1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. This is the Business 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: of Sports. 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 2: Our aim is always to leverage the global appeal of football. 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 2: Having representation in college sports is even more important than. 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 3: Pro Ten percent of Americans now claimed sock up to 6 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 3: be their favorite sport. 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: We estimate the UTH sports audience has three trillion dollars 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: in spending power. 9 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 2: The nature of baseball is, it is worldwide, and it 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 2: is flower I'm. 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 4: Very happy for the WNBA and how the NBA has 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 4: embraced them. 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 3: Sportsbooks are not going anywhere, and sports betting is only growing. 14 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 5: We have a super team running this league, and this 15 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 5: league is here and it's here to stay. 16 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 17 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 5: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore 18 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,919 Speaker 5: the big money issues in the world of sports. I'm 19 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 5: Vanessa Prodomo. Michael Barr is out this week. Coming up today, 20 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 5: I'll be speaking to the owner of the WNBA Portland Fire, 21 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 5: now that a new collective bargain agreement is finally in place. 22 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 5: Plus I'll check in with a Winter Olympic silver medalist 23 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 5: who is helping launch a new startup league for curling 24 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 5: that straight ahead in the Bloomberg Business of Sports. But 25 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 5: we start with March madness. I spoke with the commissioner 26 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 5: of the Big East, Val Ackerman, for her thoughts on 27 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 5: this year's tournament and how she's hoping to see a 28 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 5: double national title for Yukon men's and women's basketball. I 29 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 5: spoke with Val right before the Final four kicked off. 30 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 5: Here's a bit of that conversation. I just want to 31 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 5: start with getting a vibe check. I mean, Yukon men 32 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 5: and women are both back in the Final four. How 33 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 5: does it feel to have them back there together? 34 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 6: Well, this is it was a magical weekend really for 35 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 6: the conference. We had teams advancing to the second weekend, 36 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 6: which is really hard to do. You know, our schools, 37 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 6: some of them have been there before and they know 38 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 6: that every game is a really as a battle. I 39 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 6: think as it relates to Yukon, this proves if there 40 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 6: was any doubt that they really are in the top 41 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 6: tier of college basketball programs around the country, both the 42 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 6: men's and women's sides. Not many programs can boast that. 43 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 6: To be honest, you know, they have on both sports 44 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 6: great talent, they've got leadership, they've got grittiness, which you 45 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 6: know you need an equal measure to keep advancing in March. 46 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, definitely. I mean it's it's interesting, like you had said, obviously, 47 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 5: it's it's not always that common that both the men's 48 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 5: and the women's programs can be so competitive, especially at 49 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 5: the same time. I mean, this isn't the first time 50 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,839 Speaker 5: they've done, right, they did this just in twenty twenty four. 51 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 5: But how impactful is it for the school for the 52 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 5: Big East as a whole, you know, given the popularity 53 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 5: especially now for women's and men's basketball. 54 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,679 Speaker 6: Let me just go back and you know, throw a 55 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 6: couple of data points at you and the listeners, which 56 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 6: is that this is the Yukon women's twenty fifth final four. 57 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 3: May or may not be a record. I'm not sure 58 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 3: someone can fact check that. 59 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 6: On the men's side, it's their eighth and this is 60 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 6: the sixth time that the men and the women have 61 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 6: been in the final four together, So it's you know, 62 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 6: it's not common generally, but you know, it is a 63 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 6: thing for Yukon. So again, quite an accomplishment for the 64 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 6: University for the Big East. You know, it proves what 65 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 6: we have been aspiring to for as long as I've 66 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 6: been in this position. Which is that the Big East 67 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 6: is part of the power tier in college basketball. Our schools, 68 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 6: you know, in general, are very committed to the game. 69 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 6: It's we don't have football that we sponsor in the 70 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 6: Big East, so basketball is the primary sport. It just 71 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 6: means everything to our campus is to be not only 72 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 6: competing but winning at a national level. We take pride 73 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 6: in our history. We take pride in the national championships 74 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 6: we've won over the last eight or nine or ten years. 75 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 6: We've won four men's championships and one women's over the 76 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 6: last ten year span, which is you know, I don't 77 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 6: know if that's rivaled by any other conference. Somebody could 78 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 6: fact check that also, but you know, this is it's 79 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 6: a big deal for any school, and for the Big East, 80 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 6: where basketball matters so much, it really is, you know, 81 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 6: kind of a crowning achievement. 82 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's an interesting thing. Like you said, you've worked 83 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 5: really hard on making sure that the Big East as 84 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 5: a basketball conference is still thought of as one of 85 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 5: those major conferences. Right, it's not smaller or anything like 86 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 5: that just because there's no football schools. Can you tell me, 87 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 5: you know a little bit more about that and the 88 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 5: relationship between just focusing on basketball. How you've been able 89 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 5: to do that and grow the Big East in that way, 90 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,679 Speaker 5: in the name of revenue, in the name of business, 91 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 5: everything like that. Just focusing on basketball. 92 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 6: Well, you know, I kind of the way we think 93 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 6: about it is, Yes, the being able to focus on basketball. 94 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 6: It's hard to quantify what that means. You know, how 95 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 6: many hours we spent compared to US school that has football. 