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Business of Sport

Charlie & Harry Stebbings
Business of Sport
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  • Dominic Thiem: ‘The Making of a Grand Slam Champion’ (Ep84)
    This week we’re delighted to welcome Dominic Thiem to the show. We’ve waited nearly 100 shows but finally tennis has arrived, right in the middle of the US Open, which Dominic won in a 5 set epic in 2020. One of the few non-Federer, Nadal, Djokovic players to win a slam while those three were at their peak, Dominic’s career saw him win 17 ATP titles alongside the Slam before being forced into retirement at just 31 through injury. But in his own words, Dominic describes this as a ‘new beginning not a farewell’. From playing through the most incredible era tennis has seen, losing two French Open finals to Nadal and one Australian Open to Djokovic, receiving over $30m in prize money; this is a serious education that few could even think about experiencing. So how is Dominic applying this to his life away from the court, and what is it like for a tennis player when they move on from an individual sport that requires your 100% focus? As a big tennis fan, this was a special show to do with one of the most normal and humble athletes we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. A different conversation full of unique insight delivered through the sharing of stories that we all want to know about. On today’s show we discuss: The Power of Grand Slams: What makes the four Grand Slams such incredible events to participate in…and which one did Dominic enjoy the most? Playing Rafael Nadal in two French Open finals and the aura that surrounded one of the sport’s greatest ever players. Dominic’s triumphant 2020 US Open victory; coming from two sets down to achieve his lifetime ambition. The pain of loss and the 2020 Australian Open final defeat to Djokovic. The Finances of Tennis Players: Is the distribution of revenue from tournaments to players sufficient? Can you carve out a career for yourself if you are outside of the world top 100? The importance of capitalising on success to build your value as a brand off the court. A look at the ATP’s ‘Baseline Initiative’: does the effort to ensure players have a minimum fixed annual salary work? What was it like to receive his first paycheck of €4,000 just for playing in a tournament? How are the finances divided up amongst the players team when prize money is received? How it can cost nearly $1m for a young player to reach the top of the sport! The Tennis World Today: How important has the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner been to carry forward this next phase of tennis? The importance of academies and investment into tennis to make the pathway for young players easier to navigate. Is tennis about to see a LIV golf style disruption? What rules would Dominic change to make the sport more appealing to the audience of today? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!
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  • Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO Prem Rugby: 'From Red Bull’s Newcastle Investment to Building the Best League in Rugby' (Ep83)
    This week we’re delighted to welcome Simon Massie-Taylor to the show. Simon is the CEO of The newly branded Prem Rugby. The competition has faced well publicised challenges in recent years, with clubs going bust and broader questions around the viability of the sport as an attractive investment. But with attendances on the rise, commercial income flowing, major long term broadcasting deals and the Red Bull marketing machine as a new stakeholder, this is a competition looking forward not backwards. With talk of challenger leagues and continual disruption to the established order of rugby, this is a perfect time to understand why Prem Rugby and broader club rugby in England still holds the greatest appeal. The challenge is grabbing that opportunity; an unrelenting commitment to ensure when fans tune into the sport away from the international game, that this is the competition they turn to. Let’s see what the plans are. On today’s show we discuss: Investment in Prem Rugby: Why did Red Bull decide to invest in Prem Rugby with their purchase of Newcastle Falcons? Is club rugby a good investment when there are so many opportunities to buy assets in broader sport? There has been a new type of investor coming into rugby. Why is this important? Can you continue to run a league when clubs continue to lose money? What type of profile to Prem Rugby want to see from prospective owners? Improving the Product: Despite all the challenges the game has faced over the last 10 years, attendances are rising, media deals are getting bigger, commercials are stronger than ever. Why? The importance of attracting a new audience while maintaining the relationship with the existing fanbase. Why more isn’t always better; the challenger league conundrum. Aligning the global calendar to ensure a clash of major tournaments does not diminish the quality of the game. Financial Sustainability is Essential: What is the importance of good governance in rugby? Why understanding the responsibilities of each organisation and their executives will allow for a future of collective progress; rising tide lifts all boats. What did the CVC deal allow the league to do, and is more private equity investment on the horizon? How is the salary cap facilitating more responsible financial management? What does the future hold? Better financial performance and regulation to drive the commercial and investment viability of the sport. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA
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  • Michael Beale, Fmr Rangers, QPR, Sunderland Manager: 'Does English Culture Suppress Maverick Talent?' (Ep82)
    Michael Beale is part of a top crop of young English managers. At 44, he has already managed QPR, Rangers, and Sunderland, while also forming a successful partnership as Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Rangers, Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq. As virtually every manager quickly comes to realise, there’ll be some roles that work out, and some that don’t, but the most important thing to learn from the experiences that don’t turn out how you’d hope and come back a better coach and manager…there is a difference. Michael’s roots are in youth development, and has played a huge role in the development of both Chelsea and Liverpool’s academies over the years. Spotting, nurturing and improving talent is far away from the skills you may utilise leading a top first team, but for Michael, the root of everything is the relationships a manager has with their people and understanding how to build a culture that encourages development while maintaining an expectation to win. This is a look into football leadership unlike any show we’ve done. Don’t get lost in situations that haven’t worked for Michael; take a listen to the approach to leading in the modern football environment and what it takes to operate successfully in these now global businesses. A big thank you to High Performance who, if you’re watching, you will have noticed lent us their studio covering a last minute Business of Sport HQ glitch. On today’s show we discuss: The Roots of Coaching & Youth Development: How Michael’s journey began in a church hall in Bromley before moving into elite academies at Chelsea