually left the stadium. I mean, what's 557 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: up with that? 558 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 3: By the way, that that and again I cannot confirm 559 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 3: DENI speak to wherever anybody was during the course of 560 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 3: the latter. 561 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 4: Innings of the game. 562 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 3: I will say this, It has been standard procedure for many, many, 563 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 3: many years that once a regular player is out of 564 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:59,439 Speaker 3: the game, they typically travel home or to their next destination. Because, 565 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 3: in fairness, they played the game on Sunday, they traveled 566 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,639 Speaker 3: Sunday to the All Star site, they did the Derby 567 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 3: and all associated festivities on Monday, media obligations, et cetera. 568 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 3: They played the game Tuesday, and their All Star break 569 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,640 Speaker 3: lasts for about twenty four hours. And so I never 570 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 3: have an issue with once you're out of the game, 571 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 3: that you that you go and and. 572 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: So I will never criticize and some of the pitchers 573 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: who were still when they came out in their street clothes, 574 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:27,159 Speaker 1: how cool is that? 575 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:27,439 Speaker 2: You know? 576 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: I mean I wanted it too. 577 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 5: It was awesome, And. 578 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 3: That was awesome, And again every player is in a 579 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 3: different circumstance. It probably was the case that the Tigers 580 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 3: guys were all traveling together and there were six of them, 581 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 3: so School was probably waiting around for his buddies to 582 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 3: finish their obligations. 583 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 4: Again, that was that was all cool, And. 584 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 3: So I and listen when the drama was unfolding. Zero 585 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 3: issue for me that it wasn't necessarily judging Otani there. 586 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 4: It was just it was a different group. 587 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 3: And now you're gonna have College Warber beloved by that 588 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 3: many more people. And and Brent Rooker for the American League, 589 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 3: who started things off then an amazing job. And so 590 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 3: I've got zero issue. They're all all stars they all 591 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 3: belong there, and so I'm not going to bemoan that 592 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 3: it wasn't Judge versus Otani. We have seen they have 593 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 3: both fulfilled their obligations to the game as far as 594 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 3: I'm concerned. 595 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 8: So do you think that, you know, this sort of 596 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 8: excitement that we saw for the All Star Game and 597 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 8: all of that, like, was it enough for All Star 598 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 8: games in general that like haven't really been doing well. 599 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 8: People don't watch them, they're not as excited for them. 600 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 8: How do you categorize this year's All Star Game? 601 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 4: I think there was plenty of buzz Vanessa. 602 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 3: And part of the issue now is how we look 603 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 3: at the ratings. For me, in my opinion, when you 604 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 3: look at whatever the linear television ratings are, I get 605 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 3: that they still exist and on some level there are 606 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 3: advertisers who care about it, but so much now is 607 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 3: via streaming, It's consumed in different ways, social media, different apps, 608 00:29:55,920 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 3: et cetera. That the linear TV rating to me means 609 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 3: less than it did twenty years ago, certainly even two 610 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 3: years ago for me, because there's just war ways in 611 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 3: which it's it's capturing, it's capturing the attention. And I'll 612 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 3: say this, all I know is that when I and 613 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 3: I did. I went on AX, I went on Threads. 614 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 3: During the latter stages of the game. Swing off was 615 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 3: just like trending across the world, okay, like everybody wanted 616 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 3: to talk about it. Of course by then it's morning 617 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 3: in Japan, and you got so many fans around the world. 