September 11, 2025 • 30 mins
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly speak with Jozy Altidore about his transition from legendary soccer player to entrepreneur and investor. Altidore tells the hosts why he loved FIFA’s Club World Cup this year and what he’s looking forward to at the FIFA World Cup next year, how he leveraged his own World Cup experience to develop his brand, and why he’s excited about his recent investments in the Buffalo Bills and TMRW Golf League.
You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio News.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome back to the DAL. I'm Jason Kelly alongside Alex Rodriguez.
Coming up on the show, Josie Altador. He is one
of the most impressive and successful US men's.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Soccer players of all time.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You played at the club level and at the national level,
and now Alex. He is a super impressive investor. He's
invested in lots of different sports, including his own, but
most notably, at least to me and I think to you,
he is an owner in the NFL, in the Buffalo Bills.
I cannot wait to hear what he says about.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
That, right, Yeah, I mean really the tiffany of sports,
the NFL and the Bills. Who's a franchise, who has
a lot of momentum, they have a world class quarterback.
I'm really interested to know how he got in that deal,
was Art was involved. And I'm also interested to know
he's been a very, very aggressive soccer player in his career.
He's also been a very aggressive investor.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, it's interesting you mentioned Arctos. Arctos, of course, was
one of the private equity firms that was approved to
come into the NFL ownership ranks, you know, small minority stakes.
They along with aries Aries going into the Dolphins, Arctos
going into the Bills, they were the first two to
make those transactions. They were smart enough to bring in
(01:24):
people like Josie Altador, obviously a football fan, a football
player of a different stripe now a football owner of
American Football. As you say, he's had a lot of
ambition as an investor. He's invested in his own sport,
although in the women's side, an owner of AFC. Brandy
Chestein of course, was a guest on this show. He
also has invested in sale GP and also invested in TGL,
(01:49):
the golf concept, so we talk about the intersection of business,
sports and culture.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
That's a pretty good guest for us.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Indeed, I can't wait all.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Right coming up on the show, Josie Altador, Welcome back
to the Deal. I'm Jason Kelly alongside Alex Rodriguez. So
thrilled to have with us Josie Altador, of course, a
(02:17):
US men's national team and soccer legend turned investor, turn
team owner, turn turn turn.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
So happy to have you here, Josie. Great to see you, No,
thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Great to be here and Yeah, looking forward to discussion.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So let's start with the business of soccer, because we're
coming off of a really interesting summer as we talked
to you, and looking forward to an even bigger summer
next year. A lot of it was happening. You're down
in South Florida, alex Is down in South Florida. That
felt like, you know, despite the fact that the final
was up here in my neck of the woods in
New York City, over across the river at Medlife Miami,
(02:50):
and South Florida felt like a real epicenter of all this.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
What was it like? How did it go? From your perspective?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
I thought it was great.
Speaker 6 (02:57):
You know, I think anytime, you know, you're teams are
able to kind of come to the United States and
one showcase, you know, the wonderful talent they have, but
to kind of mesh with the American fan base and
the American game, and I think it quite frankly challenges us,
you know, on the US side, to be better with
how we kind of go about our leagues and putting
together a product. So I loved it. I loved the
(03:18):
fan engagement. I thought some of the matches were terrific.
You know, people partying in the streets, and you know,
I thought the games were entertaining, so I was a
big fan of it.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Would love to see it again.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
I really enjoyed seeing some of those European stars, you know,
playing in our backyard.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I mean, Alex, it definitely caught the imagination, it felt,
especially as the tournament went on, it felt like people
were paying more and more attention. I don't know if
you felt like this, Alex, but you know my initial impression,
I mean, I knew it was coming, and it was like, Okay,
it's sort of happening, or people showing up. But then
as it sort of built, I felt like, you know,
especially as Chelsea went further along and ultimately one that
(03:55):
there was more attention.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
I don't know, Alex, how did it hit your radar? Say?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
First of all, I think, at least from my point
of view, the last five years, I've seen soccer explode
here in the United States and you know, domestically, and
that particular event near the hard Rock over there, not
too far from here, I saw everybody, even like non
soccer fans, were watching, and I thought that was pretty cool.
It felt a little bit like the Super Bowl of soccer.
(04:20):
But again, I'm a novice at soccer, but that's how
it was.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
And the real super.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Bowl is coming next summer. I mean, and it's like
super Bowl and super Bowl and super Bowl. So I guess, Josie,
the question we have for you is are we ready?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Like? Is this is this gonna go? Okay?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I'm I'll be totally honest, I'm a little bit worried.
Do you think we're ready for something of this magnitude
because nineteen ninety four I remember that tournament pretty well
and it went pretty well, but like soccer is a
whole new thing at this stage, do you think we
can pull it off?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah? I think so.
Speaker 6 (04:50):
I mean I think we're We're lo those have been
because look obviously you know, from you know, a ticketing standpoint,
all these other tit it's right, those are other questions.
But in terms of like a competition and event and
you know, bring people together, there is nobody else, right
that I think is more prepared to run and drive
(05:12):
value in the tournament like the United States. So I
think the country is ready. I think the fans already.
I think the biggest question is, you know, how will
we perform as a team?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Right?
Speaker 6 (05:21):
Will we use this moment both as a team as
an ecosystem to kind of hopefully pour gasoline on the
fire once the World Cup's over and see kind of
the growth of soccer explode across the country.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That, for me, is is the real question.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, because to press you on that point a little bit,
Josie means like again going back to nineteen ninety four,
nineteen ninety four, berth the MLS effectively, right, I mean
that was really what gave rise to that you played
in that league, you saw it, you know, sort of
rise in popularity.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It was a bit of a slow burn, but like it.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
You know, we're it's gotten to a point where this
is investible.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
You know, we can go as deep.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
As you one on the economics of owning an MLS
team because it's interesting. But what is that next level
of sort of business success. Is it attendance, is it sponsorship,
is it valuations? Is it all of the above? Like
what will a successful outcome for the business of soccer
look like coming off of this World Cup?
Speaker 6 (06:16):
For me, it's it's two things, and the first one
is grassroots, right. I think a lot of times we
see people, we see conversations around soccer. People say it's
the sport that kids play the most, and while that's true,
it's also the sport that, you know, once kids turn thirteen, fourteen, fifteen,
their retention goes down. So I think that'll be a
big challenge. How do we keep kids in the game.
(06:38):
How do we gamify training and do things where kids
we can meet the kids at their level where they're
at in the game.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I think that'll be important.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
And then secondly, you know, within Major League Soccer, you know,
the Premier league right now in the United States, you know,
how can we keep bringing in more talent? How can
we ease kind of the salary cap at the same
time be cost effective. But on the other flips, I'd
have more talents like MESSI join us where you know,
it becomes a must see, right, So those will be
two things I have my eye on.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
And I'm excited.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
I think, you know, this is a moment that you know,
any emerging sport, this is what you dream of, and
so how do we take advantage of it?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
So Josie, maybe for our audience and for me, because
again I really like soccer, but I'm still a novice.
