1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio News. 2 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 2: This is the business of soccer. 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: The APPA diversare in this country, is here just stay. 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 3: The Global World Cup of twenty six will bring just 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 3: that the globe to the United States. Every four year, 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 3: you know, there's this moment where the world wakes up 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 3: to the incredible. 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: Athletes that we have on the US women's national team. 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: There are more soccer games available to watch on television 10 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: in the US than any other country in the world. Soccer, 11 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: or as I would call it living in the UK, 12 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: football is the biggest sport in the world. There's a 13 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: gap in the market around women's soccer, and we're here 14 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: to fill that gap. 15 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Business of Soccer from Bloomberg Radio. 16 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 3: Welcome to a special edition of the Bloomberg Business of Sports, 17 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 3: the Business of Soccer, as we count down to the 18 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 3: FIFA World Cup just over two months away. Today, I'm 19 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 3: joined by the President and CEO of the Los Angeles 20 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: Host Committee, Catherine Schulzman. We're going to discuss what LA 21 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 3: has to offer as one of the major hosts of 22 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 3: the tournament, the fact that they're the home of the 23 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: US men's national team, including hosting their first match of 24 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 3: the tournament on June twelfth, as well as discussing security 25 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 3: concerns with potentially hosting Iran. Catherine, thanks so much for 26 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 3: joining the Bloomberg Business of Soccer. I'm really excited to 27 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: talk to you. The World Cup is coming. It is 28 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: right around the corner. 29 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: Now. 30 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 2: I'm curious, obviously for you. 31 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,919 Speaker 3: You're planning these things for years really, but when things 32 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 3: finally come around the way they're around the corner the 33 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 3: way they are now, do you feel like you wish 34 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 3: you had more time? 35 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 2: Almost? 36 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, it's interesting. We started this in twenty 37 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: seventeen and it seems so far off, and even a 38 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: couple of years ago, you know, it seemed far off, 39 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: and now to be you know, seventy I forget what 40 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: it is, seventy three, seventy four days out. Yes, I 41 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: mean I feel like the clock is ticking right over 42 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: our head. And yes, I wish we had more time 43 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: because there's so much we want to do, but it's 44 00:01:57,840 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: coming and there's nothing I could do to change that. 45 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 3: And one are those last few things you know you're 46 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 3: hoping to get accomplished before first kick off? 47 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: Well, it's not a few things. There's a lot so 48 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: a lot of our there's a lot on a lot 49 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: of different levels. So number one on all of our 50 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: community programs, we still have several community events happening to Again, 51 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: the whole purpose of bringing World Cup here is to 52 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: number one, showcase our community to the world. But number two, 53 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: it's given opportunity for the locals to engage and so 54 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: we have a community day coming up our second community 55 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: day Road to World Cup Community Day presented by Amgein 56 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: on May ninth, where we're bringing community members together with 57 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 1: local artists at a local school to help paint murals 58 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: that will help welcome the fans that are coming to 59 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: Sofi Stadium. So that's one and we wish we had 60 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: a little bit more time to do some more, but 61 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: we have a community day coming. We have another growth, 62 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: the Game Clinic, because again it's about what is the 63 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: spotlight that is being put on soccer and giving people 64 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: a chance to participate. So we have a youth clinic, 65 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: a coaches clinic, and an officials clinic coming up. On 66 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: a second we have a bus tour, a mobile bus 67 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: tour Kick It with Us that is traveling around the 68 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: region and making different stops at all the events that 69 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: are happening, and it kind of rolls up and then 70 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: it rolls out with a clinic and all kinds of 71 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: different soccer experiences for the people to participate in. So 72 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,399 Speaker 1: really just I think our biggest concern is making sure 73 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: everybody in the community knows it's coming and knows what 74 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: the opportunities are where they can participate. 75 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 3: And how is LA as a soccer market would you describe? 76 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: I think LA is definitely a soccer market with three 77 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: professional soccer teams. But more importantly, LA is a big 78 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: event market. LA loves the big events, and we know 79 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: how to put on the big events, and we're used 80 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: to putting on the big events. So World Cup is 81 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: the single largest largest single sport event in the world, 82 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: and it is a big time event. The opening US 83 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: men's national team opening up for the US is a 84 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,839 Speaker 1: big time event, and LA knows how to do it right. 