Bloomberg Business of Sports

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr are joined by longtime Boston radio personality Mike Lynch to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including a new report that many English Premier League players are wary of the efforts to restart games. Here in the U.S. President Donald Trump's White House has been speaking often with executives from the major leagues and tours, but we've heard less from the athletes themselves. Any conversation about resuming play, when and how, will have to involve them more broadly. Also talked about is the NFL's extension of its streaming deal with Amazon, which includes an exclusive game in each of the next three seasons, and the NCAA taking another major step toward letting college athletes market themselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr are joined by longtime Boston radio personality Mike Lynch to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including lessons from Taiwan's top professional baseball league, which just finished the first week of its regular season. The teams in Taiwan are playing in empty stadiums, with mannequins, rock music and robot drummers helping enhance the atmosphere. All told there are 150-200 people in the stadium at one time, and players are allowed to live with their families -- though the league has said it will halt play if one person associated with the game tests positive. Also talked about is UFC's new plan to host three events in Florida in early May, and Roger Federer adding his voice to the chorus of people who think the men's and women's tennis tours should combine their business interests.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA agent Happy Walters joins Eben Novy-Williams, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the growing trend of elite high school players eschewing the NCAA for more lucrative pro offers. RJ Hampton, one of Walters's clients, chose to play in New Zealand last year and made over $1 million in salary and sponsorships. Co-founder and CEO of Catalyst Sports & Media, Walters also talks about the financial impacts of this suspended NBA season. That includes a reduced salary cap, and discussions about possibly spreading out that damage over multiple seasons.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr are joined by longtime Boston radio personality Mike Lynch to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Rob Gronkowski's surprise return to the NFL. The five-time Pro Bowl tight end will be reuniting with quarterback Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The news made the NFL once again the center of the sports world during a slow time, and cements Tampa Bay's status as one of the most intriguing teams in the league this year. Also talked about is a potential deal between MLB and minor league baseball that could see 42 teams lose their affiliation, and the upcoming NFL Draft, which will be held remotely using 180 different live feeds from around the country.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrProducer: Tim HerroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr are joined by longtime Boston radio personality Mike Lynch to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including this weekend's debut of ESPN's new documentary about Michael Jordan, "The Last Dance." ESPN sped up production of the 10-part series so that it could fill some of the programming void left by the absence of live sports, and the show's success ratings-wise will shed light on just how much ESPN can do to keep sports fan engaged during the Covid-19 pandemic. Also talked about is the NBA's development league becoming a more viable alternative for elite high school basketball players, and the various ways that different colleges are starting to address expected revenue loss due to the virus.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrProducer: Charles VollmerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle McKenna, the NFL's Chief Information Officer, joins Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including next week's NFL Draft, which will be conducted and broadcast digitally. Featuring over a 100 different feeds from NFL coaches, GMs, fans and prospects, the draft telecast will be a totally unique experience for those participating and those watching at home. McKenna discusses the thousands of dollars of equipment shipped to each of the 58 draft prospects who will be on camera, plus the other intricacies of putting the event together at a time of remote working and social distancing. She also talks about what aspects of the telecast may become a feature of future drafts even when they are back to being held in person.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrProducer: Charlie VollmerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including plans by some sports teams in Asia and Europe to put mannequins in their stands as replacements for fans. Germany soccer club Borussia Monchengladbach is letting fans buy cardboard cutouts with their own photos, to show their support from afar. The efforts serve two purposes -- to keep fans engaged, and to liven the atmosphere if games resume without spectators. Also discussed is President Donald Trump's new 'Opening the Country' council, which is full of sports commissioners and owners, and an ugly incident over the weekend involving Nascar driver Kyle Larson, who used a racial slur on an open mic while competing in an iRacing event.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrProducer: Charles VollmerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the XFL shuttering operations after less than one full season. The professional football league launched this year by Vince McMahon got about halfway through its inaugural season before it stopped playing games due to the coronavirus outbreak. It was hit doubly by the virus -- with games being unplayable and McMahon's main asset, WWE, also falling under financial stress. Also talked about is Walt Disney Co.'s role in the UFC abandoning its plans to hold upcoming events on tribal land in California, and reports about NBA executives and medial personnel discussing a potential 25-day program for getting players ready to play once games can be held again.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrProducer: Charlie VollmerRunning time 15:07See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danny Zausner, COO of the facility that hosts the U.S. Open tennis tournament, joins Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including how different parts of the National Tennis Center are being used in New York City's fight against the coronavirus outbreak. One of the venue's main stadiums is being used to package meals, and an indoor training area is being repurposed into a temporary hospital with hundreds of beds. The facilities were offered free of charge, in what Zausner called an "easy' decision. He also discusses the United States Tennis Association's plans for the U.S. Open, which remains on schedule for the end of the summer, and how revenue from that event helps fund tennis programs and youth initiatives year-round.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrProducer: Tim HerroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr are joined by longtime Boston radio personality Mike Lynch to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the UFC's decision to host an event in two weeks on tribal land in California. Like many in the sports world, UFC is likely feeling financial pressure to host events in some capacity so that viewers can watch them from their couches. UFC is owned by talent agency and media giant Endeavor, and a pair of private equity firms. Also talked about is a lawsuit filed by minority owners of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who say they're being illegally forced to sell their small stakes in the team, and a bizarre sequence from Tuesday night when FanDuel briefly posted, then removed, betting odds on the 2020 presidential election for its gambling clients in West Virginia.Hosts: Eben Novy-Williams and Michael BarrProducer: Tim HerroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.