You play it in about ten teams from two thousand
and six or twenty twenty three. But explain to us
why we know what passion is when you look at
the Yankees, the Lakers, the Conboys here in America, What
(07:36):
is the passion like and why is it so much
stronger in Europe than it is here?
Speaker 5 (07:41):
Can you walk us through that a little bit?
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Yeah, I think you know, it's a question people ask
all the time, and it's a fair question, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I think the passion is there.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
I think we are we are a melting pot, right,
we are the most diverse country in the world.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And I think when you see the Club World Cup.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
That passion that you're talking about, it was prevalent, right,
it was plain to see for anybody. I think when
you look at the European leagues and like you're real Madrid,
similar to like the Dallas Cowboys, it's the history, it's
the years that these teams have been around. And you know,
you mentioned the Cowboys. A lot of people forget to
think about, like the NFL wasn't always this juggernaut that
we see today, right, It went through a lot of
(08:16):
growing pains and maybe had some moments where people thought
will it still be here? So you know, now, obviously
it's probably the most thriving professional sports league you know,
we have, But that's that's not to say that MLS
and soccer in this country can't get there. It'll take time,
and again it'll take really putting the right infrastructure into
the grassroots where we're able to produce our own stars,
(08:40):
you know, quite regularly. I think that'll be another challenge
that we face.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
There well, because effectively, we need more people like you
to choose soccer, right, I mean, like we need to
make sure that like the Josies of the world choose
soccer rather than basketball or lacrosse or you know, any
of these other emerging sports. On a reason episode of
this show, we talked with Greg Olsen and he's doing
a lot around the youth game. As you probably know,
(09:06):
Alex's has looked at this, I've done a lot of
reporting about it. What do you think about the sort
of youth sports landscape. I know, I don't know if
that's a place you've invested in, but I wonder, you know,
putting on your hat from sort of a business lens
but also a former athlete's perspective, like, what do you
make of the sort of grat throughs.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
From a business perspective, I think it's interesting.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
I mean, I think we've all seen now coming from
an overhead view, kind of the youth entities that are,
you know, kind of being pushed by the different pe
firms or seeing a lot of you know, youth leagues
receive investment. And you know, I'm a fan of it. Again,
I think it has to be focused on meeting kids
where they're at, giving them an opportunity that they kind
of won't see in the team setting, And personally it
(09:48):
means a lot to me, Like I'm personally invested in
in child in youth training. I run a soccer tech
training facility called Sogility, and our prime focus is to
gamify training and focus on that retention from ages six
to eighteen. So, you know, I'm a big believer that
when you're able to make it fun for each and
every kid, not just the very good ones, you're able
(10:09):
to produce talents that maybe go on to play professionally,
but also stay in the game right be the media
the culture that makes the game great. So I'm a
big believer that that starts at the youth level and
you know, meeting kids where they're at Josie.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
I'm obsessed with process over results.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
And when I played baseball, I mean I just loved,
loved the work ethics so much so, even more so
than the game. I just love being prepared. But you
attended I amg here in Branden's in Florida. How instrumental
was that for you and your development for your career?
Speaker 6 (10:42):
You know, it's a funny, it's a great question, and
it's a funny one because, like I find myself now,
I'm thirty five, turned thirty six in November, and you know,
I have this addiction of working.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I have this.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Addiction of meeting people, of learning, and I feel like
that was birthed at IMG in a place where you know,
it was a high pressure andronment. We're surrounded by the
very best players at a young age, and you know,
I was in a system where you know, they made
cuts every semester.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
So you know, right away it was ingrained in me.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
To wake up at six am, kind of get my
body going, eat the right food. And so it's something
that stayed with me until today. And as you know, Alex,
it it becomes our DNA and how we're wired. Even now,
you know away from soccer, I still have my routine.
I still, you know, yearn for conversations like this and
meeting people like yourself where I can learn and challenge
(11:31):
myself to think differently and be better.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So you know that played a huge role for me.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
I tell people that all the time, like IMG, you know,
the type of people that I got to interact with
in terms of like you know, sports legends. At the time,
we had Michael Johnson, Alex Smith who are coming back
and talking to us and helping us kind of challenge
the way we think. I think it was. It was
invaluable for me.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
People always ask me.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
I went to a small school here in Miami, about
twenty minutes south of the University of Miami called Westminster
Christian School. Three hundred people, three hundred students.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
That was it.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
They always asked me, at what point did you know
that you could make it or that you were different?
Speaker 5 (12:08):
And I often say.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Sometime around my junior year, same question for you, when
did you know that you were different? And were you
the best at I amg When did you know that?
Speaker 1 (12:17):
I like to think I was. I don't know if
I was at the time. I was a young boy,
but I think fifteen six.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
Like when I was fifteen years old, we went to
the Under seventeen World Cup in Peru. I got a
couple of minutes, not many, but in those minutes, you know,
you saw kind of the effect I was able to
have on the game. And it was kind of in
that moment when you're playing these youth tournaments against some
of the best youth stars in the world, and you see, man,
I'm giving these guys a hard time, you know what
I mean, I'm making them think about me. And it
(12:45):
was in that moment, because a lot of those players
were already signed to professional contracts, I thought, you know,
maybe I can do this. And it took a lot
of convincing to my parents to kind of roll that dice.
But you know, looking back, fifteen years old was like
the age for me where I thought, I think I'll
have a future here if I can apply myself.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Sort of synthesizing some of the things we're talking about. Josie.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
You know, you have the experience of being on the
national team, you play in a couple of World Cups.
You know the exposure that that brings, not just for
the game, but but for individuals. You know, I first
heard your name, you know, probably in the twenty ten
World Cup, but you know or first really like you're
really like burned on my brain at that point.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
What does that feel like? And how do you leverage that?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
You're a very smart business person and you know, Alex
and I talk about this all the time, you know,
off camera on camera about you know, understanding how to
seize a moment, you know, how to know that, like
you you're going to be able to leverage this notoriety
or you know, leverage your your place in the world
for something even off the pitch was as it were, like,
(14:06):
when did you sort of have that ambition or was
it always there?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Was I definitely think it was always there.
Speaker 6 (14:12):
I think when I saw an opportunity is you know,
when I came to play an MLS And I think
one of the perks about playing an MLS is I
feel like the team owners in the MLS in the
United States and American sports as a whole, are way
more involved. I think you see them, you interact with
them at a different level. And I was actually flying
(14:33):
to MLS All Star in Colorado and Larry Tannebaum, who
was our own up in Toronto, he.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Said, Hey, why don't you guys come with me?