618 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:32,880 Speaker 3: So to me, yes, ratings are relevant on some level, 619 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 3: but they are not as relevant as the overall engagement 620 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 3: with the product. And if you if you were on AX, 621 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 3: if you were on Threads that night Instagram, there was 622 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 3: plenty of engagement I think with the global audience for 623 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 3: that game, and I think it was really a pretty 624 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 3: remarkable way to end that particular All Star experience. 625 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 7: And remember too, the according to Nielsen, almost seven point 626 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 7: two million viewers watched the All Star Game. And now 627 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 7: I have to admit, because I'm an old coot and 628 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 7: I remember the days when Pete Rose was on the 629 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 7: field and all of this. So I didn't know at 630 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 7: first what the swing off because this was brand knew 631 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 7: what was going to happen. And then I started thinking 632 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 7: about it as I was driving into work and driving 633 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 7: home and this that whatever the whole point of the 634 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 7: All Star Game and it still is relevant to this day. 635 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 7: Is if you could get the local games in your area, 636 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 7: but you couldn't see a Pete Rose play at that time, 637 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 7: or you couldn't see the other players unless they made 638 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 7: the playoffs. And that's the essence of the All Star Game. 639 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 7: And like you said, John, I guess everybody enjoyed that 640 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 7: swing off because you got to see the. 641 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 4: Players you did. 642 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 3: And I think to that point you think about the 643 00:31:56,280 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 3: big picture and Kyle Stowers, Randy or Rose, Arena, Jonathan Aranda. 644 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:06,200 Speaker 3: There are players there that were that maybe were not 645 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 3: household names, but they they get their chance now and 646 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 3: you get to see them and understand their stories a 647 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 3: little bit. And that's empirically a good thing for the 648 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 3: game of baseball, and is to then give them that 649 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 3: moment to have the conversation about them and to take 650 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 3: their turn in the spotlight. I think we right now 651 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 3: have a tremendous amount of great players and great stories 652 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 3: in baseball that go beyond Judge and Otani. Yes, those 653 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 3: are the number two, number one and number two players 654 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 3: that we talk about, but you had the starters and 655 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 3: Scooble and schemes, and it was a great story that 656 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 3: was done by Tom Ronaldi on the pregame show with 657 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 3: Fox about the two of them, Jacob Mazarowski. 658 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 4: Throwing a million miles an hour on the mound, which 659 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 4: was a lot of fun to watch too. 660 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 3: So we have a lot of great stars, and I 661 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 3: think I want to give credit to to the Fox 662 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 3: Sports production and Joe Davis and John Smoltz that the 663 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 3: tie breaking mechanism was reveal field almost in a really 664 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 3: creative and subtle way. Uh, there was a bit of 665 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 3: a tease there about what was going to happen, and 666 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:10,719 Speaker 3: that's all good. That's I realized. We all knew it 667 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 3: was part of the rules, and and on some level 668 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 3: we probably should have been we as fans should have 669 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 3: been more prepared for what was going to happen at 670 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 3: the end. 671 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 4: But it's it was perfect. We don't have enough surprises 672 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 4: in life anymore. Everybody. 