Finance Weekly Podcast

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Anne Worcester, strategic advisor to Major League Pickleball. Fisher and Russo also discuss the findings of the latest investigation into the National Women’s Soccer League, Fox Sports’ linear television rights deal with Major League Soccer, Jeff Zucker’s arrival to new investment vehicle RedBird IMI, and the pair detail their top sports industry stories of 2022.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Matt Gibbons, managing director of private equity at Manhattan West. Fisher and Russo also discuss the latest infusion of capital for global sports merchandising giant Fanatics, the record-setting contract for Major League Baseball superstar Aaron Judge, dramatic changes within Bally Sports operator Diamond Sports Group, a new round of funding for athlete marketing platform Opendorse, and heightened efforts by Genius Sports to merge live video and sports betting in the United States.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Adam Davis, managing director of North America for Two Circles. Fisher and Russo also discuss Merritt Paulson’s move to sell the National Women’s Soccer League’s Portland Thorns, the National Basketball Association’s embrace of new sources of team investor capital, accelerated plans to expand the College Football Playoff, Major League Baseball’s sale of its BAMTech equity stake, the Boston Red Sox’s jersey patch sale, and the departure of Lenny Daniels from Warner Bros. Discovery.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fisher and Russo also discuss Glazer family’s move to consider selling Premier League giants Manchester United, initial business results from the start of the 2022 men’s Fifa World Cup, Bob Iger’s return to lead the Walt Disney Co. and the impact on ESPN, revived dealmaking in youth sports, and Major League Baseball’s offseason free agency period.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Jon Middleton, chief executive of Nifty Games. Fisher and Russo also discuss the National Football League’s large-scale joint venture with Skydance Media, MaximBet’s decision to shut down its sportsbook operations, commercial issues surrounding the start of the 2022 Fifa World Cup, a new stadium deal for Major League Soccer’s NYCFC, and Liberty Media’s move to split off Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas. Fisher and Russo also discuss the still-turbulent world of sports streaming amid a new batch of third-quarter earnings reports, the strategic merger between Major League Pickleball and the Vibe Pickleball League, the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX that has led to a bankruptcy filing and dissolution of some sports sponsorships, the National Basketball Association’s move to heighten its strategic investment activity, and deepened chaos for prominent social media platform Twitter under new owner Elon Musk.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Kash Shaikh, chairman and chief executive of startup pro baseball league Baseball United, and Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, a Baseball United owner and board member. Fisher and Russo also discuss Dan Snyder’s move to consider potential equity transactions regarding the National Football League’s Washington Commanders, the star-studded investor group for golf technology startup TMRW Sports, new investment for prominent agency Wasserman, a historic high point in North American pro teams up for sale including the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators, and business impacts from the marked decline in the market for sports-related non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview E.J. Johnston, founder and chief executive of 3ICE. Fisher and Russo also discuss the first season for LIV Golf as it concludes, MSP Sports Capital’s deal with ESPN to acquire majority control of the X Games, new executives and funding for fantasy football-focused media entity The 33rd Team, the completion of Elon Musk’s $44bn purchase of Twitter, and Major League Baseball’s 2022 World Series between Houston and Philadelphia.

In this week’s episode podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Jon Stainer, managing director of Nielsen Sports in North America. Fisher and Russo also discuss significant schedule and ownership developments from the National Football League’s recent Fall Meetings, major moves by TelevisaUnivision and Peacock in US Spanish-language sports media, National Basketball Association superstar Kevin Durant’s entry into Major League Pickleball team ownership, FuboTV’s shuttering of its sportsbook operations, and the planned new stadium for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Sohrob Farudi, co-founder and chief executive of Fan Controlled Sports & Entertainment. Fisher and Russo also discuss rising athlete investment activity in emerging entities such as Major League Pickleball and Gym Class VR, renewed calls to expand college basketball’s March Madness, the ongoing sexual abuse scandal in the National Women’s Soccer League, the National Football League’s upcoming Fall Meetings, and Major League Baseball's trailblazing sponsorship deal with consumer cannabidiol (CBD) producer Charlotte’s Web.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Sandra Douglass Morgan, the new president of the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders. Fisher and Russo also preview the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season, including accelerating media change with the debut of the newly redesigned official NBA mobile app, developments in the forthcoming sale of the Phoenix Suns, and the New York Knicks seeking a new jersey patch partner. They additionally discuss the newly expanded Major League Baseball postseason, and the latest commercial implications surrounding the new American League single-season home run record for New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Arne Rees, co-founder of the newly formed Velocity Capital Management. Fisher and Russo also discuss the $30m (€31.2m) round of funding for Athletes Unlimited, continued change and turbulence in United States college sports, the National Football League’s accelerating push for greater internationalization, collector impacts surrounding the historic home run chase of Major League Baseball superstar Aaron Judge, and heightened legal friction between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Patrick Crakes, principal of Crakes Media. Fisher and Russo also discuss Robert Sarver’s decision to sell the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns and Women’s National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Mercury, Apple’s sponsorship of the National Football League’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, the upcoming 2022-23 National Hockey League season, the debut of sports-focused investment firm Velocity Capital Management, and the infusion of Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso into the sports industry.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Jim O’Connell, president of Athletes First Partners. Fisher and Russo also discuss RedBird Capital Partners’ sale of its stake in OneTeam Partners, the National Football League’s new collaboration agreement with the German Football League, Ares Management raising $3.7bn (€3.7bn) to invest in the sports industry, the pending sale of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels, and ownership turbulence with the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Steve Pangburn, chief executive of North America for concessions operator Sodexo Live!. Fisher and Russo also discuss a series of impactful developments in the fast-growing trading card and collectibles space including the National Basketball Association’s new deal with Sorare, as well as the start of the 2022 National Football League regular season, and seismic changes within the Major League Baseball Players Association.

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Tony Knopp, co-founder and chief executive of TicketManager. Fisher and Russo also discuss the $238m (€238m) Series E fundraising for New York-based ticketing company SeatGeek, RedBird Capital Partners’ takeover of Italian football club AC Milan in partnership with Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, expansion of the College Football Playoff, executive Ed Hartman leaving the United States Football League for gaming operator PointsBet, and the business success of MLB’s Atlanta Braves.