1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports where in the situation 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, pandemic here 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: has really accelerated the investments that we've been advocating for 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: for years. Almost everyone out there is hoping that there's 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: some kind of return to normal by August September. In 6 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: depth conversations with the leaders in the sports industry, who 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: wants to be the sacrificial lambs that shows up at 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: the first big major sporting events were part of something 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: much bigger than the sport right now and the health 10 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: and pasty of our stakeholders are both more important every moment. 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: I think we're all from business respective thinking about the 12 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: impact that the virus is having across the country. Bloomberg 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Jason Kelly 14 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: and I'm Mikely. Over the next hour, we're going to 15 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: explore the big money issues in the world of sports, 16 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: as we do every week, and talk to some of 17 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: the biggest players in the industry. Later on in the show, 18 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: we're going to talk with Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Coonan. 19 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: He's going to tell us about this bold initiative that 20 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: the Hawks have taken around voter access. He's also going 21 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: to talk about the return to play for the NBA 22 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: and so much more so. Mike, this week, you know, 23 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: another big week in sports. I feel like stopping and 24 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: starting all over again. Every week it's the same story. Uh. 25 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: And yet deals tend to get done or still are 26 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: getting done. I should say, Um, the p g A. 27 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: This was an interesting move, basically Fox saying to NBC 28 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: you can have it. Unprecedented in my lifetime, I can't 29 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: ever remember a network opting out of a deal with 30 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: appending championship coming up. Fox signed a twelve year deal 31 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: for a billion dollars I believe, six years ago, and 32 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,119 Speaker 1: here they are now handing it over to NBC. And uh, 33 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: Fox is still going to be on the hook for 34 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: a little bit, a little bit of amount of money. 35 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: But you know, apparently their false schedule with college and 36 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: professional football is too vital to them. Uh to jeopardize 37 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: and turn view is a way to watch the US 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: Open and NBC welcomely just opened their arms and took 39 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: it back. Yeah. I'm fascinated by this because, as you say, 40 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,399 Speaker 1: you do not see I mean, as hard as these 41 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: networks fight for rights and as much as they've paid up. 42 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: I mean huge, you know, hundreds of millions, billions of 43 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: dollars at stake here. I mean it just shows you, 44 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: to some extent, like how upside down the world is. 45 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,839 Speaker 1: And your hats off to Joe Buck who actually said, 46 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: you know, Jim Nance, Dan Hicks, and Mike Tarrico all 47 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: call golf better than I do. But I'm very proud 48 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: of our production crew and moving on. You never hear 49 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 1: an icon in the broadcasting business say that somebody is 50 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: does a job much better than I do. You never 51 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: hear that, And I thought that was kind of frank 52 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,239 Speaker 1: and candidate. And I remember last year during the US Open, 53 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: it was at Pebble Beach where Jim Nance lives. Buck 54 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: invited Nance to walk out of his house down the 55 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 1: fairway and join him in the broadcast booth, and he did, 56 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: and I thought that was kind of a pretty good gesture. 57 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: So tip of the hat to Joe Buck. So you 58 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: watch more golf than I do? I mean, do agree 59 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: as a viewer and as someone who knows more than 60 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: enough to be dangerous about broadcast. I mean, is is 61 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: NBC better at this? They're much better at than Foxes. 62 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: When Fox first did at their color guy was Greg Norman. 63 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: He was horrible. They replaced him with Paul Aisinger. Brad 64 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: Faxson is a rock solid broadcaster for them. But in 65 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: terms of an overall team and people out on the course, 66 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: and you know, remember NBC is partners with the Golf 67 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: Network with NBC Sports Network, and we've got the new 68 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: Peacock Network. So the platform for I mean, you're gonna 69 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: see wall to wall, round the clock coverage from the 70 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: first first person teeing off at seven o'clock in the 71 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: morning right till they shut the lights out on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 72 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: Sunday and practice rounds as well. So for the golfer 73 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: and the golf fan, this is a win win situation. 