85 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: And so we are putting the finishing touches on everything 86 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: we're doing during the opening week of activities and then 87 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: the other activities going on for the rest of the 88 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:21,679 Speaker 1: thirty nine day tournament. 89 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 3: I want to talk a little bit about the teams 90 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 3: that are going to be in market and those finally 91 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 3: all came together just recently, right the last few teams 92 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 3: Turkey and Bosnia finally, you know, coming together for those 93 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 3: last few games. Tell me about how you're planning on 94 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 3: welcoming those specific teams into market and how you're planning 95 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 3: on engaging with their fans. 96 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 1: So we've already starting last fall, we have already had 97 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: conversations with their consulates that are here and talking to 98 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: them and making sure those consulates have all the information 99 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: about what's happening here so they can push it out 100 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: to their communities. They're the best, they're the best connected 101 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: to do that, and so we're doing that. We've got 102 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: some media promotion going in some of the different markets 103 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: we are partnered with, and one of our host city 104 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: supporters is Los Angeles Tourism and LA Tourism. That's all 105 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: they do is market in international markets to bring visitors 106 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: to Los Angeles. So we're working very closely with them 107 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: to help tell the story and everything I told you 108 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: about what all the attractions are here to tell people, 109 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: Please start your World Cup journey in LA. That's been 110 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: our tagline all along because of having the opening US 111 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: match is start your World Cup journey in La. And 112 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: then the second part of our message that we've been 113 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: trying to get out is everyone is welcome in Los Angeles. 114 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: It's very important for us to get that out there, 115 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,559 Speaker 1: and so in partnership with Los Angeles Tourism, we're able 116 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: to do that. We have a bigger microphone internationally. 117 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 3: How impactful is it, you know, knowing those final teams 118 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,239 Speaker 3: and knowing just exactly who's going to be in market, 119 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 3: like you said, so you can speak directly to. 120 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: Them, hugely helpful. Who is a big day for us yesterday? 121 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: And it's interesting. I was on Instagram last night and 122 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: watching the Bosnia community literally just go nuts. I don't 123 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: know if you saw any of the post of how 124 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: excited they are and how they raided their coaches press conference, 125 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: the players did. I mean, they were going crazy, and 126 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: it's just it's so nice to see that passion and 127 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: fandom and something positive like that. I mean, positive news 128 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: stories are great these days, and that to see people 129 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: that excited to be an official part of World Cup 130 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: and then playing here and so now knowing who we're 131 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: marketing to, what the fan base is, because remember that 132 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: we're not just marketing out out of market. We're marketing 133 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 1: in market because Los Angeles is host to all these communities. 134 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: I mean, we've always said that every team is playing 135 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: a home match in Los Angeles because of the community 136 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: that they already have living here. Yeah. 137 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 3: Absolutely, And that's the other thing too with LA obviously, 138 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 3: as it's so large and such a diverse market. It 139 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 3: even with the teams who aren't going to be there 140 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 3: at least right now that you know of for the 141 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 3: group stages, you have games, you know, throughout the tournament, 142 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 3: Like you said, you're going to be host to eight matches, 143 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: So how are you you know, doing that with all 144 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 3: the other teams that are going to be in the 145 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 3: tournament that aren't going to be in the tournament, but 146 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 3: fans that are going to be coming even if you're 147 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 3: not sure if their team is going to be playing 148 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 3: in LA yet. 149 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: Right, And that's a good point. So we have two 150 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: matches around the thirty two that we have you know, 151 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: technically four teams, so we don't know who's playing in those. 