Bloomberg Business of Sports

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the marketing and endorsement possibilities for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the wake of his team’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Mahomes, 24, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, was named MVP of the Super Bowl as well. One adve...

Two guests join Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, all centered around the Super Bowl this week in Miami. First, Sportscorp Ltd. co-founder Marc Ganis discusses the commercialization of the Super Bowl, looming labor negotiations and the prospect of more NFL games, including a Super Bowl, overseas. Later in the show, Ha...

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the health of the National Football League's business heading into the Feb. 2 Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. Ratings are up this year and some of the major headwinds from two years ago (concussion concerns and the fight over political protests) have receded...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the basketball and business legacy left by former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash over the weekend. Bryant, much like the late NBA Commissioner David Stern, was myopic on his relentless pursuit of perfection. His death drew an outpourin...

San Francisco 49ers President Al Guido joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including all of the financial implications associated with your team reaching the Super Bowl. The 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 2 in Miami. Guido talks about the weeks of preparation that go into staging the NFL’s premier...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including what Derek Jeter’s memorabilia prospects are in light of his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jeter, a former New York Yankees captain, came within one vote of joining his former teammate, Mariano Rivera, as the only unanimous selections. Even so, the market for Jeter mem...

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including a Super Bowl match-up that has ticket prices soaring. The Feb. 2 game in Miami features the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, two classic NFL franchises that haven't had a lot of Super Bowl success of late. The cheapest available ticket on secondary market TicketIQ.com is right aroun...

Terri Jackson, head of the Women’s National Basketball Association players union, joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, starting with the groundbreaking new labor accord negotiated between the league and union. If ratified, the new agreement would dramatically increase salaries for WNBA players, and expand benefits...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the sign stealing fiasco in Major League Baseball. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has already suspended the Houston Astros’ Jeff Luhnow and A.J. Hinch -- both were subsequently fired by the team. Additionally, the Red Sox have fired manager Alex Cora, who previously worked for th...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Marshawn Lynch’s post-game advice to younger players in the NFL, which has reached the conference finals stage off its playoffs. Lynch, whose Seattle Seahawks lost to the Green Bay Packers, used his platform to tell younger players to take care of their bodies, minds and money....

Leverage Agency founder Ben Sturner joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including this weekend’s “Rivalry on Ice” hockey game between Harvard and Yale at Madison Square Garden. The event is owned and operated by Sturner’s company, which rents the midtown Manhattan arena and tries to make money by selling sponsorsh...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including a court’s ruling that cleared the way for Liverpool Football Club to ink its new sponsorship deal with Nike. New Balance had said it had a right to match any offer. A judge ruled that New Balance simply couldn’t match Nike’s offer in terms of marketing, particularly the use of...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including what the future holds for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after his defending Super Bowl champions were eliminated from the NFL playoffs in the wild-card round. Brady, 42, is a free agent, and his future with the only club he’s ever known is in doubt. Patriots owner...

Syracuse University professor Rick Burton joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including a look back at the biggest stories of 2019: The rise of sports betting and its affect on the industry, as well as China’s relationship with leagues and teams in the wake of Daryl Morey’s tweet. Also discussed was the future of...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the legacy of former National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern, who died at the age of 77. Stern served as the league’s commissioner for 30 years, stepping aside in 2014 after helping to make the NBA a global sports and entertainment powerhouse. Also discussed is...

Scott Soshnick and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the final weekend of the National Football League’s regular season. The New England Patriots loss to the Miami Dolphins means their Super Bowl title defense will begin on wild-card weekend. And San Francisco’s win over Seattle gives the 49ers home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Also...

Wake Forest University Athletic Director John Currie joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to talk about the business of college football’s bowl season. A longtime college administrator who has held the top athletic job at three different schools, Currie breaks down the ways in which colleges spend money, and make money, at a postseason bowl game. Wake Forrest plays Michigan St...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including reports that Nike's Jordan brand is close to signing Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic to a sneaker deal. The 20-year-old Slovenian is dominating the NBA in his second season, with eight triple-doubles. His success and popularity abroad are likely driving up the value for hi...

Patricof Co. founder Mark Patricof joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the stereotype of athletes going broke in big numbers. The son of Greycroft founder Alan Patricof, he founded a specialized merchant bank designed to meet the needs of a select group of athletes and sports professionals backed by J.P....

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Ira Boudway discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the NFL Players Association pointing out to its members that more than 25% of the grievances filed by players over the past two years were against one team: the Jacksonville Jaguars. One player alone was fined 25 times for more than $700,000 for missed rehabilitation appointments that...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the emergence of a video that shows the New England Patriots recording the sideline of an upcoming opponent. The Patriots have said the matter was a mistake. The NFL is investigating. The video, an excerpt of which was shown by Fox Sports, also includes dialogue between the Pat...

Zion Armstrong, president of Adidas North America, joins Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including how the company seeks to win new customers in the sneaker and apparel space. Armstrong also discusses the differences and effectiveness of athletes like New York Yankees star Aaron Judge versus celebrities like Kanye West, who works...

Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the latest controversy involving the New England Patriots. A film crew for the team was accused of illegally filming the Cincinnati Bengals sideline last weekend. Though the team has acknowledged its mistakes and denied anything nefarious, it's not the first controversy involving the Patriot...

Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the New York Yankees preparing a record $250 million-plus contract offer to free-agent pitcher Gerrit Cole. The Yankees have reportedly made signing Cole, who spent last season with the Houston Astros, their top offseason priority. Also discussed is the college football playoff, which featur...

Premier Lacrosse League co-founder (and player) Paul Rabil joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including a breakdown of the inaugural season of his league. PLL launched in 2019 as a player-centric league, with an eye toward using new technology and a tour-based model to redefine professional lacrosse. Rabil discus...