Sporticast

'Sporticast' is a new podcast hosted by business journalists Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams from Sportico that will deliver the inside scoop on the intersection of money and sports. From billion-dollar valuations to team sales, sponsorship contracts and media rights, go behind the scenes on the deals that power the global sports economy. For more coverage and information, be sure to check out sportico.com

Sports News
Sports
Business
426
NBA Valuations, Unruly Fans, and Leadership Les...
Scott and Eben chat with Scott O’Neil, CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, to discuss leadership, the rapid growth of the NBA, its opportunities in China, and the recent string of ugly incidents involving fans.
34 min
427
The NBA’s Unruly Fans / Naomi Osaka’s Media Freeze
Scott and Eben discuss a recent string of ugly incidents involving fans during the NBA playoffs. They also talk about tennis star Naomi Osaka’s announcement that she wouldn’t participate in press conferences during the French Open, and financing problems for the new NFL stadium in Las Vegas.
28 min
428
Surging Fan Demand with StubHub Executive Aksha...
Scott and Eben are joined by Akshay Khanna, GM of StubHub’s North America business, to discuss the surging demand for live sporting events and concerts in the back half of the year. They discuss the challenges of the last 18 months, optimism moving forward, and why there may be a lot more third-party events at big league venues this fall. The hosts also discuss Sportico’s recent list of the world’s highest paid athletes.
27 min
429
Mickelson’s Millions / U.S. Soccer Shakeup
Scott and Eben discuss Phil Mickelson’s historic win at the PGA Championship, which earned him $2.16 million. They also talk about changes in U.S. Soccer marketing, and new high school basketballs super league.
23 min
430
English Soccer’s Inequality / Another MLS Club ...
Scott and Eben discuss Sportico’s recent Premier League valuations, led by Manchester United at $4.65 billion. They also talk about Stanford University’s decision to reinstate the 11 varsity sports it eliminated in July, and the sale of MLS club Houston Dynamo to Ted Segal.
26 min
431
Kobe Bryant’s Footwear Future / A $43 Billion M...
Scott and Eben discuss the latest for Kobe Byrant’s footwear empire, as the Hall of Famer’s estate explores potential options in the wake of its separation from Nike. They also discuss sports implications of the $43 billion merger between AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery; a pair of new ESPN broadcast deals; and the Pac-12 Conference’s next commissioner.
24 min
432
LeBron vs. Steph In One-Game NBA Playoff / A’s ...
Scott and Eben discuss the release of the 2021 NFL schedule, which the league has turned into another offseason spectacle. They also discuss the potential relocation of the Oakland A’s, a recent Sportico story about a lucrative corner of the college sports world, and the NBA’s new playoff format.
23 min
433
NFL Owners Readying MLS Investment / Horse Dopi...
Scott and Eben discuss a Sportico report that the Wilf family, owners of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, are nearing a deal to acquire MLS club Orlando City SC. They also discuss the latest in a horse racing controversy that has ensnared the sport’s most prominent trainer; a $200 million acquisition in sports data; and a sold out crowd of 73,000 fans for a boxing match in Texas.
23 min
434
Teenage Prodigy’s Soccer Lawsuit / Knicks, Rang...
Scott and Eben discuss 15-year-old soccer phenom Olivia Moultrie, who is suing the NWSL to try and lift its age restrictions. They also discuss the latest in the $10 billion SPAC deal involving data giant Sportradar, heavy revenue losses for the Knicks and Rangers, and what sports teams and athletes are doing with their NFT cryptocurrency.
24 min
435
NFL Draft Wrap / Rugby’s Big Private Equity Moment
Scott and Eben discuss the NFL Draft, which drew move viewers this year than the Oscars, and a new sponsor-inspired camera angle that’s drawing ire from baseball fans in Texas. They also discuss a possible $281 million private equity investment into New Zealand Rugby, and Intel exploring a sale of its sports unit.
25 min
436
Inside Baseball’s Billion-Dollar Valuations / N...
Scott and Eben discuss a recent Sportico live event featuring the most powerful people in Major League Baseball. They also discuss the upcoming NFL draft, which will open with Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, and the NHL’s new media deals with Turner.
22 min
437
Yankees, Mets Eye TV Tie-up / New Dodger Dog, S...
Scott and Eben discuss the potential sale of SNY, the TV partner of the Mets, which could result in a media partnership between New York’s two MLB teams. They also discuss a sponsorship shake-up for gymnastics star Simone Biles, a $4.75 billion deal in sports betting, and a new supplier for the iconic Dodger Dog.
22 min
438
Bumbling Billionaires, Oligarchs and Sheikhs Of...
