Bloomberg Business of Sports

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast, the trio speaks with Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke. We find out what the team has in store for its inaugural season, how they are preparing for the expansion draft and the possibility of NHL hockey in Alaska. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that the NFL is one of the most successful sports leagues in the United States, making over $15 billion during the 2019 season. Jason, Barr, and Lynch follow the money with Noel LaMontagne, former NFL offensive lineman and director at Verdence Capital Advisors. They discuss the omnipresent nature of the NFL, the league's lucrative TV deals, and how players are growing their own bran...

The 147th iteration of the Kentucky Derby kicked off over the weekend with Medina Spirit leading trainer Bob Baffert to a record-breaking win. The SEC dominated the selections at the NFL Draft, and Manchester United's U.S. owners find themselves facing more fallout from the failed Super League plan. Jason, Lynch, and a fired-up Barr discuss all that and more on this Monday morning podcast. See omn...

The Kentucky Derby kicks off this weekend and you can bet on seeing fans in the stands. Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen joins Jason, Barr, and Lynch to talk about the business of horse racing, how sports wagering helps the industry, and the importance of the Derby for local business. Bill describes the impact the pandemic has had on the racing economy, and when he sees a full return to normalc...

You won't flag down an Uber with your Whoop, but founder and CEO Will Ahmed says if you want health monitoring, it's the best game in town. Will joins Jason, Barr, and Lynch to talk about the booming industry of fitness tracking, the major investors and athletes involved in the business, and how "I feel pretty good today" isn't actually a winning strategy for peak performance. See omnystudio.com/l...

There's rumbling of an ownership shakeup across the pond, as Spotify’s billionaire founder Daniel Ek is working on a bid to take control of Arsenal F.C. The former owners of the New York Mets, are considering a sale of regional sports network SNY, according to Sportico. Plus, you can expect to see Roger Goodell's famous hugs back at the NFL Draft this year. Jason, Barr, and Lynch give you the hot...

A plan by some of Europe’s biggest soccer clubs to form their own breakaway "Super League" inflamed fans, and sent the world's richest sport into a frenzy. Jason, Barr, and Lynch get the inside scoop with FC Helsingor Chairman & Co-Owner Jordan Gardner, and NBC Sports Premier League Analyst Robbie Mustoe. Plus, Bloomberg UK Finance Reporter Tom Metcalf joins the podcast to break down the role...

There are few sports that can match the sheer intensity and pure competition of mixed martial arts. The Professional Fighters League is capitalizing on that excitement with some innovative technology to capture and distribute real-time fighter data and analytics. PFL CEO Peter Murray joins Jason, Barr, and Lynch to discuss using Smart Cage and biometric data to enhance the viewing experience, the...

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast, the trio discusses the implications of a proposed soccer “Super League”. The controversial plan already has 12 teams committed to playing weekday fixtures this August. From our crew to Prime Minister  Boris Johnson, everyone seems to have a strong opinion on what this means...

Tony Reagins, MLB Chief Baseball Development Officer, joins Jason Kelly, Michael Barr, and Mike Lynch to discuss the economics behind the access to youth sports, the legacy of Jackie Robinson and his impact on professional sports and society at large, and the league's decision to move the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to a new Georgia voting law. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast, they duo discusses the last 100 days to Tokyo 2020. We also learn why the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale may have even more excitement in the near future.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sacramento Republic FC is on its way to becoming an expansion Major League Soccer team. Jason, Barr, and Lynch speak with the President and General Manager of Sacramento Republic FC, Todd Dunivant, about the hurdles to achieving that goal, the business opportunities behind professional sports in the city, the logistics of building a new stadium and finding investors, and what's next for Major Leag...

As golf's most famous tournament tees off in Augusta, Georgia, we dive into the complicated history and current events surrounding arguably the most exclusive club of any kind in the world. Bloomberg Atlanta bureau chief Brett Pulley joins to talk about his piece exploring the power, money and racial politics that have always pervaded Augusta National. He notes that recent protests in Georgia arou...

