On today’s episode, I’m joined by Vansa Chatikavanij, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Present Ventures, a firm investing in emerging leagues, media, and fan-driven technology.

Vansa’s background is as global and multidisciplinary as it gets, from advising on water and climate projects at the World Bank, to building billion-dollar web3 infrastructure in Asia, to now shaping the future of sport through investments in companies like Togethxr, Unrivaled, and Good Good Golf.

In this conversation, we explore the investment thesis behind Present Ventures, why community is increasingly the engine behind commerce, and what the rise of alternative leagues and women’s sports tells us about the next generation of fans.

Timestamps

2:00 Vansa's Unconventional Path to Sports

05:00 Present Ventures' Sports 3.0 Investment Thesis

07:00 Investments in Emerging Leagues like TGL

09:00 Golf's Growing Popularity in Asia

13:00 The Role of Content Creators in Sports and Present Venture's Investment in Good Good Golf

23:00 The Rise of Women's Sports and Creation of Unrivaled

29:00 Togethxr and The Media Space Around Women's Sports

33:00 The Power of Merchandise and Community

42:00 Team Formats in Emerging Sports Leagues

The Women’s Sport Content Landscape

The Rise of Alternative Sports Leagues and Formats

When Community Powers Commerce: A Sports 3.0 Playbook

This is the second episode in a series of 5 focused on #Innovation and hosted by Leanne Bats, a former All Blacks and FC Barcelona executive now leading innovation for a regional sports trust in New Zealand. 

On this week's episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, Leanne is joined by Tareq Nazlawy, co-founder and CEO of Trace, a new product focused on recognising the 99% of fans who aren't at the game.

Tareq brings a rare blend of strategic, digital, and creative expertise to the world of sport from his early days at BCG to leading global digital innovation at Adidas, including its groundbreaking entry into Web3.

Now at Trace, he is building a new way for fans to collect and own the moments that matter most, digitally. Whether you're in the stands or halfway across the world, Trace captures the emotional electricity of live sport, transforming into verified digital memorabilia for fans to collect, share, and build identity around.

In this conversation, we'll unpack Tareq's journey, the future of fandom, how the technology can deepen these fan connections, and why sports organisations need to start seeing their global audience as active participants, not just spectators.

Timestamps

02:00 Tarek's Journey from BCG to Adidas and Beyond...

06:00 The Birth of Trace: A New Era for Fans

15:00 The 99%: Recognising Remote Fans

22:00 The True Size of Your Stadium: Engaging All Fans

28:00 Introducing Trace: The Fan Credential System

34:00 Case Studies: Formula One and ATP Tour Success Stories

44:00 Challenges and Misconceptions in Fan Engagement

49:00 Closing Thoughts

Additional Links

Connect with Tareq on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

This is the first episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS.

On today's episode of the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, Rich sits down with James Young, someone who has walked both sides of the line, from advising elite sports organizations at Deloitte, to living the daily pressures inside a football club like Sunderland AFC.

Now shaping strategy for rights holders around the world at Genius Sports, James isn't just a leader in the performance technology space, he's someone who understands the nuance of bridging performance insight with business strategy.

This conversation isn't just about tech, it's about why sports organizations sometimes get it wrong. And what the best do differently to get it right. So, whether you're a performance professional, an exec, or someone who's simply trying to understand how the future of sport is being shaped behind the scenes. This one's for you.

Connect with James on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

#Ad

This series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  

Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting geniussports.com/perform/

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Matthew Jafarian, Executive Vice President of Business Strategy at the Miami HEAT. 

Over the past eight years, Matthew has led one of the most ambitious digital transformations in American sports, overseeing the HEAT’s approach to data, technology, and strategy. But what really sets him apart is the fact that he hasn’t just transformed his own organisation, he’s also helping to reshape the entire industry.

Matthew is also the co-founder of 601 Analytics, a data and analytics platform born inside the HEAT that’s now used by over 20% of the NBA, the league office, and teams across the NFL, NHL, NWSL, MLB, and (soon) MLS. From fan insights to ticketing to food and beverage optimisation, it’s become the operating system behind some of the smartest front offices in sport.

