SportsPro Podcast

Gaming takes centre stage in this session from the SportsPro Insider Series. Hosted by Becca Henry, vice president of communications at Misfits Gaming Group, and with a panel featuring George Mead, Fnatic’s partnerships director, and Alex Nuñez, brand partnerships and advertising sales lead for EA Sports Madden NFL, the three unpick what brands can do to flourish in the expanding esports sponsorship space.  Topics covered include bridging the gap between traditional sports and esports, creating effective activations, the evolution of partnerships, maximising return on investment, breaking non-endemic barriers and how branded campaigns are treated differently in competitive gaming.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Nevin Truesdale, chief executive of the Jockey Club, one of the most important commercial organisations in British horse racing and operator of venues like Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Newmarket and Aintree.    With fans returning to UK sports events in larger numbers, Nevin talks about the summer ahead for the business and its vision for the years ahead. He also discusses a year of difficult financial restructuring, how a rebuilt Jockey Club team is now being prepared for the opportunities on the horizon, and the roles of data, betting, new waves of partners and elite athletes in racing’s future.  Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by managing director Nick Meacham and Tony Maroulis, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, to discuss two huge sports media stories. First up, they consider what the Premier League’s rollover of its UK£4.7 billion domestic rights deals with Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon says about the strategic outlook for English soccer’s top flight ahead of a period of digital transition, the health of the market in Europe, and the merits of the three-year sales cycle. Next on the agenda is AT&T’s decision to merge its WarnerMedia assets, including the likes of Turner Sports, with Discovery, which owns Eurosport and GolfTV. They ask what the creation of another massive media group will mean for the industry, what the implications are for partners like the NBA and IOC, and whether this creates a path to a more globalised sports offering. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

In a session recorded for SportsPro Live in April, SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan talks to Andrea Gaudenzi, the chairman of men’s tennis’ ATP.  They discuss the challenges of taking sports organisations through internal and external change – updating the structures within the ATP and tennis, and addressing wider industry forces through the media and fan behaviour. Gaudenzi reveals how his experiences on the court, as a former world top 20 player, and in business, particularly in music when that sector was undergoing its own profound transformation, have informed his leadership style, his attitudes to managing and coordinating expectations, and his strategic vision for the game. The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond.

Editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by deputy editor Sam Carp and staff writer Ed Dixon to talk through SportsPro's 2021 Destinations Report. The three assess the state of play for the business of hosting as major events and international tourism return, and also cast their eye over the cities that are effectively positioning themselves as leading hosts, as well as others hoping to do so. Then (29.42), in another session from last month's SportsPro Live, event content manager Chris Stone hears from Henk van Raan, chief innovation officer at Johan Cruijff Arena. Here, van Raan explains how stadiums can evolve beyond simply hosting events, what fans can expect when attending matches in the future and what technology they are likely to see more of in venues. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Sanjay Bhandari, the chair of English soccer’s anti-discrimination charity, Kick It Out.    They reflect on the widespread social media boycott with which UK sport began the month of May, how that protest came together and its realistic goals. The discussion covers how racist, sexist and other abuse has become so prevalent for some users of those platforms – notably athletes and other public figures associated with sport – and consider the educational, legislative and technological means available to tackle those toxic environments.    Sanjay also explains how Kick It Out’s role is changing within soccer, sport, and culture, and what the wider industry can do to make a meaningful contribution in the fight against discrimination.  Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by Hattie Park, sustainability manager at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), and Matthew Campelli, founder and editor of the Sustainability Report and director of sustainability at Touchline, to discuss how sport can meet the ‘triple-bottom line’ of social, environmental and economic impact. They talk about the challenges and benefits of working sustainable practices into sports businesses and how to change attitudes throughout the industry. They also cover the ways in which new environmental and community initiatives are being woven into operations, planning and the fan experience at Wimbledon. Elsewhere, there’s time to hear a pitch at SportsPro Live from the students at Sheffield Hallam University, winners of the first SportsPro Sustainability Hackathon. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan is joined by the hugely experienced sports and gaming executive Peter Moore: veteran of Reebok, Sega of America, Microsoft, EA Sports, and former chief executive of Liverpool FC; now working with Unity Technologies, and as an adviser to new owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny at soccer club Wrexham AFC.   In a wide-ranging conversation, Peter explores the many sides of leadership. He describes how the Hollywood takeover at lower-league Wrexham is about community impact as much as commercial opportunity, and dives into comparisons and contrasts of everything from talent to fanbases in soccer and video games.  He also explains how EA Sports rode out the digital transformation of its industry and, in an interview recorded before news of a breakaway Super League attempt in the European game, reflects on the privilege and responsibility of running Liverpool, his hometown club. The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam are joined by Minal Modha, principal analyst and consumer research lead at Ampere Analysis, to review day two of SportsPro Live 2021.   The broadcast sector dominates the agenda, with Tom recapping his interview with DAZN co-CEO James Rushton, after an eventful year for the global streaming service, and the trio discussing Discovery’s strategy ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with the new Discovery+ OTT set to come to the fore – as Eurosport president Andrew Georgiou explained in his session with SportsPro’s Nick Meacham.    There’s also time to talk about the emergence of Whoop during the pandemic and, away from the virtual conference floor, BT’s reported decision to sell part of its sports broadcast business in the UK.

In the first of two live specials, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and deputy editor Sam Carp are joined by Seven League consulting partner Charlie Beall to recap day one of SportsPro Live 2021. They listen in on clips featuring England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tom Harrison, Milwaukee Bucks EVP of business operations Raven Jemison and Matchroom Sport's Eddie Hearn, and discuss themes from the future of live events to entertainment crossovers, new formats and storytelling.