74 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: And do you feel like it behooves NBC to continue 75 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: investing here now that they've sort of gotten this, uh, 76 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,839 Speaker 1: this gift of sorts, do you expect them to do more? 77 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: I well, they've right now under their U S. G 78 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: A umbrella. They have a bunch of championships now they 79 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: have the amateur Championships, they have the Women's Championship, the 80 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: Senior Open, uh, and it's a pretty good satchel of 81 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: of golf of a golf product for them, and a 82 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: couple that with what they have on Sunday Night football 83 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: and their position pretty well with some great content. Yeah, 84 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: it's interesting too to think about, and we talked about 85 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: this when we were uh breaking down the match part two. 86 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: I also wonder if they're gonna take a page from 87 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: what we've been seeing so far with the return of 88 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: golf and maybe do some innovative things around, you know, 89 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: miking up more players, some different camera shots. I mean, 90 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: they it feels like there's some experimentation going on in 91 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 1: terms of how you broadcast all the sports but golf included, Yes, 92 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: and they have these different platforms to do it. So 93 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: if they can try on a Thursday morning, let's say 94 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: they have it on the NBC Sports Network or the 95 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: Golf Channel and it's just not working, they can dump 96 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: it or they can tweak it by the time they 97 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: get to their prime time over the air programming on 98 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: on NBC. Yeah, it's interesting too. I mean, this interesting 99 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: moment for for golf, and we talked about this with 100 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: the commissioner, that they're going to get some eyeballs that 101 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: maybe they wouldn't have gotten, especially over the next couple 102 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: of weeks. You know, we've got this little period now 103 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: until the end of July where there's not a lot 104 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: of sports on, so more and more people tuning into golf. 105 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,559 Speaker 1: They are, and they're getting a little bit of drama. 106 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: The last two matches went to a playoff situation, so 107 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: they took actually last Sunday there was a rain delay 108 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: and Dustin Johnson one by one shot. But the week 109 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: before there was a playoff, and so there there's some 110 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: personalities emerging. Some people who are dipping their toe in 111 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 1: the in the golf water, as a golf fan might 112 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: be hooked. Who knows they're they're doing. They're doing a 113 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: good job of it, and they knew they had to 114 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: do a good job of it because they were first 115 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: up with the most eyeballs. All right, So let's switch 116 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: topics if we can to a just a bummer, I 117 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: think to use a technical term for both you and meet. 118 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: No Minor league baseball not gonna happen this year. So 119 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: of those one sixty teams, it's an estimated that half 120 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: of those teams will not be around next year. And 121 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: they are the lifeblood of so many of these small 122 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: towns across America who rely solely on billboard, on the 123 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: outfield fences, advertising and the paid gate rather than that 124 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: there's no TV contracts, no big radio contracts to fuel 125 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: these teams. And some people are even suggesting that they 126 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: should go to to Congress and ask for a bailout. 127 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: Everyone else is getting a bailout. Should minor league baseball 128 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: get a bill out? They an essential business? Are they 129 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: an integral part of the United States economy? Yeah, America 130 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: has past time. I mean it's there is an argument 131 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,239 Speaker 1: to be made, for sure, especially when you talk about, 132 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: as you just did very well, the economic implications on 133 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: these small towns. You know, growing up in the South, 134 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: you know it was you go into these smaller towns 135 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: in Georgia and Alabama, uh and elsewhere. And certainly you 136 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: think about the Cape League, as Mike Barnacle writing about it, 137 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: you know, your colleague up there in the Boston area. 138 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: I mean this it is part of the fabric of summer. 139 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: In many cases, I just find it so sad. It 140 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: is the Boston Red Sox triple A team for a 141 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: long time has been the Pawtucket Red Sox that just 142 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: over the border in Rhode Island. They now are done 143 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: for the first time in a hundred thirty seven years, 144 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: a hundred thirty seven years, And sadly, the Red Sox 145 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: are moving their Triple A affiliate to Worcester, Massachusetts. So 146 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: the Pass Sox didn't even have a chance to say 147 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: goodbye and have a grand finale in the final game 148 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: at their stadium and thank all the loyal fans that 149 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: have been coming. And they're just one of the many, 150 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: many casualties of this decision. And it's really really sad. 151 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: I mean, if you love, as you said, you go 152 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: to a minor and I went to a minor league 153 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: baseball game when I was working for TV up here, 154 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: and they had a promotion. H had pregnant woman sitting 155 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: in one section and the first woman that went into 156 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: labor during the game would get a year supply of diapers. 157 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: And so we're going around with the cameras and I'm 158 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: in I'm interviewing this woman. I said, you're feeling anything? 159 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: I said, I think I feel a little kick right now. 160 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: Of course, all the husbands are going, honey, honey, come on, 161 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: what can I do? And and nobody went into labor 162 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: that night. That must have been twenty five pregnant women 163 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: up there. But those types of things. And I know 164 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: we've all agreed that the most ingenious and clever marketing 165 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: people are those that work for minor league baseball. Yes, absolutely, absolutely, Well, 166 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: everybody go out and watch or stay in. I should say, watch, download, rent, 167 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: whatever you need to do bull during this weekend and say, 168 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: have a moment pour one out for minor league baseball. 