Sports Management Podcast

Welcome to episode 227 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Alan Arlt, founder of Ultimate Hoops and co-founder of ARLT Consulting. Alan built a recreational basketball league into a highly-engaged sports product with stats, highlights, and experiences that made everyday players feel like pros and he sold it with an 18x return in under two years. In this episode, we spoke about: What makes a sports product truly 'sticky' How to scale without losing quality How AI is changing the future of participation sports. And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:58 Building "sticky" sports products with ARLT Consulting  02:16 From sports nerd to sports entrepreneur  02:59 The Ultimate Hoops idea (treat everyone like Kobe)  03:42 From 6 teams to 40 teams in under a year  03:42 Acquired by Lifetime Fitness (18 months in)  04:26 The Carmelo Anthony moment ("I think I'm done")  05:11 The 18x return (and why he didn't plan an exit)  05:58 The "sticky product" flywheel (daily engagement)  06:54 Passion vs practicality (unit economics matter)  08:22 The 2-step decision process (gut → diligence)  09:46 Why athlete partnerships are everything (B2A mindset)  11:51 AI changed everything (stats + highlights at scale)  13:28 How ARLT uses AI with clients today  14:18 Why this model works for every sport  15:06 The golden rule (people want to feel special)  15:45 The post-game interview that proved the concept  17:24 Why AI will create "1,000 Ultimate Hoops"  19:53 The mindset shift (leaving Discovery to take the leap)  21:36 Why side hustles are the new advantage  22:50 The biggest founder mistakes (too fast vs too slow)  24:10 Best advice for founders (just get started)  25:47 How to use AI without losing the human edge  27:07 Leadership style (do every job, stay in the weeds)  30:28 Hiring without a vacuum (team fit matters)  32:11 Scaling too fast (when it stopped feeling like Ultimate Hoops)  33:02 COVID shutdown (the hardest stretch)  35:25 Letting 85% of the team go (and rebuilding)  37:02 Guest recommendations (SportsVisio + AIM Sports Group)  39:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 226 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Neil Schwartz, President of SBRnet, one of the leading sports business data providers focused on fan behavior, monetization, and engagement. In this episode, we break down the difference between passive fans and active fans, why storytelling is the real skill behind data, and how teams can turn insights into revenue across tickets, merch, sports betting and more. Let's get into it. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.   Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:59 What sports teams can learn from Disney 01:50 What SBRnet does: business-side sports data 02:46 Doing data before data was cool 04:25 Data is now traded like oil + early pushback from execs 07:28 Black box data vs transparent methodology 08:44 "If you only use your own data, you repeat the same mistakes" 09:29 Data is like making soup 11:16 SWOT analysis as a decision framework 12:57 The hardest question: "Why?" 16:41 Cross-fandom + cross-category sponsorship strategy 19:31 Active vs passive engagement explained 21:07 Neil's Dolphins example: passionate but passive fan behavior 22:49 Turning passive fans into active fans 25:08 Good data use is good storytelling 27:52 When teams reject data because of anecdotal bias 30:45 Privacy + anonymized data + integrity standards 35:14 Pandemic: removing live attendance questions to protect trend accuracy 37:15 AI fears + why people must stay in the decision-making equation 42:20 Career advice: internships + networking + better outreach emails 48:43 Sports gambling needs guardrails 52:31 Gambling growth plateau 53:19 Underage gambling problem 54:45 Guest recommendations 57:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 225 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Vance Morris, and in this episode we will uncover what sports teams can learn from Disney when it comes to service and fan experience. We spoke about: How Vance went from a security guard at a birth control factory to working for Disney Why he was a lousy employee Why his business charges 40% more than its competitors Taking the leap to starting his own business, and his wife getting sick 3 days later And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.   