96 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 6: I don't know that we can give you those stats, 97 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 6: but what I can say is we do think we 98 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 6: have the ingredients to remain successful. 99 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 3: And you know what does that include. 100 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 6: Well, it includes, you know, having resources, which our schools 101 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 6: have in part because they don't have football expenses. We've 102 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 6: got excellent national television arrangements, which are really important for 103 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 6: exposure and credibility and revenue. We've got we're just completed 104 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 6: year one, nearly completing completed year one of a six 105 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 6: year national media deal with major national networks. Fox Sports 106 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 6: is the lead network, but we've got Nbcpacock and TNT 107 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 6: Sports also in the fold, and plus we've got additional 108 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 6: programming on ESPN. Plus we're in business with all of 109 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 6: the major national networks. We've got the relationship with Madison 110 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 6: Square Garden, which is one of the most, if not 111 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 6: the most prominent basketball arena in the country, belongs to 112 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 6: the Big East. In a manner of speaking, we play 113 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 6: our men's basketball tournament there. This year was our forty 114 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 6: fourth rendition of that. We're locked up there through twenty 115 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 6: thirty two, which will be the fiftieth year of the 116 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 6: Big East Tournament at Madison Square Gardens. So we've got 117 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 6: the ability to play on the world's practically the world 118 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 6: certainly the country's biggest basketball stage. And then we've got, 119 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 6: you know, the benefit of major media markets, excellent facilities 120 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 6: on our campuses, a number of our schools playing NBA arenas, 121 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 6: which enhances the stage that our players are you know, 122 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 6: displaying their talents on. 123 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 3: So we've got a long way of saying, we've got. 124 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 6: We think, the ingredients that we need to stay relevant 125 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 6: and competitive and successful in basketball. And so, you know, 126 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 6: while not having football revenue is you know, a disadvantage 127 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 6: to be honest, because we don't have the resources that 128 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 6: the conferences we consider years in basketball have, the fact 129 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,679 Speaker 6: that we have all the other things I just mentioned 130 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 6: we see as a plus and hopefully we'll keep us 131 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 6: you know, going and growing in the years ahead. 132 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 5: And it's interesting on that note as well, Like you're mentioning, 133 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 5: you know, as we talk about like revenue sharing, you 134 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 5: know now that it's something that schools are able to 135 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 5: opt in on revenue sharing with athletes. And at first 136 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 5: when this happened last year, people thought that the Big 137 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 5: East would be, you know, the big winner in this 138 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 5: sort of you know world, that they didn't have to 139 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 5: share revenue sharing with football schools, I mean with football teams. 140 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 5: But I've heard you say that that's not necessarily the case. 141 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 5: Can you tell me a little bit about how you've 142 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 5: navigated the revenue sharing with the athletes and how you 143 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 5: feel that it's going for the Big East. 144 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 6: Well, just again for the listener, the ability to share 145 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 6: revenue directly with student assets by the school is optional, 146 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 6: and all of our schools opted to do that. Not 147 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 6: every school and d one is opting in to the 148 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 6: revshare model. 149 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 3: So our schools have done that. 150 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 6: And my sense is that because there's a cap on 151 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 6: the amount that a school can share directly to athletes, 152 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 6: we are on the high side of revshare for basketball. 153 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: And why is that because the football schools from what. 154 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 6: We gather are spending most of their revshare dollars on 155 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 6: their football teams, so that leaves less money for them 156 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 6: to share directly for basketball and any other sport without 157 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 6: football players that we have to pay, we have the 158 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 6: ability to, and I believe our spending more than they 159 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 6: are directly on basketball players. At the same time, payments 160 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 6: to athletes can still be made by third parties, and 161 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 6: those payments are not capped. They are subject to scrutiny 162 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 6: by an entity called the College Sports Commission, which was 163 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 6: set up following the House Settlement last year to monitor 164 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 6: third party payments to make sure that they were for 165 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 6: a valid business purpose and were within a reasonable range 166 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 6: of compensations. So those payments are you know, they're not 167 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 6: necessarily cleared. They have to be approved by the Commission. 168 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 6: And so my sense is that the schools that aren't 169 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 6: able to pay as much for basketball players because they're 170 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 6: paying so much for their football players are taking advantage 171 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 6: of the third party payments system that's still in effect 172 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,959 Speaker 6: and in effect enhancing the payments that they can make 173 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 6: for basketball through that apparatus. 174 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 3: And I don't know because. 175 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 6: Of that, I can't speak to what their total numbers 176 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 6: are for basketball but I suspect that it's you know, 177 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 6: likens what we're spending in the aggregate, and so you 178 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 6: know this is going to be one of the questions 179 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 6: in the model, is to spending a lot of money 180 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 6: on players guarantee success. 181 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 3: I don't believe it does. 182 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 6: I came out of the NBA and the teams that 183 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 6: spent the most didn't always win the championships. And so 184 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 6: you know, to me, it's going to the algorithm here 185 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 6: will be spending enough and spending wisely, because spending the 186 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 6: most dollars on players so you think might be good, 187 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 6: may not necessarily pan out. But again, we're in the 188 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 6: early stages of the system, and I think it remains 189 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 6: to be seen who the winners are going to be. 190 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 7: Yeah, when all said and. 191 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 5: Done, do you think that and from your seat see 192 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 5: that maybe the winners are women's players under a conference 193 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 5: like the Big East where they don't have to compete 194 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 5: with football players. 