169 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: Uh man uh. The economics of this virus and the 170 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: implications really continue to rereak havoc on sports, that's for sure. 171 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: You bet it's a it's really really sad. It's part 172 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: of American or it's part of it. And every single 173 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: major league baseball player played on a minor league team 174 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: at one time or another. Yeah, in their careers coming up, 175 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: every single one of them. Nobody goes from the high 176 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: school right to major league baseball. Up next, we are 177 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: speaking with Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Coonan. I have known 178 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: this guy for a long time. What a treat to 179 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: catch up with you, Steve, at a time when everybody 180 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: wants to know what's going on with the NBA, what's 181 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: going on in Atlanta and most pointedly some news happening 182 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,679 Speaker 1: this week with what you guys, the Hawks are doing 183 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: when it comes to voting. UH, there in Atlanta, tell 184 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: us what's going on. We have offered our arena, State 185 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: Farm Arena, which is about seven hundred thousand square feet, 186 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 1: to the Fulton County Commission to host voting for both 187 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: the August runoff in the general election, and we will 188 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: be the home of early voting for Fulton County, which 189 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: is a county that has almost a million registered voters. 190 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,079 Speaker 1: UM and early voting in George. Uh, you're allowed to 191 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: vote in any super precinct. So we will take our 192 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: full time staff and turn them into full time poll workers. 193 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: One of the difficulties Georgia has had is that they 194 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: aren't volunteer training but maybe an hour before the polls opened. 195 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: And we're gonna train our people who are professionals the 196 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: sports business to be professionals in the voting business. They'll 197 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: train for a week. We will open our doors, we 198 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: will socially distant, we will allow for handicap, we will 199 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: allow um for any kind of needs. And the biggest 200 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: need is for an efficient, timely way to vote. And 201 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: hopefully that's what we're going to deliver to the city 202 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 1: of Atlanta. In Fulm County, Steve, take me through the 203 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: process here, because I'm a Boston guy, and if this 204 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: idea of surfaced here in Boston, it would take a 205 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: decade to get it through all the appropriate people that 206 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 1: need to put the stamp on it, who you have 207 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: to deal with, who gave the green light, and with 208 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: their rollblocks or any impediments. Actually it moved pretty quickly. 209 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: I kind of had the idea when I was watching 210 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: the protests the first couple of nights, because they were 211 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: literally at the street intersection of where our arena sits, 212 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: and that was the epicenter of the protests in downtown Atlanta, 213 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: and protests have to lead to change, and change is 214 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: very difficult, and in my mind, the one thing that 215 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: I thought we could help influence immediately was voting. And 216 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: so because of the unique structure of the NBA season 217 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: this year that we're not starting our season in mid 218 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:45,119 Speaker 1: October has traditionally done. But in some time in December, 219 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: our building was open and available. So I had a 220 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: conversation with our coach, who is coach Lloyd Pierce, who 221 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: has been leading the Coaches Association on social justice and 222 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: has been very very active, to bounce it off at 223 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: him he liked the idea. Our owner, Tony Wrestler, liked 224 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: the idea. So I placed a call to Fulton County 225 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: Chairman Rob Pitts, who I had known through my career, 226 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: and he called me back the next day and said, 227 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: can we tour the arena? And they walked in the 228 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: arena and within an hour we had a deal and 229 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: we did a press conference forty eight hours later. You 230 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: had to have been surprised, Steve, did it moved that fast. 231 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you've been doing this for a long time, 232 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 1: you know, it's interesting. I really applaud the Fulton County folks. 233 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: They were very humble. They said they're going to move 234 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: from worst to first. They understood the dilemma they were in. 235 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: In fact, their head of voter registration said, we didn't 236 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: know how we would solve this problem. So when somebody 237 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: thinks you're a good guy, going in and candidly, we 238 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: offered him everything. We're gonna pay our employees, we're going 239 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,559 Speaker 1: to make the parking free. We've got Marto, which is 240 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,839 Speaker 1: rapid transit in Atlanta, to reopen at station, which is 241 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: from our door. We gave him a turnkey solution because 242 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: this was something we felt passionately about And yes, I 243 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: was stunned that it moved so quickly. And I just think, 244 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: you know, good timing met a good