Scott and Eben discuss the rapid collapse of the European soccer Super League, which fell apart less than 48 hours after it was announced, following outrage from fans, players and government officials. They also discuss a new bonus structure for PGA Tour golfers, digital horse-racing and a big esports donation.
25 min
439
The Simpsons Help Explain Europe’s New Super Le...
Scott and Eben discuss a blockbuster development for European soccer, with 12 of the sport’s richest teams announcing plans to form their own continental championship. They also discuss Trevor Lawrence signing with Adidas, and the NFL’s $1 billion betting deals.
22 min
440
DraftKings Hires / Fans Return / A Chat With AE...
Scott and Eben discuss a new DraftKings hire, which explains a lot about the future of sports betting and sports media, and news in the world of esports and professional lacrosse. They’re then joined by AEG CEO Dan Beckerman to discuss how the privately-held entertainment giant is approaching the return of fans to sports stadiums and concert venues this spring.
27 min
441
Matsuyama’s $600 Million Masters Moment / A-Rod...
Scott and Eben discuss Hideki Matsuyama’s historic Masters win, the first for a Japanese golfer, which could end up being worth $600 million in future business opportunities. They also discuss the first major U.S. investment into Mexico’s Liga MX, the most-watched soccer league in the U.S., and the pending sale of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves to a group co-lead by Alex Rodriguez.
22 min
442
The Masters Tees Off / Olympics Boycott Controv...
Scott and Eben discuss the business behind the Masters, which tees off this week without 2019 champion Tiger Woods. They also discuss comments made by a U.S. State Department official regarding the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and the latest developments in the world of sports collectibles and digital art.
22 min
443
NFL/Genius NCAA Women's Tourney $$, Monumental ...
Scott and Sportico managing editor Matt Bok discuss the NFL's deal with Genius Sports to be the exclusive league data provider for sportsbooks before turning to the uncaptured value of the women's college basketball tournament. They also look at Arctos Sports Partners' investment in the Golden State Warriors and review a profile of Monumental Sports and Ted Leonsis's burgeoning empire.
24 min
444
The NCAA Has Its Day At the Supreme Court
Scott and Eben are joined by Sportico legal analyst Michael McCann to break down oral hearings in a Supreme Court case that could forever alter the landscape of college sports. The trio discuss how the NCAA got here, what happened with SCOTUS on Wednesday, and what to expect moving forward.
22 min
445
Yankees Worth $6.75 billion / March Madness Money
Scott and Eben discuss Sportico’s recent MLB valuations, which found that the New York Yankees are the most valuable sports franchise in the world at $6.75 billion. They also discuss business stories surrounding March Madness, and two media acquisitions from last week that are both gambling-inspired.
23 min
446
NFL, Amazon Deepen Relationship / Fanatics Wort...
Scott and Eben discuss a new partnership between Amazon and the NFL that will see more fan gear listed on Amazon’s marketplace. They also discuss the latest funding round for Fanatics, Dan Snyder consolidating his ownership of the Washington Football Team and a Sportico story about how companies are approaching their corporate tickets as people return to arenas and stadiums.
21 min
447
NFL’s $105 Billion Media Deals / Upset-Filled M...
Scott and Eben discuss the NFL’s latest media renewals, which are worth more than $105 billion from partners ESPN, FOX, CBS, NBC and Amazon. They also discuss the NCAA postseason tournaments, which have been filed with upsets and accusations of gender inequality. They also discuss a potential Endeavor IPO and new chairman of Genius Sports.
23 min
448
LeBron Becomes MLB Owner / Basketball Players M...
Scott and Eben discuss LeBron James’s latest investment, an equity stake in Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC. They also discuss a social media movement by college basketball players on the eve of the NCAA tournament, a new ETF geared towards sports leagues and teams, and Tiger Woods’s return to golf video games.
25 min
449
Newest Billionaire Comes from Sports Betting / ...
Scott and Eben discuss one of the business world’s newest billionaires, DraftKings co-founder Jason Robins, who is now worth more than $1.2 billion because of the company’s dramatic growth as a public company. They also discuss the money behind March Madness, the NCAA’s main revenue driver; new technology helping arenas re-open to fans; and China’s offer to vaccinate athletes for both the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
23 min
450
XFL Delays 2022 Relaunch / LeBron Nike Brand’s ...
Scott and Eben discuss the latest from the XFL, whose new owners have paused next year’s planed relaunch as they explore a strategic partnership with the Canadian Football League. They also discuss Nike’s new partnership with Florida A&M, which is a first for LeBron’s brand; and the NHL’s new seven-year deal with ESPN, which leaves the other half of the league’s U.S. rights still up for grabs.
22 min