195 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 6: I've seen a lot of winners among frankly non football 196 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 6: and non basketball playing athletes. 197 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 3: I mean, it's. 198 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 6: Sort of the recipe here for success in the Rev 199 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 6: Shaer slash Nil world is you know success on the 200 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 6: field or you know field of play whatever. It may 201 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 6: be some sort of genesseequa whatever, I don't know what 202 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 6: the French word for that special something that makes somebody marketable, Okay, 203 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 6: a great story appeal. In this day and age, a 204 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 6: large social media following is attractive to an advertiser. And so, 205 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 6: you know, to use the Big East as an example, 206 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 6: we've seen great success in this environment from Yukon women's. 207 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 3: Basketball players because. 208 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 6: They're successful on the court, they're marketable for a variety 209 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 6: of reasons. A couple of them have substantial social media followings, 210 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 6: and so that all translates into lucrative opportunities in a 211 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 6: you know, and now you know the environment where income 212 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 6: possibilities are available to these to these athletes, and so, yes, 213 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 6: I think it can happen. I think it's sort of 214 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 6: on a campus by campus, sport by sport basis. I 215 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 6: do think the primary winners here are football and men's 216 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 6: basketball for the most part, because those are the priority 217 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,439 Speaker 6: sports on campuses. They're the ones that have the most 218 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 6: commercial appeal, they're the ones that drive the most alumni engagement. 219 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 6: It's just a fact, and our league's no different than 220 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 6: other leagues on that score. But I do think, you know, 221 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 6: the opportunities are certainly there, and you know, the combination 222 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 6: of factors I mentioned at the top of this answer 223 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 6: can all come together, then I think athletes can can 224 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 6: certainly win out. 225 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 5: That was the commissioner of the Big East, Val Ackerman. 226 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 5: Up next, my conversation with WNBA and NWSL owner Lisa 227 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 5: Beathalmerage on Portland being the epicenter of women's sports. That's 228 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 5: straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. I'm Vanessa Prodemo. 229 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 5: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg 230 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 5: Radio around the world. 231 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 232 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 5: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports where we explore 233 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 5: the big money issues in the world of sports. I'm 234 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 5: Vanessa Prodomo. Michael barr is off this week. The WNBA 235 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 5: has been in a very contentious labor fight this entire offseason, 236 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 5: with threats of a lockout, but the union and the 237 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 5: league were able to reach a deal in March in 238 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 5: order to go ahead with the season as planned. Great news, 239 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 5: especially for Portland Fire owner lisabethal Mirage, whose team is 240 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,839 Speaker 5: set to make its WNBA debut this year, but due 241 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 5: to the CBA negotiations have been unable to sign players 242 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 5: until now. The expansion draft for the Fire in Toronto 243 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 5: Tempo was earlier this week. I spoke with Lisa the 244 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 5: day after the CBA was announced at Avenue Capitol's Powerplay 245 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 5: event in Los Angeles about how they were able to 246 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 5: build the team amidst uncertainty, but also about how they 247 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 5: parlayed their ownership of the Portland Thorns into building a 248 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 5: women's sports empire in the city. Here's my conversation with 249 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 5: WNBA and NWSL owner lisabethal Mirage. You've been at the 250 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 5: Helm of the Portland Thorns down for a couple of years, 251 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 5: had a couple of seasons in How would you describe 252 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 5: your first few years in it. 253 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 8: The first few years have been so fun, Lots of challenges, 254 00:13:54,920 --> 00:14:00,959 Speaker 8: lots of exciting things, tremendous momentum. We've made lots of changes. 255 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 8: We've completely built out the business office. So when we 256 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 8: acquired the team, we did not have a business office 257 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 8: at all. So we started department by department and eventually 258 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 8: built out ticketing and marketing and our sponsorship team and 259 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 8: HR and it and now we are close to one 260 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 8: hundred people strong. We've Also in the past two years, 261 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 8: we hired a new GM, we just hired our second 262 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 8: coach that was announced recently, and we're building a. 263 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 7: Performance center which will be finished up later this year. 264 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 7: So a lot of exciting things going on. 265 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 5: Was that at all surprising, like when you had come 266 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 5: in and you had to build all that stuff out, 267 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 5: very different from you know, your family being in the 268 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 5: Sacramento Kings like, very different. So was it surprising to 269 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 5: you that you had to build all this out for 270 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 5: an existing team. 271 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 7: No, we knew what we were doing. 272 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 8: Going you know, getting into it. We actually had a 273 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 8: shared services agreement on the Thorn side with Peregrine, who 274 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 8: previously owned the Thorns and still owns the Timbers in 275 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 8: the MLS, So. 276 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 7: We knew we had work to do. But we're really 277 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 7: kind of roll up your sleeves type people. 