opportunity with a 245 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,599 Speaker 1: good solution. For us, it gives us a real opportunity 246 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: to do something to help effect change. And for Fulton County, 247 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: it gives them a building that has everything you need 248 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,559 Speaker 1: that you're not going to find in a classroom or 249 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: a library, you know, great connectivity and WiFi, highly educated, trained, 250 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:41,719 Speaker 1: young staff, spacing for social distancing. We gave them our 251 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 1: practice court for a month with a secure with twenty 252 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: four hour security. Is where they're going to count all 253 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: the mail in an absentee ballots. So we're literally turning 254 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: our building from State Farm arena to like a good 255 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: neighbor state farm. Is there? State Farm Elections Intro? How 256 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: did I do on that flock? Pretty good? Pretty good? 257 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: They're gonna be happy, you know, sometimes going and voting 258 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 1: to us. As you said, a school or a library 259 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,319 Speaker 1: or fire station, you could stand in line for a 260 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: long long time. If if it's in clement weather, it 261 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: discourages people. But you know, I've been to that facility. 262 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: I'm a buston guy, but I spent a week down 263 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: there at the super Bowl. It's a great facility, public transportation. 264 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: This might become such a pleasurable experience that you might 265 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: be asked to do it every time there's a major election, 266 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: at least every four years. Are you ready for that? Well, 267 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: I would love that if it became a national NBA 268 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: holiday in every arena in the league. Did it? Yeah? 269 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: I mean, have you heard from other I mean, I 270 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: know that this is brand new, but I have to 271 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: think this is an idea that could catch on across 272 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: the league's I talked to six teams. We have a 273 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: network of NBA presidents. We work together. Even though we 274 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: compete on the court, we're business partners off and there's 275 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: only thirty of these jobs in the world. So we 276 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: talked quite a bit. So I had multiple cities UM 277 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: call me and multiple cities are doing voter registration and 278 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: they've already got their programs into place, so they're going 279 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: to look. You know, if you own your building, your 280 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: building is going to be dark from most likely concerts 281 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: and um the start of hockey and basketball are being delayed. 282 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: It's a great opportunity, and I think one of the 283 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: keys is through our owner Tony Wrestler and his generosity. 284 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: We've been paying all our employees and so bye bye 285 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: treating people well. Now we need something back from our 286 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: staff and they couldn't be more excited to participate. So 287 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: they're going from full time sports employees, hawks employees to 288 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: full time poll workers, which really hasn't happened. So Steve, 289 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: you know, we were talking about the NBA and you 290 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: put it very well that they're only thirty of these jobs, 291 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: and you guys talk all the time. It does strike 292 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: me that the NBA has been more progressive than most 293 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: leagues in terms of activism, in terms of reacting and 294 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: maybe being proactive around a lot of social issues. Aid 295 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: you agree and be why is that? I absolutely agree. 296 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: I think if you look at I think it has 297 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: to start on two levels. I think the first it's 298 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: ownership structure. You know, Adam Silver, who is progressive and 299 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: innovative and a phenomenal leader, works for owners And if 300 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: you look at the ownership in our league, it's not 301 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: generational ownership like you see in the NFL. I mean, 302 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: you have wonderful families who have owned a football team 303 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: since the start. Here you've got this next generation of 304 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: private equity and investors and Steve Balmer and people who 305 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: are you know, well versed in the needs of community 306 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: when you buy a sports team. Mark Cuban wrote this, 307 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: and in fact, you wrote a letter to Bomber that 308 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 1: was great. It said, you don't own the team, You're 309 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: just the steward of the team, and the team is 310 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: owned by your community. Tony calls our team a community asset. 311 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: And I think sports are the great unifier. One of 312 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: the reasons that I left the TV industry and went 313 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: and ran my team in my town was because I 314 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: thought we could do more to unite and excite the 315 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: city of Atlanta than any policy or politician. And I 316 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: think sports has the ability, and we're kind of seeing 317 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 1: it with our announcement to solve problems and create opportunity 318 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: in a very unique way. But I think our young 319 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 1: ownership structure with people who are invested in their communities 320 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: and also understanding our players are our product, and our 321 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: players want to have a voice in Our players are 322 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: our partners. We share our revenue virtually fifty fifty. I 323 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: think it's fifty point one, but surrounding sake, let's go 324 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: with and they want to do more than basketball, and 325 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 1: we want to be more than a basketball team. So 326 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: I think the aspirations line up perfectly. In Orlando, Steve, 327 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: there's going to be on the floor painted on all 328 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: the courts that are playing Black Lives Matter? Um will 329 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: that carryovers went to if we come to the next 330 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: season in the NBA, and could we see visible signage 331 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: of standing up for social justice in the thirty arenas 332 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: around the NBA. I can't comment on whether it carries over, 333 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: but I think the idea of strong pro social statements 334 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: and positionings and reinforcement of ideals absolutely makes sense. You know. 335 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: Like I said, I haven't even discussed that with anybody. 