and Liverpool. The key traits he looks for in players as young as six years old, and why natural enthusiasm and competitiveness matter more than early perfection. The importance of relationships in youth development between coaches, parents, and players and how those lessons shape his philosophy today. The concept of “100 games” as the benchmark for players finding their true level. Managing at the Top Level: Why clarity of vision and remit from ownership is crucial when stepping into management roles at QPR, Rangers, and Sunderland. The demands of working with sporting directors, boards, and the media The reality of hire-and-fire culture in football, and what Michael has learned from the highs and lows of management. Why English football must allow mavericks to thrive. Global Perspectives & Opportunities Abroad: What Michael discovered working in Brazil and Saudi Arabia, and why culture is so influential in shaping players and footballing identity. The opportunities and challenges for British coaches abroad, and why he believes more should follow in the footsteps of Bobby Robson and Terry Venables. The ambition to return overseas in the future and the lessons learned from adapting to new footballing environments. Why he feels, at 44, he’s only just getting started as a manager, and what his long-term goals in football look like. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA
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  • Andrew Thompson, SailGP Managing Director: ‘Welcome to F1 on Water’ (Ep81)
    It’s a different take this week; welcome to Formula 1 on water! SailGP has become one of the fastest growing sports leagues, bringing sailing to the forefront of modern entertainment. The national teams that race identical F50 Catamarans go to some of the world’s most enticing coastal locations in a Grand Prix style format with millions in prize money on the line. The franchises are valued between $50m+ and owners include major PE and finance as well as consortiums of celebrities including Kylian Mbappe, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. As Managing Director, Andrew is in charge of the global water show as it continues to develop its product and fan base. But how do you successfully build and establish a new sporting product that delivers both the entertainment factor while proving financially sustainable? We talk about the competitiveness of the modern attention economy; the race is on (literally) to capture that audience and develop a new type of sailing fan. If you haven’t seen what SailGP is about, I highly recommend you take a look. Let’s see what it’s all about. On today’s show we discuss: Building SailGP Into a Global Sport How Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts created a commercially sustainable sailing league from scratch Why SailGP is designed like “Formula One on water” with national teams racing identical high-tech F50 catamarans The governance issues in the America’s Cup that inspired a new model Why centralising boat design, technology, and costs levels the playing field and attracts investors Ownership, Investment & Growth How franchise values have grown from cost-covering investments to $50M+ assets What makes the ideal SailGP owner and why passion for sailing matters The role of celebrity investors like Kylian Mbappé and the importance of authentic involvement The future expansion plan, from Italy and Brazil to potential markets like China, Japan, and Mexico The Business Model & Financial Sustainability How SailGP’s cost cap protects teams while encouraging investment in marketing and fan engagement Breaking even in professional sport: how top teams generate $8–9M in revenue Key revenue streams: sponsorship, branding on boats, hospitality, merchandise, and ticketing Why data sharing between teams improves competition and performance Fans, Media & the Attention Economy How SailGP is attracting younger fans through TikTok and YouTube Why 70% of Auckland event attendees had never been on a sailing boat The league’s broadcast strategy and challenges in monetising media rights Plans for behind-the-scenes content to rival Drive to Survive The long-term vision for 20+ national teams and global fan bases A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA
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  • Mark Devlin, Leyton Orient CEO: ‘Striking the Balance Between Ambition and Financial Sustainability: The Leyton Orient Story' (Ep80)
    Mark Devlin is the CEO of Leyton Orient, a team that’s been riding the rollercoaster of English football right on the edge in recent years. From nearly going out of business and dropping into non-league football to bouncing back into League One playoff finals, the fans have been on a ride the few would choose. However, new ownership and big plans to build both on and off the pitch make this London club a hugely exciting football proposition for the next decades. What has this journey looked like from the inside and how is success being built into the fabric of the future? Having been so close to joining the list that no one wants to be near, alongside Bury, now Morecombe and even Sheffield Wednesday, Orient’s struggles are another glaring reminder of the house of cards an owner financing model presents to the Football League. Mark is an experienced CEO, leading Brentford through the early years of their ride to Premier League consistency. His take on what is required to build a club for the community and fan while keeping the finance team happy is what sets the O’s apart, and promises big things for a fanbase juggling the mixed emotions of just being happy to still have a football team alongside a want and expectation to win. On today’s show we discuss: Recovering from Financial Disaster: They story of Leyton Orient's near terminal financial crisis; what happens when a club runs out of money and the owner will no longer cover the losses? Relegation to non-league football and the impact falling through the decisions has on a club. How do you claw yourself out of a situation like this. The stories are often of disaster, but Leyton Orient have more than recovered in the past few years. Are they in a better place now than they were before? The Value of New Ownership: What are the ambitions of new owner David Gandler and why did he decide to buy the club earlier this year? Where does the value lie in modern day football? What areas of the club need to be developed to both elevate the fan experience and make more money to fund the desired growth? What does it take to build a new stadium: from finding a site to financing a project in the hundreds of millions. Why this is an opportunity to build something that stretches beyond football; the value of a multi-sport model. Matching Ambition with Longevity: Finding the balance between financial sustainbility and ambition is the hardest part of modern football ownership/management; what is Orient's plan to chase promotion while ensuring the business is safe? How much does it cost to get promoted? The crazy finances of the Championship laid bare... What did Mark learn from his time in charge of Brentford and applying some of the model they have so successfully been able to implement to reach and thrive and in the Premier League. The ambition is to be a sustainable Championship club, but do they dare to look beyond this? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA
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