278 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 8: And luckily we have an amazing head of Rash Sports, 279 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 8: Mike Whitehead, who's built out his team. And then on 280 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 8: the Thorn side we have alexis Lee who's our president 281 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 8: of business operations, and then now we have Jeff Agus. 282 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 7: Who's our president of Soccer Operations, and. 283 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 8: They just really set the right tone in the right 284 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 8: culture and the right work ethic within the organizations. 285 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 5: You obviously don't just own the Thorns, but also now 286 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 5: the WNBA team, the Portland Fire. When was it in 287 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 5: when you had been in part of the Thorns that 288 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 5: you decided, wait, we need to add a WNBA team 289 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 5: to this. Did already come together? How did that deal 290 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 5: come together for you, guys? 291 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 8: I think the universe told us that we needed to 292 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 8: have the Partland Fire because we were in the middle 293 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 8: of closing our Thorns deal and the WNBA had decided 294 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 8: to grant an expansion team to Portland. But the leader 295 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 8: of that expansion team fell out and we read about 296 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 8: it in the newspaper, and then we called the NBA 297 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 8: office and said, hey, it's not public yet, but we're 298 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 8: up here, and you know, they knew us from the NBA. 299 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 8: So we went through a process with them and it 300 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 8: just kind of, like I said, the stars aligned, and 301 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 8: you know, one plus one equals five. 302 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 7: The Fire and the Thorns here we go. 303 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 5: Didn't even realize yet the power or you hadn't exactly 304 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 5: experienced the power of the Thorns and the women's sports 305 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 5: you know, fandom there before even really acquiring the Fire. 306 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 8: Well, we knew about the women's sports fandom, and that 307 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 8: was something when we were looking at the Thorns. I 308 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 8: went up for a game and saw firsthand the what 309 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 8: I call the magic at Providence Park. Our women's sports 310 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 8: fans in Portland are the most passionate fan base that 311 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 8: I've said this in the world, and we actually have 312 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 8: metrics to back that up. So you know, when we 313 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 8: talk about the Thorns, the attendance on average is just 314 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 8: under twenty thousand per game. And I always framed this 315 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 8: in a way and explaining it when you compare it 316 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 8: to a typical NHL team or NBA team who plays 317 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,959 Speaker 8: in arena. Those arenas hold sixteen to seventeen thousand people, 318 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 8: So our average attendance is higher than what fills an 319 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 8: NHL or an NBA arena. 320 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 7: Which is crazy. 321 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 8: And we've seen that fandom continue with the Portland Fire 322 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 8: we are leaving the league with a new season ticket 323 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,959 Speaker 8: sales and the fans. I think when we did our 324 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 8: launch of the fire brand name, there were about two 325 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 8: thousand people that showed up outside Motus Center in the 326 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 8: middle of the day. 327 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 7: There were people that got tattoos. We had a tattoo truck, 328 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 7: people got the fire logo on them. Yeah, before you 329 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 7: even play again. Oh yeah, it was amazing. It's incredible. 330 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 7: The fans are incredible in Portland. 331 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 5: Yeah, so let's talk a little bit more about the 332 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 5: fire and building that team out, especially amid everything that 333 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 5: was going on. So one, there has been a verbal 334 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 5: agreement for the CBA when you heard the news, again, 335 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 5: verbal agreements was not official yet, So I know that 336 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 5: you probably want to make sure you know, you're going 337 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 5: to have your conversations about that later. But did you 338 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 5: breathe a sigh of relief at all when you first 339 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 5: heard the news. 340 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 8: We've been waiting and we've been having contingency plan after 341 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 8: contingency plan. We went through looking at, you know, our 342 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 8: wishless of players because we have everything else lined up. 343 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 7: We have you know, we have season. 344 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 8: Tickets, we have marketing plans, we're auditioning the dance team. 345 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 7: You know, everything else is completely rolling. We just need players. 346 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 8: This is a small thing, and so you know we 347 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 8: have if this then, if this, then, if this then. 348 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 7: And uh we'll see we're going. We're going. 349 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, how was it for you building out that front office, 350 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,120 Speaker 5: doing all the things, like you said, ticket sales, building 351 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 5: out the logo, the color is the jerseys, all of that, 352 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 5: without knowing exactly what was going to happen, without having 353 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 5: any players. How was it to get those fans, like 354 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 5: you said, having those fans out there already being fans 355 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 5: of the team before you even have a player. 356 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 7: How was that navigating that for you? 357 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 8: I mean, I think it's just like you said, the 358 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 8: fans are there, they love the team, They're like. 359 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 7: Crazy about sports in Portland. 360 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 8: And maybe that part of it is that Nike's in 361 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 8: our backyard with the corporate headquarters and then also you 362 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 8: know Adidas North America headquarters and some of the other 363 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 8: sports brands. 364 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 7: Sports is a way of life in Portland. 365 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 8: That's really why we call Portland the global epicenter of 366 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 8: women's sports. It's been proven, it's been I think since 367 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 8: the early nineteen seventies when Portland was the first city 368 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 8: to host an LPGA tournament that it started kind of 369 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 8: this this appreciation of love. 370 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 7: For women's sports, and it's just grown and grown and grown. 371 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 5: Yeah, how have you found it different, obviously, aside from 372 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 5: the CV, have you found it different coming into the 373 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 5: sorens a team that had already had a fan base 374 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 5: that was already around for years and come and building 375 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:54,919 Speaker 5: from scratch. 