April 18, 2025 • 39 mins
Join hosts Michael Barr and Vanessa Perdomo for a look at some of the latest headlines and stories in the business of sports.
The WNBA's Dallas Wings drafted rising star Paige Bueckers on draft night this past week. Bloomberg US sports business reporter Randall Williams was at the draft and joined to talk about the WNBA's bright future - and how players are still working to get a pay raise.
Then, Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison was part of a media-only event and talked about the team's choice to trade away fan favorite Luka Doncic. Bloomberg Dallas bureau chief Julie Fine was in attendance and shared her reaction to the press event. We also hear her conversation with Dallas Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts
. Plus, former NFL pro, executive director of NFL FLAG and RCX Sports CEO Izell Reese joins to discuss the future of flag football and participation in youth sports.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News. This is the Business
of Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
The business of sports can be intimidating or hard for
a starting to break into.
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We really appreciate when our owners are actually there, you know,
with us through the journey.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Teams ours especially have been very intentional to diversify at
all levels of the company.
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I think we're in the bolden years for the NFL
and college football.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Our demographic reach has continued to exploise.
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This is going to be really unlocking the streaming platform
for sports fans.
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Sports valuations arising, We'll see when they peak.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
You don't have to be the best in your sports
to make a whole ton of money.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We explore the
big money issues in the world of sports. I'm Michael
Labarr along with Vanessa Bernamo, Scarlett fu Is on assignment,
and Damian Sasauer. We'll be back next week coming up
All the sh Show. We talk hockey, and here from
the CEO of the Dallas Stars, Brad Albert.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Across the line, Graham and looking for help.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Has Itlyn Delphie stares to nothing, Dallas.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Plus we'll talk youth sports and the NFL's big plans
for flag football with former NFL player and now CEO
of RCX Sports Isazel Reese. All that and more is
on the way on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. But first,
the WNBA wastes no time coming out of March Madness.
This past week we saw the WNBA Draft, with.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
The first pick in the twenty twenty five WNBA Draft,
the Dallas Wings Select Page Beckers University of Connecticut.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Bloomberg US Sports Business reporter Randa Williams was at the
WNBA draft and did some reporting on how the WNBA
players Union is still waiting for the league to start
talks with them about raising player wages. Randall is here
now to talk with us about the latest and to
preview the next WNBA season. Oh friend, Randon Williams, Welcome
(02:08):
back to the Bloomberg Business Sports.
Speaker 6 (02:10):
That was a nice intro. That's one of the more
different ones you've given me. I appreciate it, and thank
you for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Here officially from the un Man that's where I got Hey.
We just kind of wrapped up the w NBA Draft
page Beckers man Yu Khan is like, we're going to
miss you for sure.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
And hats off to the WNBA because this year's draft,
I think was a significant improvement on last year. They
upgraded the space, it was more feasible, it was nicer,
more red tape. But as the league grows, they have
to make adjustments. It's the draft is always a celebratory
night that is a lot of fun.
Speaker 7 (02:44):
I was gonna say, you got to set the scene
for us a little bit, because you know, I was
wondering about that. How were they going to build on
last year? Continuously build? I mean we've both been to
them before, even the NBA drafts. I mean, it wasn't
the Barclay Center, I'm sure, But does it look like
it's going to start getting up to that that level
of fervor that the NBA and NFL draft skill.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Yeah, I think they're going to stay at the Shed
a little bit now. I do think that over time
that they will grow. The reason I think they'll stay
at the Shed, of course, is because like Kaitlyn Clark
is obviously this huge figure. Everything that she touches essentially
turns to gold, and I think she'll be that figure
for a long time. But let's say that someone comes
along and is dunking in a way that you know,
women's basketball has never seen and attracts people to the
(03:28):
game similar the way that Caitlyn does. Like that would
I think bring a bigger audience, and you know, it
might give them reason to expand in bar plays. But
for now, like you think about the stars that are
here right now, we just had Page, there will be Juju,
there will be Hannah Hildrago, think things like that. I
think that they'll stay there and the audience might increase,
(03:48):
but who knows, who knows, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Well, I think it is increasing because you know, it's
it's easy to talk about Caitlin and and everybody, right,
but we're talking about Paige Beckers of course, and you
know you've got to be in the sport to understand
where we're going with that. I think that is significant
that you know, we're talking about other players in the
w NBA.
Speaker 6 (04:10):
Yeah, I think it is a pivotal year for them.
Obviously a good portion of the national TV games are
Caitlin Clark focused, but the ability for the league and
their partners, and I think media has some responsibility on
this as well to build up other athletes, so that
the league is not so dependent on Caitlyn is very
very important. Obviously, there's there's a history between Page and
(04:31):
Caitlyn playing. I think that was the final four last year.
We'll see them play again, and there's just a lot
of history. It can't just be Angel Caitlyn. You have
to establish Asia and and Breonna Stewart so that people
know them and granted when I mean, what I mean
when I say established is that you want to promote
them the same way. You don't just want it to
(04:51):
be Kitlyn Kaitlyn Caitlyn, because I think that's how you
end up with players unhappy.