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast they talk John Levy, Founder and CEO of the Score. The team discusses the current state of online gambling, as more municipalities open the doors to new revenue streams. We also preview masters ahead of Thursday’s first round.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast, they talk about a successful Opening Day weekend and Major League Baseball’s decision to relocate this summer’s All Star Game away from the state of George. We also preview Jason’s Quicktake series “How Atlanta Sports Changed U.S. Politics”.   See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy joins us on the show. We cover all things Red Sox and Covid-19. He walks us though the new safety measures implement at Fenway Park, how the 2021 Sox look on the field and how they are recovering financially after 2020. Sam also demands that Lynchie start paying for a ticket if he wants to enter Fenway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Hall of Famer Derek Jeter has a lot coming across his desk as CEO of the Miami Marlins. Fresh off a playoff appearance last season, the Yankee great-turned-CEO is continuing to turn around what's happening on the field, and on the income statement. Jason Kelly speaks with Jeter and LoanDepot founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh about the deal to name Marlins Park for the lender. They also discuss marketi...

Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch discuss the biggest stories this week in the Business of Sports. On today’s podcast, they talk about the possible unintended consequences of an NFL 17-week season. Michael Barr’s “Sunday” Dayton 500 may be a causality. We also discuss the NCAA tournament’s success as they close in on the finish line, along with the prospects of those athletes earning a payc...

Indiana and basketball go hand-in-hand, and a native son is now guiding his home-state's most versatile sports facility through the NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis. Lucas Oil Stadium Director Eric Neuburger explains how to safely hold March Madness during the pandemic, the local economy's reliance on major sporting events, and lessons learned from working inside the IU athletic department. Plus, W...

Devin Gordon joins the show to talk about his new book, So Many Ways to Lose: The Amazin' True Story of the New York Mets—The Best Worst Team in Sports. He talks about the inspiration for the book, the agony and ecstasy of rooting for an oft-losing, but sometimes winning, franchise and takes stock of the Wilpon era, the Madoff connection, and the prospects under new ownership. See omnystudio.com/l...

The NCAA's biggest annual moneymaker looks and sounds different in its Indy incarnation, but the drama is still there. Thanks to Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago and Oral Roberts, lots of brackets are busted. And social media busted the NCAA for its dramatically unequal treatment of the women's tournament in San Antonio, when it comes to facilities. Plus, we pay tribute to the late Dick Hoyt, who br...

There's nothing quite like seeing a suplex along with thousands of roaring fans by your side. Well, the pandemic may have quashed that for awhile, but WWE WrestleMania 37 promises to bring some of that excitement back. Jason, Barr, and Lynch caught up with Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer, to discuss the business of sports entertainment during a health crisis, the new streaming deal with...

Nostalgia meets technology with a new way to trade sports cards -- a far cry from playground swaps or Lynchie's prized collection getting tossed by his dad. We check in with Alt founder and CEO Leore Avidar, who's won big-name backing (including Kevin Durant, Alexis Ohanian) for a platform meant to bring transparency and predictability to a booming market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Madison Square Garden better learn to remember this man. Patrick Ewing made a triumphant return to his NYC home, taking his Georgetown Hoyas back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015. Drew Brees, the NFL's all-time leader in career passing yards, has retired, leaving a massive void for the New Orleans Saints to fill. Plus, Cam Newton returns to the Patriots. Mike Lynch suspends his...

Fans, like sports, have changed forever owing to the pandemic, and Angela Ruggiero, CEO and co-founder of Sports Innovation Lab, has the data to prove it. Plus join Jason Kelly, Mike Lynch and Michael Barr as they breakdown Dak Prescott's monster deal with the Cowboys, the NBA All-Star game's disappointing ratings and the Texas Rangers are opening their stadium to full capacity. See omnystudio.com...