Speaker 6 (14:42):
So we flew on his plane and we had dinner
on the plane, and that insight spending time with him
kind of understanding his whys and you know, first of
all his passion for sports and building things. It really
piqued my interest and it really birthed this like entrepreneurial
spirit in me. When we landed, I was just obsessed
with trying to understand the structure of businesses and processes,
(15:03):
and and that was I think a big moment for me.
And getting to see him after that and ask follow
up questions and him being kind of such an open
book in a way when when he didn't have to,
I think was huge for me to kind of really
feel comfortable in that sense.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Jesus, this is like, this is like a Rod Junior here.
Oh my god, this is a story, Alex. It's insane.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
We've talked about Larry Tatabaum. I mean, he's really one
of the best owners, not only in the NBA but
in sports, really one of one. And I've learned a
lot from Larry. As we said on the same board
with the NBA, my question is why do you think
that domestic owners are more hands on than say others
around the world.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
It's a great question. I think it's part of the culture.
I think, you know, being friendly and just being personable.
And you know Larry, you know, not being a soccer
guru right still, you know, was vulnerable put himself in
the locker room, he asked questions. If he didn't know
he was you know, you would think he was just
the guy how often you saw him in the locker room.
And so I think that like that curiosity, that person
(16:06):
that that that personality, it just really shines through in
a different way.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Obviously I can't speak for every.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Market, but you know what I played in Europe there
was a different sense. It was more of a you know,
owner player kind of relationship, where I think, at least
for me in Toronto, I have the experience of having.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
You know, a teammate.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
Really when when you look at Larry Tannemum in terms
of and Judy, in terms of how they made sure
we were comfortable, how they challenged us to think differently,
to to really you know, plug in at different parts
of the community. You know, he just always had me
thinking in a good way. And and like I said,
I think I was really lucky to spend that time
with him.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
It's so interesting to hear you talk about this because
you know, clearly and again I've had the good fortune
of getting to know Alex really well and sort of
the way he thinks and and you know, I jokingly said,
Alex Junior, but like a lot of what you're saying,
I know echoes and really mirrors Alex's I mean, Alex,
(17:01):
I'm speaking for you a little bit, sorry, but like
you know, your own experience in you know, going and
seeing you know, Jerry rein store for Jerry Jones, or.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
You know, you know, going to see these these owners
along the way.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
You know, obviously Alex now is in a position where
he played baseball and is now an owner of you know,
two basketball teams. You are an owner across a number
of sports, but the one I really want to focus
on is the other football, American football. You went into
the Buffalo Bills. I know Alex has a lot of
(17:34):
questions that comparing notes on owners but I want to
ask you, how does that deal come about, how does
that land where you have the ability to buy in,
and why were you interested?
Speaker 6 (17:44):
Yeah, so my interest in sports ownership started in twenty eighteen,
give you the cliff notes. Real Salt Lake came up
for sale and I was signed by the MLS in
my living room when I was, you know, fifteen years old.
So I have an okay relationship with the league office.
So I the note in and I said, hey, what
what does it take, you know, to acquire a group
like that? And the entire you know, Don Garber was
(18:07):
great with kind of saying, you know, if there's something
you're serious about, this is how it has to work,
this is how the process works. And I was again
immediately obsessed with it and learning, and you know, lo
and behold. A year later, I put together my own
little group and I go and I start to raise capital.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
And so that's kind of where it started for me.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Obviously I didn't purchase that team that went to Ryan
Smith at Qualtrics, but like understanding the process, understanding the byside,
what's what's needed, kind of how to put together a structure,
I just became addicted, addicted to it, and so you know,
I just kept my ear to the ground. I kept
making sure that I was making myself available to see
different opportunities. And the Buffalo Bills in the NFL obviously
(18:48):
opened a new world in terms of structuring some of
the ownership groups, and the Bills were looking for a
Toronto group as they're looking to expand in that area,
which you know, I think are primed to do in
a number of ways. And and you know, being that Vinced,
myself and Tracy have great ties there, it was a
match made in heaven. And you know, we haven't looked back.
And you know, that experience in itself has been.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Yeah, and that in itself has been an amazing.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Learning heart of them. I just wanted to make sure
that everybody were Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
And you missed to say Tom Berger, who led our group,
who's an incredible an incredible guy and businessmen as well.
So you know, I think we were incredibly lucky, and
I think we're incredibly excited because the amount of learning
opportunities that we've already seen has been has been incredible.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yeah, So tell us about that, like, you know, because
obviously this is it's a fascinating moment for the NFL,
in particular because of some of the new ownership that's
coming in. Obviously institutional capital of the Bills were on
the front edge of that as well, along with the
Miami Dolphins arc dos in the case of the Bills.
So what are the dynamics like that tell us what,
(19:57):
you know, take us inside a little bit about what
are your in interactions, like what do you feel like
you're getting and what are they getting in terms of
this sort of new structure in this new dynamic.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
Yeah, I think you know, Buffalo obviously is a storage
franchise but has yet to kind of get over that
hump obviously, And I think for us, you know, being
guys that have competed at the highest level in our
sports and won championships, I think having and adding that
pedigree definitely helped. And then again looking at you know,
that footprint in northern Ontario and the massive fan base
(20:28):
that is in Toronto for the Buffalo Bills, I think
played a huge part. And naturally for us, you know,
being kind of staples in that community, how can we,
you know, in good smart ways kind of you know,
blend the two. And it's been so fun doing that
and already we're seeing kind of the fruits of that
and all of this to build a culture, to continue
to build the community and hopefully win a super Bowl, right,
(20:50):
That's that's the end game.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Yeah, it looks pretty good for you guys. But Jason,
you you were saying that Josie reminds you of me,
but he's way ahead of me. He's only thirty five,
and I'm honestly, I'm so impressed Josie. I really commend
you and congrats with all you've done and you're just
getting started, I'm sure. So my question is it took
me a long time to think about building my team.
(21:14):
How do I look at, you know, opportunities, What is
my process?
Speaker 5 (21:18):
How does your team look like? What is your process?
Speaker 4 (21:21):
And how do you get the deal flow that you've
been getting not only a sports but around the horn.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
You know, that's a great question, you know.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
I think that the biggest part for the deal flow
for for me was rewiring kind of who I am
and how I approach conversation. And that was kind of
difficult at first, because you know, you get on the
call and you expect you know, people to kind of
you know, know you, but as you know, Alex, they
still want that introduction. And so I think being comfortable
with kind of relearning and re earning respective people by
(21:51):
making myself available, you know, traveling to different functions, you know,
going to school, getting my bachelor's in and kind of
just forgetting you know, one life and being humble while
entering another. I think that was a huge benefit of mine,
and I was able to kind of network and find
myself in places where I'm now getting deals that I'm
passionate about but could potentially have major upsides. So, you know,
(22:14):
reworking and kind of relearning how to communicate with people
and meeting people where they were at in the business
world and respecting what they've done.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
I think, you know, it goes a long way for athletes,
you know, in my.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Opinion, So Josie, you know, interesting to think about your portfolio,
and you know, there are some familiar names that pop
up when I look at you know, either teams or leagues,
(22:49):
you know, teams in the case of AFC. Brandy Chestein
has been a guest on this show, and obviously the
women's sports movement and women's soccer specifically is so fascinating.
