Lorraine Ugen's story is a must listen for anyone interested in the personal and commercial reality of professional sport.
Ugen is an Olympian who competes in her own brand; one she designed, manufactured and models, and who's building a community of fellow athletes who face the dilemma of competing at the highest level without personal sponsorship from the big sports apparel and equipment manufacturers.
 Ugen competed in the long jump at the Rio 2016 Olympics and captained the Great Britain team at the inaugural Athletics World Cup in 2018, winning gold in the women's long jump. For England, she anchored the women's 4 x 100 metres relay team to gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. As a collegiate athlete in the United States, she won an NCAA indoor and outdoor long jump titles.
As Covid hit, Ugen found herself without a personal sponsor, the income from which is one of the bases of a professional athlete's income.
The plan is to allow athletes to wear the Unsigned brand and attract their own endorsement offers, while fans buy it and support Ugen's growing community of sports stars.
You can find out more via UnsignedSport.com
We're joined by regular co-host Laura Weston, former MD of Iris Sport and a board member of the Women's Sport Trust. 

If you like the podcasts, sign up to the Unofficial Partner newsletter, that goes to thousands of people across global sport every Thursday. Or you can follow us on Twitter @UnffclPrtnr

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

We went to the NFL’s London office to talk with Brett Gosper, the former head of World Rugby who leads the sport’s push in to the UK and Europe. 

We discuss the NFL brand, the German sports market, what he’s learnt about private equity’s role in sport, the conversation around the big tech platforms and why Mad Men was not far from the truth when it comes to the early days of the advertising world, which is where Gosper started his business career while in Paris, while playing rugby for the famous Racing Club. 

Today’s episode is sponsored by our friends at Turnstile, who are asking a good question: do you know what your sponsorship is really worth, or are you guessing?

Turnstile uses real market rates to quantify the value every single sponsorship right within a deal, looking beyond the traditional media metrics to calculate the value of the Exposure, Intellectual Property and Direct Benefits.

This enables Turnstile to deliver a recommended transaction price that’s comprehensive, accurate and defensible.

So don’t pay too much. Don’t leave money on the table. 

Know the fair market price, and buy and sell with confidence. 

If you value your sponsorships, value them properly.

Get in touch with Turnstile at turnstilegroup.com

If you like the podcast, you’ll love the Unofficial Partner newsletter that goes to thousands of subscribers every Thursday, sign up via UnofficialPartner.com

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

Sean Bratches spent close to 30 years with ESPN, and then became Managing Director of Commercial Operations at Formula 1, following Liberty Media’s acquisition of the race series from CVC, the private equity group.

In November last year, Bratches announced he’d joined Greg Norman at LIV Golf, the organisation behind the Golf Super League, backed by funding from PIF, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. 

So this is a conversation about an attempted disruption to the status quo in a major global sport. We go in to the business plan behind the new venture, which regular listeners will detect, touches on several of the big themes impacting the sports business today. 

If you like the podcast, you’ll love the Unofficial Partner newsletter that goes to thousands of subscribers every Thursday, sign up via UnofficialPartner.com

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

Dave Roberts is one the primary architects of FIFA+, the football governing body’s newly launched global streaming service. 

It’s an opportunity to peak below the surface, at what the initial plan was; how it works and how that’s evolved; who’ll watch it and what they’ll watch; how and when it will be commercially viable; and what it says about how sports governing bodies view themselves in 2022.

If you like the podcast, you’ll love the Unofficial Partner newsletter that goes to thousands of subscribers every Thursday, sign up via UnofficialPartner.com

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

This is episode of ReThinking Sport, our ongoing series created in collaboration with Portas, the global strategy consultancy dedicated to sport and physical activity. 

Today’s topic is girls participation in sport and our special guest is Baroness Sue Campbell of Loughborough, one of the most influential sports administrators of the last thirty years.  

A former PE teacher, she was made chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust in 1995, having played a key role in setting it up. In 2003 Campbell was appointed as chair of UK Sport. She held this position for two terms until April 2013, presiding over Team GB and Paralympic GB's performance at the London 2012 games. Campbell was appointed Head of Women's Football at The FA in March 2016, and became Director of Women's Football in January 2018. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to sport.

Sue is joined by Elena Portas and Elise Kossaifi. 

Elena leads Portas work and wider research on health and physical activity, and has advised governments, cities, and national and international federations on their role in improving the health and wellbeing of society. 

Elise is a senior manager in Portas Middle East office, specialising in sports federation transformation, and diversity and inclusion in sports.  

If you like the podcast, you’ll love the Unofficial Partner newsletter that goes to thousands of subscribers every Thursday, sign up via UnofficialPartner.com

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

This is the first of a series in collaboration with Turnstile, looking at alternative ways of valuing sports sponsorship and other commercial inventory. 

The conversation took place at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club and our guests are Juliet Slot, Arsenal’s Chief Commercial Officer and Dan Gaunt, general manager of Turnstile. 

We talk about what a football club is selling, the hidden value of Intellectual Property, the role of the No More Red anti knife crime campaign and the burgeoning sponsor interest in women’s football. 