673 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 3: We kind of have randomness of spontaneity and and delight 674 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 3: and unexpected things are great, and so we we sign 675 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 3: up for this life to do this, and and certainly 676 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 3: sports give us that experience. In the microcosm of why 677 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,480 Speaker 3: we love sports so much is we don't know what's 678 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 3: going to happen and so the the the unknown and 679 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 3: the the newness of it. I remember there was actually 680 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 3: an interview that James would uh the outstanding prospect of 681 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 3: the Washington Nationals, gave that night with Fox Sports Radio, 682 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 3: and he basically said, we in the nationalague dugout didn't 683 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 3: know exactly what was going on. That's unexpected. Things are cool, 684 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 3: and I think that leaning into the magic of the 685 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 3: unexpected conclusion is part of why we love sports. And 686 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:12,759 Speaker 3: I think it was another demonstration of why this is 687 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:13,920 Speaker 3: the greatest. 688 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:15,800 Speaker 4: Of all the All Star Games and. 689 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 3: Why this is also the greatest of all the sports 690 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 3: because of everything that unfolded, And certainly I don't want 691 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:22,640 Speaker 3: to go any further without mentioning the Hank Aaron tribute 692 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 3: was just beautiful in every possible way, and having Billy 693 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 3: Aaron there and there was a beautiful image of her 694 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:33,400 Speaker 3: watching it unfolding the ballpark. I get goosebumps talking about it, 695 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,040 Speaker 3: and I was watching it with my wife at that point, 696 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 3: who was not a sports fan, and I was explaining 697 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:41,479 Speaker 3: some of the significance of why that home run was 698 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 3: so special and what that call meant, and that the 699 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 3: way the fans greeted Hank Aaron. 700 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 4: After all, he had endured all the. 701 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 3: Hatred he endured and racism along that journey to then 702 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,440 Speaker 3: setting this greatest of American records. I just think was 703 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 3: a beautifully done moment by MLB in the city of 704 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 3: Atlanta to John. 705 00:34:57,640 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 1: You know, I love that your reference another friend of 706 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: the show, John's Molten. 707 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 7: There. 708 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: You know, John came in second in the American Century 709 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: Golf Championship. I mean, I know he's pretty hard on himself, Michael, 710 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 1: so he's probably upset that he only came in second 711 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:08,800 Speaker 1: there but a shout out to him. But you know, 712 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 1: I just want to switch gears on you. 713 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:10,399 Speaker 7: John. 714 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 1: I think we just saw another sale here in Major 715 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:15,560 Speaker 1: League Baseball. I think I think the Tampa Rays are 716 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:17,279 Speaker 1: going to sell for if I'm not mistaken, one point 717 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 1: seven billion to Jacksonville developer Patrick Zelupski. So I guess 718 00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 1: that means they're going to stay in town. But I mean, 719 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 1: my goodness, this is the I mean, based on Sportico data, John, 720 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 1: this is the twenty ninth of thirty Major League Baseball 721 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:32,319 Speaker 1: teams in terms of valuation, or at least it was 722 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:34,759 Speaker 1: going into this and it was what I mean, I 723 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: think they are. I mean you covered the Harvard Crimson 724 00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:39,680 Speaker 1: hockey team. I think there are fourteen NHL teams that 725 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:42,240 Speaker 1: have a command the higher valuation, even at one point 726 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 1: seven billion, if that's indeed the number, talk to us 727 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: a little bit about this sale. I mean for what again, 728 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:51,080 Speaker 1: for one of the I guess least valuable Major League 729 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:54,279 Speaker 1: Baseball teams to go at a premium to what the mark, 730 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:57,319 Speaker 1: This has to be good for the sport, for the league, right. 731 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:01,919 Speaker 3: Yes, I've often said, Damian, I I will never do 732 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 3: live math on the radio because I often make mistakes. 