But one that I wanted to talk about that that
sort of drew my eye was tgl Obviously it's sort
of base near near where you are. I had a
chance to go to one of the matches toward the
end of this inaugural season. Alex and I are both
(23:13):
He's better than I am, but we're both aspiring golfers.
Shall we say, how does that deal come to you?
And what's attracted? Because it has attracted some unbelievable names
like yourself into a very new and pretty ambitious concept.
Speaker 6 (23:29):
Yeah, I mean that one was an exciting one. You know,
I'm down the street, I'm in Booker Raton, you know
the stadium there is in Palm Beach, And so I
got that opportunity through a mutual friend who reconnected me
to an old friend, to be quite honest, that I've
known for a number of years and who let me
in on the project in terms of what he's working
on at the time. It was a guy Joey Brander
(23:49):
and Mike McCauley, and I kind of understood what they
were trying to build and right away, you know the time,
it couldn't have been better because I myself an inspiring golfer,
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
So I just.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
Got some clubs and I probably only played twice, but
I already had the itch.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
I hit one ball straight.
Speaker 6 (24:06):
And I was like, I gotta do this more and
so yeah, it's so humbling, right, Like That's the thing
about golf is, like you know, and Alex, you know this.
I feel like you can approach a ball in soccer
a few different ways and still kind of have the
same effect we're in golf. If that you know, that
swing isn't kind of consistent each and every time. You know,
you're gonna be frustrated with yourself. So you know, it
(24:29):
is what it is.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
But I love it. I have this bug for it.
I'm so eager to learn.
Speaker 6 (24:32):
And so when that came about, I was I was intrigued.
I'm a big believer in sport and tech, and I
thought this can offer a new spin on a game
where I think the younger audience has kind of felt
like there wasn't many entry points and I thought this
could be, you know, maybe a twist on the game
that can captivate the younger audience. And I think we've
seen in season one that there's evidence of that.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
So Josie again, I'm like, I'm really excited. I'm really
excited for you because I think you're so far ahead
of the curve. I've had some great mentors, Magic Johnson
being one of them. And when I saw a person
of color go from the court to the boardroom, it
inspired me to no end. When you think about forecasting
your future, how did the next three to five years.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Look for you?
Speaker 4 (25:16):
And what would be like an awesome outcome five ten
years from now?
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Where do you want to be? How big do you
want to grow your vision?
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Jason? You heard him, He asked this not this is
perfect because.
Speaker 6 (25:27):
For me, in a perfect world, Alex, I'm not even
gonna lie to you. It's it's doing something with the
name you just mentioned in yourself. You know, like you
guys have you know, I've followed both of you for
a number of years from your journeys from you know,
the diamond or the cork to where you are now,
and you know the discipline, the way you've applied yourself
you're learning. So in a perfect world, it's to be,
(25:48):
you know, next to guys like you, hopefully in a
number of ventures. And then not only that, but also
kind of I think laying an even clear a blueprint
for the guys behind us and creating an eCos that
you know was able to go from strength to strength,
because I think there's a lot of guys you know,
even younger than me that are so dialed in right
with what they're doing. And if there's a way to
connect kind of the dots, I think that would be amazing.
(26:11):
But in a perfect world, three to five years, you know, me,
you and Magic are doing a project. I don't know
what it is, but we're doing something that has U
has a great ripple effect for years to come.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
That'd be amazing.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
I love it, Jace. We're putting it into the universe.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
You have no idea when you go in the locker
rooms of different sports, Alex, I don't know if you.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Even know that. People talk about what you're doing, right,
people talk about what.
Speaker 6 (26:31):
Magic are doing. And it's like, that's why it's so
inspiring for me to talk to you and be on
this call is because for a long time, you know,
we're watching your moves and how you do them, so
you know, yeah, it's it's just it's special for me.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
And yet that would be a dream come true.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Well, as Alex knows, my all time favorite thing I
say it all the time is deals happening on the
deal and that's happening right now.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
It's happening right now. We're saying it live in real time. Folks.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Come on the fact that you know you mentioned TGL,
you mentioned the Virgin Gulf.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
For first of.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
All, Alex, we have to get you out to see
a TGL match because it's it's Josie back me up.
Mike McCauley was a guest on the show. It's wild
to watch, like especially in person. It's very cool. It's
right up the street. And so here's my proposal. We're
gonna go to a match and either the next day
or that day, the three of us are playing golf
and you know, we'll rope somebody else in all right,
(27:23):
let's do it.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
All right, we're gonna do that.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I know it'll give me a reason to, you know,
just hack away even more, just to try and be
on your level. But at least I have the excuse of, hey,
I wasn't a professional athlete when I hit a bad
(27:46):
All right, let's do our lightning round. It's five questions,
so just you know, give us the first first thing
that comes to your mind. We'll bounce it back and
forth and I'll start you writing.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Let's do it, all.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Right, what's the best piece of advice you've received on
deal making business?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
If you don't know anything about it. It's not for you.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
Who's your dream deal making partner?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Come all, bit, baby, let's go.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
I like it. I like it.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
All right?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Which team do you want to see win a championship
more than any? I think I know this one now.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Oh Buffalo Baby, Bill Bill's Mafia. Come on.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
What is your hype song before a big meeting or negotiation?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Oh? Right now, it's a Won't Stop by Donna. I
don't know why I'm addicted to that song gets me going.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah, all right, So last question, what's your advice for
someone listening who wants a career like yours?
Speaker 1 (28:43):
He a sponge. I'm so sorry. That's my son sneezing
in the background. Guys, you's got I apologize. The timing
couldn't have been anywhere.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Sorry.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
That was amazing and real life and we've all been
there and it's a great ending.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
We really appreciate your time, Josie. This is super fun.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
We were both I know, really looking forward to it
and hopefully this is the first and many conversations that
we have together, and we're gonna play golf and do
some deals and well it's gonna be great.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
No, thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Thank you so much for having me, guys, it was
an absolute pleasure.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
The Deal is hosted by Alex Rodriguez and me Jason Kelly.
This episode was made by Anamazarakus, Stacey Wong and Lizzie Phillip.
Amy Keen is our editor and Will Connelly is our
video editor. Our theme music is made by Blake Maples.
Our executive producers are Kelly Leferrier, Ashley Honig, and Brenda Newnham.