336 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: I saw that. I thought it was fantastic and I 337 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 1: think it's a huge statement then, and I'm very, very 338 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: very proud to be part of the NBA when they 339 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: make statements like that. You know, Steve, I do want 340 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: to ask you, you know, there is something and I 341 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: grew up in Atlanta, as you know that you and I, 342 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: as I mentioned the top, known each other for for 343 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 1: a long time. I mean, it feels like it's not 344 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: an accident that Atlanta, uh in in good ways and 345 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 1: bad is right at the center of all of these conversations, 346 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: and I do wonder in your mind, having been a 347 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: business leader there for a long time, how notable it 348 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: is that Atlanta is the first to to make this 349 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: step that you're talking about today. Well, yeah, you have 350 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: to understand. Atlanta really and truly is the cradle of 351 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: the civil rights movement. And one of the interesting things 352 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: about our business. One of the one of the ideas 353 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,159 Speaker 1: that we brought when we took over the Hawks and 354 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:52,360 Speaker 1: turned it around was to market and reflect our city. Um. 355 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: Our attendance is about forty African American The number two 356 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: team in the NBA is Washington around eight percent, so 357 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: we're six times larger than any other NBA city with 358 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 1: our attendants and our arena reflects that. We have several 359 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: African American entrepreneur restaurant tours that we've put into business 360 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: in our building, which has led to great exposure for them. 361 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: We are the only sports facility in America who celebrates 362 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: the barbershop, which is a huge part of African American culture, 363 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: with sports being the conversation killer. Mike, a local rapper 364 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: who has done in community activists, is in the barbershop business, 365 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: and we have the swag shop swag standing for shave washing, 366 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 1: groom perched over the court and you can get a 367 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: haircut and watch the game. Um four care barbershop in 368 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: the arena. And so it's an homage to the city 369 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: that we're in. So it's part of our d n 370 00:20:54,359 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: A is, you know, connecting with people and building physically 371 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: like the swag shop in our building, and building courts 372 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: and community services and you know, feeding seniors and doing 373 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 1: the things that a great organization that's part of a 374 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: great city comes natural. So, Steve, we were talking about 375 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 1: Atlanta and its history in terms of civil rights, both 376 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: the heritage but also in this in this current moment. 377 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: You know, I also have got to ask you about 378 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: the NBA at this moment, were we think a few 379 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: weeks away from going to Orlando, having this completely unique 380 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 1: situation of getting back to basketball in a bubble. What 381 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: do we need to know at this point? What do 382 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: you know about what it's going to look and feel 383 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: like for a fan. I think it's going to be 384 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: a basketball fans dream. You're gonna have at least four 385 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: games stacked to day. Um, we really will see how 386 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 1: many people work at home all but all the CEOs 387 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: who made pronouncement how well their companies have worked. We'll see, 388 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: We'll see there haven't been anything but bold and the 389 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 1: beautiful to watch during the day. This is sort of 390 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 1: like when the World Cup happens, right and all of 391 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: a sudden you see productivity plummet. I was part of 392 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: the team that brought Mark Madness to Turner and then 393 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: we ran on TBS, UM, True TV and T and 394 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: T and we would just go look at the viewership 395 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: during the daytime, both especially digitally on the computer, and 396 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: realized that productivity in the United States was headed down 397 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: and we were the cause. It was a good feeling. 