SportsPro Podcast

SportsPro digital editor Tom Bassam talks to Blake Lawrence, the co-founder and chief executive of Opendorse, to find out about the platform's plans in athlete marketing and run through some best practice in social media. The average athlete shares six pieces of social content a month, while the average team posts 30 times a day with one in three of those featuring a sponsor, so are brands allocating their resources properly? How do athletes avoid security risks and classic [insert sponsor here] errors? And what might changing rules in US college sports mean for US student-athletes?

Rugby World Cup 2019 is over, with Siya Kolisi's South Africa seeing off England to win the title for a third time.  Charlie McEwen, the former Lions COO now working with some of the sport's big brands as CEO of rugby at CSM Sport and Entertainment, steps off a plane from Tokyo to share his thoughts on the tournament and the future direction of the game with SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly (2.57). Venture capital, the role of sevens, and the innovative Rugby League World Cup format are all up for discussion. Then, after Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes confirmed another Formula One world title in the US, Black Book of Motorsport director Peter Jones returns (35.02) to discuss a new package of rules aimed at making the blue-riband racing championship more competitive from 2021, and also casts an early eye over the sale of IndyCar.

After a hectic few sports industry weeks, SportsPro editorial director Michael Long rejoins editor at large Eoin Connolly on a rapid-fire pod to catch up on a few stories that might have been buried beneath the headlines, but should be of real interest and consequence to those in the business. There's just about time to rattle through Manchester City and Nestle's vegan opportunism, the NFL's adventures in audio, the WTA in Shenzhen and the ATP's new Italian leader, Sourav Ganguly's arrival as BCCI president, OTT women's soccer service Wnited and the launch of Apple TV+. 

To mark the launch of 'Content is Queen: Digital Lessons from Women's Sport' - a new whitepaper from SportsPro and Imagen - editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by an expert panel to discuss how new media and best practice are helping to grow audiences across a range of female disciplines. Alexandra Willis, the head of communications, content and digital at the AELTC, International Netball Federation chief executive Clare Briegal and Imagen's Kerry Freeman discuss the importance of a comprehensive approach to content distribution, what goes into a careful and data-led strategy, and what excites them about the future in women's sport.

SportsPro senior reporter Steve Impey returns from a stint in Japan to update editor at large Eoin Connolly and senior writer Sam Carp on the goings-on at the Rugby World Cup (15.44). There's also time to discuss the implications of Eliud Kipchoge's two-hour marathon breakthrough and the NBA's communications breakdown in China.  Then IBB Polonia chief executive Bartek Łuszcz and consultant Alex Inglot - moonlighting from his role as an ATP Tour board member - reveal how England's first entrants in Europe's Volleyball Champions League are rewriting the rulebook for smaller sports clubs (31.53). From signing superstar players to streaming matches in Poland and maximising the potential of their events, they are using every available asset to break out of their environment and take their sport with them in the UK. 

AP global sports correspondent Rob Harris on the World Athletics Championships, and ECB director of women's cricket Clare Connor on a new women's sport initiative.

Havas Sport and Entertainment and Vivendi veteran Lucien Boyer on Global Sports Week and the future of the French sports industry, and World Rugby CMO Marissa Pace on digital plans for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

As the Rugby World Cup arrives in Japan, editor at large Eoin Connolly welcomes back Richard Gillis, the former SportsPro columnist, sometime agency operator, occasional Irish Times writer, and host of the Unofficial Partner podcast. On the agenda: how does sponsorship creative comes together around global competitions? What does Japan mean to the future of the tournament? How do rugby's touring culture and big eventers combine to deliver crowds? And will CVC and venture capital change union forever?  There's then time to revisit an interview from earlier in 2019 with World Rugby COO and head of Rugby World Cup Alan Gilpin, who discusses the logistical challenges and the commercial and sporting opportunities of taking the event to Asia for the first time.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly revisits another session from the Fan Conference, where he is joined by Tottenham Hotspur head of partnerships Fran Jones, Huddersfield Town commercial director Sean Jarvis, and Sponsor.Online managing partner Maximillian von Portatius to talk about disruption in soccer sponsorship. On the agenda: Spurs' search for a naming rights partner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, getting Beavertown beer in that new ground, Huddersfield's mischievous activation of their shirt sponsorship deal with bookmaker Paddy Power, what brings brands and teams together, and plenty more besides.

The inaugural SportsPro Fan Conference ends with The Big Debate at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by Whistle's international managing director Jeff Nathenson, Copa90 chief business officer James Kirkham and sports consultant Drew Barrand to talk about toxicity in social media, the points where brands and hardcore supporters meet, bringing fans on the journey to new stadiums, and why anyone who's good at their job in sports media needs to know about KSI v Logan Paul II.  With the bars open in north London you can expect some strong opinions, and some strong language.