733 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,240 Speaker 3: And then and by the way, when I make a mistake, 734 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:12,520 Speaker 3: the response is always great job, Morosi, you went to Harvard, 735 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 3: and you can't do that. I'm not gonna calculate percentage 736 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,399 Speaker 3: right now, other than to say that's a pretty big 737 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 3: percentage increase of what Stu Sterberg bought the race for 738 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:23,880 Speaker 3: and what the reported sale. 739 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:24,520 Speaker 4: Price is going to be. 740 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:28,560 Speaker 3: That to me, again, we talk about different investments, and 741 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:30,719 Speaker 3: I realized what we're We're on the Bloomberg Show, so 742 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 3: I can reference this. You think about some of the 743 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 3: best investments in the American business world over the last 744 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:42,120 Speaker 3: quarter century, sports teams have appreciated quite nicely. Yeah, in 745 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,799 Speaker 3: that in that time, it's a pretty good investment. And 746 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:49,080 Speaker 3: and this even even a team without a an assured 747 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:52,319 Speaker 3: long term home. You're buying a team for the for 748 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 3: the right to then sit there and have a negotiation 749 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:58,600 Speaker 3: with with different governmental entities in Florida about where you're 750 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 3: gonna try to build a stadium. This is not exactly 751 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:05,680 Speaker 3: a glide path to to to an easy profit year 752 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:10,600 Speaker 3: over year, but the macro the franchise appreciation tells you 753 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 3: all you need to know. And the Minnesota Twins are 754 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 3: also up for sale. The commissioner talked a bit at 755 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:19,160 Speaker 3: the All Star Game about where that process is going 756 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:22,319 Speaker 3: in again, the Rays have basically set the floor here 757 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,200 Speaker 3: and and it's it's a floor with a fairly it's 758 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:28,319 Speaker 3: not like a floor, it's a trampoline in terms of 759 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:30,440 Speaker 3: how high the valuations are going. 760 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:33,280 Speaker 4: So it's a it's a really good situation for the game. 761 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,560 Speaker 3: It shows how much interest there is in what the 762 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:41,080 Speaker 3: long term place of baseball is going to be. It's 763 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 3: really important, I think, for the game's health as we 764 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:47,439 Speaker 3: enter a new CBA negotiation period. This is a nice 765 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 3: bit of news for everybody. 766 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:48,960 Speaker 4: Listen. 767 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:52,239 Speaker 3: It helps the players to know that the franchise has 768 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:55,960 Speaker 3: a great valuation. That means investment in players, in capital, 769 00:37:55,960 --> 00:38:00,839 Speaker 3: and the overall mechanics of the organizations should be very 770 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,719 Speaker 3: very strong, and certainly from a macro level. If you're 771 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:07,080 Speaker 3: Rob Manfred within now several years left in his tenure 772 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 3: as commissioner, he's got to say that if the Tampa 773 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:12,719 Speaker 3: Bay Rays are selling for close to two billion dollars, 774 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:15,160 Speaker 3: that he's done a pretty good job in his stewardship 775 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:15,600 Speaker 3: of the game. 776 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:18,920 Speaker 8: Yeah, unbelievable. And you had mentioned it there about how 777 00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:21,960 Speaker 8: they still have so many questions to really settle on 778 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:23,640 Speaker 8: where they're going to be playing and all of that. 779 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:26,600 Speaker 8: But now with new change in ownership and obviously the 780 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:28,919 Speaker 8: deal flying apart in Saint Pete, but everything that happened there, 781 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:33,960 Speaker 8: where is this stadium going to be built? When will 782 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:36,720 Speaker 8: they really have a real home, like a real new home. 783 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:38,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a great question. 784 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:41,640 Speaker 3: And obviously they've been playing outdoors at Steinberner Field, the 785 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 3: Yankee spring training facility for this year because of the storm. 786 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 3: Did the hurricane damage the Tropic Canna field. The belief is, 787 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:51,520 Speaker 3: as the commissioner said, there's still a pretty good optimism 788 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:53,279 Speaker 3: that the field's going to be ready, the Tropic Canna 789 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:56,399 Speaker 3: field's going to be ready for twenty twenty six opening day. 790 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,520 Speaker 3: But obviously, as you point out, that is not the 791 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,920 Speaker 3: long term home. It does seem to me that with 792 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:06,400 Speaker 3: the success of albeit a short term solution in Tampa, 793 00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:10,280 Speaker 3: that that may revive and reopen the minds of people 794 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:12,960 Speaker 3: on the Hillsborough County side of the bridge to the 795 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:16,320 Speaker 3: potential of having the team their long term. The Tampa 796 00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:19,279 Speaker 3: Bay Lightning, in a non traditional hockey market, have become 797 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 3: something of a model franchise. 