Today's podcast breaks down the $1 billion real estate empire of Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves. Most sports teams are still trying to figure out how to sell more tickets and sponsorships, but the Braves have built a billion-dollar real estate business in the form of The Battery, the team's mixed-use development located outside of Truist Park. I break down precisely how sports teams like the Braves make money. I use data to dig into the team’s most important details — payroll, ticket sal...
Aug 13, 2025•10 min•Ep. 465
Today's podcast uncovers a billionaire tax trick is influencing record-high sports franchise valuations. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill almost single-handedly crushed sports valuations in the United States. But then, some of the country's most powerful team owners lobbied to stop it. I explain how this tax trick works, how sports teams owners were able to stop a new tax provision related to sports franchise acquisitions in the One Big Beautiful Bill and what might happen moving ...
Aug 08, 2025•9 min•Ep. 464
Today's podcast breaks down the NFL's recent deal to give control of iconic NFL Media properties like NFL Network and NFL RedZone to ESPN in exchange for a 10% equity stake in the network. The deal is a groundbreaking equity swap. And while studio shows and streaming rights are nice, there’s one underreported benefit that might be the most valuable of all that I walk through in this episode. Enjoy!
Aug 06, 2025•8 min•Ep. 463
Today's podcast looks at the economics behind a new $62 million high school football stadium that has sparked a national debate. Buford High School's new football stadium looks like it could be on a college campus. But beneath the amenities, the stadium's construction is a story of taxes, politics and a shift in the future of high school sports. I explain why these expensive high school football stadiums are being built and, more importantly, how these stadiums are being approved. How are school...
Aug 04, 2025•9 min•Ep. 462
Today's podcast features an interview with Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive and the current general manager of the University of North Carolina football program being led by new head coach and 8-time Super Bowl champion, Bill Belichick. Michael and I discuss how UNC is building an NFL-style program in college football, the biggest challenges for UNC so far in recruiting, how the school is spending its $20.5 million NIL budget for student-athletes, what the future of college football migh...
Jul 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 461
Today's podcast looks at Real Madrid's decision to renovate its 75-year-old Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and why the project will go down as one of the best sports business moves of the last decade. I break down how the club's decision to borrow millions for its stadium renovation ultimately resulted in new revenue streams, slashed debt, and changed the way football clubs think about infrastructure. I also review Real Madrid's 2024-25 financials in detail, which include a record $1.4 billion in rev...
Jul 25, 2025•9 min•Ep. 460
Today's podcast features an interview with USA Today Sports Columnist Christine Brennan about her new book, On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports. Christine and I discuss insights from her book on Clark's superstardom and her influence on the rise of women's sports, including how the WNBA was unprepared for Clark's arrival into the league, the strange turn of events that led to the WNBA providing charter flights to players after Clark's arrival, why Clark was snubbed fr...
Jul 22, 2025•47 min•Ep. 459
Today's podcast is a deep dive into Hawk-Eye — the high-tech camera system used to judge line calls in tennis, goals in soccer and first downs in the NFL starting with the 2025 season. I cover everything you need to know about Hawk-Eye, including how the technology actually works, its margin of error, the cost of installation, the company’s ownership structure, how the business makes money, and so much more. Enjoy!
Jul 18, 2025•10 min•Ep. 458
Today's podcast breaks down the NBA's new salary cap system, which was the brainchild of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. I explain exactly what Silver changed in the NBA’s most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement, how the new salary cap system influences roster construction, what teams will be forced to do instead, and how the system could potentially impact the NBA’s popularity. Enjoy!
Jul 16, 2025•10 min•Ep. 457
Today's podcast explains how Cadillac is preparing for its Formula 1 debut. We discuss F1's application process, real estate projects, budgets, headcount, driver rumors, and so much more.
Jul 12, 2025•11 min•Ep. 456
The Tour de France breaks bodies, burns calories, and somehow turns massive profits without charging fans a dime. Today's podcast breaks down the business behind cycling's most famous event.
Jul 11, 2025•11 min•Ep. 455
Congress just passed a provision that could destroy professional gambling in the U.S. Today's podcast breaks down what it all means (and why some sportsbooks appear to be cheering it on).
Jul 09, 2025•10 min•Ep. 454
Today’s podcast analyzes the sports marketing strategy of billion-dollar luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. LVMH spends $300 million a year on sports, but it’s not just advertising. I break down how the luxury giant is creatively rewriting the industry's sponsorship rules with its 75 brands — including Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer, Moët & Chandon, Tiffany & Co., and others — through partnerships with sporting events, leagues, teams and athletes. Enjoy!
Jul 07, 2025•8 min•Ep. 453
Today’s podcast is a detailed breakdown of Wimbledon. I peel back the curtain on Wimbledon’s most interesting and secretive details, and cover everything you could possibly imagine about the most prestigious tournament in tennis. This includes a breakdown of Wimbledon’s revenue streams, a look at the 160 high-tech cameras used to broadcast the event, how the groundscrew prepares the courts each year, why no matches can be played after 11 pm, the club’s membership process, and so much more. Enjoy...
Jul 04, 2025•20 min•Ep. 452
Today's podcast goes behind the scenes of Hollywood's new "F1" movie starring Brad Pitt. I break down all the interesting details of the film, including its budget, the real sponsorships sold for the movie's fictional APXGP team, how the film crew captured footage at real F1 races, the state-of-the-art cameras embedded in the movie's cars, and so much more. Enjoy!
Jun 26, 2025•11 min•Ep. 451
Today's podcast breaks down the PGA Tour's hiring of longtime NFL executive Brian Rolapp as its first-ever CEO. I look at why Rolapp was chosen by the PGA Tour to lead its organization, what he accomplished in his time with the NFL, why he chose to leave the world’s most profitable sports league for one currently going through a civil war with LIV Golf, how the PGA Tour’s recent $3 billion fundraise impacted Rolapp's hiring, what his biggest priorities will be on day one, and much more. Enjoy!...
