SportsPro Podcast

As the Uefa Champions League returns this week, SportsPro journalist Ed Dixon is on the line with Tiago Craveiro, chief executive of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), to break down how the country plans to stage European club’s soccer elite competition. The pair also discuss the FPF’s wider activities (14:55), including how prioritising knowledge through launching the likes of Canal 11, an...

In another podcast from the SportsPro Insider Series, SportsPro events content manager Chris Stone talks to John Cave, vice president of information technology, football solutions at the National Football League (NFL).  They discuss how the league pivoted amid the Covid-19 pandemic to run a fully virtual NFL Draft, devising a concept, procuring equipment and securing networks to capture the drama...

Digital editor Tom Bassam is off the subs bench and steps up as host for the latest SportsPro Podcast. He’s joined by deputy editor Sam Carp, the author of an in-depth report in the latest edition of SportsPro Magazine on what to expect from their in-venue experience post-Covid-19.  The pair breakdown the feature with expert insight from Populous’ Christopher Lee, Realife Tech’s Adam Goodyer, Wait...

In the latest entry from the SportsPro Insider Series, Bleacher Report senior director of social strategy Julian Patterson talks to broadcaster Lynsey Hooper, co-founder of soccer podcast The Offside Rule.  Patterson reveals how Bleacher Report devises content plans for channels including Instagram favourite House of Highlights, how it measures and compares audiences, how social media is maturing...

As MLB, the NBA and the NHL return in the US, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by CNBC sports business reporter Jabari Young to run the rule over the coronavirus challenges in the American industry. They discuss a difficult start for MLB, the financial battle ahead for all the majors, the power structures between players and owners, and the emerging technological picture. They als...

In the first of a two-part series, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Barry Hearn, founder and chairman of Matchroom Sport. They discuss how the promoter has fared through the Covid-19 pandemic, from improvising through social distancing regulations with Darts at Home and behind-closed-doors snooker to establishing financial certainty, Matchroom's changing structure and content strat...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly welcomes back Matt Rogan, SportsPro’s senior contributor and co-founder of the data agency Two Circles, for the latest part of his series looking at how companies should react to Covid-19 and how to operate more effectively post-lockdown.    Having given us his five brilliant basics, Matt discusses how forward-thinking executives are positioning their busine...

In another podcast from the SportsPro Insider Series of virtual events, SportsPro managing director Nick Meacham talks to Albachiara founder Roger Mitchell and Kyle Bunch, the VP managing director of Global Sports Venture Studio at R/GA Ventures, about the fundamentals of the sports tech startup space.   They discuss what startups can do to identify the right investors and why people and knowledge...

The curtain should have just come down on this year’s Wimbledon Championships, but instead SW19 was left empty with the event falling foul of the coronavirus pandemic.  This week, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly welcomes the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s (AELTC) commercial and media director, Mick Desmond, and Alexandra Willis, head of communications, content and digital, to find out abou...

In what was scheduled to be the week of the 149th Open Championship, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly speaks to Malcolm Booth, director of sales and marketing at golf's R&A. They discuss the unique Open for the Ages project, which will collate archive footage and historical data of the greatest players of all time to create a broadcast event to replace the pandemic-hit major. Booth also...

As Test match cricket returns to England this week, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly welcomes Daily Telegraph journalist Tim Wigmore to discuss the new future facing cricket after its enforced hiatus. (02:23) Eoin then speaks to Steve Elworthy, the former South Africa international and current director of special projects at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), to hear how the nationa...

Ahead of the rescheduled Formula One season, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by Peter Jones, business director of BlackBook Motorsport, to talk through what we can expect from a very different Formula One season in 2020. Discussion also turns to the wider implications facing series promoters and teams off the back of Covid-19. (01:36) Then, deputy editor Sam Carp speaks to Frank...