798 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 4: They've won Stanley Cups, They've. 799 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:24,239 Speaker 3: Got one of the most respected coaches in the game, 800 00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:26,719 Speaker 3: They've got elite talent on the ice and have for 801 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:30,320 Speaker 3: a long time. So there's a lot to like about 802 00:39:30,760 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 3: Tampa as a sports market. Rob Manford is on record 803 00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:36,520 Speaker 3: as saying he hopes the team stays in the area, 804 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:40,480 Speaker 3: stays in the state. So I think that this franchise ownership, 805 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:44,879 Speaker 3: whenever it changes over, it will reset things a little bit. 806 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:48,239 Speaker 3: And as we all know, when it comes to a 807 00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:50,840 Speaker 3: new stadium being built, a lot of it has to 808 00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:53,799 Speaker 3: do with the political dynamics of a particular place, how 809 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:59,360 Speaker 3: well the owner negotiates and navigates the various municipalities, the governor, 810 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:02,480 Speaker 3: the county, the city government. This to me feels like 811 00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:06,040 Speaker 3: a reset to where the new ownership group will come 812 00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:09,480 Speaker 3: in and certainly helpful that that, again, based on the reports, 813 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:11,839 Speaker 3: if it ends up being this group that closes the deal, 814 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:14,000 Speaker 3: there's a lot of real estate, a lot of a 815 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,600 Speaker 3: lot of know how in this particular area of of 816 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:21,480 Speaker 3: franchise operations, where you're going to build and and what's 817 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:25,200 Speaker 3: going to happen next. So I think this particular ownership group, 818 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:29,360 Speaker 3: I would say Vanessa's very well equipped to handle this conversation, 819 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:32,200 Speaker 3: and I would expect that it does give a bit 820 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:34,840 Speaker 3: of a boost to the notion of the Rays staying 821 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 3: in Tampa Bay for the long term. 822 00:40:36,239 --> 00:40:38,879 Speaker 8: Yeah, do you think that the new ownership coming in, 823 00:40:39,440 --> 00:40:41,360 Speaker 8: like you said, has a reset sort of value that 824 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:45,359 Speaker 8: maybe the public has more you know, faith in them 825 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 8: even just creating a better team, putting more money into 826 00:40:48,120 --> 00:40:50,759 Speaker 8: the team, that makes them more willing to say yes 827 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 8: to public funding. 828 00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:53,520 Speaker 4: It's a great point, and I think it could. 829 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,640 Speaker 3: And and that's where you know, public funding for franchises 830 00:40:56,719 --> 00:40:59,640 Speaker 3: has been been a hot topic and it's somewhat dependent 831 00:40:59,719 --> 00:41:03,319 Speaker 3: upon where and how and in what fashion you ask 832 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:07,360 Speaker 3: for that money. Uh where it's it's a complicated question 833 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:12,000 Speaker 3: based on wherever you're you're asking, uh that that request 834 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:15,160 Speaker 3: for for for public money. But I do think in 835 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:18,320 Speaker 3: general that the manner in which you are a steward 836 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:21,400 Speaker 3: of the organization and and how much you spend. I 837 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:23,120 Speaker 3: think if a team comes in, depending on how the 838 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:25,160 Speaker 3: how the deal has structured, how much debt there is, 839 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:28,200 Speaker 3: how much cash they have on hand, I would hope 840 00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:31,399 Speaker 3: that that the idea would be from a standpoint of 841 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:34,359 Speaker 3: of MLB, make sure we pick a team, pick an 842 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,799 Speaker 3: ownership group that has good cash on hand that can 843 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:40,560 Speaker 3: infuse some capital in the roster and make this a 844 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:43,080 Speaker 3: more competitive team to bring in some stars. 845 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:45,920 Speaker 4: And I've often said this. Sports fans are smart. They 846 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:47,279 Speaker 4: pay attention. They know what's going on. 847 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:49,759 Speaker 3: With their team with other teams, and they can look 848 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:51,920 Speaker 3: at the payroll numbers and say, Okay, are we spending 849 00:41:52,239 --> 00:41:53,400 Speaker 3: like we should spend or not. 850 00:41:53,760 --> 00:41:55,200 Speaker 4: Tampa is a big market. 