Welcome to episode 231 of Sports Management Podcast.

Today's guest is one of the most ambitious football investors in the world. Brett Johnson is the founder of Benevolent Capital, owner of multiple football clubs including Phoenix Rising, Rhode Island FC, and part of the Ipswich Town ownership group.

In this episode:

• Promotion and relegation in US soccer
• Why stadiums are the real asset
• How youth sports is the next big opportunity
• What it actually takes to build a sports empire from scratch.

And much more!

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Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.

Time stamps:

00:00 From Analyst to Football Owner 00:20 Why Phoenix Needed a Team 01:17 The 1994 World Cup Thesis 02:06 Why the US Must Perform 03:39 Ipswich's Back-to-Back Promotions 04:43 How to Run a Club Properly 05:26 Why Multi-Club Ownership Wins 06:44 Promotion/Relegation in the U.S. 09:02 Building a $140M Stadium 11:20 Creating a Fan Base from Scratch 14:01 Inside Benevolent Capital 15:32 Why Youth Sports Is the Next Goldmine 22:39 Advice for Sports Entrepreneurs 26:25 The Dark Days in Phoenix 28:13 Almost Losing Rhode Island

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