In the latest cut from the SportsPro Insider Series, WWE executive vice president and global head of sales and partnerships John Brody tells SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly about how the leading force in sports entertainment works with its sponsors. They discuss the adaptations made for closed door events, including WrestleMania, how WWE superstars play their part, and how the organisation...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and editorial director Michael Long welcome Matt Rogan, SportsPro’s senior contributor and co-founder of the data agency Two Circles, for the latest podcast. In this episode, the three look at what industry organisations can do to run better businesses during the coronavirus crisis and what action should be taken to best prepare for an uncertain future.   Mu...

In another podcast showcasing the best of the SportsPro Insider Series, Dustin Godsey, chief marketing officer at the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, talks about the team's digital content strategy and how technology has shaped the fan experience at the Fiserv Forum. He also lays out plans for the BucksPlay content hub, explains the strategic shift that followed the Covid-19 shutdown, and shares his though...

The police killing of George Floyd has sparked passionate protests and debate over race, but also an appetite to ask some difficult questions regarding racism and inequality.  This week, Leon Mann, the founder of the Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS), joins SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly on the latest podcast. Mann, who set up BCOMS to address the under-representation of black pe...

In the first of a collection of podcasts highlighting the best of the SportsPro Insider Series of virtual events, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Real Madrid chief transformation officer Michael Sutherland and director of digital strategy Israel Garcia. They discuss how the Spanish soccer giants switched up their activities during La Liga's Covid-19 shutdown, explore Real's first...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and deputy editor Sam Carp return this week with Simon Chadwick, professor of Eurasian Sport at Emlyon Business School, to talk through the key financial questions sport is facing from the Covid-19 fallout. (02:11)  Plus, senior reporter Steven Impey interviews Michael Yormark, president of Roc Nation’s international sports division, who reveals the agency’s...

With more sports properties pencilling in return dates, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly, digital editor Tom Bassam and deputy editor Sam Carp discuss who they believe are coming out the best - and worst - from the sports hiatus. (02:18)  Then, Eoin chats to Scott Tilton, chief executive and co-founder of sponsorship technology company Hookit, to hear his thoughts on the most notable uses o...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Thimon de Jong – founder of Whetston Strategic Foresight, keynote speaker, university lecturer and specialist in future human behaviour, societal change and business strategy – about 'the temporary abnormal' and how much will really change as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.   They also consider some of the other things promising to profoundly aff...

SportsPro shifts its focus to sport’s tentative return to action, as editor at large Eoin Connolly and deputy editor Sam Carp are joined by the Athletic’s Matt Slater to talk about the steps the Premier League, and soccer as a whole, is taking to get back on the pitch. (02:09)    Sam also provides an update on the US major leagues planning to resume play, including the latest from the National Bas...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and editorial director Michael Long talk to Joe Favorito, the hugely experienced sports marketing and communications consultant and Columbia University professor. They discuss how the Covid-19 crisis has underlined the need for more coordinated leadership in US sport, efforts to restart sport and the long-term impact of the shutdown. Favorito, who has consid...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and editorial director Michael Long are joined on this week’s podcast by Charlie Greenwood, founder of sports tech hub Sports Loft, to talk through the current state of play for startups and what fledgling businesses need to do to survive and thrive during the Covid-19 health crisis and post-pandemic. (01:55) Then (35:52), Michael is on the line with Tal Bro...

SportsPro deputy editor Sam Carp talks to Rachel Jacobson, the new president of the Drone Racing League.  They discuss the challenges of starting a job in the middle of a global pandemic, the future prospects for the league, female representation in leadership roles in sport, and the lessons of a long spell at the NBA, including as SVP of global partnerships, at a time when the league closed US$1...

This week, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly welcomes Alban Dechelotte, head of partnerships and business development EMEA at Riot Games, and Julian Tan, Formula One’s head of digital business initiatives and esports, to the podcast. (00:30) The pair air their thoughts on how coronavirus has reshaped the competitive gaming industry, how their organisations have reacted to the health crisis,...