152 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: That's for other countries that could be here, Argentina and 153 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: that's you know, just anybody. And then of course we 154 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: have the quarterfinal, so we have a lot of opportunity 155 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: for a lot of countries to play here. So our 156 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: marketing pitch has always been to everybody, but with some 157 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: you know, more specific focuses to the consulates to make 158 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: sure they're getting the information because they're here sooner and so. 159 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: But we continue to pitch to everybody because there's people, 160 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: there's a lot the majority of the visitors that are 161 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: coming just want to be part of World Cup and 162 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: so a lot of people come, you know, while they're 163 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: from someplace and they have a country in mind, they 164 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: may just want to come to Los Angeles, camp out here, 165 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: go to some matches, be part of this world class event, 166 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: watch their country from a watch party here. But we've 167 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: always you know, we want everybody to come here and 168 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: spend there, you know, as much of their World Cup 169 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: journey here as they can. 170 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 3: Is there a large diaspora of like a certain country 171 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 3: that is participating that you might not have in a 172 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 3: game in market right now, but that you still are 173 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 3: engaging with because there's just so many there are so 174 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 3: many people from that country or you know, originally from 175 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 3: that country in LA. 176 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: That's a great question. I know, you know, we have 177 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 1: a huge Croatian population here. We have a huge mech 178 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: you know Hispanic population that's following Mexico huge, huge. I 179 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,319 Speaker 1: mean we have a Mexico game here, it just goes nuts, 180 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 1: so five, So there's a there's a lot of them, 181 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: But we're not we're not specifically targeting anyone. We're more 182 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: general of Hey, we just want people here enjoying the 183 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: matches and enjoying the watch parties that are happening in 184 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 1: the market and participating. We're just like I said, we're 185 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: ready to welcome the world here. But it's a great question. 186 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 3: You know, LA is basically the home for the US 187 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 3: men's national team. Like you said, they have their first 188 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 3: game there, they have another group stage match there, and 189 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 3: there will also be their team base camp is in 190 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 3: California as well. Tell me about having them in market 191 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 3: and how impactful that is for you guys. 192 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: I think it's it's very exciting to have them here again. 193 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: It just brings having, especially in this time in our lives, 194 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: to be opening with the US men's national team for 195 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: this major event. It just is a great moment of 196 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: pride and we're very excited. We've been building a lot 197 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: of a lot of our marketing plans around that opening 198 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: match and like you said, they are playing a second 199 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: match as well. But having the home opener of the 200 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: tournament of the World Cup that we've been working eight 201 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: years to bring here to be opening for the whole 202 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: United States is a major source of pride for Los 203 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: Angeles and that's what we're building a lot of our 204 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: marketing ground. 205 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 3: So, like we were saying before, La is a massive 206 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 3: soccer market. The nineteen ninety four World Cup was also 207 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 3: held in LA. The final was held there. Can you 208 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,959 Speaker 3: tell me what you're doing to kind of bridge you know, 209 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 3: the history of the nineteen ninety four World Cup to 210 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 3: this one sin since the first time we've held a 211 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 3: World Cup in the US since then. 212 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: Right, it's been a lot of our story. And interestingly, 213 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: the person who chaired that whole effort, Alan Rothenberg, is 214 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: on our board. He was part of the original bid, 215 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: So we have a lot of that history of being 216 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: it's been part of our story all along that we 217 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: are a soccer city US earlier, you know, are we 218 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: a soccer city? Yes, we have three teams here, but 219 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: we also hosted the nineteen ninety four men's we hosted 220 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,559 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety nine women's you know, so we have had 221 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,079 Speaker 1: that history of posting that here. I do think that, 222 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: you know, thirty two years later from that, which is crazy. 223 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:04,079 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, Yeah, twenty six, Yeah, thirty two. I make 224 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: sure I map is correct. Thirty two years later, it's 225 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: a totally different tournament. I mean, with you know, one 226 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 1: hundred and four matches, forty eight teams. It's just it's 227 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: a much bigger tournament on a much bigger platform. And 228 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: I also think that when it was here in nineteen 229 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: ninety four, which is interesting talking to people at that time, 230 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: that soccer, you know, MLS wasn't around, and soccer was 231 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: a little bit of an unknown. You know, obviously soccer 232 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 1: everybody knows soccer for their kids playing soccer, but what 233 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 1: we did not have MLS teams, And I think there 234 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: was a lot of question of how successful it would be. 235 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: And we all know that nineteen ninety four was incredibly 236 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: successful and the excitement in the market and people at 237 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: the Rose Bowl and a sold out event, et cetera, 238 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: so that it was very, very exciting. Then. I think 239 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: since that time, obviously there's a lot more interesting in soccer. 