Time stamps: 00:00 Intro: 02:21 From factory security guard to Disney 03:32 Experience design in boring moments 05:50 Engaging fans on non-game days 07:25 Linertainment explained 08:44 What teams can do between purchase & game day 11:18 Reaching younger fans with physical mail 13:01 On-stage vs off-stage mindset 15:26 Attention to detail & perceived value 17:30 Tellable moments & word of mouth 19:44 Systems create freedom 22:34 Cost of keeping vs acquiring fans 24:27 Why he charges 40% more 28:57 "The bar is set so low" 31:23 Service standards disconnect 33:29 Hiring for service mindset 38:19 Major career setback & resilience 40:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 224 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Ersel Aybasti – a licensed FIFA-agent, founder of Analysis SportAgents and the author of The Women's Game: More Than Just a Game. Voices, Structures & Perspectives in Global Women's Football We spoke about: Why he decided to write about the women's game Why women's football needs more systemic investment How he combines work as an agent, industrial engineer and book writing How agents can contribute to positive change in football And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.   Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:47 Why football alone wasn't enough 03:38 Trust between player and agent 07:26 Holistic support beyond contracts 09:55 Becoming a licensed FIFA agent 12:58 Entering women's football 15:45 Why the book was written 17:35 28 voices shaping the women's game 21:41 Managing pressure, feedback & growth 27:31 Why women's football needs structure 30:37 How agents can close the gender gap 31:49 Advice for young professionals 34:12 Long-term values over short-term wins 36:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com    

Welcome to episode 223 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Paul Epstein, a leadership coach, former sports executive and the creator of the Win Monday movement. Paul has worked with elite athletes, executives, and teams around the world, helping them build momentum through habits, identity, and purpose. In this episode, we unpack: Why Mondays matter more than any other day of the week How one simple action can change everything Which Monday changed Paul's life And much more!    SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.   Time stamps: 00:00 The 98% Monday momentum statistic 02:17 What it actually means to "win Monday" 06:07 Gym analogy: commitment over motivation 07:47 "Commitment begins when motivation ends" 11:43 The hero dedication concept 17:55 The Monday that changed Paul's life 24:52 Standards vs goals (win the long game) 33:44 Confidence formula: values × action 48:56 Vision of a global Win Monday movement 50:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com      

Welcome to episode 222 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Blaine Bishop – a former NFL player, 4-time pro bowler and a broadcasting host. We spoke about: Being drafted as an underdog Playing 10 seasons in the NFL Transitioning from the NFL to broadcasting Life lessons he learned from his mother And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 01:54 Drafted last & the chip on his shoulder 03:59 Why being doubted fueled his work ethic 05:51 Film study as a competitive advantage 09:15 "What do you have to lose?" mindset 14:24 First NFL start on Christmas Day 18:54 Super Bowl run & "team of destiny" 22:12 Making the Pro Bowl (unexpectedly) 25:00 Transition from NFL to broadcasting 28:16 Identity beyond being an athlete 36:04 Advice for young people entering sports   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 221 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Stef McLoughlin, Head of Commercial at Glasgow City FC, the most successful women's football club in Scotland and one of the few elite clubs in Europe that is women-owned, women-led and fully independent. Get ready to learn about: Purpose-driven partnerships Building women's sport differently Why copying the men's game may be the biggest mistake women's football can make And much more!    Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:22 What makes Glasgow City FC different 01:27 Using football as a vehicle for social change 03:28 Why women's clubs shouldn't be absorbed by men's teams 06:38 Purpose-driven partnerships explained 07:32 Dog-friendly stadiums & inclusive fan experiences 09:57 How Glasgow City avoids sportswashing 12:58 The "messy middle" of women's football 14:48 Why comparing revenues to men's football is a mistake 18:05 Building women-led commercial ecosystems 25:07 Entering football as an "angry feminist" 31:49 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 220 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest helped build the Olympic business model as we know it. Michael Payne is the former marketing director of the IOC, creator of the TOP sponsorship program, and widely regarded as the architect of modern sports marketing. In this episode, we explore 50 years of global sport power, politics, money, and what the next 50 years could look like. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:34 Why he wrote the book & invented sports marketing 03:16 FIFA had four employees 07:43 Cold War & saving the Olympics 10:17 Bernie Ecclestone vs Samaranch 13:16 Politics weaponizing sport 15:22 Sportswashing debate (China & Saudi) 23:33 Trump, the World Cup & LA28 29:38 His wild predictions for sport 31:46 Avatar stadiums 34:12 Tech vs the soul of sport 38:26 Sustainability & white elephants 48:35 Advice for young professionals 50:18 Business lesson: problems vs solutions 53:54 How great negotiators really work 59:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 219 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Joe Foster - the founder of Reebok. At 90 years old, he's sharing the real origin story for the first time. From hand-made spiked shoes to billion-dollar global dominance, this is one of the greatest sports business journeys ever told. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 Growing up during World War II 05:45 Winning races with spiked shoes at age 8 08:08 Grandfather invents the first spiked running shoe 17:00 Walking away from the family footwear company 18:49 Building Reebok inside a collapsed brewery 25:15 Creating direct-to-athlete distribution 29:32 Naming Reebok from a dictionary 35:15 First failed attempt entering America 41:08 Runner's World five-star ratings change everything 43:31 Birth of the Reebok aerobics shoe 46:59 Why Joe exited Reebok 57:10 Turning lawsuits into brand advantages 01:05:05 Joe's 3 rules of entrepreneurship 01:09:06 Meeting celebrities & reaching global #1 01:12:19 Why he wrote his book to correct history 01:13:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 218 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Luis Fernando Ramirez – the CEO of National Padel League  (NPL) We spoke about: Juggling being CEO of NFL with commercial responsibilities for Bull Padel Padel's potential in the US Challenges and opportunities for Padel The importance of digital broadcast and streaming And much more! Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:42  Why Luis rebuilt the NPL from scratch 02:10  The first version of the league — what was broken 04:03  How the NPL expanded to 42 cities 06:58  The business model behind the league 08:20  How Racket360 powers streaming + scoring 11:12  Creating the NPL pyramid: juniors → amateurs → pros 14:33  The partnership with USPA 16:48  Why amateurs are the key to U.S. padel's growth 18:26  Why padel is exploding in the U.S. (data + trends) 21:17  The long-term vision — becoming the MLS of padel 24:09  The future of pro padel in America 26:40  How to build sustainable leagues 29:55  Luis' advice for young sports professionals 35:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 217 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Joe Michaels – the former Director of NBC's Today Show and a veteran television production leader. In this episode we get to look behind the scenes of sports media productions together with an 8x Emmy winner.  We spoke about: Why sports media is a young man's business Giving back through teaching and mentorship The future of the media industry If AI will take jobs from the media industry But also how it was like broadcasting the 9/11 tragedy in New York This and much more, in this episode with Joe Michaels. Time stamps: 00:01 Intro 00:44  How Joe started at NBC  03:38  What a sports director actually does behind the scenes 05:16  Turning nerves into energy during live broadcasts 08:23  Inside a live sports truck  11:07  Lessons from the man who invented baseball on TV 16:10  From gaff-taped cameras to 200-camera Super Bowls 20:22  Directing "Brain Surgery Live" for National Geographic 26:34  Why sports broadcasters must understand history 38:46  The future of sports media and technology 41:29  Can AI replace directors?  46:30  What Emmy Awards really mean 52:30  Career advice 53:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com    

Welcome to episode 216 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Danny Davis, founder & CEO of Recon Sports - a platform helping college football teams use data and AI to build smarter rosters and develop elite athletes. We spoke about:  The use of athlete data in sports The risks of operating in college sports How military experience shaped his entrepreneurial mindset The mindset shift from Army officer to entrepreneur How he invested 10,000 hours to master his craft And much more!    