376 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 9: I think that it's in a way it's a little 377 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 9: bit easier to build from scratch because we could say, 378 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 9: these are the colors we want to have, this is 379 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 9: the logo we want to have, this is this is 380 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 9: how we want to set the tone of the game 381 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 9: experience and the fan experience. 382 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 7: And we can create that from scratch. 383 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 8: And sure they'll maybe sometimes we hit a bump or 384 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 8: make a mistake and we can course correct from there. 385 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 7: You know, with the. 386 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 8: Thorns, we came in and we have a very passionate 387 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 8: fan base. We have our supporters group called the Riveters, 388 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 8: and they are they're known throughout frankly the world as 389 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 8: the most passionate women's soccer fan supporters group that there is. 390 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 8: And you know, we have to make sure that we 391 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 8: keep them happy too, so we talk to them regularly, 392 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 8: We build those relationships, and you know, we have to 393 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 8: kind of walk a little bit slower with some of 394 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 8: the things that we may want to do with the 395 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 8: fan experience. 396 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 5: How have you seen, like through the data you have 397 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 5: from the ticket sales you already have for the fire 398 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 5: and stuff like that, how many people cross over between 399 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 5: Thorns and firefans from what you know. 400 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 8: Already, I actually don't know if I have that information, 401 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 8: and I've asked for that information. But one thing that 402 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 8: we are talking about that's been wildly requested is having 403 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 8: a premier season ticket holder package where you can go 404 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 8: to both games. And I mean I was just sitting 405 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 8: with somebody who's local in the community last week and 406 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:22,959 Speaker 8: she asked for that. She's like, I will buy that. 407 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 8: I will spend the money. So you know, we're looking 408 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 8: into that. 409 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 5: And obviously with the NWSL, there's a new rule in place, 410 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 5: with the High Impact Player rule, and that's helped keep 411 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 5: actually this conversation that a lot of players are going 412 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 5: to go overseas and you know, talent, you know, you know, 413 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 5: going back overseas and staying in the NWSL. Sophia Smith 414 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 5: has has agreed to a longer contract with you guys, 415 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,360 Speaker 5: and she's one of those players that does meet those requirements. 416 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 7: Right. 417 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 5: How does it impact having stars like that for the 418 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 5: Portland Thorns, for the NWSL to stay here and be 419 00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 5: able to play here. 420 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 8: Well, I think in the end of you I think anywhere, 421 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 8: stars are important, right, and it's seeing their quality of play, 422 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 8: the excitement on the pitch, and then also what they 423 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 8: bring through a commercial lens. 424 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 7: I mean, if you look at. 425 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 8: Sophia Wilson with Gigi, it's just I mean, first of all, 426 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 8: she's like the most adorable baby ever. Can I just 427 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,199 Speaker 8: say that she's very normally, yes, But you know, I 428 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 8: think the other thing with the NWSL is we see 429 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 8: as a whole that the league teams from the leagues 430 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 8: are investing in facilities, whether it be in Kansas City 431 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 8: where they have their stadium or with us with our 432 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 8: PRIs of Permanente Performance Center that will be ready this year. 433 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 8: And I don't know if you necessarily see that investment 434 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 8: across the pond, the graph may not be greener. 435 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 5: Absolutely, when you guys came in in twenty twenty four 436 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 5: officially coming into that WSL and coming into women's sports, 437 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 5: like you said, it was around this conversation of this 438 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 5: is a change in tide for women's sports and really 439 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 5: a lot more visibility, a lot more fan growth. Did 440 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 5: you already see that happening or did you do you 441 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,880 Speaker 5: feel like got in right at the right time. Well, 442 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 5: it's funny because I don't know if you know this, 443 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 5: but our family's business prior to being in sports, was 444 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 5: in the fashion business, and I'd like to say we 445 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,400 Speaker 5: can sometimes smell trends before they happened. So we started 446 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 5: hearing a lot about the rise of women's sports. I 447 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 5: hate when people say the moment or whatever it is, 448 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 5: because it is. It is the rise. It is here 449 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 5: to stay. And you know, we started. 450 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 8: Smelling it, seeing the clues and looking at different opportunities. 451 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 7: And then when we. 452 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 8: You know, we actually looked at the Thorns deck and 453 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 8: then kind of put it aside, and then we heard 454 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 8: again about women's sports, women's sports, so we revisited it, 455 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 8: and we're like, yes, this is it, this is what 456 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 8: we need to do. 457 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 5: What did you see at the time when you had 458 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 5: revisited that you felt like, Okay, actually, no, this is 459 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 5: one hundred percent we're going in. 460 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 7: For it for us. Then I would say it was. 461 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 8: That first game that I went to where the game 462 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 8: that I went to was Portland versus Seattle, and there 463 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 8: it was Megan Rappino's last game play, you know, Seattle 464 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 8: playing against Portland, and there were twenty five over twenty 465 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 8: five thousand people in the stands, and I was. 466 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 7: Like, are you kidding me? 467 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:18,880 Speaker 8: You can't manufactures these fans are incredible, and I took 468 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 8: a video and I went home and showed it to 469 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 8: my parents actually at dinner the next day, and my 470 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 8: my mom was like, are. 471 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:27,880 Speaker 7: There people way up there? 