In this conversation, we dig into how the role of data is evolving in sport, why teams need to start acting like the billion-dollar businesses they are, and what it means to build a company within a world-famous organisation.

Timestamps

01:00 - Matthew's Journey to Joining the HEAT

03:00 - Digital Transformation and the Start of 601 Analytics

08:00 - Expanding to the Milwaukee Bucks

14:00 - Balancing Roles and Responsibilities

19:00 - Solving Industry Challenges

24:00 Leveraging Consumer Profiles and Loyalty

29:00 Expanding into Europe

32:00 - Court Culture and Empowering Entrepreneurial Ventures

35:00 - Approach to Investing and Sports Technology

40:00 - Customer-Centric Growth Strategy

42:00 - Closing Remarks and Future Opportunities

Additional Links

Miami Heat: the basketball team turned tech startup
Miami Heat Tech Team Expands Data Services To NBA And Beyond
Miami HEAT boosts season ticket sales by 30% and saves approximately $1 million on operations

Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Rich Buchanan, a leading voice in performance strategy and one of the most thoughtful minds working at the intersection of elite sport, data, and leadership.

Rich spent nearly two decades in the trenches of professional football, first as a physio, then as Performance Director for Swansea City during their Premier League run. He’s since held roles with the Premier League, DC United, and Zone7, and now advises sports tech companies and delivers leadership masterclasses on how to embed high-performance cultures that actually work.

Today’s episode is a little different. It’s not just a conversation - it’s an announcement. Rich will be hosting a brand new spin-off of this podcast, The Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, a five-episode mini-series exploring the big themes shaping elite performance today. From workload to wellbeing, technology to team culture, the aim is simple: to bridge the gap between the boardroom and the changing room. 

In this episode, we introduce the series, unpack Rich’s journey through performance, and talk honestly about where the industry is heading next and what needs to change.

2:00 - Rich Buchanan's Journey in Performance Strategy

4:00 - Innovations and Challenges in Sports Technology

8:00 - The Role of Data in Sports Performance

15:00 - Leadership and Communication in Sports

24:00 - Launching the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast

29:00 - Future of Sports Technology and Data

36:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Additional Links

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Sukh Sadhra, Head of Marketing at Premiership Rugby - the top tier of English club rugby union and home to some of the most iconic teams in the game.

Sukh’s background spans roles at Betfair, Sky, and experience-tech company Pollen, where he led CRM and brand communications, giving him a uniquely data-driven and fan-first approach to sports marketing.

In this conversation, we unpack Sukh’s marketing philosophy, how he’s repositioning Premiership Rugby for a new generation of fans, and why the Final at Twickenham has become a sell-out event two years running. We talk creativity, conversion, culture, and what it takes to turn a rugby match into an unmissable experience.

Timestamps

02:00 - Sukh’s Journey

08:00 - Data-Driven Marketing Strategies

18:00 - Collaboration with Clubs and Centralized Data

24:00 - Joint Marketing Efforts with RFU

28:00 - Building Player Profiles and Social Media Presence

32:00 - Selling the Final as a Premier Event

41:00 - Influencer Partnerships and Social Media

48:00 - Future Focus: Rebranding and Player Strategy

Additional Links

The Gallagher Premiership Final is officially SOLD-OUT!

Connect with Sukh on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

This is the first episode in a series of 5 focused on #Innovation and hosted by Leanne Bats, a former All Blacks and FC Barcelona executive now leading innovation for a regional sports trust in New Zealand. 

On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, I’m joined by Lucy Trang Nguyen, Business Development Director for Emerging Technologies at Accedo, and one of the key voices shaping the future of immersive sports experiences.

Lucy has been leading the launch of the XR Sports Alliance, a powerful new collective founded by Accedo, Qualcomm and HBS, working to bring extended reality - or XR - from proof-of-concept into real-world fan experiences. Lucy and her team are helping sports organisations rethink what’s possible when fans aren’t limited by a 2D screen.

In this conversation, we unpack the promise of XR - what it actually is, how it could change both the at-home and in-venue experience, and why rights holders, broadcasters, and sponsors should start paying close attention. We also explore what makes XR storytelling different, the commercial and legal challenges of immersive content, and what needs to happen next to make it scalable.

