Mark Walter and the fire sale of his sporting portfolio has dominated the news this week after he sold the LA Lakers for a record $12.5bn in 48 hours. Now with his stake in Chelsea reportedly up for grabs, what would it mean for the club who has had its fair share of ownership troubles in the last few years? Add to this a look the simmering tensions between the PFA and the EFL as cost controls and player wages face off against each other, and a long awaited review of the booming world of padel, and we have ourselves a breakdown.

Disclaimer:

The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

It's that time of year again, join the Business of Sport FPL (code: p0z0sl) for a chance to win football tickets to a team of your choice + your own personalised Business of Sport shirt: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/p0z0sl

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It’s padel week. 135 shows in, and the most requested sport gets its day. There couldn’t be a better person to take us through the world of a sport that has exploded in popularity over the last 10 years than Nikhil Mohindra. A Team GB professional who is also building a padel centre, running a foundation to bring padel to those who haven’t or can’t access it, creating content on his YouTube channel, and playing with the world’s top athletes (Cristiano Ronaldo included), this is proper access to a world we haven’t explored. I know we say behind the scenes a lot, but this really is behind the scenes. Question I’m most intrigued by is whether the demand for padel at a participation level can create the same interest at the elite. Let’s find out as we welcome Nikhil to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Airwallex

The intelligent financial platform for global businesses

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In the week where UEFA, CONCACAF & AFC clubbed together to inform FIFA and Infantino of their collective stance post privatisation scandal, we have to keep across what it means for football and its governance structures moving forward. Add to this a look at whether Jeff Bezos type wealth really matters in modern football ownership, how LIV has reportedly managed to convince anyone to invest up to $300m in the crippled tour, and a long overdue deep dive into MotoGP after the British Grand Prix, and we have ourselves a Breakdown. If you want to hear part one of our Premier League season preview, looking at how each club is positioned heading into the new season, from our business angle of course, come and join us on Substack.

Disclaimer:

The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

We're delighted to also partner with the Global Institute Of Sport:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gis.sport/BoS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@businessofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Have you ever heard of the owner who’s the manager who’s been the CEO as well as the kitman? Well if you haven’t, you’re about to, and this is a serious conversation despite at times seeming comical when you read that out.

Marc White founded Dorking Wanderers in 1999 with a group of friends in the lowest division of English football, 17 tiers below the Premier League. In the last few years, they have got as high as the 5th, just one promotion from the EFL. Marc is still the owner, and the manager. His views on football as a business, how you can prove yourself without a background in the game, and building a club that does not run the risk of going out of business is one that anyone who tunes into this show regularly will love. As you will see, he is also a massive character. Time to meet him. I’m delighted to welcome Marc to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Airwallex

The intelligent financial platform for global businesses

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airwallex.com/uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gemini

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geminisports.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

After one of the most chaotic weeks in football, FIFA’s withdrawal of their privatisation plan would have been welcome news for virtually everyone, but what does that mean moving forward? Can Infantino cling to power? Does it actually matter when the real problem is the voting system? It’s time to look ahead as the dust settles just a little. Add to that a detailed look at West Ham’s ownership struggle as Amanda Staveley eyes an investment, and an update on horse racing after the huge news that the Jockey Club is leaving the Racecourse Association, and we have ourselves a breakdown.

Disclaimer:

The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

We're delighted to also partner with the Global Institute Of Sport:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gis.sport/BoS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@businessofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Finally we’ve taken the jump into the world of NFL as we welcome Brett Gosper to the show. The former CEO of World Rugby, Brett now heads the NFL in Europe and Asia Pacific, making this the perfect time to speak with him as there will be a record 9 matches hosted outside the US. It is also the perfect way for two Brits to get our feet under the table and get to grips with the business of the most successful sports league in the world. What can other sports take from the way the NFL has achieved that? What is unique to it? A very fresh conversation to bring you as we welcome Brett Gosper to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Airwallex

The intelligent financial platform for global businesses

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airwallex.com/uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gemini

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geminisports.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

This week we had a really nice show schedule planned out, but after the incredible news of FIFA looking to sell off some of the World Cup ownership, it was inevitable that the main topic of this show would then shift to that.

So it has been a last-minute change, but we will be doing our best with the information that we have to get stuck into probably what is the biggest football story since the European Super League from a business perspective, at least.  Add to that a look at the Commonwealth Games, which kicked off last week in Glasgow after Australia pulled out of hosting the event in 2023, and a look at the GAA in Ireland, one of sport's most fascinating stories, and whether the Premier League and the EFL can strike a deal before the football regulator hands in their first report.  Plenty to cover today on The Breakdown

Disclaimer:

The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

We're delighted to also partner with the Global Institute Of Sport:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gis.sport/BoS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@businessofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

It’s another returning great this week as we welcome Matchroom Boxing & Talent Agency CEO Frank Smith back to the chair. Frank was show number 8 on Business of Sport, and a lot has happened since. On top of deciding the sweeping curtains should be replaced by a buzz cut, he has been front and centre of a first class Netflix series looking behind the curtain at Matchroom, organised some of the biggest fights in the industry, and has set up Matchroom Talent Agency, signing some of the most notable but undervalued talent in sport, including Tom Aspinall & Henry Pollock.

There was an air of confidence, surety, calmness, whatever you want to call it, about Frank this time round. To operate successfully in an industry where I think it is fair to say emotion can drive and get in the way of decision making and clarity of thought, Frank’s approach is pretty unique. Whether it is putting on Anthony Joshua’s mega fights, dealing with the Conor Benn fallout, adapting to the changing face of boxing as the influencer category flexes harder than ever, the approach doesn’t seem to change. I loved doing this again. We’re delighted to welcome Frank to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Airwallex

The intelligent financial platform for global businesses

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airwallex.com/uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gemini

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geminisports.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

The World Cup marathon has finally come to a close with Spain triumphing over Argentina while seeming to do the impossible, uniting the whole non-Argentine world behind one cause for the good of football, and that’s got nothing to do with me being a bitter Englishman. What about what has been happening off the pitch? What are the biggest business takeaways from the tournament. We’re not short of content. Add to that a look at golf after an enticing Open Championship, and how the mysterious R&A oversee the non-US side of the sport, and the incredible record NRL deal as Rugby League once again shows its pulling power in Australia, and we have ourselves a breakdown.

Disclaimer:

The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

We're delighted to also partner with the Global Institute Of Sport:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gis.sport/BoS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content:

⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@businessofsport⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

In the week where Josh Kerr smashed the 27 year old mile record, we welcome into the studio the man who broke it 3 times, won multiple Olympic Gold Medals, brought the Olympics to London in 2012, and for the last decade has been President of World Athletics.

Seb Coe is one of the most influential and respected executives in sport. He has certainly had one of the most diverse careers, and that gives him the opportunity to talk through both the biggest challenges that athletics and the Olympics more broadly faces, but also highlight what makes them storied, successful, and desirable for both fans and brands. In Seb’s eyes, there are only two truly global sports. Harry and I have had the privilege of knowing him our whole lives. It was therefore great to finally be able to do this. Let’s hear what it really takes to balance politics, performance, identity, finance, all under that banner of sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Airwallex

The intelligent financial platform for global businesses

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airwallex.com/uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gemini

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geminisports.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]