Bloomberg Business of Sports

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Tweet, Tweet: Meet the Woman Behind Twitter's Sports Sep 14, 2017

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Laura Froelich, global head of sports partnerships at Twitter, covers a host of topics, including her global search for content -- and the accompanying frequent flyer miles. She also discusses Twitter's portfolio of sports assets, how the company monetizes sports and whether the platform is a friend or foe to linear TV. Froelich also talks about social media's place in enhancing traditional sports broadcasts and why a younger demographic is appealing to advertisers.

Froelich joined Twitter in 2014 and became global director of sports partnerships early this year. Prior to that she spent five years at CBS Interactive, developing marketing programs for advertisers. The native New York also touches on her affinity for the New York Jets.

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$100,000 Helmet Could Become the NFL's Standard Sep 07, 2017

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National Football League Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice discusses a host of topics, including what he calls the league's mismanagement of player discipline for members like Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott. Smith also talks about the league's declining television audience, whether there's too much football on TV and, of course, the issue of head trauma and player safety. He also touches on the biggest myths about the NFL, which is the most-watched U.S. sports league.

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Red Sox Are Fine Leaving Gobs of Money on the Table Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

Boston Red Sox Chief Executive Officer Sam Kennedy talks about the business behind the Major League Baseball team, including how management has sought to make historic Fenway Park not only more welcoming, but profitable. He also discusses the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry and how the baseball team fits into owner John Henry's global sports and entertainment holdings: Liverpool FC, the New England Sports Network and Roush Fenway Racing. Kennedy also talks about diversifying the events at Fenway, and what it was like going to high school with former Red Sox executive Theo Epstein.

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(Insert Your Nickname Here) Shows Baseball's Road Map Aug 24, 2017

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Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, talks about Players Weekend, during which his membership will wear nicknames on the back of their jerseys. They'll sport alternate jerseys inspired by youth league designs. MLB has also allowed the players to wear custom-designed flashy equipment that shows personality in the sport's latest attempt to reach and connect with a younger audience. Clark also talks about his union's history of labor strife, technology and, of course, his too-hard, not-hard-enough hit in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series at Fenway Park.

Clark is the first former player to head the MLB Players Association. A former player representative while active, Clark joined the union in 2010 after a 15-year playing career in which he hit .262 with 251 home runs and 824 runs batted in.

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Mayweather Vs. McGregor Aims at $500 Million TV Revenue Aug 17, 2017

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UFC President Dana White says the Aug. 26 megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will smash records in revenue and viewership. White also discusses the league's next television contract, which may include a nontraditional broadcast partner such as Facebook or Amazon. White took over as president of UFC when his friend Lorenzo Fertitta bought the company in 2001 for $2 million. The company was sold to a group led by WME/IMG last year for $4 billion.

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Millionaire Athletes Chase Billionaire Status Aug 11, 2017

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Andre Iguodala of the NBA's Golden State Warriors talks about how professional athletes are more than ever seeking to become successful investors off the field or court. A number of active athletes have taken their cues from retired jocks like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, who both joined the ownership ranks. Iguodala also discusses how playing near Silicon Valley has helped him to become an investor in a number of technology-related companies. He also delves into next week’s The Players Technology Summit by Andre Iguodala and Stephen Curry, which will bring together leaders in technology, venture capital and sports to share ideas and expertise. The event in San Francisco is presented by Bloomberg.

Iguodala has spent 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association, the last four with the defending champion Warriors. A 2012 All-Star, he was also the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 NBA Finals. He recently re-signed with the Warriors for three years and $48 million.

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White Elephants Won't Be Part of L.A.'s 2028 Olympics Aug 04, 2017

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Casey Wasserman, chairman of the bid group that brought the 2028 Olympics to Los Angeles, addresses the International Olympic Committee's changing approach to awarding the Games. He also addresses a host of financial issues surrounding the Olympics, including how L.A.'s existing infrastructure will prevent the kinds of white elephants and exploding spending that has marred previous bids. He also talks about the city's privately financed Games, and how the Olympics will actually help to ease the city's much-maligned traffic.

Wasserman is the founder and chairman of Wasserman Media Group, a sports and entertainment agency he founded in 2002.

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Lionel Messi’s Boss Eyes U.S. Billions as MLS Grows Jul 28, 2017

Show notes

FC Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu discusses how the club is trying to gain traction in the U.S., buoyed by stars like Lionel Messi and Neymar, whom reports say may leave Spain for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. Bartomeu, who took over in 2014, has held a number of positions at Barcelona, including the top post in the club’s handball and basketball sections.

Prior to that, Major League Soccer Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott talks about expansion, revenue growth and team valuations as the league heads toward its Aug. 2 All-Star game in Chicago, where MLS’s best will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid.

Abbott, a native of England, was MLS’s first employee in 1993. He runs the league’s expansion plans and is also spearheading MLS’s video review, which debuts Aug. 5.

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This Guy's Gunning for Ballmer's $2 Billion Record Jul 21, 2017

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Houston Rockets Chief Executive Officer Tad Brown addresses his role overseeing the sale of the National Basketball Association franchise owned by Les Alexander. Brown says there's been a groundswell of interest from around the globe, including China, where thanks to former All-Star Yao Ming, the Rockets are the most popular NBA team. Brown says it took Yao about 60 seconds to call after hearing the Rockets were on the market. He also talks about what drives the team's valuation and whether the eventual sale price could eclipse the record $2 billion that Steve Ballmer paid for the Los Angeles Clippers.

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Even Hal Steinbrenner Didn't See Aaron Judge Coming Jul 14, 2017

Show notes

Hal Steinbrenner, managing general partner of the New York Yankees, talks about the meteoric rise of rookie right fielder Aaron Judge, dubbed the face of baseball after his standout performance in the Home Run Derby. Steinbrenner also addresses the team's change in philosophy from parting with prospects for short-term gain to developing a minor-league system aimed at sustained success. He also discusses his father, George; management's globalization efforts; how much the team is worth; and how winning games fuels everything from attendance to television ratings. And, no, the Steinbrenners have no plans to sell the world's second-most valuable club.

Steinbrenner officially took over control of the team in 2008, two years before his father's death. The Steinbrenner family has majority control of the team, which includes a host of limited partners.

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