SportsPro Podcast

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly heads back to the office to chat to senior writer Sam Carp about the imminent Fifa Women's World Cup (16.45), with brands, broadcasters and fans promising to mass behind the competition as never before. Fifa head of women's football Sarai Bareman (31.47) is also on the line with her thoughts on the weeks ahead in France, and just what it is that is driving t...

The 2019 ICC Men's Cricket Cup is here, with ten teams heading to England and Wales for 48 games across six weeks until the middle of July. SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly presents a special edition of the podcast looking at some of the work that has gone into putting together one of the biggest events of the year.  First up is Cricket World Cup 2019 managing director Steve Elworthy (3.47)...

Former British sports minister Tracey Crouch MP joins SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly to share her thoughts on the industry.   Crouch, who has taken on a role as a senior adviser to London-based communications agency The Playbook, explains why her objection to a delay on restrictions on fixed-odds betting terminals on UK high streets led her to resign her post, and gives her wider views on...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly presents a series of interviews recorded during SportsPro Live 2019 at The O2. Sean Bratches, the managing director of commercial operations at Formula One, talks about the series' calendar, the OTT service F1TV, and a partnership with movie star Will Smith's Westbrook Studios. (5.18)  Neil Hopkins, global head of strategy at M&C Saatchi Sport and Entert...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam wrap up two days of insights and new ideas at SportsPro Live 2019, discussing lessons learned where technology meets the sports business with Digital Sport editor Chris McMullin. SportsPro Live host and Sky Sports presenter Adam Leventhal (15:10) shares his thoughts; Sports Innovation Lab co-founders Angela Ruggiero and Josh Wal...

With the SportsPro team in full event mode delivering the biggest ever edition of SportsPro Live at The O2, editor at large Eoin Connolly presents two recent interviews from opposite sides of the globe.  First up, tennis: Wimbledon commercial and media director Mick Desmond discusses the grass-court Grand Slam's first Asian sponsorship deal with smartphone brand Oppo, its plans in China and India,...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long return to talk through the latest developments in the sports industry, including the signature partnership between NBC Universal and the organisers of the LA 2028 Olympics to sell commercial partnerships in the US around the next four Games. Meanwhile, senior writer Sam Carp is joined at the SportsPro offices by the organisers o...

SportsPro print editor Michael Long returns to reveal all to editor at large Eoin Connolly about his recent trip to Japan, taking the pulse of the sports industry there ahead of the Rugby World Cup this year and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. There's the latest on what the local organising committees for both of those events are thinking, and a sense from MMA's ONE Championship of what it takes to...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly talks to Simon Dent, the former lawyer and soccer agent turned founder of BT Sport Industry Award-nominated creative agency Dark Horses.  Speaking at the company's London offices, Dent discusses the gap he saw for more creatively minded work in sports sponsorship and marketing campaigns, and how he partnered up with Lucky Generals to fill it. He also reveals...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam shake off the jet-lag and reflect on the inaugural SportsPro OTT Summit Asia, discussing everything from Manchester City's All or Nothing series on Amazon, to DDMC Fortis' strategy for soccer across the continent, Kayo Sports' unique entry into the Australian market, and how Rakuten is using sport to bring people into its ecomme...

SportsPro senior writer Sam Carp and digital editor Tom Bassam join editor at large Eoin Connolly to discuss the latest machinations in rugby union, as Infront, CVC and IMG bid to buy stakes in a new World Rugby competition and the Six Nations respectively, and the return of Formula One - which marks a controversial comeback for tobacco sponsors.  There are reflections on a week of big decisions i...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is back at headquarters to catch up with senior writer Sam Carp, freshly returned from a stint at Sportel Asia in Macau.  On the agenda: the efforts of brands like Nike, Visa and Adidas to capitalise on the momentum of women's soccer; Fifa's push to expand its 2022 World Cup to 48 teams across the Gulf; and the players' council intrigue to oust well-regarded...