472 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 8: And like, yes, there are, They're way up there, and 473 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 8: my dad is like, I really believe in women's sports. 474 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 7: And that was our tipping point, so we were like, 475 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 7: let's go. 476 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 5: That was WNBA Portland Fire and NWSLL Portland Thorn's owner Lisabethalmerage. 477 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 5: Up next, a conversation with Winter Olympics silver medallist Corey 478 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 5: Dropkin about the sport that sweeps up everyone's attention during 479 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 5: the Winter Olympics. Carling, that's straight ahead on the Bloomberg 480 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 5: Business of Sports. I'm Vanessa Pranamo. You're listening to the 481 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 5: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world. 482 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 483 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 5: Thanks for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 484 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 5: We'll re explore the big money issues in the world 485 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 5: of sports. I'm Vanessa Prodomo. Michael barr is off this week. 486 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 5: It may be April, but I'm not ready to let 487 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 5: go of the Winter Olympics. And luckily for anyone else 488 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 5: like me who finds curling to be one of the 489 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:29,120 Speaker 5: most intriguing sports at the Winter Olympics, you can watch 490 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 5: it in a new professional league that is starting up 491 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 5: on April sixth. Joining me in studio to talk about 492 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,719 Speaker 5: how to grow the sport of curling is the founder 493 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 5: of Rock League, Nick Sulski and Olympic silver medalist Corey Dropkin. 494 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 5: Nick Corey, Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 495 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely, thank you so much for having us. It's a pleasure, Corey. 496 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 4: I have to. 497 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 5: I mean, I feel like the Winter Olympics hype and momentum, 498 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 5: it's still going on and apparently wists are going on, 499 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,120 Speaker 5: but I feel like it is bigger than it's ever been. 500 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 5: Have you come down from the height yet? 501 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 2: Definitely been starting to come down from it. You know, 502 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,919 Speaker 2: I was on the highest of highs, especially you know, 503 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 2: after winning the medal and going through all the celebrations 504 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 2: coming home. We had a big, you know, welcome home 505 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 2: celebration in Duluth and it was just amazing. It's been 506 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 2: so nice to celebrate with, you know, all of our 507 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 2: family and friends, and you know, there's definitely still a 508 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 2: lot of hype, but you know, just so happy to 509 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 2: be you know, part of it and proud that we 510 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: were able to bring him a medal. 511 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 10: Did you see John Thurston's shot? 512 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 4: Unreal? 513 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 10: There was a shot Vanessa in wheelchair curling, which is 514 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 10: probably the greatest shot of all time because wheelchair curlers don't. Oh, 515 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 10: by the way, thanks for thanks for having This is 516 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 10: great and it's so fun to be here with Corey. 517 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 10: There was literally a shot and wheelchair because there's no 518 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 10: sweepers and it was I mean, it blew up all 519 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 10: over all over the internet. I will say my favorite, 520 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 10: my favorite Instagram video that I've seen was a lady 521 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 10: in Duluth who was buying a house and her tag 522 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 10: was my realtor is cooler than yours? And then she 523 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 10: pulls up the silver medal and there's Corey in the background. 524 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 4: That was really good. Oh shout out to Jenna. 525 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, absolutely, How nuts are those moments are going back 526 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,479 Speaker 5: into regular life, but it's not the same sort of 527 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 5: life now that you're an Olympic silver medalist. 528 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 4: It's pretty wild. 529 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 7: You know. 530 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 2: We've been getting some really flattering recognition, sometimes overwhelming, you know, 531 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 2: when we were flying back home trying to walk through 532 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 2: the Minneapolis airport to get her to our gate for 533 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 2: our flight to Duluth. You know, Corey and I didn't 534 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,679 Speaker 2: quite get you know, ten to twenty steps without you know, 535 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 2: someone another person coming up asking us for you know, 536 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,400 Speaker 2: a picture and an autograph. 537 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 4: Something like that. 538 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 2: And you know, it's been it's been amazing coming back 539 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 2: and you know, we're just we're just regular everyday people. 540 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 2: We we you know, work full time, you know, doing 541 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 2: jobs outside of curling so we can make a living. 542 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,239 Speaker 2: But you know, curling is what we love to do 543 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 2: and what we're passionate about, and we want to be 544 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 2: the best in the world. And you know, we've been 545 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 2: dreaming for for years and years, twenty years for me 546 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 2: to try to get to the Olympics and you know, 547 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 2: get on that podium and you know, just finally achieve 548 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 2: that is just surreal to dream come true, to do 549 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 2: that and do that with Corey and also have our 550 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 2: family and so many of our friends there in Italy 551 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 2: to cheer us on. 552 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 4: It's been wild. 553 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 5: How many people did you have over there? 554 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 2: You know, we had at least seventy people that we 555 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 2: knew were planning on going, but there was a lot 556 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 2: more people there for for mixed leubles. 557 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 4: It was crazy. It was wild. 558 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 2: We had a great cheering section, I mean, and it helps, 559 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 2: like I definitely feed off of that type of energy. 560 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: It helps me feel my fire when I'm on the ice. 561 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 2: You know, I kind of like to bounce that energy 562 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 2: throughout the arena. And you know, our semi final game 563 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 2: against Italy, both games against Italy, the round robin and 564 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: semifinal game, you know, both crowds showed up and. 565 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 4: Were super, super loud. 566 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 2: For their own and it was just such a great atmosphere. 