Sage Bauman is the head of Bloomberg Podcast. Additional support
(29:48):
from Rachel Carnivale and Elena Los Angeles. Thanks so much
for listening to the Deal. If you have a minute, subscribe,
rate and review our show. It'll help other listeners find us.
I'm Jason Kelly.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
See you next week.
Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio News.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome back to the DAL. I'm Jason Kelly alongside Alex Rodriguez.
Coming up on the show, Josie Altador. He is one
of the most impressive and successful US men's.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Soccer players of all time.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You played at the club level and at the national level,
and now Alex. He is a super impressive investor. He's
invested in lots of different sports, including his own, but
most notably, at least to me and I think to you,
he is an owner in the NFL, in the Buffalo Bills.
I cannot wait to hear what he says about.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
That, right, Yeah, I mean really the tiffany of sports,
the NFL and the Bills. Who's a franchise, who has
a lot of momentum, they have a world class quarterback.
I'm really interested to know how he got in that deal,
was Art was involved. And I'm also interested to know
he's been a very, very aggressive soccer player in his career.
He's also been a very aggressive investor.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, it's interesting you mentioned Arctos. Arctos, of course, was
one of the private equity firms that was approved to
come into the NFL ownership ranks, you know, small minority stakes.
They along with aries Aries going into the Dolphins, Arctos
going into the Bills, they were the first two to
make those transactions. They were smart enough to bring in
(01:24):
people like Josie Altador, obviously a football fan, a football
player of a different stripe now a football owner of
American Football. As you say, he's had a lot of
ambition as an investor. He's invested in his own sport,
although in the women's side, an owner of AFC. Brandy
Chestein of course, was a guest on this show. He
also has invested in sale GP and also invested in TGL,
(01:49):
the golf concept, so we talk about the intersection of business,
sports and culture.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
That's a pretty good guest for us.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Indeed, I can't wait all.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Right coming up on the show, Josie Altador, Welcome back
to the Deal. I'm Jason Kelly alongside Alex Rodriguez. So
thrilled to have with us Josie Altador, of course, a
(02:17):
US men's national team and soccer legend turned investor, turn
team owner, turn turn turn.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
So happy to have you here, Josie. Great to see you, No,
thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Great to be here and Yeah, looking forward to discussion.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So let's start with the business of soccer, because we're
coming off of a really interesting summer as we talked
to you, and looking forward to an even bigger summer
next year. A lot of it was happening. You're down
in South Florida, alex Is down in South Florida. That
felt like, you know, despite the fact that the final
was up here in my neck of the woods in
New York City, over across the river at Medlife Miami,
(02:50):
and South Florida felt like a real epicenter of all this.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
What was it like? How did it go? From your perspective?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
I thought it was great.
Speaker 6 (02:57):
You know, I think anytime, you know, you're teams are
able to kind of come to the United States and
one showcase, you know, the wonderful talent they have, but
to kind of mesh with the American fan base and
the American game, and I think it quite frankly challenges us,
you know, on the US side, to be better with
how we kind of go about our leagues and putting
together a product. So I loved it. I loved the
(03:18):
fan engagement. I thought some of the matches were terrific.
You know, people partying in the streets, and you know,
I thought the games were entertaining, so I was a
big fan of it.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Would love to see it again.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
I really enjoyed seeing some of those European stars, you know,
playing in our backyard.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I mean, Alex, it definitely caught the imagination, it felt,
especially as the tournament went on, it felt like people
were paying more and more attention. I don't know if
you felt like this, Alex, but you know my initial impression,
I mean, I knew it was coming, and it was like, Okay,
it's sort of happening, or people showing up. But then
as it sort of built, I felt like, you know,
especially as Chelsea went further along and ultimately one that
(03:55):
there was more attention.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
I don't know, Alex, how did it hit your radar? Say?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
First of all, I think, at least from my point
of view, the last five years, I've seen soccer explode
here in the United States and you know, domestically, and
that particular event near the hard Rock over there, not
too far from here, I saw everybody, even like non
soccer fans, were watching, and I thought that was pretty cool.
It felt a little bit like the Super Bowl of soccer.
(04:20):
But again, I'm a novice at soccer, but that's how
it was.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
And the real super.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Bowl is coming next summer. I mean, and it's like
super Bowl and super Bowl and super Bowl. So I guess, Josie,
the question we have for you is are we ready?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Like? Is this is this gonna go? Okay?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I'm I'll be totally honest, I'm a little bit worried.
Do you think we're ready for something of this magnitude
because nineteen ninety four I remember that tournament pretty well
and it went pretty well, but like soccer is a
whole new thing at this stage, do you think we
can pull it off?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah? I think so.
Speaker 6 (04:50):
I mean I think we're We're lo those have been
because look obviously you know, from you know, a ticketing standpoint,
all these other tit it's right, those are other questions.
But in terms of like a competition and event and
you know, bring people together, there is nobody else, right
that I think is more prepared to run and drive
(05:12):
value in the tournament like the United States. So I
think the country is ready. I think the fans already.
I think the biggest question is, you know, how will
we perform as a team?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Right?
Speaker 6 (05:21):
Will we use this moment both as a team as
an ecosystem to kind of hopefully pour gasoline on the
fire once the World Cup's over and see kind of
the growth of soccer explode across the country.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That, for me, is is the real question.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, because to press you on that point a little bit,
Josie means like again going back to nineteen ninety four,
nineteen ninety four, berth the MLS effectively, right, I mean
that was really what gave rise to that you played
in that league, you saw it, you know, sort of
rise in popularity.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It was a bit of a slow burn, but like it.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
You know, we're it's gotten to a point where this
is investible.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
You know, we can go as deep.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
As you one on the economics of owning an MLS
team because it's interesting. But what is that next level
of sort of business success. Is it attendance, is it sponsorship,
is it valuations? Is it all of the above? Like
what will a successful outcome for the business of soccer
look like coming off of this World Cup?
Speaker 6 (06:16):
For me, it's it's two things, and the first one
is grassroots, right. I think a lot of times we
see people, we see conversations around soccer. People say it's
the sport that kids play the most, and while that's true,
it's also the sport that, you know, once kids turn thirteen, fourteen, fifteen,
their retention goes down. So I think that'll be a
big challenge. How do we keep kids in the game.
(06:38):
How do we gamify training and do things where kids
we can meet the kids at their level where they're
at in the game.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I think that'll be important.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
And then secondly, you know, within Major League Soccer, you know,
the Premier league right now in the United States, you know,
how can we keep bringing in more talent? How can
we ease kind of the salary cap at the same
time be cost effective. But on the other flips, I'd
have more talents like MESSI join us where you know,
it becomes a must see, right, So those will be
two things I have my eye on.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
And I'm excited.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
I think, you know, this is a moment that you know,
any emerging sport, this is what you dream of, and
so how do we take advantage of it?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
So Josie, maybe for our audience and for me, because
again I really like soccer, but I'm still a novice.