398 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: So see tell us and tell all our listeners out there, 399 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: how your experience with Turner, with working with Coca Cola 400 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: has prepared you for this job as CEO of of 401 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: one of thirty teams in one of the greatest leagues 402 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: on the planet. Well, it's interesting. I've been very fortunate 403 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 1: in my career that at Coca Cola UM we caught 404 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: a wave of growth that was unbelievable. We we literally 405 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: opened up while I was there, China, Eastern Europe, and India, 406 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: which were three billion consumers UM. And what I really 407 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: learned to Coke was about creating brands and how to 408 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: manage and create brands. And ironically, I was at the 409 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 1: opening of Phillips Arena, which is now State Farm Arena, 410 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,640 Speaker 1: and talking to the president of Turner, who owned both 411 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: the building and the hockey and the hockey team, the Thrashers, 412 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: and the baseball team, the Braves and the Hawks, and 413 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: he was telling me that cable was getting ready to 414 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 1: explode to five channels, and they had a problem that 415 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: TBS and T and T the cable operators were calling 416 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: T one and T two, and they didn't value them 417 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 1: because they weren't distinctive. You know, History Channel, you know 418 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: what it stands for, Food Network, probably a pretty safe 419 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: that it's going to be around food. But TBS and 420 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:01,399 Speaker 1: T and T were named for the creator and I 421 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: don't mean the one in the sky, I mean Ted Turner, 422 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: and so they were a bit of alphabet soups. So 423 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: they offered me a job to come in and really, 424 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: which was an unusual and bold tick on their part 425 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,880 Speaker 1: because I wasn't a TV programmer. I was a brand guy. 426 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 1: But we took those networks and we turned TBS into 427 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: a comedy network and T and T into a drama network, 428 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: we know drama and very Funny, and they became two 429 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 1: of the top networks for a decade, either number one 430 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: or number two, jockey between them. But it also gave 431 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: advertisers an easy handle to think about buying them. If 432 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: you wanted to talk to you know, more mature women 433 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 1: who wanted television that makes them think and feel, you 434 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: would buy T and T we know drama. If you 435 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: wanted to talk to young audiences who used um television 436 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,640 Speaker 1: as their pros act to help them unwind if you will, 437 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,880 Speaker 1: it was TBS. And when you look at the success 438 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: of Netflix and Hulu and the spending on Friends Seinfeld, 439 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: everybody loves Raymond, Big Bang Theory. We had all of 440 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 1: those on TBS. The differences we had them with commercials 441 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: and so the same programming that we ran on TBS 442 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 1: is literally The Office is the most watch programming on streamers. Yeah, 443 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: and so what does that tell you? I mean, ultimately, 444 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: the NBA is amazing live content, but also so much 445 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 1: more in this takes me back to what we were 446 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 1: talking about earlier in the show, with you know, the 447 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: players being very out front, very socially active their own brands. 448 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: I do wonder how that appreciation for brands has translated 449 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: into dealing with players who are increasingly brands in and 450 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:54,360 Speaker 1: of themselves. Steve, It's it's very important. You know, as 451 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: we were doing programs around COVID to help the food 452 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,959 Speaker 1: and security and on and feeding, talking to several players, 453 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: they wanted to do it through a lens that fit 454 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: their brand. They didn't want to just write a check. 455 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 1: They wanted it to be something that they could be 456 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: attached to that made sense for them. And I do 457 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: think that brand sophistication is everything today. You see that 458 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,679 Speaker 1: in your recent piece with Maverick Carter and Lebron. They 459 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: know exactly what his brand is and what fits in 460 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: what doesn't fit. Steve. That's always been a face or 461 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: a number of faces of the NBA, going back to 462 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: when they first exploded on television. Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, 463 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: of course, there was Michael Jordan's, there was Kobe Bryant. 464 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,360 Speaker 1: Is the face of the NBA right now, Lebron James. 465 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: Are there multiple faces of the NBA for brands? Well, 466 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 1: I mean Lebron is front and center and he's on 467 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 1: Mount Rushmore right now. But it's interesting everybody you named 468 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: was part of pop culture. You know, you saw Jordan's 469 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 1: a key commercials. When you watched Friends on NBC, you 470 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: saw Kobe puppet spots. Kobe actually was a spokesperson for 471 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: US for sprite UM. I find him at eighteen years old. 472 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,880 Speaker 1: It was the second commercial contract. You find thirty five 473 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 1: dollars if we only use them in l A and 474 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 1: fifty if we use them in the US. Those rates 475 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:27,359 Speaker 1: didn't stay very long, Um, but we used these guys, 476 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 1: and these guys used us to help build their pop 477 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:34,879 Speaker 1: culture credibility. And I think what you see today is 478 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: you see athletes with music artists. You see them producing content. 479 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 1: I would say there's at least a dozen guys in 480 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 1: the league who have production companies in the NBA, and 481 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: Tom Brady just opened one, you know, as an NFL player. 