567 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 2: You have cheers that are just bouncing off, echoing off 568 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 2: of the stadium walls and you could kind of just feel, 569 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 2: you know that that type of like almost like a 570 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 2: heartbeat that is just you know, going crazy throughout the arena. 571 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 2: And with that semi final game, there's so many momentum 572 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,480 Speaker 2: swings and so many big shots being made, and you know, 573 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 2: so the Italian crowd going wild and the American crowd 574 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 2: going wild. I mean, I gave me goosebumps. I just 575 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 2: loved every bit of it. 576 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:24,000 Speaker 10: And it's funny. The curling world historically has been really 577 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 10: traditional and very kind of quiet and tame, and during 578 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 10: the Olympics. There were a couple of things that really 579 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 10: apparent won the US crowd, as Corey said, totally totally 580 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 10: showed up. You could hear those USA chants like crazy. 581 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 10: The Italian crowd was great. But there were moments throughout 582 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 10: the mixed doubles competition when our boy Corey here like these. 583 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 10: What people don't realize is these are real athletes who 584 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 10: are emotionally and passionately connected and hyper competitive in their sport. 585 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 10: And you know, historically there have been times when let's 586 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 10: say more of the traditional fans kind of looked down 587 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 10: at curlers showing emotion and pumping up the crowd. But 588 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 10: one of my favorite moments was probably after your third 589 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 10: or fourth game, like you guys won, and Corey's you know, 590 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 10: flexing to the crowd and getting all pumped up and 591 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 10: really like you know, playing playing the role of a 592 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 10: sports star, getting everybody motivated. And it was a really 593 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 10: incredible thing to see, especially in the early days of 594 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 10: that competition, because mixed doubles was first, and I think 595 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 10: Corey and Corey really set the stage in the in 596 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 10: the in the in the American fans and the Italian 597 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 10: fans really set the stage for what ended up being 598 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 10: i mean, not only the most watched Winter Olympic sport, 599 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 10: but let's face it also the most talked about, so 600 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 10: it was it was an incredible few weeks for the 601 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 10: for the entire sport. 602 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 2: That was easily one of my favorite parts too of 603 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 2: the whole experience is is just the energy in the arena. 604 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:50,719 Speaker 2: And you know, there's a couple of times where I was, 605 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:54,680 Speaker 2: you know, getting the crowd going after after wins that 606 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 2: after that fourth game against Chequia and then after a 607 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 2: semi final game against Italy, and you know, the Jurgen. 608 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 4: Klop celebration with the crowd from Liverpool. 609 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 2: But it's it's one that I saw at the Ryder 610 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 2: Cup this past year where Matt Fitzpatrick came back out 611 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 2: after a big Saturday and he was getting the crowd 612 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 2: going and he'd do these wind ups where the crowd 613 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 2: you know, start with the low sort of build up 614 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 2: and then he would kind of fist pump at them, like, 615 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 2: you know, three or four times in a row, and 616 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 2: that got them going wild and. 617 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 4: Screaming and cheering for them. 618 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 2: And I kind of wanted to, you know, do that 619 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 2: ever since because that was just such a sweet moment 620 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 2: to experience, even being obviously the US fan of course, 621 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 2: but like it's pretty special when you see the European 622 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 2: crowd go wild because they've just got some amazing chants 623 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:44,480 Speaker 2: and cheers. And so I did that with the US crowd, 624 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 2: and that was just such a sweet moment to have 625 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 2: and be part of. 626 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 5: I love that you planned it, that you had something 627 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 5: that you really wanted to do, because you know, so 628 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 5: that'd spur the moment. But like that is, like you said, 629 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 5: changes the dynamic right of going into the competition. What 630 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 5: do you think was about that crowd that they were 631 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 5: able to kind of break out of nick like what 632 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 5: you were saying, the traditional you know quiet? Why were 633 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:08,600 Speaker 5: was it the Italian energy? 634 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 7: Like? 635 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 5: What was it about that competition where they were able 636 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 5: to like really express themselves? 637 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:14,479 Speaker 10: You think it's a good I mean, it's a good, 638 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 10: great question. I mean I think, first off, I mean 639 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 10: the last Winter Olympics there was no there were no crowds, 640 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 10: right right, So I think finally being able to back 641 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 10: in in a building watching the greatest curlers on Earth compete, 642 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 10: there was something exciting there and and and I do 643 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 10: believe and you know this has been part of my 644 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 10: whole mission as I do believe that the sport of 645 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 10: curling is changing. I'd argue it has changed. I think 646 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 10: people are starting to understand. And we've been working really hard, 647 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 10: you know, at the Curling Group with a Grand Slam 648 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 10: of Curling to really inject a new energy into the sport. 649 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 10: Right you know, you all saw what happened in golf 650 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 10: right forever. It was this historic quiet you know, i'd say, 651 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 10: you know, quite stoic sport. And then a number of 652 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 10: years ago Phoenix so Waste Management Open started embracing what 653 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 10: the younger golf fan wants to do, embracing the energy 654 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 10: and the fun around the sport, and they completely that 655 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 10: event and it sparked a number of different moments with 656 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 10: other events that are like the sixteenth Hole at the 657 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:22,440 Speaker 10: Waste Management But the perception of who a golf fan 658 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 10: is and what a golf event is like to go 659 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 10: to has completely changed, and I think we've started doing 660 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 10: that with curling. I mean I could hear it on 661 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 10: I wasn't in Courtina, but during the Grand Slam of 662 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 10: Curling events over the last year, people have started showing 663 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 10: up wearing costumes and there's a shot in curling, which 664 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 10: is the most boring shot in the entire sport. It's 665 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 10: called appeal. And there have been a group of people 666 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 10: called the curling Bananas who have started showing up at 667 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 10: events dressed as bananas, and whenever there's a peal, you'll 668 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 10: hear peel, peel peel. I heard the bananas chanting in Quartina. 