Timestamps

02:00 Lucy's Career Journey and Early AR Experiences

10:00 The XR Sports Alliance: Formation and Mission

14:00 The Current State and Future of XR in Sports

27:00 In-Venue Experiences and the Potential of XR

30:00 Streaming Innovations for Euro 2024

34:00 Modular Viewing Experiences and Sponsorship Integration

38:00 Challenges and Learnings in XR Sports Alliance

50:00 Future of XR in Sports and Entertainment

Additional Links

Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode I’m joined by Leanne Bats, Head of Digital and Innovation at Sport Waikato, a not for profit Regional Sports Trust in New Zealand with the vision of 'Everyone out there and active'.

You might be thinking it’s fairly unique for a regional sports trust to have someone leading innovation, and you’d be right. This isn’t a typical role, it’s one that has been created specifically for Leanne - a former Football Fern, who has gone on to work with some of the biggest sporting IP on the planet in the form of the FC Barcelona and the All Blacks.

In this conversation, we discuss how she’s implementing innovation to increase participation in Waikato, a region in the upper North Island of New Zealand. We also discuss what she has learnt from her time with NZ rugby, her philosophy towards innovation, as well as who inspires her.

Timestamps

3:00 - Leanne’s Journey from the Football Ferns to the All Blacks

9:00 - Participation as a Form of Fan Engagement

15:00 - Engaging Younger Generations - and Meeting them Where They Are

21:00 - Implementing Innovation

29:00 - Innovators Who Inspire Leanne

37:00 - Future Plans and a Big Announcement

Additional Links

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Michael Israel, Chief Information Officer at The Kraft Group, where he oversees a complex digital ecosystem spanning everything from the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, to global manufacturing plants and commodities firms.

Since joining in 2019, Michael has led a sweeping transformation: from deploying WiFi 6 and 5G across Gillette Stadium, to installing IPTV screens and menu boards that unlocked new sponsorship revenue. He’s introduced AI-driven safety systems, automated raw material detection in manufacturing, and is now overseeing a 5-year strategic tech partnership with NWN designed to re-architect their digital backbone, all ahead of hosting seven FIFA World Cup games in 2026.

In this conversation, we dig into how he’s planning for the AI era, what it takes to futureproof a stadium like Gillette, and why the guest experience - from concession speed to TikTok-ready connectivity - is becoming a performance metric in its own right.

Time Stamps

2:00 - Introduction to Michael and The Kraft Group

3:30 - Applying Lessons from Outside Sports

8:00 - Capturing User Data

13:00 - Switching IT Provider and Implementing Innovation 

17:00 - Applying AI Across the Organisation 

25:00 - Learning from FIFA to Taylor Swift 

27:00 - Looking to the Future 

Additional Links

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On Today’s Episode, I’m joined by Andy Thompson, Managing Director at SailGP, an international sailing competition, where teams compete across a season of multiple grands prix (GP) around the world in cities like New York, Sydney, San Francisco, and Portsmouth. 

Andy’s career spans the likes of Deloitte, London 2012, and Americas Cup - where he was first introduced to both Sailing and SailGP founders, Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts - who aspired to create a commercially viable sailing series. 

In this conversation we discuss Andy’s journey, as well as the journey of this upstart league, which was only founded in 2019, but now finds itself with 13 races and 12 teams, with owners like Ben Ainsley and Kylian Mbappe and blue-chip sponsors like Emirates, Accor, and Rolex. 

Timestamps

2:00 - Introduction and Early Career

08:00 Founding of SailGP, its Unique Approach and Growth

20:00 - Commercial Strategy and Partnerships

26:00 - Team Ownership, Expansion, and Attracting Kylian Mbappe 

35:00 - Rolex Becoming Title Partner and Partnership Strategy

42:00 - Data and Audience Engagement

45:00 - Future Focus and Consistency

Additional Links

SailGP Names DJ Khaled as Chief Hype Officer 🎤⛵

Connect with Andy T on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠Here⁠⁠ 

Connect with Andy M on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠Here