Navigating Sports Business

Amy Latimer is the President of TD Garden, home to the NHL's Boston Bruins and NBA's Boston Celtics. After successful seasons for both teams in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down live events, and pro sports venues were among the hardest hit. On this week's episode, Amy joins AJ to discuss how she was able to overcome the challenges of 2020, and how TD Garden's business emerged from the shutdown stronger than ever. They elaborate on the future of live sports, including mobile betting in venues, and new forms of fan engagement. Amy also highlights the innovations, mindset, and hard work that got her to this point in her career. Details 1:50 - Adapting to COVID-19 6:30 - Innovations in facility management 13:20 - Mobile Betting 15:45 - Equality in sports 20:15 - Fan experience 22:20 - What's next for Amy? 24:25 - Following in Amy's footsteps 30:15 - Favorite memories from TD Garden 33:30 - Former athletes in the C-suite 36:10 - Rapid Fire questions

Revolutionizing the college sports media landscape and founding Host Communications was only the start of Jim Host's story. On this week's episode he talks about his time as a DI pitcher, his start as a businessman, and what he learned in his run for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. He also shares his thoughts on NIL and how student-athletes may be compensated in the near future. Details: 3:05 - The keys to Jim's success 9:45 - NIL 19:25 - Mentors and Kentucky legends 36:55 - Jim's Legacy Find Jim's Book here.

As an NFL player, DI Athletic Director, and now the President & CEO of the Green Bay Packers, Mark Murphy has experienced the sports industry from all sides. His interview with guest host Jeff Nelson - Navigate President and lifelong Packers fan - explores a wide range of topics that include NFL labor relations, winning a Super Bowl, and appealing to the next generation of NFL fans. Details: 3:30 - NFC Championship Game 6:45 - Mark's career background 12:45 - Labor relations in the NFL 20:40 - Winning a Super Bowl 24:10 - What's next for the Mark and the Packers? 24:55 - The impact of being a publicly owned team 28:20 - Changes due to COVID-19 30:00 - Sports betting 31:20 - The next generation of NFL fans 36:05 - Analytics 37:25 - Rapid Fire Questions

Andy Pierce, Special Advisor to Bruin Sports Capital, joins the show to discuss the role of private equity in the sports industry and how access to capital is shaping the landscape for 2021 and beyond. Andy also shares some of the great stories from his 20+ years at IMG working alongside industry legends like Arnold Palmer and Mark McCormack. Details: 1:30 - Andy's background 11:15 - Private equity & investing in sports 29:15 - Arnold Palmer 34:15 - Current state of pro golf 37:25 - Rapid Fire questions

West Coast Conference Commissioner, Gloria Nevarez, joins the show to discuss the current state of college athletics and shares her thoughts on NIL, the one-time transfer rule, and why conferences and athletic departments tend to lag when it comes to racial and gender diversity. Under Gloria's leadership, the WCC recently created the "Russell Rule," named after the legendary conference alum Bill Russell. The rule attempts to increase diversity by requiring athletic departments to include a member of a traditionally underrepresented community in the final hiring pool for all significant job searches including athletic director, senior administrator, head coach, and full-time assistant. Details 1:25 - Current State of the WCC 3:00 - Esports 9:00 - One-Time Transfer Rule 16:40 - NIL 22:25 - The Russell Rule 33:35 - The PAC-12 Commissioner Opening 37:25 - Rapid Fire Questions Click Here to learn more about Dr. Rick Hodes Medical Programs and help raise money for spinal surgeries for children in Ethiopia.

Tod Leiweke - CEO of the Seattle Kraken - is an accomplished sports executive with an impressive résumé and a compelling personal story. He has held leadership positions at the Seahawks, Sounders, Trail Blazers, Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, and the NFL. He is also a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders. This week's episode features a great conversation about Tod's path from being a child in St. Louis to becoming a sports industry leader. He and AJ also discuss the excitement and challenges of launching a new NHL team, and the vision that Tod has for the Kraken. Details 1:20 - Tod's background 7:15 - Overcoming adversity 12:30 - Tod's experience with the NFL 16:55 - Renovating Climate Pledge Arena 21:20 - The return of the Supersonics 24:00 - Launching the Kraken 35:45 - Rapid Fire Questions Tod's Book Recommendation Idea Man by Paul Allen

College athletics has experienced a turbulent period over the last 12 months. In that time, Steve Berkowitz - Sports Project Reporter for USA Today - has covered coaches' compensation, COVID-19, NIL, and more. He brings his unique perspective on the sports industry to this week's episode of Navigating Sports Business. In this episode, Steve gives his outlook on the next few years of college sports, and how NIL fits into that equation. He and AJ also discuss journalism in the 21st century and the relationship between the speed and accuracy of reporting. Details 2:15 - Steve's Background 3:05 - Coaches' Compensation 8:05 - The impact of social media on journalism 10:55 - The future of the NCAA 30:30 - NIL 43:40 - Rapid Fire Questions

Luke Bould, Director at Alacria, has been recognized as one of the top CMOs in Australia. He has had enormous success in bringing new generations of sports fans to cricket and soccer. He also played a role in Australia's successful bid to host the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023. He and AJ discuss strategies for marketing to a younger audience, the impact that sports gambling will have on the American sports business, and how the U.S. may be on the path to becoming an even more crowded marketplace for sports content. Details 1:25 - Luke's Background 8:05 - Cricket Australia and the Big Bash 12:25- The Australian sports marketplace 20:33 - The next generation of sports fans 43:40 - Monetizing sports gambling 49:40 - About Alacria 51:45 - Rapid Fire Questions

Major League Baseball's Chris Marinak joins us this week. As Chief Operations & Strategy Officer, Chris shares with AJ how his team overcame the challenges of COVID-19, and how the solutions they found might impact the future of professional baseball. Chris presents his thoughts on how cutting-edge technology can help MLB appeal to all fans, including a new generation of baseball enthusiasts. Details: 2:30 - Innovating due to COVID 12:25 - The future of baseball 25:10 - Monetizing digital assets 33:35 - The next generation of baseball fans 38:45 - Chris's background

Mike Haynes is an NFL Hall of Fame cornerback who played 14 years in the league with the Patriots and Raiders. He is a businessman, a cancer survivor, and an advocate for increased research on concussion safety. AJ and Mike discuss the early days of his football career, diversity in sports, the transition from player to executive, and why Mike is set on living to 125-years-old. Details: 2:05 - Mike's Football Background 4:32 - Choosing ASU 7:10 - Race & Diversity in Sports 19:39 - Concussions and CTE 25:12 - The business side of sports 27:17 - Prostate cancer awareness 31:45 - Tips to live to 125 years old