669 00:33:56,480 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 10: Now they weren't wasn't the official curling bananas, but it 670 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 10: has spread to a point now where people when they 671 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 10: go to a curling event, they're not expecting to sit 672 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 10: on their hands and just be quiet. It's it's fun. 673 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,439 Speaker 10: Sports are fun, and that's what's so incredible about having 674 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 10: ambassadors with the sport and incredible athletes like Corey, because 675 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 10: the athletes are embracing it like it's supposed to be fun. 676 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 10: Like I've spoken to a ton of curlers in the 677 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 10: early days after you know, I took over, and one 678 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 10: of the questions was like, do you guys like noise? 679 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 10: Do you guys like like music in the venue? Do 680 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 10: you like when the crowd is pumped up? And the 681 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,280 Speaker 10: consensus was, Ah, we're athletes, man, we want to compete. 682 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:37,839 Speaker 10: We love that, we thrive off that, I mean, not 683 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:38,919 Speaker 10: to put words in your mouth. 684 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:40,080 Speaker 4: You pretty much just did. 685 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,160 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, no, Kurey, What is it like for you? 686 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:45,399 Speaker 5: I mean, how have you seen it change since you've 687 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:46,320 Speaker 5: been in the sport. 688 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 8: Yeah. 689 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 2: I think for the longest time, curling has been just 690 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 2: such a sportive etiquette where you know, there's an expectation 691 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 2: that you stay quiet and and you know, composed, and 692 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,480 Speaker 2: you know, as as fans, you just you plod when 693 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:04,319 Speaker 2: there's good shots made and then you quiet down so 694 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 2: that the other team can throw their shot. And you know, 695 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 2: I think there was a time and place for that. 696 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 2: But I think in order for this sport to grow 697 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 2: to where we wanted to grow to and for it 698 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,279 Speaker 2: to build a fan base that you know wants to 699 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:19,040 Speaker 2: you know, wants to continue to watch curling, you know, 700 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:21,839 Speaker 2: gets energized by the sport, gets you know, pumped up 701 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 2: to watch it, to have it be exposed, especially on 702 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 2: you know, national TV. You know, we need more energy, 703 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:33,560 Speaker 2: we need more noise, we need some more chaos in 704 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:36,280 Speaker 2: a sport of curling. And to be honest, as athletes, 705 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:39,160 Speaker 2: I think you can ask pretty much any of the 706 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 2: elite athletes out there, you know, we want that too. Obviously, 707 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 2: it can be tough sometimes when you're sort of the 708 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 2: on the opposite end trying to deliver a stone when 709 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:50,560 Speaker 2: the crowd erupts. 710 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 4: But that's just part of the game. 711 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,400 Speaker 2: You watch a football game and you know a team's 712 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:59,319 Speaker 2: trying to make a three point field goal and they're in. 713 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:01,280 Speaker 4: And they're away game. 714 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 2: You know, you know that that crowd is going to 715 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:05,239 Speaker 2: go wild in the background to try to you know, 716 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:08,880 Speaker 2: you know, get that kicker to bend it sideways and 717 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 2: not quite get it through the through the uprights, and 718 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:13,719 Speaker 2: you know, just like curling, it's it's I think it's 719 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:15,880 Speaker 2: a positive to have that extra noise, to have that 720 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,160 Speaker 2: chaos and that energy on the ice. You know, at 721 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:21,640 Speaker 2: the Olympics, I think there was a younger audience in general, 722 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:24,319 Speaker 2: like I think that there was an audience that also 723 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,720 Speaker 2: understood the impact that they can have on the sport 724 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:28,759 Speaker 2: and on their team and on their athletes that were 725 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:30,880 Speaker 2: out there. So, you know, I think taking that all 726 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:33,480 Speaker 2: into account, and I think that kind of set the 727 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:36,239 Speaker 2: Olympics up to be something really really special for the 728 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 2: sport of curling. And you know that I definitely enjoyed 729 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 2: that and I loved getting the crowd, you know, pumped 730 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:47,319 Speaker 2: up and wild at times when I could you know, 731 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 2: whether it's the sort of the hand behind the ear 732 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 2: to try to tell them, hey, let's make some noise here, 733 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:57,000 Speaker 2: or give them some fist pumps or whatever it might 734 00:36:57,120 --> 00:37:00,719 Speaker 2: may be. I enjoyed the crap out of That was 735 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:03,800 Speaker 2: the most fun week of curling I have ever experienced 736 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:04,439 Speaker 2: my entire life. 737 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:06,000 Speaker 4: And I just can't believe it was at the Olympics. 738 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:09,200 Speaker 5: That was Olympic silver medallist Corey Dropkin and founder of 739 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 5: the Rock League Nick Soulski. That's it for today. Thanks 740 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:14,800 Speaker 5: for joining us. Tune in again next week for the 741 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 5: latest on the stories moving big money in the world 742 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:19,799 Speaker 5: of sports, and don't forget to catch our podcast on 743 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 5: all your podcast platforms, and go to Bloomberg dot com 744 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 5: to subscribe to the Bloomberg Business of Sports newsletter to 745 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,919 Speaker 5: stay up to date on all our juicy insights. You're 746 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:31,760 Speaker 5: listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio 747 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 5: around the world. Stay with us. Today's top stories and 748 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:38,279 Speaker 5: global business headlines are coming up right now.