You play it in about ten teams from two thousand
and six or twenty twenty three. But explain to us
why we know what passion is when you look at
the Yankees, the Lakers, the Conboys here in America, What
(07:36):
is the passion like and why is it so much
stronger in Europe than it is here?
Speaker 5 (07:41):
Can you walk us through that a little bit?
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Yeah, I think you know, it's a question people ask
all the time, and it's a fair question, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I think the passion is there.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
I think we are we are a melting pot, right,
we are the most diverse country in the world.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And I think when you see the Club World Cup.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
That passion that you're talking about, it was prevalent, right,
it was plain to see for anybody. I think when
you look at the European leagues and like you're real Madrid,
similar to like the Dallas Cowboys, it's the history, it's
the years that these teams have been around. And you know,
you mentioned the Cowboys. A lot of people forget to
think about, like the NFL wasn't always this juggernaut that
we see today, right, It went through a lot of
(08:16):
growing pains and maybe had some moments where people thought
will it still be here? So you know, now, obviously
it's probably the most thriving professional sports league you know,
we have, But that's that's not to say that MLS
and soccer in this country can't get there. It'll take time,
and again it'll take really putting the right infrastructure into
the grassroots where we're able to produce our own stars,
(08:40):
you know, quite regularly. I think that'll be another challenge
that we face.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
There well, because effectively, we need more people like you
to choose soccer, right, I mean, like we need to
make sure that like the Josies of the world choose
soccer rather than basketball or lacrosse or you know, any
of these other emerging sports. On a reason episode of
this show, we talked with Greg Olsen and he's doing
a lot around the youth game. As you probably know,
(09:06):
Alex's has looked at this, I've done a lot of
reporting about it. What do you think about the sort
of youth sports landscape. I know, I don't know if
that's a place you've invested in, but I wonder, you know,
putting on your hat from sort of a business lens
but also a former athlete's perspective, like, what do you
make of the sort of grat throughs.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
From a business perspective, I think it's interesting.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
I mean, I think we've all seen now coming from
an overhead view, kind of the youth entities that are,
you know, kind of being pushed by the different pe
firms or seeing a lot of you know, youth leagues
receive investment. And you know, I'm a fan of it. Again,
I think it has to be focused on meeting kids
where they're at, giving them an opportunity that they kind
of won't see in the team setting, And personally it
(09:48):
means a lot to me, Like I'm personally invested in
in child in youth training. I run a soccer tech
training facility called Sogility, and our prime focus is to
gamify training and focus on that retention from ages six
to eighteen. So, you know, I'm a big believer that
when you're able to make it fun for each and
every kid, not just the very good ones, you're able
(10:09):
to produce talents that maybe go on to play professionally,
but also stay in the game right be the media
the culture that makes the game great. So I'm a
big believer that that starts at the youth level and
you know, meeting kids where they're at Josie.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
I'm obsessed with process over results.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
And when I played baseball, I mean I just loved,
loved the work ethics so much so, even more so
than the game. I just love being prepared. But you
attended I amg here in Branden's in Florida. How instrumental
was that for you and your development for your career?
Speaker 6 (10:42):
You know, it's a funny, it's a great question, and
it's a funny one because, like I find myself now,
I'm thirty five, turned thirty six in November, and you know,
I have this addiction of working.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I have this.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Addiction of meeting people, of learning, and I feel like
that was birthed at IMG in a place where you know,
it was a high pressure andronment. We're surrounded by the
very best players at a young age, and you know,
I was in a system where you know, they made
cuts every semester.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
So you know, right away it was ingrained in me.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
To wake up at six am, kind of get my
body going, eat the right food. And so it's something
that stayed with me until today. And as you know, Alex,
it it becomes our DNA and how we're wired. Even now,
you know away from soccer, I still have my routine.
I still, you know, yearn for conversations like this and
meeting people like yourself where I can learn and challenge
(11:31):
myself to think differently and be better.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So you know that played a huge role for me.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
I tell people that all the time, like IMG, you know,
the type of people that I got to interact with
in terms of like you know, sports legends. At the time,
we had Michael Johnson, Alex Smith who are coming back
and talking to us and helping us kind of challenge
the way we think. I think it was. It was
invaluable for me.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
People always ask me.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
I went to a small school here in Miami, about
twenty minutes south of the University of Miami called Westminster
Christian School. Three hundred people, three hundred students.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
That was it.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
They always asked me, at what point did you know
that you could make it or that you were different?
Speaker 5 (12:08):
And I often say.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Sometime around my junior year, same question for you, when
did you know that you were different? And were you
the best at I amg When did you know that?
Speaker 1 (12:17):
I like to think I was. I don't know if
I was at the time. I was a young boy,
but I think fifteen six.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
Like when I was fifteen years old, we went to
the Under seventeen World Cup in Peru. I got a
couple of minutes, not many, but in those minutes, you know,
you saw kind of the effect I was able to
have on the game. And it was kind of in
that moment when you're playing these youth tournaments against some
of the best youth stars in the world, and you see, man,
I'm giving these guys a hard time, you know what
I mean, I'm making them think about me. And it
(12:45):
was in that moment, because a lot of those players
were already signed to professional contracts, I thought, you know,
maybe I can do this. And it took a lot
of convincing to my parents to kind of roll that dice.
But you know, looking back, fifteen years old was like
the age for me where I thought, I think I'll
have a future here if I can apply myself.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Sort of synthesizing some of the things we're talking about. Josie.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
You know, you have the experience of being on the
national team, you play in a couple of World Cups.
You know the exposure that that brings, not just for
the game, but but for individuals. You know, I first
heard your name, you know, probably in the twenty ten
World Cup, but you know or first really like you're
really like burned on my brain at that point.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
What does that feel like? And how do you leverage that?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
You're a very smart business person and you know, Alex
and I talk about this all the time, you know,
off camera on camera about you know, understanding how to
seize a moment, you know, how to know that, like
you you're going to be able to leverage this notoriety
or you know, leverage your your place in the world
for something even off the pitch was as it were, like,
(14:06):
when did you sort of have that ambition or was
it always there?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Was I definitely think it was always there.
Speaker 6 (14:12):
I think when I saw an opportunity is you know,
when I came to play an MLS And I think
one of the perks about playing an MLS is I
feel like the team owners in the MLS in the
United States and American sports as a whole, are way
more involved. I think you see them, you interact with
them at a different level. And I was actually flying
(14:33):
to MLS All Star in Colorado and Larry Tannebaum, who
was our own up in Toronto, he.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Said, Hey, why don't you guys come with me?
Speaker 6 (14:42):
So we flew on his plane and we had dinner
on the plane, and that insight spending time with him
kind of understanding his whys and you know, first of
all his passion for sports and building things. It really
piqued my interest and it really birthed this like entrepreneurial
spirit in me. When we landed, I was just obsessed
with trying to understand the structure of businesses and processes,
(15:03):
and and that was I think a big moment for me.