Time stamps:  00:01 Intro 00:26  What Recon Sports does - syncing athlete data 01:22  Internal vs external data and identifying future stars 02:40  The hundreds of metrics collected across programs 04:15  The original idea: from high school analytics to college innovation 05:43  First client discovery and go-to-market process 07:02  Biggest challenge - scaling himself and training others 09:03  AI, digital twins, and the next frontier of sports analytics 11:19  Why consolidating data is the foundation of AI success 12:01  The risks of operating in college sports 14:38  Expanding into aerospace and other verticals 18:27  How military experience shaped his entrepreneurial mindset 22:02  The mindset shift from Army officer to entrepreneur 26:57  How he invested 10,000 hours to master his craft 31:14  The value of mentorship and how to find great mentors 37:17  Overcoming rejection and separating vision from strategy 40:16  Advice for breaking into the sports industry 43:40 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 215 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Jordy Leiser - the CEO of Jump, a platform which is redefining the fan experience, from AI-driven personalization to direct-to-consumer fan engagement. We spoke about: Why teams need to own their fan relationships How AI personalizes the sports experience The story behind Jump's $25M raise Working with Alexis Ohanian, Alex Rodriguez & Mark Lore The future of global fan engagement And much more! Time stamps: 00:01 Intro 00:30 Jump - connects the full fan experience 01:23 Partnering with North Carolina Courage and Minnesota Timberwolves 03:18 The meaning of "vertical platform" in sports tech 05:36 How Jump replaces legacy ticketing systems 07:51 Using AI to personalize fan experiences 10:58 Why direct-to-consumer fan relationships matter 15:01 Raising $25M led by Alexis Ohanian 18:23 Global expansion opportunities 20:32 Remote-first company culture & trust 23:19 Jordy's path from finance to sports entrepreneurship 33:47 Resilience through setbacks 39:15 Advice for young professionals in sports 40:35 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 214 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Spencer Gore – founder and CEO of Gorely Group and the owner & chairman of Chelmsford City Football Club. He is also the founder and CEO of EMJ (European Medical Journal) & AMJ (American Medical Journal) and EMJ Learnings. We spoke about: The power of daily visualization Why process = freedom How Chelmsford City plans to reach the Premier League by 2038 Lessons in leadership, failure, and mindset And much more! Time stamps: 00:01 Intro 00:33  How he manages multiple companies & leadership structure 01:58  The gap in the market that led to founding EMJ 05:38  Scaling challenges & importance of process 08:47  Launching AMJ in America — following his dream 10:18  Visualization & daily affirmations 13:01  Hiring for values over skills 15:49  Why he bought Chelmsford City FC 19:38  Reverse-engineering the 2038 Premier League goal 22:43  The 3 critical success metrics for Chelmsford City 28:36  Marginal gains and learning from Clive Woodward 35:03  Failures, mistakes & the "win or learn" philosophy 37:33  COVID resilience — "One day closer" mindset 39:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com  

Welcome to episode 213 of Sports Management Podcast. Todays guest is Elias Gallego – the VP of Business Development, Marketing and Media at Sporty Group and Football.com We spoke about: The sports media landscape Expanding to Latin America, Africa and more Balancing brand consistency across media, betting, entertainment and tech Elias' journey through sports And much more! Time stamps: 00:54 Sporty Group vision 01:59 Building SportyTV Nigeria in 4 months 06:13 Free-to-air model & European rights 08:12 Brazil strategy: Serie C rights + YouTube access 10:17 "Curated content is king" philosophy 12:10 Multi-country production hubs  13:39 Mobile-first, highlight-driven model 17:10 Balancing global brand with local identity 20:35 ROI and brand impact in multi-vertical business 23:20 Future of sports media & smart TV expansion 27:59 Watch parties and interactive fan experiences 37:07 Career advice: "Hard work and passion are non-negotiable Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 212 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Ed Horne – the Chief Operating Officer at On Location – a sports hospitality company set to deliver premium experiences. Ed has a long background in sports industry and he has worked for organizations like the NHL, NFL, 160over90 before joining On Location. Ed has been instrumental in getting NHL players to play in the Olympics as well as being part of organizing the first ever Super Bowl half time show. It was great speaking with Ed and learning from his wisdom. We spoke about: Key components for a successful event What fans request from a premium sports experience The skills you need to succeed in the sports industry His involvement in the first ever Super Bowl half time show His career journey and pitfalls along the