Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C - Fordham Gabelli School of Business

What does it really mean to be an "official partner" of the NFL? In this episode of The Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C, Professor Mark Conrad explores how sports sponsorships have become increasingly specialized and increasingly more valuable in today's business landscape. Host and Executive Producer: Mark Conrad Producer: Victoria Ilano Additional Production: Jeffrey Haynes Artwork: Pamela...

In this episode of The Author Series on The Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C, Professor Mark Conrad speaks with journalist Danny Funt, author of Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling. Funt examines the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting in the United States and offers a critical perspective on the forces driving its growth, including the evolving role of pro...

In 2026, a new competition is reshaping the sports betting landscape and it has nothing to do with athletes or teams. Instead, it is a legal and regulatory conflict between state-licensed sports betting operators and a new class of federally regulated prediction markets. In this episode, Prof. C explores how this dispute could redefine sports betting regulation, shift billions of dollars in tax re...

In this episode of The Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C, Professor Mark Conrad takes a compelling look at how the rapid growth of legalized sports betting is reshaping the integrity of both professional and collegiate athletics. With recent scandals involving athletes and coaches drawing new attention to the issue, Prof. C breaks down how modern wagering systems and the structural forces behin...

The National Football League isn't just a sports league - it's an economic and cultural empire. NFL games dominate television ratings, team valuations are skyrocketing, and the league's global expansion shows no sign of slowing down. Commissioner Roger Goodell rules as Regent, while team owners reign as the Princes and Princesses of this powerhouse kingdom. How did the NFL become the envy of the s...

In recent years, reports of sexual assault involving young athletes have revealed a troubling side of sports. Abuse by coaches, medical professionals, managers, and even fellow athletes has occurred in the United States and abroad, leaving lasting scars on victims, both women and men. These cases raise pressing questions: Have sports organizations and law enforcement done enough to hold perpetrato...

Labor unions were formed to represent workers in negotiations with their employers, built on the promise of transparency and accountability. But what happens when union leadership operates behind closed doors, keeping members in the dark about key strategies and decisions? The National Football League Players' Association has faced its share of transparency challenges; the latest culminating in th...

Millions of children and teens participate in some form of organized sports activities. But millions of others do not. Some stay involved throughout their childhood and teen years, while others quit by adolescence. This poses some serious questions. While the benefits of youth sports have often been repeated enough to be a truism, that general notion often skips some warning signs. Is the present...

Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting, 37 states and the District of Columbia have created regulated sportsbooks. From a financial standpoint, the results have been striking: since 2018, over half a trillion dollars have been legally wagered on sports in the U.S. But is this surge in legal sports betting good for society? In the latest episode, Prof. Mark Conrad -...

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and became the first African American athlete in modern times to play for a major league baseball team. When he donned number 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he became a civil rights icon who endured a great deal of abuse and whose patience was tested in every game during the first few seasons he played. After he retired from baseball, Robins...

Major League Baseball and ESPN had an ugly divorce recently as the venerable sports network opted out of its contract with MLB for broadcast rights, reflecting the uncertain media landscape of the National Pastime. Get the background of the divorce and the future of baseball broadcasting in this episode of Prof. Mark Conrad's "Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C." Host: Mark Conrad Producer: Vict...

The growing professionalization of college sports has meant that many young athletes receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL). In the near future, they may also receive salaries and additional benefits; giving them access to considerable sums of money and, with it, the potential for being victimized by fraudsters and scammers who may target these athletes because of their fin...

Juan Soto's monster contract with the New York Mets raises questions regarding his tax liability in New York. While he works for a New York team, the intricacies of his contract - notably his $75 million signing bonus - are out of the hands of the New York taxman. How does this happen? Check out our latest episode with one of our frequent guests - tax expert Robert Raiola, who has worked with over...

On January 20th, Donald Trump will assume the presidency, and it is safe to say that his administration will make changes in certain areas of sports law. What will they be? It is likely to include changes in transgender rights, for one. For other predictions, check out Professor Mark Conrad on his podcast "Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C." Host: Mark Conrad Producer: Victoria Ilano Additional...

The Anti-Defamation League reports that more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents occurred in the United States between October 7, 2023, and September 2024 – a huge jump from 3,300 incidents the prior year. This podcast outlines the way that the sports industry could help in combating this scourge  -- from education to sanctions and disciplinary actions. Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business...

This episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C takes a break from controversial issues and focuses on “Pop-A-Shot” an arcade basketball game played by families and friends. Recently, a national competition for the champion Pop-A-Shot player took place, and one of the finalists was my colleague Prof. Luke Kachersky, who teaches marketing at the Gabelli School of Business. I invited Luke a...

U.S. athletes made an impressive showing at the Paris Olympics, winning 126 medals to lead all other nations. Much of the credit has gone to the college sports system, which has given track and field, swimming, and gymnastics athletes the opportunity to work under elite coaches in first-class facilities. However, with the likelihood of student-athlete compensation, sports programs that favor Olymp...

The Olympic Movement takes itself very seriously. The often-portentous opening ceremonies invoke goals of peace and respect for athletes the world over. Unfortunately, those goals were not evident in the pouring rain of this opening ceremony in Paris. Ask the musicians who had to play in pouring rain and whose instruments were permanently destroyed. Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business P...

It was recently revealed that nearly half of China’s swimming team tested positive for a banned substance just months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but the athletes were still allowed to compete. Apparently, China's Anti-Doping Agency concluded that the swimmers ingested the performance-enhancing prescription heart drug known as TMZ, unwittingly and did not enforce sanctions. Shockingly, the...

The final match in this important regional soccer tournament turned out to be an embarrassment for host country United States when some fans entered the stadium without tickets, causing delays, health concerns for fans waiting in the stifling heat and damage to the facility. Why did this happen? And what can be done before the U.S. hosts the bulk of the 2026 World Cup tournament? Tune in to this e...

When negotiating contracts, the question: ”Who has the leverage?” is critical. The world of sports is no exception, and powerful sports organizations often have the leverage to negotiate contracts that give them significant advantages. FIFA’s recently negotiated contract with MetLife Stadium, which secured it as the venue for the final match of the 2026 Men’s World Cup, provides a great illustrati...

Is doping in sports defensible in certain situations? Are the rules prohibiting performance-enhancing drugs too restrictive and impractical? This is not a commonly held perspective in lieu of the present views of athletes and international sports organizations, but a new book by this episode’s guest, Alexander Hutchison, Ph. D., editor-in-chief: Current Protocols, tries to refute the common wisdom...

The announcement of a settlement of three class action antitrust cases filed against the NCAA and the major conferences may end the immediate cases, but many issues remain open before the issue of athlete compensation and labor rights is resolved. Professor Mark Conrad explains in the latest ”Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C” episode. Host: Mark Conrad Producer: Victoria Ilano Additional Produ...

For this episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C, we dive into what is known as “immersive technology” and how this kind of delivery system can rethink how sports teams and brands can engage with fans. Prof. C. interviewed James Giglio, the founder and CEO of MVP Interactive, a firm that engages in using immersive technology in the sports area. It is a fascinating guide into the latest...

With multiple lawsuits, unionization efforts by college students, and state laws allowing students to sign NIL deals, the NCAA has been pummeled in the courts, the states, the National Labor Relations Board, and the court of public opinion. In this episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C., he examines the mounting challenges this venerable organization faces, and the ways in which it c...