240 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,839 Speaker 1: MLS has grown. There's a lot of interest in people 241 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,719 Speaker 1: owning teams, and so from a business perspective, soccer has 242 00:11:55,720 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: grown so tremendously and so so we've included in the history, 243 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: but we think that this one obviously is going to surpass, 244 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: you know, everything that was done in nineteen ninety four. 245 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, and what do you do with the I'm curious 246 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 3: how you work with the teams in the market, the 247 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: MLS teams and the NWSL team that. 248 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 2: Is in market. 249 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 3: How often are you speaking with them in terms of 250 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 3: trying to engage with the community and grow the. 251 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 2: Game of soccer, especially in the LA market. 252 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: So we engage a lot. So our two co chairs, 253 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: one of them is the CEO of LAFC and the 254 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 1: other ones the former president of the LA Galaxy and 255 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: also a former US event's national team player. So he's 256 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: been really great, Chris Klin in the history and bringing 257 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: in the players and so that's been a big part 258 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: of it. But yes, to your point, it can't. This 259 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:50,839 Speaker 1: is a tourism play for most cities. It's twofold. It's 260 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: a tourism play in using soccer, using the World Cup, 261 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: this major event to bring people to your city to 262 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: spend money. But it's the second piece of it is 263 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: is how do we the spotlight and the excitement around 264 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: something that is so big to get people interested and 265 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: drawn into playing soccer. And so that's why our legacy 266 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: program is built around the growth the game of soccer 267 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: clinics because we're doing twenty six free clinics in market 268 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: that are World Cup branded to get people, you know, 269 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: use the excitement of World Cup to get people to 270 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: come on out and try it, or if they've already 271 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: tried soccer, to play it a little bit more. But 272 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: just again to get people involved in a sport that 273 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,839 Speaker 1: really does a lot of good in the community. 274 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 3: Is there a certain number that you're looking for in 275 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 3: terms of youth participation, you know, numbers growing in the 276 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 3: region or in California as a whole, or anything like 277 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 3: that that you're hoping comes from having the tournament there. 278 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: Don't have a specific number, just hope that we have 279 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: made a lot more people aware of the opportunity to participate. 280 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 3: Now, one of the other things that goes along with 281 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 3: community impact is the economic impact as well. Can you 282 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 3: tell us a little bit about that and how much 283 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 3: of an economic impact you're expecting. 284 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: Yes, and we did an economic impact report. I think 285 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 1: it was eight hundred and ninety two million dollars of 286 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: economic impact. And again what we we did on our 287 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: economic impact report was make sure we were super conservative. 288 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: And then when you add in the media value that 289 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: we have over we're estimating over a billion dollars of impact. 290 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 1: That's that's actually lower than most of the other city 291 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: economic impact reports. And again it was just us trying 292 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: to be conservative. But I always remind people that the 293 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: economic impact, it's definitely their, you know, the hotel business, 294 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: the people coming to your market and spending money. But 295 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: the really important part is the visibility for the future, 296 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: so that the spotlight that is on our city for 297 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: thirty we're thirty one days of the thirty nine day tournament, 298 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: so thirty one days during the tournament, but really more 299 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: importantly over the last several months and really now coming 300 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: at as hard as a ton of media attention about La, 301 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: about La as a host city that we did not 302 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: we would not have gotten unless the World Cup was here. 303 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: I mean La always gets media attention, don't get me wrong, 304 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: but there's just much more of it on La. What 305 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: like the questions you asked, what is there to do? 306 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: You know, where can we go? Are we going to 307 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: you know and using that up. That's the thing that 308 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: keeps me up at night. How are we using that 309 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: media attention to show, showcase and show the best story 310 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: about our city to the world. 