way And much more! Time stamps: 00:01 Intro  02:23 Global Sports Hospitality  05:22 Experience Economy Growth and Consumer Expectations 06:52 The "driveway to driveway" experience 09:29 Technology Integration and Personalization Strategy 10:51 On Location future plans  17:42 Strategic Positioning within TKO and Multi-Property Synergies 19:00 Future Outlook and Market Vision 20:10 Leadership Philosophy and Talent Development 21:20 Ed's career bumps  23:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 211 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Pablo Carro. The co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Playtomic - the world's leading app for racket sport players and clubs. We spoke about: Why he started Playtomic How to avoid the Swedish example The benefits of competition Becoming the leading company in the field Their US expansion plans And much more! Time stamps: 00:01 Intro  00:47 Playtomic Origin story  03:19 Social DNA of Padel & how tech mirrors it 05:13 Scaling globally – passion & persistence 10:27 Sweden's rise & fall – the social lesson 13:24 Competition makes you stronger 15:29 U.S. expansion – 200 clubs in months 19:13 PwC Global Padel Report insights 28:58 Asia is next – India & China potential 30:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 210 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Szymon Szemberg, a reoccurring guest who first appeared on episode 5, almost 5 years ago – and a lot have happened since. Szymon recently wrote an article about the NBA closing in on a league in Europe and if this could lead to an NHL-driven ice hockey league in Europe as well. This topic became even more relevant when NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently stated that such a league could start already in 2027 or 2028. Szymon is the perfect person to discuss this topic. He has been a player, coach and later sports director and managing director of an elite basketball club in Sweden. He has worked as a sports reporter, covering both basketball and hockey. Between 2001-2014, he served as Communications Director for the International Ice Hockey Federation. He was the Champions Hockey League's project lead and later COO (2013-2015) and most recently he was the Managing Director of EHC, Alliance of European Hockey Clubs, from which he just stepped down after 10 years. We spoke about: Why the NBA is planning a new European league How such a league could be structured If NHL can go the same route, and if so how the league look like Szymon explains the possible 4 scenarios, from least to most likely. We also cover the financial and political implications And much more!   Time stamps: 00:01 Intro  02:00 NBA's European League Plans 03:30 The NBA's move to control the global basketball ecosystem13:30 The NHL's current strategic advantage 15:45 Expanding NHL franchises directly into Europe 20:45 Financial and Market Considerations for European Leagues 28:50 Potential NHL European League Scenarios and Strategy 35:00 Long-Term Vision and Regional Opportunities 40:00 Outro   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 209 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Maike Wellmann - a brand specialist, entrepreneur, and founder of Swim & Move Academy. Maike went from regional swimmer to building a thriving swim school and helping athletes and federations shape authentic brands. ' We spoke about: Why authenticity beats copy-paste branding How Swim & Move grew from 5 → 50+ classes in 2 years Branding workshops for federations & athletes Why hard skills can be taught, but passion can't Lessons in consistency, self-care & scaling a business And much more!  Time stamps: 00:01 Intro 07:27 Swim school growth from 5 to 50 classes 09:09 Authenticity in branding 13:49 AI & branding workshops for federations 31:50 Recruitment: hard skills can be taught, soft skills can't 34:29 Consistency + self-care in entrepreneurship 37:17 Taking a step back: aligning brain and heart Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to epsiode 108 of Sports Management Podcast. James Kerr is bestselling author of Legacy, the book that revealed the leadership principles behind the legendary All Blacks. We spoke about: What truly defines high performance Why humility and accountability matter How culture can be designed and delivered in any team Transferable skills from sports to business And much more!  Time stamps: 00:01 Intro 04:03 Defining High Performance 07:25 All Blacks Principles 09:10 Purpose explained through "day makers" 11:22 How to build culture 15:45 Toxic people & the "no dickheads" rule 18:25 How behaviors spread 24:47 What would a great All Black do? 27:55 Saying yes means first saying no (focus & sacrifice) Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com