Sportspro Podcast

Something different from the SportsPro Podcast, as BlackBook writer Cian Brittle talks us through his experience of Formula One's British Grand Prix. Talking points: Reflections on race day and a health check on Formula One at Silverstone (0:41) What's the fan experience like at the British Grand Prix? (5:06) Is there room for improvement? (7:39) Can F1 Academy be a game changer for bringing in female fans? (9:41) Report from Silverstone: Taking in the Fusion Lounge (11:17) Report from Silverstone: Pre-race predictions (14:11) Report from Silverstone: Post-race reaction (18:48) Report from Silverstone: James Byrom on Match Hospitality's secrets to success at Silverstone (22:03)

For Women's Sport Week, we share a conversation between SportsPro editorial director Michael Long and Micky Lawler, the president of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). The interview, recorded as part of our special series to mark the WTA's 50th anniversary in June, covers the early days of the tour, its progression as a business and the direction of travel as women's tennis enters a new era.  Talking points: -          The WTA’s foundation in 1973 (02:48) -          Commercial partners involved in the tour’s growth (04:46) -          The WTA’s purpose and the push for gender parity (06:43) -          Setting the commercial benchmark for women’s sport (14:51) -          Expansion into Asia and the tour’s future in China (18:53) -          CVC’s investment and the creation of WTA Ventures (25:03)

To mark Women's Sport Week at SportsPro, we have a special NEW ERA episode of the podcast with Milly Miller-Adams, Elena Kouyoufa and Katie Preston exploring the meaning of taking risks.  Our hosts take it in turns to interview three women at different stages of their careers in the sports industry to find how they view taking risks and the biggest roll of the dice they have made so far. Talking points: What does risk mean to you? (0:46) Katie Bryan, senior event manager at Keith Prowse, on leaving full-time employment to take on a short-term contract (3:15) How Sahaj Shah, product designer at Areto Labs, made the big leap from working in business development to chase her dream in a completely new role (16:49) The story of how Gabrielle Guedj, ATP Media's director of commercial rights sales and new business development, agreed a deal that could have brought down IMG based on a handshake (31:34) Lessons in how to think about taking risks (45:24)

Regular SportsPro Podcast hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by technology editor Steve McCaskill to talk all things SW19 as the British tennis Grand Slam takes hold for its two weeks in the sun (and rain).

In this special episode of the SportsPro Podcast we hear from Sergei Palkin, the chief executive of Ukrainian soccer powerhouse Shahktar Donetsk, about the challenge of leading change in the face of conflict as his club struggles for survival amid the Russian invasion of his homeland. Recorded at SportsPro Live 2023, Palkin is in conversation with Empower Sports' Pedro Pinto. Talking points: How the war changed everything for Shakhtar and the Ukrainian people (6:30) Why was important to return to football (9:23) Fifa, Annexe Seven and the cost of losing players (11:28) Representation in the ECA and UEC (16:35) Pivoting from being a recruitment strategy to a development strategy (18:18) What others can do to support Ukrainian clubs (20:58) The reality of operating a club in a warzone (24:51) Quick-fire questions (30:25)

SportsPro Podcast hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam chop up the latest sports industry news and look at the impact of Netflix's latest sports docuseries, before Josh Sim joins the pod to give his thoughts on MLB's return to London. Talking points: Will 'Tour de France: Unchained' do for cycling what 'Drive to Survive' did for F1? (2:44) Unpacking Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami (12:20) Todd Boehly becomes the latest to move into the multi-club ownership game (18:24) Talking MLB in London (24:05)

Tom Bassam and George Breare return for a quick roundup of the week in sports industry news. Talking points: Why has Michael Jordan sold the Charlotte Hornets? (2:10) The Women's World Cup rights picture becomes clearer (8:14) The demise and legacy of the W Series (17:50) Chelsea and Stake.com, how did we get here? (24:29)

Tom Bassam and SportsPro technology editor Steve McCaskill have an in-depth conversation about the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund's move to control the elite tours in men's golf and how the kingdom's enhanced financial backing of its domestic soccer league could reshape the sport's ecosystem. There's also time for a few thoughts on another logistical Uefa mismanagement issue at a major event, with the recent Champions League final and the passing of a man who helped shape the competition in its modern form, Silvio Berlusconi. Talking points: The PGA Tour, the PIF and golf... what just happened? (1:01) Why has this merger happened now? (7:25) What we know is happening and what we don't (16:04) Will the PIF's investment in the Saudi Pro League change soccer or be another CSL? (25:53) What would a Saudi takeover of soccer look like? (34:26) Another Uefa nightmare in Istanbul (40:33) The legacy of Silvio Berlusconi (45:28)

Most people know what an electronic player tracking system (ETPS) is, but there is more to the technology than meets the eye. Barin Sports' director of business development, Daniel Shopov, speaks to SportsPro technology editor, Steve McCaskill, about the different types of systems on the market, their various use cases and the business aspect of procurement.