Jun 24, 2025•9 min•Ep. 450
Today's podcast covers the recent $10 billion sale of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers to LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter and how the late Jerry Buss helped turn the franchise into a massive empire. I cover the details behind Mark Walter's purchase of the Lakers from the Buss family, how Jerry Buss rose from extreme poverty to build a real estate empire, the historic deal that landed Buss the Lakers, the LA Kings, the Inglewood Forum and a 13,000-acre ranch, and how Buss' creation of the “Showtime” Lak...
Jun 20, 2025•14 min•Ep. 449
Today's podcast is a deep dive into the House v. NCAA settlement, which will pave the way for universities and colleges to directly pay their student-athletes. The House v. NCAA settlement was recently approved and it represents one of the most significant changes in the history of college sports. So, I break down all the details of the settlement, including the $2.8 billion in backpay going to current and former athletes, the new $20.5 million spending cap for college athletic programs, how the...
Jun 18, 2025•13 min•Ep. 448
Today’s podcast takes an inside look at Oakmont Country Club, the host of this weekend’s US Open golf tournament. Oakmont is one of the country’s most historic golf courses and will host the US Open for a record 10th time this weekend — more than any other golf course in the United States. I break down Oakmont’s storied history, financials, challenging course layout, the course’s recent redesign, and dozens of other interesting facts behind the 122-year-old country club. Enjoy!
Jun 12, 2025•11 min•Ep. 447
Today's podcast is an interview with Fanatics Founder & CEO Michael Rubin. Michael and I discuss multiple topics related to the business of Fanatics, including Fanatics Fest, how the company is integrating sports betting and collectibles into its wider e-commerce business, how Fanatics plans to grow its sports betting business overall, and who Michael thinks is the biggest needle mover of selling merchandise in sports. Enjoy!
Jun 06, 2025•28 min•Ep. 446
Today’s podcast is an interview with Ben Johnson, the Chief Revenue Officer of SailGP, a high-speed, international sailing championship founded by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Olympic yachtsman Sir Russell Coutts that is currently in its fifth season. I talk to Ben about SailGP’s competition format, the business model of SailGP, how the league has grown so quickly, and so much more. Enjoy!
Jun 04, 2025•32 min•Ep. 445
Today’s podcast breaks down how Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand helped Paris Saint-German become a $4.5 billion football club. I look at how PSG went from an unknown European club to one of the most popular teams in the world on the back of an Air Jordan partnership that began in 2018. Enjoy!
May 30, 2025•9 min•Ep. 444
Today’s podcast breaks down the resurgence of the Williams F1 team under team principal James Vowles, the former right-hand man of Toto Wolff at Mercedes. I look at the changes Vowles has made since 2023 to rebuild one of F1’s most historic teams from the ground up, taking Williams Racing from a bottom dweller in the standings to a top 5 team this season. Enjoy!
May 29, 2025•12 min•Ep. 443
Today’s podcast breaks down the unique and controversial training methods of 24-time tennis Grand Slam winner, Novak Djokovic. Djokovic turned 38 earlier this week, so I look at how the Serbian has evolved his training methods over the past decade to stay elite well into his late 30s. I analyze his diet, the team of health specialists he relies on, the data and technology he uses to improve his performance, and more. Enjoy!
May 23, 2025•8 min•Ep. 442
Today's podcast looks at the sales process of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers were recently put up for sale by Jody Allen, the controlling owner of the franchise and the sister of Paul Allen, the billionaire Microsoft co-founder who passed away in 2018. Paul Allen left the Trail Blazers and the NFL's Seattle Seahawks to Jody in his will, which included a stipulation that both teams needed to be sold with all proceeds going to charity. And now that the Trail Blazers are offici...
May 19, 2025•6 min•Ep. 441
Today’s podcast looks at the founding of the WNBA’s newest expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries. Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, the owners of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, paid a $50 million expansion fee in 2023 to bring the Valkyries to the Bay Area and the franchise tips off its inaugural WNBA season this year. So I break down how Lacob and Guber are using the Warriors’ $9.4 billion infrastructure to set up the Valkyries for success, including facilities, sponsorships, sales, marketing, ...
May 16, 2025•9 min•Ep. 440
On today’s podcast, I challenge the narrative that ESPN is dying. I look at why ESPN’s massive bet on their new streaming service coming out this fall could pay off in a big way and break down why ESPN is actually set up to thrive in the digital age. Enjoy!
May 15, 2025•9 min•Ep. 439
Today’s podcast covers how Ivy League-educated general managers are changing the NFL with analytics. I look at how NFL teams have gone from trusting scouts and gut instincts to hiring financial traders, data scientists and Ivy League graduates to lead their football operations. And, I break down how analytics have changed the NFL forever. Enjoy!
May 14, 2025•13 min•Ep. 438
Today's podcast assesses whether Formula 1 has already peaked or not in the United States. I analyze if F1's popularity is fading in the U.S. or just entering a new phase by looking at TV viewership, F1's next media rights deal for the U.S., and breaking down why the next broadcast deal for the motorsport could define its American future. Enjoy!
May 08, 2025•8 min•Ep. 437
Today’s podcast is a case study of luxury watchmaker Richard Mille and how the company used strategic partnerships with athletes to grow its brand. I break down the company’s founding, the rigorous manufacturing process of its million-dollar watches, how the brand uses scarcity to drive up the value of its products, why Richard Mille partners with athletes like Rafael Nadal, Lewis Hamilton and Bubba Watson, and more. Enjoy!
May 06, 2025•8 min•Ep. 436