311 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 3: When you're planning out a tournament like the World Cup, 312 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 3: I can imagine obviously, like you'd said, you're LA is 313 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 3: not new to hosting big events, but it is different 314 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 3: in terms of how global it is and how everything 315 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 3: like that works. So can you tell us a little 316 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 3: bit about how you have to work across you know, infrastructure, security, safety, 317 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 3: all of those other things to ensure a successful World Cup? 318 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: Right? No, it is. It's definitely different than everything. It's 319 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: having having it over, you know, thirty one days, so 320 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: you're not just having a one like a Super Bowl 321 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: is a one event in one week. This one, because 322 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: it's it's so international and it's so different and so 323 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: much political attention on it makes it a little bit 324 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: trickier and more complicated. So it's been I'll use an 325 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: example of one thing that's different than other events that 326 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: we have are in the World Cup, they have fan marches, 327 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: So the fans that have a ticket to the match 328 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: get together at some designated place and march over to 329 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: the stadium together. That was new to us because we 330 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: didn't have that and some of most of the other 331 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: sporting events that are here, I haven't seen it before. 332 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: So just trying to plan again. They march peacefully, it's 333 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: all about you know, fandom and they're excited and you know, 334 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: to go march up to you know, watch their team 335 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: play and it's a show of support. So but the 336 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: logistics of that operationally and where are they going to gather, 337 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: How are they going to march and not impede traffic? 338 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 1: How are they going to march and not impede all 339 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: the other people that are going to the matches? Just 340 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 1: adds another layer of difficulty in planning that. I'm happy 341 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: to do it, excited that they want to do that, 342 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 1: but just adds it's another layer that goes into your 343 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: operational planning. So it's been a the coordination that's required 344 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: of doing this because it's not We're not a standalone 345 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: of any there were one of sixteen cities and one 346 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: of eleven cities in the US. There's been a lot 347 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: of what's also been different is this time is that 348 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:45,119 Speaker 1: the eleven US cities have worked very closely together to 349 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: plan and coordinate things now everybody. Every city is doing 350 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: something a little differently. Every city has different you know, challenges, 351 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaker 1: different ways are laid out. But it was really important 352 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: to all the eleven CEOs of the host cities to 353 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: collaborate as much as we can because we know if 354 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: something goes wrong in Philadelphia or Kansas City or any 355 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: of the other cities, it impacts all of our cities. 356 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: And so there's a lot of communication that needs to 357 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 1: take place. And every city operates differently. Every city is 358 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: set up a little bit different governmentally on how they 359 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: do it and jurisdictions, et cetera. And every city is 360 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,239 Speaker 1: not just one city. Some cities in our case, you know, 361 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 1: we're hosting in in La but the stadiums in Englewood, 362 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: the same thing in Dallas, and same thing in a 363 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: couple of the other cities. So it's there's just been 364 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 1: a lot more challenges that way. And I think the 365 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: other thing that's been different and unique about this tournament 366 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: that makes it much more challenging is FIFA, the organizing entity, 367 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: is used to hosting an event in one country with 368 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: one governing group. They're hosting literally sixteen different events with 369 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: sixteen different governments, So the level of detail and the 370 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: logistics that go on hosting sixteen differ for you know, 371 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: many World Cups takes it to a whole other level. 372 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, that is something that is right, especially different in 373 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 3: this World Cup as opposed to just the last one 374 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 3: we had in twenty twenty two, which was all very 375 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 3: very condensed in guitar. 376 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: Can you tell me a little bit more about how 377 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 2: that worked? 378 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 3: I mean, like, for you in those conversations when you're 379 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 3: spread across the entire country, when you're spread across all 380 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 3: of North America, what are those conversations like Logistically, what 381 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 3: are those conversations like in terms of Wow, I were 382 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 3: you at all surprised at how intense it was and 383 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 3: how actually kind of hard it was to plan something 384 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 3: across such a big landscape. 