SportsPro Podcast

Tony Godsick, chairman of the Laver Cup tennis tournament, as well as long-time agent of Roger Federer, and event chief executive Steve Zacks join host George Breare on this special edition of the SportsPro Podcast. Ahead of the tournament’s arrival in London on 23rd September, the trio discuss the creative vision and continued commercial development of the Laver Cup five years after its inception in 2017. The conversation spans Federer’s influence on the tournament’s aesthetic and brand positioning, its founding commitment to format innovation, what to expect in London, and how the Laver Cup is serving a younger generation of tennis fans at a time when the sport’s following is only growing older.

George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by San Francisco 49ers chief marketing officer, Alex Chang, ahead of the new National Football League (NFL) season (18:28). The conversation dives into the new International Home Marketing Areas (IHMA) programme and how the 49ers are seeking to make use of their new active territories. Chang also lifts the lid on how the the NFL team is working with Leeds, the Premier League outfit that the 49ers have a significant investment in. Before that, the hosts talk about the second season of English cricket’s short-format competition, The Hundred, and what DAZN’s Primera División rights deal means for Spanish women’s soccer.

Kirsten Corio, chief commercial officer at the US Tennis Association (USTA), takes some time out of her busy US Open schedule to join the podcast to discuss the Grand Slam's data-led strategy. Before Corio dials in from New York (19:48), SportsPro's George Breare and Tom Bassam hit some of the headlines from the previous week in the sports industry. First up the latest developments from the PGA Tour's attempt to throw money at the LIV Golf problem, then some insight into what Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Golf venture could mean for the game, before a bit of discussion of what is happening in the world of online chess. Corio then joins the pod to lift the lid on how the USTA is approaching its first US Open at full capacity since 2019, its data-led approach to business intelligence and how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used across its operations.  The show closes out with some under-the-radar stories and a couple of listener questions.

Motorsport writer Cian Brittle brings his motorsport expertise to a special SportPro Podcast looking back at the recent BlackBook Motorsport Forum in London. Post event reflections are interspersed with some of the sounds from onstage and on the floor at BBMF, as the pod analyses some of the key themes to emerge from the Leonardo Hotel. Talking points include Nascar’s efforts in the entertainment space, the enduring impact of Drive to Survive, the future of decentralised gaming, sustainability and what the Hamilton Commission’s report has taught us about diversity in motorsport. There is also a bit of time to talk about sprint racing in MotoGP and a potential Saudi Olympics. 

SportsPro editorial director Michael Long is on the pod this week to comb through a week of industry news headlined by the launch of the Africa Super League (ASL). Alongside regulars George Breare and Tom Bassam, the panel discuss Fifa's role in the new competition's rollout, the ASL's vague finances and CAF governance. Conversation then turns to the National Football League (NFL) and how its increasingly close ties with Amazon may lead to a game being played on Black Friday. Also covered off are the plight of two brands - Cazoo and Peloton - who have major reach in the sports industry but are now having to plot a retreat. The show then closes out with a few 'under the radar' stories and listener questions.

SportsPro senior writer Ed Dixon, who recently penned a wonderful introduction for the second season of The Hundred, joins the pod to discuss the return of the ECB's short format domestic cricket competition. Podcast host George Breare, no stranger himself to the world of cricket, and news editor Tom Bassam also offer their thoughts on the competition, as well as its wider implications for the game. The pod then turns its attention to a selection of some of the biggest news topics in the sports industry, including Sky's disappointing Q2, the wild state of affairs at Barcelona and the latest in the LIV Golf's attempts to shake up the sport. The show concludes with the regular 'under the radar' section, including some discussion on Jake Paul's gambling startup.

The latest SportsPro Podcast sees regulars George Breare and Tom Bassam joined by features editor Sam Carp for a soccer-centric episode. Basking in the glory of the Lionesses winning Women's Euro 2022, discussion covers what happens next for the players, the Women's Super League (WSL) and the game at club level across Europe. Then, with the Premier League returning this weekend, the conversation moves to the big storylines heading into the new season, the growing gap with the lower divisions, as well as what Chelsea and Newcastle can expect in their first full campaigns under new ownership. To finish up, the trio look at some of the sports industry's under the radar stories and take some listener questions. If you have a question you want answered on the pod, get in touch via podcast@sportspromedia.com.

Making his debut as SportsPro Podcast host, content manager George Breare is joined by news editor Tom Bassam and Nathan Homer, chief commercial officer at the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), to talk about what the 2012 Olympic Games have left behind. Homer, who joined the LLDC in 2020, outlines the successes and shortcomings of the Olympic Park in the wake of London 2012, and shares some of the plans for what will happen in the next ten years of the venue's development. The pod then dives into some of the under-the-radar stories from the last week of sports industry news, before taking some listener questions to close out the episode.

To mark Women’s Sports Week across SportsPro’s platforms, Eoin Connolly speaks to Annie Panter, MD of Ventures at Two Circles, about how women’s sport can maintain its commercial momentum.  She explores the most effective strategies for women's sports bodies and their partners, and explains why rights holders need to focus on events and products that work to keep driving a virtuous cycle. She also reflects on how women’s sport has changed since she won Olympic hockey bronze at London 2012, how the progress of powerful sports like soccer will affect the sector, and what can be learned from recent success stories.

SportsPro news editor Tom Bassam and features editor Sam Carp join Eoin Connolly for another sports industry update, including a look ahead to the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.  They ask what impact the track and field showpiece will have and whether the sport can evolve to find a new place in the modern media ecosystem. They also consider Nike’s influence on a hometown event, and World Athletics’ plans to rebuild an American presence ahead of LA 2028.  There is also time to preview golf’s 150th Open and reflect on a busy week for world soccer in the courts.