Bloomberg Business of Sports

Mandalay Entertainment Chairman Peter Guber, who is part owner of the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Football Club, discusses a host of issues related to the business of sports, including what it takes -- and what it means -- to forge an emotional connection with the fans. He also discusses where the growth opportunities are in sports (hint: think population centers and media scale), as well as what he's learned from the movie business. Guber is co-executive chairman of Axiomatic Gaming, which owns Team Liquid. He also touches on virtual reality and how it can reshape the sports industry. 

Guber has a long history in the entertainment industry. Prior to Mandalay, he was chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, chairman of Polygram Entertainment, co-founder of Casablanca Records & Filmworks and president of Columbia Pictures. 

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On this edition of the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discusses a host of issues, including Discovery's Inc.'s $2 billion contract to show the PGA Tour internationally. The 12-year deal begins next year and includes TV and online rights to the U.S.-based circuit and the development of a Netflix-like video service. The trio also discuss a brewing battle between the New York Yankees and ESPN, which moved one of the Major League Baseball team's games to night from the afternoon, even though the club has a rainout-forced doubleheader the following day in another city. Also discussed is Serena Williams pulling out of the French Open prior to her much anticipated match against Maria Sharapova. 

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Vegas Golden Knights part owner Joe Maloof discusses a host of issues related to the business of sports, including his National Hockey League expansion team’s unlikely run to the NHL Finals against the Washington Capitals. He also talks about what’s driving franchise valuations in professional sports, and he touches on his team’s approach to in-arena entertainment. Maloof also discusses what effect it’ll have on business when the NFL’s Raiders relocate to Vegas. He also touches on legalized sports betting, and the probability of another expansion team in Seattle, and how hangovers factor into what's next for the Maloof family. 

Maloof is an investor in the Golden Knights, who are controlled by Bill Foley. The Maloof family previously owned the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, who were sold to a group headed by Vivek Ranadive. 

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On this Memorial Day special edition of the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr are joined by guest co-host Chris Russo, a managing director at investment bank Houlihan Lokey who previously served as senior vice president, new media and publishing, at the National Football League. The group discusses some of the biggest trends in sports business, including an in-depth look at what the Carolina Panthers sale to hedge fund titan David Tepper for a league-record $2.3 billion means for not only the NFL but franchise values in all of sports. The group also discusses the wide-ranging effects of legalized sports betting, and talks about a media landscape where increasing numbers of viewers are moving to mobile. 

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Professional lacrosse player and entrepreneur Paul Rabil discusses a host of issues related to the business of sports, including his approach to creating, distributing and, ultimately, capitalizing on content creation and social media. Rabil, the first lacrosse player to amass a million-dollar sponsorship portfolio, also talks about how technical innovation has given niche sports like lacrosse the ability to augment its fan base. Rabil also touches on which athletes (hint: LeBron James is among them) are best utilizing social media. He also talks about this weekend's college lacrosse Final Four, which features Maryland, Yale, Duke and Albany. Rabil, whose podcast is called ``Suiting Up,'' played for Johns Hopkins. 

Rabil plays professionally for the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse. He also plays for Team USA. The 32-year-old is also co-founder of Rabil Ventures, which provides capital, advisory and operating expertise to to entrepreneurs and companies at any stage.

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On this Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss Stephen Curry's attempt to land a PGA Tour event sponsorship, deepening his relationship with the sport of golf. The trio also discuss Justify's  attempt at a Triple Crown, including whether the Belmont Stakes will include the horse's toughest competitor (Hint: Both have the same owners). Also discussed is Uber's decision to sponsor the Washington, D.C. metro, which needs private donations to stay open late when there are sporting events like a Stanley Cup playoff game. 

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Joe Asher, chief executive officer of William Hill U.S., discusses a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the Supreme Court’s ruling that makes betting on sports legal. The ruling is likely to enrich every part of the sports economy, including team valuations, media rights fees, ticket sales and advertising revenue. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says it’ll result in franchise values doubling. The American sports-betting market is projected to be one of the biggest in the world. Research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimates that as many as 44 million people could place $245 billion in bets each year if all 50 states were to allow widespread betting. The more likely scenario, according to Eilers, is that 32 states would allow betting by 2023, with $120 billion in total bets creating some $6 billion in annual revenue for the sports book operators like William Hill.

Asher has held his current position since 2012, when William Hill acquired Brandywine Bookmaking, a company he created. He has a long background in the gaming industry, dating to when he was a teenager. Asher has held management positions at several racetracks. Previously, he was an attorney with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

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On this Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to free states to legalize gambling on individual sporting events. The move will unleash what will be a race to attract billions of dollars in wagers and heralds a new era for the major sports leagues. Sports gambling could begin in a matter of weeks in casinos and racetracks in New Jersey, which instigated the legal fight by repealing its gambling ban. The move could also assist media companies and drive fan engagement, resulting in even more revenue for teams and owners. Shares of casino operators and their suppliers jumped on the news. Americans place $150 billion a year in illegal sports bets, according to the casino-backed American Gaming Association. The research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming puts the number at $50 billion to $60 billion, not counting bets among friends.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein discusses a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the organization’s recent agreement with the Walt Disney Co. that’ll put 15 events exclusively on ESPN’s new over-the-top platform, ESPN+. ESPN paid about $150 million a year for about one-third of UFC’s total content, meaning the organization can still sell more inventory to a traditional broadcaster such as Fox Sports. Fox had paid about $150 million for all of UFC’s rights under terms of its existing contract. Epstein also talks about creating stars like Conor McGregor, global distribution and the entertainment value of the in-arena experience. A Las Vegas native, he also talks about the NHL’s Golden Knights, an expansion team that’s reached the conference finals in its inaugural season.

After earning his law degree at Vanderbilt, Epstein clerked for a Nevada state judge. He then moved on to a law firm, where he represented casinos and Top Rank Boxing, whose chairman, Bob Arum, is among the best-known promoters in boxing.

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