Bloomberg Business of Sports

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the growing controversy over a tweet sent by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey expressing support for the people of Hong Kong and their protests against the Chinese government. The NBA does massive business in China -- there are 500 million Chinese people who watched an NBA game last...

John Levy, CEO of Toronto-based media company TheScore, joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including sports betting. TheScore is the first sports media company to become a licensed sports betting operator in the U.S. and recently raised $40 million, in large part to help fund the company's gambling ambitions. Lev...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including a Houston furniture store owner's $3.5 million bet on the Astros to win the World Series. Jim McIngvale, aka ``Mattress Mack,'' placed the bet as a hedge against a promotion he previously ran in the store that calls for customers to get refunds on purchases of $3,000 or more if...

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the prospect of the National Football League adding one regular season game for each team, bringing the total to 17. That's the aim for NFL owners as they continue talks with the NFL players association on their next collective bargaining agreement. An added game would likely increase the mone...

Activision Blizzard esports CEO Pete Vlastelica joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including his Overwatch league's season-ending championship at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. The event is sold out. Vlastelica, a former Fox Sports digital executive vice president, talks about the growth of esports, the young...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, Carolina Panthers billionaire owner David Tepper is seeking up to $212 million from the city of Charlotte to help him land an MLS franchise. Tepper, who paid $2.3 billion to buy the Panthers last year, is looking for help in building a headquarters for the prospective soccer franchise, p...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick's death stare at CBS reporter Dana Jacobson after she asked him a question about receiver Antonio Brown, whom the team had waived before their game against the New York Jets. There's always tension between the rights holders, who pay bi...

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Association, joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the looming labor battle between the NFL and its players. The union's leader since 2009, Smith oversaw negotiations on the current collective bargaining agreement, and shares his t...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the New York Giants benching longtime quarterback Eli Manning in favor of rookie Daniel Jones. Sales of Jones jerseys skyrocketed following the announcement, which could mark the end of Manning's career, in which he won two Super Bowl titles and made over $250 million. Also dis...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Michael Jordan's decision to sell minority stakes in the National Basketball Association franchise. Jordan will keep control of the team, which Forbes says is worth $1.3 billion. He became part-owner of the then-Charlotte Bobcats in 2006. The buyers are: Gabe Plotkin, a founder...

George Steinbrenner IV, 23, joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including his role in Harding Steinbrenner Racing. He's the youngest team owner in Indy car history to win a race in only his second attempt in the NTT IndyCar Series. Steinbrenner is the son of New York Yankees part-owner and co-chairman Hank Steinbr...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including USA Basketball's shocking loss to France at the World Cup. It's the first time the U.S. failed to capture gold at a major international tournament since the 2006 world championships. The realization of global parity was also David Stern and NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik's...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the (hopefully) end to the Antonio Brown saga with his joining the New England Patriots. Brown has agreed to join New England after being waived by the Oakland Raiders, who had guaranteed the wide receiver about $30 million. The rift between the Raiders and Brown had grown beyo...

Lew Sherr, chief investment officer at the U.S. Tennis Association, joins Scott Soshnick and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the key drivers at the U.S. Open. Sherr talks about the tournament's major revenue streams, including media, sponsorship, hospitality and ticket sales, which are on pace to set a record this year. He also discusses the US...

(Bloomberg) -- Scott Soshnick and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Forbes magazine's annual National Football League franchise values list. This year, as in the past 12, the Dallas Cowboys top the list with a valuation of $5.5 billion. The team generates about $950 million in revenue. Rounding out the top five are: the New England Patriots ($4.1 bi...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr in a special Labor Day edition of the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast discuss a host of issues related to the industry, including the bevy of business story lines that accompany the NFL as it opens and new season and celebrates its 100th birthday. Among them are: Andrew Luck’s retirement, Rob Gronkowski and Terrell Davis’s CBD deals and Tony...

Peach Bowl Chief Executive Officer Gary Stokan joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including how as a young Adidas executive he came oh-so-close to convincing Michael Jordan to sign with the German company over Nike. He tells the story of how one trip to Nike's headquarters changed it all. Stokan also discusses ho...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the National Football League's new sponsorship agreement with Oakley. The four-year deal allows players to wear the company's ``Prizm Clear'' shield beginning this season. The league made an exception to its rules limiting the use of tinted helmet shields as part of the agreeme...

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including NFL quarterback Andrew Luck's shocking decision to retire after just six pro seasons. The 29-year-old is stepping away from the game due to complications from a number of injuries, including a lingering lower leg problem that had cast his 2019 season in doubt. Colts owner Jim Irsay said a heal...

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Michael Schwimer joins Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, all centered around data and analytics. Schwimer, 33, had a two-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies, during which he built a pitch-sequencing model tailored to each specific hitter. After leaving baseball, he founded Big League Advance, a company that...

Eben Novy-Williams and Ira Boudway discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the legal battle between Nike Inc. and lawyer Michael Avenatti. Avenatti has been accused of extorting the sportswear giant, but filings from the case, which appear to detail numerous Nike employees discussing the payment of youth basketball players, may have other far-reaching ramifications. A...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Stephen Curry's decision to sponsor the creation of men's and women's golf teams at Howard University -- bringing the sport back to the historically black university for the first time in decades. Curry didn't reveal the exact amount -- it's a seven-figure donation paid out ove...

SNY President Steve Raab joins Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including how the business of his regional sports network changes as the team it shows -- the New York Mets -- climb back into playoff contention. SNY is majority owned by the Mets, and its investors include Charter and Comcast, which provide distributio...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the National Football League’s deal with artist and entrepreneur Jay-Z, whose company, Roc Nation, will consult on the league’s entertainment offerings, including the Super Bowl halftime show. Roc Nation will also contribute to the league’s activism campaign, Inspire Change. Al...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including NFL star Antonio Brown's threat to retire if he's prevented from wearing his longtime helmet. The NFL's rules prohibit players from wearing non-approved equipment in either practice or games. Brown's helmet hasn't been approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards f...