Bloomberg Business of Sports

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the 10-year, $300 million contract Manny Machado has agreed to with the San Diego Padres. Next up is mega free agent Bryce Harper, who is being courted by several teams, including the Phillies and incumbent Nationals. Also discussed is Colin Kaepernick's settlement with the Nat...

Former National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss his 30 years leading the NBA, including lessons learned from a trip to Thimphu, Bhutan, and the sport's rapid growth in the past few decades. Stern also talks about the stars of today’s NBA, and why he thinks quarterback-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick would still h...

Nascar President Steve Phelps joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the money surrounding U.S. auto-racing’s biggest race, the Daytona 500. Phelps also talks about the sale of a limited stake in the racing circuit, and the challenges posed by a changing media landscape that threatens Nascar’s long-time dom...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the kerfuffle surrounding golfer Matt Kuchar's tip to a local caddie he used while winning a tournament in Mexico. In short, Kuchar's usual caddie couldn't make the trip, so he used a caddie from the course where the tournament was played. Kuchar took home about $1.2 million as...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the New York Knicks' use of a picture of Kevin Durant in a pitch to season-ticket holders. The NBA team then deleted the picture to avoid any perception that it was using the photo as an inducement to the impending free agent. The Knicks said it was commonplace for teams to use...

Mastry Inc. founder Rudy Cline-Thomas joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including how professional athletes have become much more savvy with their money. Cline-Thomas seeks to identify investment opportunities in technology and media, and often serves as a liaison between the investment community and professiona...

Scott Soshnick and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs moving to distance themselves from racist emails sent and received by billionaire Joe Ricketts, whose family owns the team and Wrigley Field. Many of the emails had to do with a fear of Muslims, including conspiracy theories about former President Barack...

Scott Soshnick and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the less-than-stellar ratings for New England's 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. The game posted a 44.9 overnight rating on CBS, which is the lowest since the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals in 2009. Also discussed is what may happen during the offseason, including a...

Los Angeles Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including what the Super Bowl means not only to the team's bottom line now, but what it means in the context of a franchise building a $5 billion (and counting) stadium complex. Demoff also talks about the process of hiring a...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including a new marketing campaign by the surging Brooklyn Nets. The campaign, dubbed ``Bet on Brooklyn,'' will be featured around Wall Street as the team targets fans in Manhattan. The team is offering a locked in, two-year price for season tickets. The campaign will include branded cof...

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including an update on the National Football League’s quest to reach $25 billion in revenue by 2027. Thanks to an evolving media landscape and the legalization of sports betting in states across the country, the world’s richest league is poised for major revenue jumps in the next few yea...

Raine Group Managing Director Colin Neville joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including his task in helping lead the company's sports advisory and investing platforms. He has worked on numerous transactions, including the sale of UFC to WME-IMG, advising David Beckham and Jorge Mas on their MLS expansion, advisi...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the Super Bowl matchup (and corporate battles) surrounding the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots in Atlanta. Also talked about is the University of Connecticut's athlete department, which is losing $40 million a year. The school is considering cutting some sports...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss the upcoming year in sports business on a special holiday edition of the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. The trio open with a look at the changing media landscape, with more sports moving digital and the looming sale of the 22 regional sports networks that the Walt Disney Co. has to unload as part of its upcoming merger with Twenty-...

Intel Sports Managing Director Shawn Bryant joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the company’s recent Consumer Electronics Show presentation with the National Hockey League, which tested a chip in players’ shoulder pads that -- with the help of a connected puck -- enables the tracking of where every playe...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the National Basketball Association's billion-dollar deal with Take-Two, securing the star power of LeBron James and others in the popular sports video game. The deal allows Take-Two's 2K studio to continue making its NBA 2K video game. Also discussed is Nike's new sneaker, unv...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the baseball versus football decision that faces Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray, who has until today to declare for the NFL draft. The Oklahoma quarterback was also drafted by the Oakland A's, who are trying to convince him to play baseball. Also discussed is t...

NFL Chief Media and Business Officer Brian Rolapp joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including how the National Football League intends to fulfill Commissioner Roger Goodell's aspiration of $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027. Rolapp also discusses the league's media strategy, which focuses on generating the bi...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the Consumer Electronics Show and what new products are being touted for the world of sports. For example, Alibaba and Intel announced plans to develop the first AI-powered 3D athlete tracking technology for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and beyond. Also talked about are the pri...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including rapper Snoop Dogg's ongoing trademark fight against the parent company of the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment filed an opposition to the musician's bid to trademark Leafs By Snoop, a line of marijuana products. The U.S. Patent...

16W Marketing partner Frank Vuono joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including his time as an executive with the National Football League and how the league has grown since that time. Vuono also discusses his work with the New Orleans Saints after Hurricane Katrina and the real possibility that the team was going...

Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Qatar's implementation of a 100 percent tax on alcohol. A six-pack of beer will cost about $26. The predominantly Muslim country is preparing to host the men's soccer World Cup in 2022. Also discussed is the decision by Dick's Sporting Goods to end its partnership with the Unit...

Michael Barr and Scott Soshnick discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Pac-12 Conference leadership mulling a plan that involves taking on a strategic private investor. Also discussed is a new distribution agreement struck between Verizon Communications Inc. and Walt Disney Co. Also talked about is how the National Football League's playoff schedule could affect tele...

Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy joins Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the money behind college football's bowl system. Also discussed is the changing nature of college sports, which he said are operating more like professional leagues. Nealy also talks about the effect ESPN's playoff contract has had on all bo...

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the Carolina Panthers’s plans for a new practice facility. The National Football League team is looking to build a new practice grounds and could end up in either North Carolina or South Carolina. The flexibility should give the team the leverage to negotiate a team-friendly deal for land and/...