As International Women's Day approaches, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly gets the thoughts of two female leaders about how the sports industry can properly embrace diversity across the board.  First, with the Netball World Cup set to hit Liverpool in July, England Netball chief executive Joanna Adams discusses how the sport has built momentum through participation, elite performance and co...

SportsPro print editor Michael Long rejoins editor at large Eoin Connolly to discuss another sports industry week, from media moves by Twitch and La Liga to an altogether different set of moves at the Olympics, as the organisers of Paris 2024 confirm plans to give breakdancing a Games debut.  Then, as the England and Wales Cricket Board confirms the playing conditions for The Hundred, there's a co...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly grabs a barista coffee in the team's smart new offices in London's Victoria and catches up on the week's events with SportsPro senior writer Sam Carp, back on the pod to discuss Don Garber's contract extension in MLS, Shaun Harvey's departure from the EFL, fast fashion and the jerseys of the future.  The two also look at the NBA's African venture with Fiba,...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long discuss another full week in the sports industry action, covering everything from the IOC moving house and a united Korean Olympic bid to a mega-merger in the world of venue management.  They also take in the news that BeIN has created another challenge for Formula One by backing out of bidding for TV rights in the Middle East,...

In a special extended edition of the SportsPro Podcast, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly meets in Lausanne with Travis Tygart, the chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency. The discussion begins with the latest chapter in the Russian state doping saga, and the path forward now that Rusada's compliance has been confirmed - under review - for the time being. In part two, Tygart reflects o...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long shake off their Super Bowl-induced slumber to wrap up events from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, reflecting on audience figures and a pesky four-score of unsold luxury passes. They also look back on soccer's Asian Cup, won by 2022 Fifa World Cup hosts Qatar, whose attentions will now turn to the challenge of staging the biggest spor...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long reflect on another eventful week in the sports industry: from the world of anti-doping, where Norway's Linda Helleland has announced a WADA presidential after the latest instalment of the Russia saga; to investment, where City Football Group has become a founder of investment fund Sapphire Sports; to soccer, where the Asian Cup...

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly comes back from a trip to Berlin for the inaugural League of Legends European Championships to talk to magazine editor Michael Long about noises from the NBA about a game in Paris, the UFC's big boost to ESPN+, the NHL's rethink of its World Cup of Hockey plans, and more from a busy sports industry week. Elsewhere on the podcast, Ted Leonsis - founder of Was...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and magazine editor Michael Long return to discuss Discovery's plans for a global cycling network after its takeover of Play Sports Group, presaging a new digital strategy around fan communities. They also reflect on a busy week in OTT, with developments in Disney's offloading of Fox's regional sports networks and the ongoing saga of the pirates of Qatari Be...

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long return for a breezy run through the goings-on in the sports industry over the Christmas break, from Susanna Dinnage's shock U-turn over the Premier League's top job to CVC's bold plans for Premiership Rugby and the NFL's new casino deal. Then Bruin Sports Capital founder George Pyne lays out the philosophies that drive the priva...

In an easily digestible broadcast tech edition, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly presents two interviews from November's SportsPro OTT Summit in Madrid. First, Fox Sports senior vice president of product operation Dustin Myers discusses the US broadcaster's work with AI specialist IBM Aspere to create the Fifa World Cup Highlights Machine, and shares his thoughts on the role automation will...

As the 2018/19 NBA campaign turns the corner, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly talks to Peter Feigin, president of Eastern Conference pacesetters Milwaukee Bucks, about a season of promise and transition. Feign discusses the opportunities that have come from setting up home at the world class new Fiserv Forum, the future of the venue experience for sports and entertainment fans, and the cha...

With the festive season in sight, SportsPro editor-at-large  Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long are joined by Seven League consultant Charlie Beall and Sport Industry Group head of content Catherine Inkster to reflect on the year in the business of sport, including the Fifa World Cup in Russia, the prevailing currents in the Olympic movement, media disruption, understanding Fortnite, Wild...