Speaker 7 (04:57):
And that was one of the other things, you know,
I was interested to hear about because obviously when Kaitlyn
came in last year in you know, the draft and
all that, but she wasn't the only one that people
were paying attention to. With Angel rees and they had
a really strong overall class rocky class last year. Was
this year kind of just the Page Backer show at
the draft? Do you think or were other stars created
(05:18):
throughout the nights?
Speaker 6 (05:19):
Do you think I think that this year was more
basketball focused than last year. Was like something that happens
when stars come into leagues is that the aura that
comes with them, and sometimes that aura isn't always basketball related.
And with Caitlyn and Angel like, I think that their
rivalry dating back to Iowa and LSU and sort of
the tension that came with it from both sides of
(05:40):
the spectrum was a discussion in this year. It's like
whenever you hear these these players being discussed, it's just
more so about their college careers and how they fit
into these teams. And they did that last year too,
But I think this year that there isn't as much
tension with the WNBA draft.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
And as usual, you have beautiful work that's on our
terminal and you have just written an article with the
WNBA season it's just around a month away. The players union,
let's just say there are some issues there.
Speaker 6 (06:11):
Yes, as we know, the CBA is currently being negotiated.
The union opted out of it in November. My sources
tell me they sent something over to the league in
December that had not been responded to. Now, when Kathy commissioned,
WWA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert got to the podium, she said
(06:32):
this report was inaccurate, but also said that they had
received a proposal and that it had they had received
it recently. She did not get into the specifics of
the timeframe, and recently is obviously subjective recent to you.
If I got married yesterday and you heard about it
six months later, that's news to you, but that would
wouldn't be news to me. So I think that they
(06:52):
are still negotiating. There's a long way to go. We'll
have more news on that in months to go.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
And Renald, what.
Speaker 7 (06:58):
Is it you know in these proposals, have you say
or whatever that the WNBAPA is asking for that is
giving the league tension? Is it just the higher salaries
they're asking for, or what is it that's gonna that
they're asking for that could possibly bring the talks to
a whole.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
Well, it really remains to be seen, because when you
ask the WNBA commissioner about it, she just doesn't say
much in terms of the detail. I asked her what
is a fair deal, and she said, you know, we're
not going to negotiate publicly.
Speaker 8 (07:28):
Now.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
What the union has said is they want a new
economic model. They want higher pay, they want better retirement benefits,
they want minimum standards upgraded. That's facilities and stadiums and
things like that they want. They have made a very
firm statement from the beginning. And if you compare this
to let's say NBA CBA negotiations, a lot of these
conversations in NBA, like you think of luxury tax and
(07:50):
things that are really in the weeds for fans. Now
this is like the essence of the WNBA. And like
there has been some speculation about if they're headed towards
the lockout, It's way too early to say that right now,
but the WNBPA has been aggressive from the moment that
they opted out. That statement that they said, and their
phrasing saying this is business is what I would consider aggressive.
(08:12):
And how they speak to each other, how they negotiate,
is important because obviously we all agree to get WNBA
players are underpaid, and this economic model, the way that
it has been displayed and shown to people, it's like, oh,
the WNBA doesn't make any money, Well, you just signed
a new media deal that is two billion dollars. It
(08:33):
could reach three if they add more partners. And when
you talk about all there's new money that's coming into
that the players want to share. Now, what is fair
for the players and what is fair for the league
so that the league continues to grow and be as
successful as it has been.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
We're going to find out now that begins in twenty
twenty six. And that deal. About the media deal, it's
about four times more than the previous agreement, yep.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
And it'll be with ESPN, Amazon, on an NBC and
the league is considering adding more media partners that could
push it to three billion. But again it's it's a
huge increase from one to the next. It's just about
from my perspective, like how big When we talk about
the last CBA, you know, the highest WNBA salary doubled. Well,
when the media deal quadruples or it gets a lot
(09:19):
bigger than the players get a lot bigger, and that
just isn't for the WNBA. You think about NFL contracts
or NBA contracts, think about what a super max is
right now versus what it was five or six years ago.
These numbers are astronomical for the WNBA and it's players.
I'm sure that they will get a raise, it's just
about how much and what do the players want that raise.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
To be, right?
Speaker 7 (09:40):
And also about revenue sharing, right, because like you just mentioned,
they want a cut of it, but they've never technically
gotten that cut before because they've never been able to
unlock revenue sharing under this last CBA because of it
was very complicated to unlock. Can you talk about about
that and if that's something that has to have been
(10:00):
for them to get those bigger contracts.
Speaker 6 (10:02):
Well, there are a lot of different models that work
for this or that can work for this, But to me,
it's a The negotiation is about what decides are willing
to accept. It's a give and take. And as far
as the revenue sharing model, there aren't a lot of
specifics as to how the WNBA's business works outside of
you know, how the ownership is set up where you
(10:24):
have some NBA owners involved, you have some owners who
don't own NBA teams, and then you have the change
makers who have invested in the league as well. And
so where does who's getting the revenue? Where is it
coming from? Is it the media?