If you like the podcast, you’ll love the Unofficial Partner newsletter that goes to thousands of subscribers every Thursday, sign up via UnofficialPartner.com

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

What is the state of Rugby League today? Who has the commercial and political power in the game and what impact will this year’s Rugby League World Cup have in the game’s major heartlands of the UK and Australia.

These are just a few of the questions I put to today’s guest, Jamie Peacock MBE, who brings a lifetime of insight and expertise to the conversation, courtesy of being the most successful Rugby League player in Super League history, winning nine championships and four Challenge Cup winners medals for Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos, during a career that saw him captain both England and Great Britain national teams.

Since retiring from the game, Peacock has built a consultancy business focused on leadership mentoring and wellbeing, a subject very close to his heart, as Jamie will be running a 100 mile ultra marathon for Greenhouse Sports on Saturday 16th April. For more information please visit - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/runfortheroof

Today’s episode is sponsored by our friends at Turnstile, who are asking a good question: do you know what your sponsorship is really worth, or are you guessing?

Turnstile uses real market rates to quantify the value every single sponsorship right within a deal, looking beyond the traditional media metrics to calculate the value of the Exposure, Intellectual Property and Direct Benefits.

This enables Turnstile to deliver a recommended transaction price that’s comprehensive, accurate and defensible.

So don’t pay too much. Don’t leave money on the table. Know the fair market price, and buy and sell with confidence. If you value your sponsorships, value them properly.

Get in touch with Turnstile at turnstilegroup.com

 
 We recorded this episode of the podcast at the London headquarters of Two Circles, and we thank them for their support. 

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

The subject today is club ownership in English football and the ongoing debate about the need for an independent regulator following the UK government review in to the governance of the game led by Tracey Crouch MP.

Our guests are Nick Harris, John Scales and Niall Couper.

Nick Harris is chief sports news correspondent for the Mail on Sunday newspaper and has recently published an extensive report asking fans what they thought of their club’s owners. The results are fascinating and are available to view on Nick’s Twitter page @sportingintel. 

John Scales played in the Premier League for Wimbledon, Spurs and Liverpool in a career which included winning three caps for England. He is now an entrepreneur working across sport. 

Niall Couper is head of media for Amnesty International UK and is chief executive of Fair Game, a pressure group consisting of English football clubs seeking to change the governance of the game.   

There are close to 250 episodes of the podcast available by searching Unofficial Partner in your favourite podcast app or going via Apple or Spotify. 

If you're interested in sports business analysis and comment, follow @UnffclPrtnr on Twitter or Linkedin and sign up to the weekly newsletter that goes to thousands of people across sport every Thursday.

Today’s episode is sponsored by our friends at Turnstile, who are asking a good question: do you know what your sponsorship is really worth, or are you guessing?

Turnstile uses real market rates to quantify the value every single sponsorship right within a deal, looking beyond the traditional media metrics to calculate the value of the Exposure, Intellectual Property and Direct Benefits.

This enables Turnstile to deliver a recommended transaction price that’s comprehensive, accurate and defensible.

So don’t pay too much and don’t leave money on the table, know the fair market price, and buy and sell with confidence. 

Get in touch with Turnstile at here.

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

Today’s conversation is about Olympic sports federations and the challenge of building and sustaining audiences for their sports on social media platforms. 

Our guests are Jonny Murch and Stéphane Schwander.

Jonny is Chief executive of Red Torch, the award-winning research, digital and social media agency.

Stéphane is head of digital at the FEI, the world governing body for equestrian sport and a member of the Olympic movement for over a century.

Since 2017, Red Torch has tracked the performance of every Olympic federation on social media and the latest edition of the #SportonSocial League Table was published this week, and you can download it for free, via the shownotes of this podcast or go direct to the Red Torch website. 

There are close to 250 episodes of the podcast available by searching Unofficial Partner in your favourite podcast app or going via Apple or Spotify. 

If you're interested in sports business analysis and comment, follow @UnffclPrtnr on Twitter or Linkedin and sign up to the weekly newsletter that goes to thousands of people across sport every Thursday. 

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

Our deep dive in to the sports media market with regular co-host Yannick Ramcke and guests Murray Barnett and Charlie Boss.

Murray is founder of 26West Sport and formerly had senior roles at World Rugby, F1 and ESPN.

Charlie is chief commercial director of The Jockey Club and was formerly at the Walt Disney Company.

We talk about Buzzer, IPL, Discovery and HBO, Genius Sports and Pixellot; CVC and Ligue 1; sporting monocultures; Barstool and betting; Amazon, Looper, Facebook and the IPL auction.

You can hear previous episodes of The Bundle series by searching Unofficial Partner in your favourite podcast app or going via Apple or Spotify. 

If you're interested in sports business analysis and comment, follow @UnffclPrtnr on Twitter or Linkedin and sign up to the weekly newsletter that goes to thousands of people across sport every Thursday. 

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartner

We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday.

These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport.

Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here.

Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner’ on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app.

If you’re interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.