482 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: And so they're planning their lives past the playing field 483 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 1: and what NBA players have as incredible access and platform 484 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 1: and they're incredibly sophisticated and savvy and how they use them. 485 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: But Lebron is the biggest start. But the formula, if 486 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 1: there was such a thing, is great social media. It's 487 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 1: having a national shoe contract and it's also being available 488 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 1: to kind of be part of things that people care about, 489 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 1: and like what's happening today with voting, in with Black 490 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: Lives Matter, you're seeing players front and center, and I 491 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: think it's fantastic. Well and to that point, Steve, I 492 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: mean sort of to tie it all up, and I 493 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: think about player activism, I think about what Lebron is 494 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: doing with more than a vote, which is very much 495 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: in line with exactly what you're doing. I think, I 496 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: dare say with the precinct, the voting precinct deal, I mean, 497 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:58,120 Speaker 1: this has the potential to alter in a positive way 498 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: the way democracy is executed. I actually don't think I'm 499 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: overstating it to say that when you talk about voter 500 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: access and voter suppression being something that we're really talking 501 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: a lot about, that feels like a new moment for sports. Wow. 502 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 1: I agree, And we have the facilities to do this. 503 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: You know, Trey Young's part of Lebron's movement. Lloyd Tierce, 504 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: who is our head coach, is an assistant coach on 505 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 1: the Olympic team. He spoke to thirty coaches last night 506 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: and as they've built a coaches association focusing on these issues, 507 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: and I'm hoping out of that some of the aspirations 508 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 1: that we're talking about come true. You know, Steve, way 509 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: back when Charles Barkley said, I'm not a role model. 510 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: I don't want to be a role model. I shouldn't 511 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 1: be expected to be a role model. What has changed 512 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 1: with today's NBA athlete who want to be role models 513 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,959 Speaker 1: and want to be front and center under the exact 514 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: opposite of what Charles Barkley said about himself. I was 515 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: very fortunate to work with Charles a turner um for 516 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 1: a long time and Nike made a T shirt that 517 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: they sent out ten of them and the picture of 518 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: Charles screaming and it says I Am not a role model, 519 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 1: and underneath them as a retirement picture of the late 520 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: Commissioner David Stern, it says I am a role model. 521 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: Charles is a role model. That was an ad campaign. 522 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: But his point was I don't raise your children. You do. 523 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: I'm not the biggest influence in their lives. If I am, 524 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: you've done something wrong. And I think these players can 525 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: reinforce the values that they care about. I think they're 526 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: all role models, but they shouldn't be the parent. They 527 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 1: shouldn't be the person who helps shapes and mold these people. 528 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 1: They should be part of the team that helps shapes 529 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: and molds and shows potential and everybody. But role models 530 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: should be from business, from media, from all walks of life, 531 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 1: so we create more opportunities for more people. So, Steve, 532 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: I do want to wrap up by asking you a 533 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 1: question that sort of spans your career in many ways. 534 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 1: We've talked a little bit about it, you know, from 535 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 1: Coke to Turner to to the NBA now and I 536 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: think notably so many of those jobs being in Atlanta, 537 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 1: and we've talked about the the heritage of Atlanta and 538 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: and obviously something that I care deeply about. I do wonder, 539 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 1: And you were nice enough to mention the story that 540 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: I wrote about Lebron and Maverick and what they're doing. 541 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: But one of the things that Maverick said in the 542 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: course of that they're really stuck with me was it's 543 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 1: important that we do things to ensure that this isn't 544 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: just a moment in time. And I do wonder as 545 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 1: you talk to other CEOs, as you think about your 546 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: network of executives and friends in Atlanta and and well beyond, 547 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: are you seeing something that feels different right now in 548 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: terms of the action and activity that we're seeing around 549 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 1: equality and around social justice, I see a lot of 550 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 1: movement and activity. I see brands like an Jemima and 551 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 1: Uncle Ben's actually changing, and I think that's extraordinarily positive. 552 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: But I also have been a long time at big companies, 553 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 1: and big companies aren't nimble, nor are they risk takers. 554 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: So I worry that at this moment, people will write 555 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:29,479 Speaker 1: a check, people will make a contribution, people will create, 556 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 1: you know, some material, but you've got to embed it 557 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: in the DNA. It's got to be part of everyday life. 558 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 1: And you look at the number of you know, African 559 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: American and female CEOs, and it's dreadful board members and 560 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:49,920 Speaker 1: it's horrible. And you have to say change organizationally and 561 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: unemployment starts at the top. And if we're not going 562 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 1: to make those changes, then then it is a moment. 