George Breare and Tom Bassam are back together for this week's podcast, discussing all things Champions League, plus we hear from SportsPro reporter Josh Sim who was lucky enough to attend the Women's Champions League final in Eindhoven. Talking points: Wasn't Istanbul supposed to host the final in 2021? (2:45) How the tournament can bring in major sponsors (4:30) Why it's important for Uefa to get this event right (8:23) Pepsi and creating an event around the final (10:17) Looking back at the Women's Champions League final (14:16) Josh dials in from Eindhoven (21:30) Rachel Yankey on the growth of the Women's Champions League (23:27) PepsiCo CMO Mark Kirkham on how the brand is tapping into the women's game (27:08) How Gatorade is activating at the final (31:44) Josh's pre-match thoughts from the Philips Stadion (33:33) Post-match reaction and big picture thoughts on the tournament (36:47) (Note: At around 6min Tom mistakenly mentions Istanbul Airport processes 200 million flights per year, this figure ac

As the curtain falls on the 2023 IPL and Premier League seasons, George Breare is joined by features editor, Sam Carp, to explore record-breaking campaigns and the twists and turns that took place on the pitch and in the boardroom, including: -          The huge broadcast numbers on Star Sports and Jio Cinema -          The IPL’s commercial pull for major global brands -          Why the WPL launched at the perfect time -          Is the Premier League really capable of self-governance? -          Why football’s relationship with geopolitics shows no signs of slowing

In February 2021, Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney surprised the world by completing a takeover of small National League football club Wrexham AFC. Alongside Strategic Advisor, Shaun Harvey, and Executive Director, Humphrey Ker, we lift the lid on the story behind the takeover and how the club has come to embody an innovative and bold approach, including: The impact of the Disney+ Welcome to Wrexham docuseries and the explosion of Wrexham fans in North America and globally How Wrexham have transformed the streaming landscape of the National League What does the future hold for Wrexham and their Hollywood superstar owners?

Part one sees Tom Bassam joined by BlackBook Motorsport writer Cian Brittle to discuss crown jewel of US motorsport, the Indy 500 to look at why the Indy 500 stands alone in terms of fan experience and commercial outlook. Part two sees George Breare chat to Amir Mirzaee and Clayton Larcombe from Bayes Esports about what the next phase of the esports industry looks like, including: ·       Why the impact of Covid-19 on the esports industry is exaggerated ·       Why PAC Capital decided to lead Bayes’ recent Series A funding round ·       How esports needs to adapt its commercial model to thrive ·       How regional esports markets differ

This week regular hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined on the podcast by SportsPro reporter Josh Sim to discuss the major off-field narratives ahead of the 2023 WNBA campaign.  Talking points: The expansion question (1:06) Scripps and the media rights picture for the WNBA (10:25) Are women's sports properties valued properly by media companies? (13:37) Does the WNBA need a new CBA? (19:31) The flaws with the ICC's new revenue distribution model (26:05) The Ottawa Senators sale and what it says about the current state of the NHL (37:44)

Back in January, Jane Fernandez was named as one of SportsPro's 'Ten Influencers' for 2023. Now, with the countdown on to the 2023 Women's World Cup, the chief operating officer for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand explains how the organisers are planning to deliver what could be a landmark soccer moment.

SportsPro Podcast hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam dive into the fine print of the EFL deal which will see Sky Sports broadcast the Championship, League One, League Two and the Carabao Cup in the UK until the end of the 2028/29 season. Talking points: The detail of the deal (1:33) The Saturday blackout remains and the headline changes (4:19) The end of iFollow (8:28) What it means for clubs in each division (16:40) The impact on matchday attendance (21:06) Will EFL club income get any closer to the Premier League? (22:48) Under the radar: Newcastle's new shirt sponsor (26:12) Under the radar: Matchroom's investment talks with CVC collapse (29:32)

Tom Bassam is joined by Sam Carp for a whiparound the week in sports industry news.  Talking points: Record attendances in the Women's Six Nations and Women's Champions League (1:24) Setting an example for others to follow (10:12) Where we're at after the third round of bidders for Manchester United (14:00) The fan influence on the takeover process (20:00) The Hundred changing course? (24:16) Gianni Infantino stands up for the value of the Women's World Cup (32:41)

This week SportsPro took over the Kia Ova to stage SportsPro Live 2023. George Breare, Tom Bassam, Steve McCaskill - as well as a few special guests - capture the sights and sounds of the two-day event in London.

On this special episode of the SportsPro Podcast, Tom Bassam is joined by Sabrina Ibáñez, secretary general of the FEI, who is one of the nine women in leadership roles out of 39 summer Olympic federations. Together they discuss wider representation challenges, leading a diverse organisation and addressing unconscious biases in evolving times. Talking Points: Female under representation at a senior level  (01:40) How do we put practical measures in place in regulatory level? (02:39) Things the FEI is doing differently in regard to DEI compared to other federations? (05:38) How do you try to influence other federations (09:26) FEI initiatives in parasport (14:46) The power of using athletes for storytelling (17:37) Looking ahead to Paris 2024 (19:13) LQBTQ+ issues in a gender neutral sport (20:50) Efforts to modernise the FEI (26:34)

George Breare and Tom Bassam return for a whiparound of the latest news in sports business, taking in the Premier Legaue's gambling ban, the talks of Saudi interest in T20 cricket, as well as the latest on Dan Snyder selling the Washington Commanders. In part two our hosts try to figure out how they would fix boxing and rugby union.