851 00:41:55,880 --> 00:41:58,360 Speaker 3: It's not the biggest, but it's a big market and 852 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:00,880 Speaker 3: a growing market. And in Florida, if especially if you 853 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:03,879 Speaker 3: if you sort of add in the area is going 854 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:06,239 Speaker 3: east a bit towards Polk County, and they are in 855 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:07,319 Speaker 3: Orange County in. 856 00:42:07,239 --> 00:42:09,120 Speaker 4: Florida along I four. 857 00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:11,560 Speaker 3: There's a lot of fans there, and so if you 858 00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:14,640 Speaker 3: do it right in Tampa, you're gonna have a very 859 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,600 Speaker 3: well supported franchise, and I hope that's the case for 860 00:42:17,640 --> 00:42:18,280 Speaker 3: the long term. 861 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:20,320 Speaker 1: John, you totally now that. I mean, let me remind 862 00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:23,040 Speaker 1: our audience that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays still generated 863 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:25,720 Speaker 1: three hundred and eleven million dollars in full year twenty 864 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:27,680 Speaker 1: twenty four. That's a thirty four percent rise over the 865 00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:29,719 Speaker 1: three year period before that. So I mean, you know 866 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:32,839 Speaker 1: clearly that it generates a lot of money, Michael Bark. 867 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:36,160 Speaker 1: But let's also remember that of the next what thirty 868 00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:38,760 Speaker 1: seven almost forty games in the Major League Baseball season, 869 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:40,680 Speaker 1: less than half of them or maybe half of them, 870 00:42:40,680 --> 00:42:43,560 Speaker 1: are only played at home. And there's still you know, 871 00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:45,680 Speaker 1: three in the three and eleven slide or whatever slide 872 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:47,600 Speaker 1: they're in, and you know they've got to work cut 873 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:48,880 Speaker 1: out from the five and a half game a head 874 00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:50,600 Speaker 1: of first as of right now. 875 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:54,719 Speaker 7: MLB Network insider John MOROSEI, man, I'm gonna give you 876 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:56,839 Speaker 7: this tune. I'm going to sing to you, man, We're 877 00:42:56,880 --> 00:43:02,280 Speaker 7: all behind our baseball team. Go get him, Detroit Taggers, 878 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:04,760 Speaker 7: Go get Him Taggers. 879 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,520 Speaker 3: That is a classic from the from the sixties. They're 880 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:11,120 Speaker 3: well well done, Michael, I love it. 881 00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:15,960 Speaker 4: Mike Detroit Free Press right there, Yes, right, my. 882 00:43:16,719 --> 00:43:19,520 Speaker 3: Parents, they're gonna be listening to the segment and loving, 883 00:43:19,640 --> 00:43:21,719 Speaker 3: loving the sound of that song. They've got the best 884 00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:24,440 Speaker 3: record in baseball as the second half begins, so let's 885 00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:26,120 Speaker 3: see if the old English tea can find a way 886 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:28,440 Speaker 3: to play the final game of the season. They're right 887 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:31,040 Speaker 3: around Halloween and Detroit where you know, if you all 888 00:43:31,080 --> 00:43:32,920 Speaker 3: come up and join us, just you know, bring a 889 00:43:32,960 --> 00:43:35,359 Speaker 3: couple of layers. You never know, you might have snow 890 00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 3: around that time, but we'll be ready and eager to 891 00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:40,600 Speaker 3: welcome all the baseball community to the great state of 892 00:43:40,640 --> 00:43:41,560 Speaker 3: Michigan that time of year. 893 00:43:41,719 --> 00:43:44,439 Speaker 7: John Morosi, we love you, man. Thank you for joining 894 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:47,080 Speaker 7: us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We appreciate it. 895 00:43:47,160 --> 00:43:48,760 Speaker 4: Great to be on the show. Thanks so much for everything. 896 00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:52,080 Speaker 7: Take care though. Our thanks to MLB Network insider John 897 00:43:52,120 --> 00:43:54,640 Speaker 7: Morosi for joining us. And that does it for this 898 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:57,759 Speaker 7: edition of The Bloomberg Business of Sports. Man, it goes 899 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:00,920 Speaker 7: so fast. If you've missed any part of it. Catch 900 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:03,960 Speaker 7: it on demand now with the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. 901 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:07,680 Speaker 7: Find it on Apple, Spotify or anywhere else you get 902 00:44:07,719 --> 00:44:11,680 Speaker 7: your podcasts, and while you're there, find the latest bonus 903 00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:15,719 Speaker 7: episode on the Business of Soccer as we make our 904 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:18,480 Speaker 7: way to the fief of World Cup in twenty twenty 905 00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:22,800 Speaker 7: six for Vanessa Bernomo and Damian Sassaur. I'm Michael Barr. 906 00:44:23,080 --> 00:44:26,600 Speaker 7: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg Radio, 907 00:44:26,680 --> 00:44:28,520 Speaker 7: a round world