563 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 1: It's not a movement, and I hope it turns into 564 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:04,240 Speaker 1: a movement. I'm making the real systemic changes and creating 565 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 1: the opportunities that everyone is equal, and I'm not bought 566 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: into the fact that America can change. I think America 567 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 1: is the most awake it has been in a long time, 568 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 1: and I think being home with the pandemic has been 569 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: a blessing for people to be forced to pay attention. 570 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 1: But I'm hopeful, but I'm concerned that it's not going 571 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,360 Speaker 1: to be, you know, a long term behavior unless it's 572 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: reinforced every day. Right. Well, Steve Coonan, what a treat 573 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: to catch up with you, and congratulations on this deal. 574 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: I don't think I overstate it when I say that 575 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: this could be, you know, truly a game changer. And 576 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: you know, as in Atlanta, I'm proud of what you're doing. 577 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:52,200 Speaker 1: And uh, I really excited to see what happens and 578 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,200 Speaker 1: the real change that could come from this. So thank 579 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 1: you so much for spending some time with us. My pleasure, 580 00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: our our hashtag, our tagline is true to it, Anna, 581 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 1: and um, I'm really proud that we were able to 582 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 1: deliver for the city. So thank you, Jason, thank you Michael. 583 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 1: It's wonderful to be one with you guys. So Mike 584 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 1: really interesting guy. I mean I've known him and known 585 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: of him for a long while. He's got one of 586 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 1: these careers that you almost can't make up that if 587 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 1: you were in college and you said, so, I want 588 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:22,160 Speaker 1: to work for one of the best known companies in 589 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: the world. Then I want to go run a broadcast company, 590 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:27,279 Speaker 1: and then if I'm not quite done, I'm going to 591 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,840 Speaker 1: run a basketball team. I mean, wow, I'm glad this 592 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,359 Speaker 1: is audio only in that video because I was sitting 593 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 1: here with my mouth open listening to him, and then 594 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 1: when he finished his answer, I said, oh, I'm stops 595 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,120 Speaker 1: to ask him a question, because that's that's how enchanted 596 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 1: I was with him talking about every subject that we 597 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: brought up with him. There wasn't one dead moment in 598 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:51,360 Speaker 1: that interview. Everything he said fascinated me and grasp my attention. 599 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:53,680 Speaker 1: And I'm sure your takeaways probably the same as mine. 600 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 1: This idea of turning State Farm Arena into a polling 601 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: place for the runoff primary in August and then the 602 00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 1: general the election on November three, is absolutely a spectacular idea. 603 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: It's safe, it has great transportation, it's big, it's open. Uh. 604 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:10,880 Speaker 1: If there's bad weather, you can stand in line inside 605 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 1: the building. And I think it's you as you said, 606 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be a model, and going forward, 607 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 1: I see arenas around the country blocking out at least 608 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,680 Speaker 1: every four years when the presidential election comes, blocking out 609 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 1: that day and making it in a polling place. Yeah, 610 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:26,600 Speaker 1: I mean, and it also really speaks to I had 611 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 1: the exact same take away. I think this is a 612 00:35:28,239 --> 00:35:32,840 Speaker 1: huge deal, and I also think it's not an accident. 613 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,560 Speaker 1: As we talked about that this is the NBA. You 614 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 1: know that it took an NBA team to do this 615 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: because I think by virtue of the players and by 616 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: virtue of the relationship that the players have with the league. 617 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 1: And and he made a really good point about the 618 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 1: ownership ownership matters, and I think we're learning that. I 619 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:55,239 Speaker 1: think we've learned it in the NBA, and we've learned it, 620 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:57,879 Speaker 1: you know, maybe in a in a contrarian way when 621 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:00,880 Speaker 1: you look at MLB and and in the NFL to 622 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 1: some extent. But uh, this is why the NBA is 623 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 1: so popular in many cases, because they're very well run 624 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:12,279 Speaker 1: and kididly. You have people like Steve Coonan running the teams. Yes, 625 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:14,319 Speaker 1: and as he said, this is where the civil rights 626 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:16,680 Speaker 1: movement began with Martin Luther King back in the nineteen 627 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:20,320 Speaker 1: sixties in the city of Atlanta. Yeah. So proud of 628 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:22,360 Speaker 1: my hometown for this one. All right, you've been listening 629 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,960 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg, Yeah, I know, I mean, we can't. We 630 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: don't win championships. As as Coonan pointed out before we 631 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: got rolling, you have me on championships by far and 632 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 1: always well, but I'll I'll take this one as a 633 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: different sort of win. You've been listening to Bloomberg Businesses Sports. 634 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:39,960 Speaker 1: We're here each and every week at the same time, 635 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,880 Speaker 1: plus online wherever you get your podcast, you can hear 636 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:46,120 Speaker 1: extended versions of this and all of our interviews. Plus 637 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 1: catch those Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays that's when they drop. 638 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,400 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly on Twitter at Jason Kelly News and 639 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:55,239 Speaker 1: I'm Mike Lynch. You can find me on Twitter at 640 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:58,800 Speaker 1: Lynch w CBB. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 641 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:00,719 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio around the world.