385 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, And can I go back to the other question too, 386 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: You asked me something about nineteen ninety four too, that 387 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,479 Speaker 1: kind of ties into what I was just telling you. 388 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 1: In nineteen ninety four when they did World Cup, Alan 389 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: Rothenberg and his team were in charge of all the 390 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 1: host cities, so it was one structure, So they essentially 391 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: were what FIFA is playing the role of now. So 392 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 1: they made the decisions across So it's really kind of 393 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: one company that had you know, some different trans I 394 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: won't even call them franchises because they worked different offices 395 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: in different cities and this one is completely different. So 396 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: that's that's what makes it so difficult. 397 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 3: Having to be one entity like they were in nineteen 398 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 3: ninety four and then now it being across sixteen across FIFA, 399 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 3: across the US, you know, federal government across everything like that. 400 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 3: I mean, was that at all more challenging than you 401 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 3: feel like you thought it would be? Working across every 402 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:36,360 Speaker 3: you know, entity that you have to. 403 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: Hundred percent more challenging than I thought. It was pointed 404 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 1: this is this has turned into because there are multiple 405 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: cities because it hasn't been done before. It was the 406 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,959 Speaker 1: model was being built as they were flying it, and 407 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: so that makes it challenging versus when we did the 408 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,919 Speaker 1: Super Bowl in twenty twenty two, the NFL has Now, 409 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: of course, the NFL had in in LA for twenty 410 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: nine years, so similar situation, but the NFL did it 411 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: the year before and the year before that, and they 412 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: had a model and they you know, so of course 413 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: they're open to changing things up to be in a 414 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: particular city, but they had a model of how it's done. 415 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: You could look to other you know, you could look 416 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: to how it'd been done over the last couple of years. 417 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: There was no situation. What was done in Qatar had 418 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: nothing to do with what we were doing here, So 419 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: we didn't have we didn't have in nineteen ninety four, 420 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 1: really didn't have anything to do with what we were 421 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: doing this time because it was so long ago and 422 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: a completely different organizational structure, so this one was a 423 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 1: brand new you know, it would be not to say 424 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: that I'm advocating for this, but it'd be nice for 425 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 1: somebody if they were doing it again in a year 426 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: or two or whatever with the same model and could 427 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: build off of the experience. You know, all the institutional 428 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: knowledge we have now gathered will be gone, you know, 429 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: after this event and won't be able to be used 430 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: again because they're not going to be doing it like 431 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: this again. So it's it's kind of a shame there, 432 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: But we did we did not have any institutional knowledge 433 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: from other events that happened prior, you know, liking Qatar, 434 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: like in Russia that were really helpful to us in 435 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: planning this event. The good news for US is that 436 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: we did have eleven US host cities with people who 437 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: had experience and running big events and knew what they 438 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: were doing, and they also were working with This is 439 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 1: different than twenty twenty two, and this has been a 440 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: big benefit for FIFA. They're working with stadiums that were 441 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: already built, that already were running, already did big events. 442 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: I mean our Sofi Stadium, our team has done the 443 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, the National Championship. I mean they've been doing 444 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: an event after event since it opened over the last 445 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 1: six years. So the team has experience and knows how 446 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: to do it, so they can kind of dictate what 447 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: is best practices, which is really a huge benefit for 448 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: US and all the other Frankly, all the sixteen host 449 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 1: cities having operating stadium in place with a staff running 450 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:00,639 Speaker 1: because I believe in Qatar, at least in one of 451 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: the stadiums, it was a brand new stadium that they 452 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: literally had to bring in people never worked it before. 453 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 1: So having that is truly has been a tremendous advantage 454 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: of having just such an experienced team at Soapy Stadium 455 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: and all the other stadiums around the country. 456 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 3: Well, hopefully those same recipe will be able to apply 457 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 3: for the twenty thirty one World Cup for the Women's 458 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 3: World Cup. 459 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 2: Cross my fingers. That comes to the US for sure, Catherine. 460 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,640 Speaker 3: One of the other things that I you know, want 461 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 3: to get on your radar as things are ramping up, 462 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 3: and like you said, this is kind of one of 463 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 3: the most all of the political attention that is on 464 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 3: this World Cup and the amount of time that's left. 465 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 3: Are you in constant conversation of you know, changes that 466 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 3: could happen to games and things like that, and you know, 467 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 3: what can you say in terms of how you prepare 468 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 3: for everything that's going on. 469 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 1: I'm guessing you're talking more about the Iran actually. 