And getting to see him after that and ask follow
up questions and him being kind of such an open
book in a way when when he didn't have to,
I think was huge for me to kind of really
feel comfortable in that sense.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Jesus, this is like, this is like a Rod Junior here.
Oh my god, this is a story, Alex. It's insane.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
We've talked about Larry Tatabaum. I mean, he's really one
of the best owners, not only in the NBA but
in sports, really one of one. And I've learned a
lot from Larry. As we said on the same board
with the NBA, my question is why do you think
that domestic owners are more hands on than say others
around the world.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
It's a great question. I think it's part of the culture.
I think, you know, being friendly and just being personable.
And you know Larry, you know, not being a soccer
guru right still, you know, was vulnerable put himself in
the locker room, he asked questions. If he didn't know
he was you know, you would think he was just
the guy how often you saw him in the locker room.
And so I think that like that curiosity, that person
(16:06):
that that that personality, it just really shines through in
a different way.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Obviously I can't speak for every.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Market, but you know what I played in Europe there
was a different sense. It was more of a you know,
owner player kind of relationship, where I think, at least
for me in Toronto, I have the experience of having.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
You know, a teammate.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
Really when when you look at Larry Tannemum in terms
of and Judy, in terms of how they made sure
we were comfortable, how they challenged us to think differently,
to to really you know, plug in at different parts
of the community. You know, he just always had me
thinking in a good way. And and like I said,
I think I was really lucky to spend that time
with him.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
It's so interesting to hear you talk about this because
you know, clearly and again I've had the good fortune
of getting to know Alex really well and sort of
the way he thinks and and you know, I jokingly said,
Alex Junior, but like a lot of what you're saying,
I know echoes and really mirrors Alex's I mean, Alex,
(17:01):
I'm speaking for you a little bit, sorry, but like
you know, your own experience in you know, going and
seeing you know, Jerry rein store for Jerry Jones, or.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
You know, you know, going to see these these owners
along the way.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
You know, obviously Alex now is in a position where
he played baseball and is now an owner of you know,
two basketball teams. You are an owner across a number
of sports, but the one I really want to focus
on is the other football, American football. You went into
the Buffalo Bills. I know Alex has a lot of
(17:34):
questions that comparing notes on owners but I want to
ask you, how does that deal come about, how does
that land where you have the ability to buy in,
and why were you interested?
Speaker 6 (17:44):
Yeah, so my interest in sports ownership started in twenty eighteen,
give you the cliff notes. Real Salt Lake came up
for sale and I was signed by the MLS in
my living room when I was, you know, fifteen years old.
So I have an okay relationship with the league office.
So I the note in and I said, hey, what
what does it take, you know, to acquire a group
like that? And the entire you know, Don Garber was
(18:07):
great with kind of saying, you know, if there's something
you're serious about, this is how it has to work,
this is how the process works. And I was again
immediately obsessed with it and learning, and you know, lo
and behold. A year later, I put together my own
little group and I go and I start to raise capital.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
And so that's kind of where it started for me.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Obviously I didn't purchase that team that went to Ryan
Smith at Qualtrics, but like understanding the process, understanding the byside,
what's what's needed, kind of how to put together a structure,
I just became addicted, addicted to it, and so you know,
I just kept my ear to the ground. I kept
making sure that I was making myself available to see
different opportunities. And the Buffalo Bills in the NFL obviously
(18:48):
opened a new world in terms of structuring some of
the ownership groups, and the Bills were looking for a
Toronto group as they're looking to expand in that area,
which you know, I think are primed to do in
a number of ways. And and you know, being that Vinced,
myself and Tracy have great ties there, it was a
match made in heaven. And you know, we haven't looked back.
And you know, that experience in itself has been.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Yeah, and that in itself has been an amazing.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Learning heart of them. I just wanted to make sure
that everybody were Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
And you missed to say Tom Berger, who led our group,
who's an incredible an incredible guy and businessmen as well.
So you know, I think we were incredibly lucky, and
I think we're incredibly excited because the amount of learning
opportunities that we've already seen has been has been incredible.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yeah, So tell us about that, like, you know, because
obviously this is it's a fascinating moment for the NFL,
in particular because of some of the new ownership that's
coming in. Obviously institutional capital of the Bills were on
the front edge of that as well, along with the
Miami Dolphins arc dos in the case of the Bills.
So what are the dynamics like that tell us what,
(19:57):
you know, take us inside a little bit about what
are your in interactions, like what do you feel like
you're getting and what are they getting in terms of
this sort of new structure in this new dynamic.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
Yeah, I think you know, Buffalo obviously is a storage
franchise but has yet to kind of get over that
hump obviously, And I think for us, you know, being
guys that have competed at the highest level in our
sports and won championships, I think having and adding that
pedigree definitely helped. And then again looking at you know,
that footprint in northern Ontario and the massive fan base
(20:28):
that is in Toronto for the Buffalo Bills, I think
played a huge part. And naturally for us, you know,
being kind of staples in that community, how can we,
you know, in good smart ways kind of you know,
blend the two. And it's been so fun doing that
and already we're seeing kind of the fruits of that
and all of this to build a culture, to continue
to build the community and hopefully win a super Bowl, right,
(20:50):
That's that's the end game.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Yeah, it looks pretty good for you guys. But Jason,
you you were saying that Josie reminds you of me,
but he's way ahead of me. He's only thirty five,
and I'm honestly, I'm so impressed Josie. I really commend
you and congrats with all you've done and you're just
getting started, I'm sure. So my question is it took
me a long time to think about building my team.
(21:14):
How do I look at, you know, opportunities, What is
my process?
Speaker 5 (21:18):
How does your team look like? What is your process?
Speaker 4 (21:21):
And how do you get the deal flow that you've
been getting not only a sports but around the horn.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
You know, that's a great question, you know.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
I think that the biggest part for the deal flow
for for me was rewiring kind of who I am
and how I approach conversation. And that was kind of
difficult at first, because you know, you get on the
call and you expect you know, people to kind of
you know, know you, but as you know, Alex, they
still want that introduction. And so I think being comfortable
with kind of relearning and re earning respective people by
(21:51):
making myself available, you know, traveling to different functions, you know,
going to school, getting my bachelor's in and kind of
just forgetting you know, one life and being humble while
entering another. I think that was a huge benefit of mine,
and I was able to kind of network and find
myself in places where I'm now getting deals that I'm
passionate about but could potentially have major upsides. So, you know,
(22:14):
reworking and kind of relearning how to communicate with people
and meeting people where they were at in the business
world and respecting what they've done.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
I think, you know, it goes a long way for athletes,
you know, in my.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Opinion, So Josie, you know, interesting to think about your portfolio,
and you know, there are some familiar names that pop
up when I look at you know, either teams or leagues,
(22:49):
you know, teams in the case of AFC. Brandy Chestein
has been a guest on this show, and obviously the
women's sports movement and women's soccer specifically is so fascinating.
But one that I wanted to talk about that that
sort of drew my eye was tgl Obviously it's sort
of base near near where you are. I had a
chance to go to one of the matches toward the
end of this inaugural season. Alex and I are both
(23:13):
He's better than I am, but we're both aspiring golfers.
Shall we say, how does that deal come to you?
And what's attracted? Because it has attracted some unbelievable names
like yourself into a very new and pretty ambitious concept.
Speaker 6 (23:29):
Yeah, I mean that one was an exciting one. You know,
I'm down the street, I'm in Booker Raton, you know
the stadium there is in Palm Beach, And so I
got that opportunity through a mutual friend who reconnected me
to an old friend, to be quite honest, that I've
known for a number of years and who let me
in on the project in terms of what he's working
on at the time. It was a guy Joey Brander
(23:49):
and Mike McCauley, and I kind of understood what they
were trying to build and right away, you know the time,
it couldn't have been better because I myself an inspiring golfer,
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
So I just.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
Got some clubs and I probably only played twice, but
I already had the itch.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
I hit one ball straight.
Speaker 6 (24:06):
And I was like, I gotta do this more and
so yeah, it's so humbling, right, Like That's the thing
about golf is, like you know, and Alex, you know this.
I feel like you can approach a ball in soccer
a few different ways and still kind of have the
same effect we're in golf. If that you know, that
swing isn't kind of consistent each and every time. You know,
you're gonna be frustrated with yourself. So you know, it
(24:29):
is what it is.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
But I love it. I have this bug for it.
I'm so eager to learn.
Speaker 6 (24:32):
And so when that came about, I was I was intrigued.
I'm a big believer in sport and tech, and I
thought this can offer a new spin on a game
where I think the younger audience has kind of felt
like there wasn't many entry points and I thought this
could be, you know, maybe a twist on the game
that can captivate the younger audience. And I think we've
seen in season one that there's evidence of that.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
So Josie again, I'm like, I'm really excited. I'm really
excited for you because I think you're so far ahead
of the curve. I've had some great mentors, Magic Johnson
being one of them. And when I saw a person
of color go from the court to the boardroom, it
inspired me to no end. When you think about forecasting
your future, how did the next three to five years.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Look for you?
Speaker 4 (25:16):
And what would be like an awesome outcome five ten
years from now?
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Where do you want to be? How big do you
want to grow your vision?
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Jason? You heard him, He asked this not this is
perfect because.
Speaker 6 (25:27):
For me, in a perfect world, Alex, I'm not even
gonna lie to you. It's it's doing something with the
name you just mentioned in yourself. You know, like you
guys have you know, I've followed both of you for
a number of years from your journeys from you know,
the diamond or the cork to where you are now,
and you know the discipline, the way you've applied yourself
you're learning. So in a perfect world, it's to be,
(25:48):
you know, next to guys like you, hopefully in a
number of ventures. And then not only that, but also
kind of I think laying an even clear a blueprint
for the guys behind us and creating an eCos that
you know was able to go from strength to strength,
because I think there's a lot of guys you know,
even younger than me that are so dialed in right
with what they're doing. And if there's a way to
connect kind of the dots, I think that would be amazing.
(26:11):
But in a perfect world, three to five years, you know, me,
you and Magic are doing a project. I don't know
what it is, but we're doing something that has U
has a great ripple effect for years to come.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
That'd be amazing.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
I love it, Jace. We're putting it into the universe.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
You have no idea when you go in the locker
rooms of different sports, Alex, I don't know if you.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Even know that. People talk about what you're doing, right,
people talk about what.
Speaker 6 (26:31):
Magic are doing. And it's like, that's why it's so
inspiring for me to talk to you and be on
this call is because for a long time, you know,
we're watching your moves and how you do them, so
you know, yeah, it's it's just it's special for me.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
And yet that would be a dream come true.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Well, as Alex knows, my all time favorite thing I
say it all the time is deals happening on the
deal and that's happening right now.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
It's happening right now. We're saying it live in real time. Folks.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Come on the fact that you know you mentioned TGL,
you mentioned the Virgin Gulf.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
For first of.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
All, Alex, we have to get you out to see
a TGL match because it's it's Josie back me up.
Mike McCauley was a guest on the show. It's wild
to watch, like especially in person. It's very cool. It's
right up the street. And so here's my proposal. We're
gonna go to a match and either the next day
or that day, the three of us are playing golf
and you know, we'll rope somebody else in all right,
(27:23):
let's do it.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
All right, we're gonna do that.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I know it'll give me a reason to, you know,
just hack away even more, just to try and be
on your level. But at least I have the excuse of, hey,
I wasn't a professional athlete when I hit a bad
(27:46):
All right, let's do our lightning round. It's five questions,
so just you know, give us the first first thing
that comes to your mind. We'll bounce it back and
forth and I'll start you writing.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Let's do it, all.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Right, what's the best piece of advice you've received on
deal making business?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
If you don't know anything about it. It's not for you.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
Who's your dream deal making partner?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Come all, bit, baby, let's go.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
I like it. I like it.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
All right?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Which team do you want to see win a championship
more than any? I think I know this one now.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Oh Buffalo Baby, Bill Bill's Mafia. Come on.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
What is your hype song before a big meeting or negotiation?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Oh? Right now, it's a Won't Stop by Donna. I
don't know why I'm addicted to that song gets me going.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah, all right, So last question, what's your advice for
someone listening who wants a career like yours?
Speaker 1 (28:43):
He a sponge. I'm so sorry. That's my son sneezing
in the background. Guys, you's got I apologize. The timing
couldn't have been anywhere.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Sorry.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
That was amazing and real life and we've all been
there and it's a great ending.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
We really appreciate your time, Josie. This is super fun.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
We were both I know, really looking forward to it
and hopefully this is the first and many conversations that
we have together, and we're gonna play golf and do
some deals and well it's gonna be great.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
No, thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Thank you so much for having me, guys, it was
an absolute pleasure.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
The Deal is hosted by Alex Rodriguez and me Jason Kelly.
This episode was made by Anamazarakus, Stacey Wong and Lizzie Phillip.
Amy Keen is our editor and Will Connelly is our
video editor. Our theme music is made by Blake Maples.
Our executive producers are Kelly Leferrier, Ashley Honig, and Brenda Newnham.
Sage Bauman is the head of Bloomberg Podcast. Additional support
(29:48):
from Rachel Carnivale and Elena Los Angeles. Thanks so much
for listening to the Deal. If you have a minute, subscribe,
rate and review our show. It'll help other listeners find us.
I'm Jason Kelly.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
See you next week.
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