470 00:23:57,880 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I ran situation, yeah, and just like yeah, like 471 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 3: if there's any changes that are happening on that front, 472 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 3: and how you even prepare for something like. 473 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 2: That to happen. 474 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, that's been that's been interesting. Again, another little 475 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: another level of challenge for US. But frankly, we have, 476 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: you know, the team hotels are in place, the team 477 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 1: training sites in place, the stadiums in place. It doesn't 478 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: matter who's playing there. So operationally it doesn't matter which 479 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: country is coming and playing. Now if it's Iran, there'll 480 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 1: be some additional security security challenges that will need to 481 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: be addressed given what's happening in the world. But frankly, 482 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: given what's happening in the world, I mean, security is 483 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 1: our number one, two and three priority. I mean it's 484 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: everything we think about every day. I mean my goal 485 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: at the end of this tournament is to have had 486 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: no publicity about our security because everything went great and 487 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: there was no problem and no issue. So and people 488 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: talking about, you know, our weather and the great city 489 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:04,959 Speaker 1: and the great matches and the fan that's that they 490 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: want you nothing about, you know, any any concerns there. 491 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 1: So that's what we all are planning for and working toward. 492 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: And we have a tremendous team there. But every match 493 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: is a security challenge, so there's a lot of planning 494 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 1: going on. Anyways, there's not there's not one match where 495 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: we're saying, oh, this is a walk in the park 496 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: and we don't have to, you know, worry about this. 497 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 1: We worry about every single match, all. 498 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 2: Right, Catherine, Well, what on a last note here? 499 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 3: If you had to end with the note right before 500 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 3: you know kick off, you know, for la what you 501 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 3: wanted to look like and then what you want, you know, 502 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 3: the fandom and people to know about LA after the 503 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 3: World Cup is done. 504 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 1: I want people to feel like, first off, that they 505 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: that they are incredibly welcome in our city for the visitors, 506 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 1: and that they had I mean again, we just want 507 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,880 Speaker 1: them to have a tremendous experience here, even if their 508 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: team doesn't, even if their team does one, even if 509 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 1: they're not there, that they got a chance to experience 510 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: a whole side of LA that they had never seen 511 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,120 Speaker 1: before and they had a great time, and that they 512 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: want to come back. I mean, that's from a visitor's perspective, 513 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: that's all we can ask for. Have a great experience here. 514 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: They're going to go home tell their friends and they 515 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: had a great experience. They want to come back and 516 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 1: be here, even if they weren't out a match, but 517 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 1: that they were it just was such an exciting time. 518 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: The other thing that I would mention and the thing 519 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 1: I hear the most about, and I'm hoping people will 520 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: be talking about this for years to come. It's a 521 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: lot of people come up to me all the time, 522 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: whether it's whether it's around the World Cup, the nineteen 523 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 1: ninety four, nineteen ninety nine, or if it's about the 524 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: Olympics is that they've all got a great story to 525 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: tell of some experience that they had, something they got 526 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 1: to go to, something they got to see, They did 527 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: it with their family and it made this indelible impression 528 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 1: for them. It was a life, you know, once in 529 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,479 Speaker 1: a lifetime experience. I want people to leave with some 530 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: kind of a once in a lifetime positive experience from 531 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: our city that they're going to remember forever. Absolutely. 532 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 3: I mean, just even watching on tea, I can still 533 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 3: remember the nineteen ninety nine World Cup at the Rose Bolts. 534 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 3: Most iconic moment I think in you worked all right, yep, exactly. Catherine, 535 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 3: thanks so much for taking the time to speak to 536 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 3: us on the Bloomberg Business of Soccer. 537 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. Well, thank you for thank you 538 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: for your interest in what we're doing. 539 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 2: That does it for this edition of The Bloomberg Business 540 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 2: of Soccer. 541 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 3: Keep checking in with us as we count down to 542 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 3: the kickoff of the twenty twenty six FIFA World Cup.