Speaker 8 (10:37):
Is it you know?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
The players?
Speaker 8 (10:39):
Like?
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Where is this money coming from? And how much do
the players want? Like if you think about it, from NBA, NFL, MLB,
these unions try to get as close to fifty percent
as they can. The WNBA is not close to that
right now, and with respect to that, let's add some
contexts that these leagues are over Most of these leagues
are over one hundred years old or close to seventy
years old. The w is thirty years old. It had
(11:01):
a much different start than the NFL, the NBA, the MLB,
all of these leagues. And granted, it is the oldest
women's professional sports league out there. So I think from
a fan perspective, from a journalist perspective, people are like, Okay,
you're the oldest. You've been around the block the longest.
We expect to see progress, and we're going to find
out what progress looks like over the course of the
(11:21):
summer and especially in the fall.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
The NBA playoff season early, early, early, and I know
everybody's trying to look at the marquee matchups, and of
course we all know it is the Knicks against the Pistons,
and I see the look. Your opinion is, where do
you see this season going? Because you've got so many
(11:48):
very good teams out there.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
I think the best case scenario for the NBA is
that there is a point of tension in the peak
of the playoffs, like it doesn't matter where, but you
there has to be some ten. If you remember last
year in the finals between the Mavericks and the Celtics,
there wasn't a lot of ten. Like the tension was
really if Luca could guard and if he could stay
(12:09):
in the game to keep the MAVs alive. And Kyrie
obviously didn't perform to the best of his abilities. But
at some point, like I went to Game one and
it was like, Okay, in order for this game to
be close, Luca's gonna have to score sixty. He didn't,
and they lost, and they lost in five. For this
year's playoffs, there are a number of teams and a
number of marcus that will attract viewers. But you know,
are this series going to be competitive? Are the Celtics
(12:30):
going to dominate? Are the Calvs going to dominate? And
will people tune in to watch stars like stars that
aren't Lebron, Steph and Kd's not even in the playoffs
this year, So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Randall the man with the hand of Williams. You are
the man. Thank you, sir for coming back, an old
friend all the business of sports.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Appreciate you for having me as always.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Up next, we had to Texas and talk with Bloomberg
Dallas Bureau chief Julie Vine about her conversation with the
CEO of the NHL's Dallas Stars. For Vanessa Perdomo, I'm
Michael Barr. You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports
from Bloomberg Radio around the world.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We explore the
big money issues in the world of sports. Michael Barr
along with Vanessa Perdomo, Scarlett foo Is on assignment, and
Damian Sasauer. We'll be back next week. Coming up, we'll
hear a special conversation with the NHL's Dallas Stars President
and CEO Brad Alberts. He spoke with Bloomberg Dallas Bureau
(13:38):
chief Julie Fine, but before we get there, we've got
to talk about the Mavericks. This week, Dallas Mavericks CEO
Nico Harrison was part of a media event where he
doubled down on his reasoning for trading away superstar Luka
Dantage to the Lakers, a move that fans are still
reeling from. Bloomberg Dallas Bureau chief Julie Fine was in
(14:01):
the room for the meeting, and she is here now
to talk with us about what she learned.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
It's my favorite thing. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
You know a lot about the Dallas Mavericks because you
were there for a media event when the GM Nico
Harrison was giving a news conference about it. But I'm
sure a lot of people were wondering about the Luka
Danks trade to the Lakers and the As for the Mavericks,
(14:34):
Let's be honest, they're still kind of reeling from it.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Well, I think the whole situation they're reeling from. I mean,
this was a devastated fan base. I mean you almost
have to live here to understand. Luca meant a lot
to this community. He was very active in the community.
So I think it was the shock he leaves in
the middle of the night, so this was really They
spoke after the trade. Nico Harrison spoke the day after
(14:58):
the trade. We have not heard from him, so he
sat with the with the CEO as well, and it
was just an interest like it was. I think you
left with still many questions about really why this happened.
I mean, Nico Harrison over and over again said defense
wins Championships and they're trying to build the team that
(15:20):
will win for many years to come. However, last year
with Luca, the team went to the finals. So a
lot of questions it's still remaining after this one hour.
I don't know what you would really call it. Select
media were invited, there were no cameras, no recordings, and
(15:40):
recordings allowed publicly, I should say. And so it was
just an event like none I've ever been to before
in working in news and being sent to, you know,
fill in and cover sports many times.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
That is a statement. Jually, it's an event like you've
never been to before in your entire career covering. I mean,
that's that's a big statement, you know. I looked over
the transcript and obviously he's constantly he's just bombarded with
questions about the trade. Obviously as it should be, and
this is the GM's job to take these hard questions.
(16:14):
But I want you to tell us, like what the
tone of it was like in the room. Did he
appear frustrated by all these questions? You know, do you
think he actually believes in himself that it was a
good trade.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
I think I think he clearly believes it was the
right trade. I mean he said it over and over.
I mean I asked him if he had any regrets
about how the whole thing was handled, and basically he said,
you know, he doesn't have any regrets. He thought this
was the best in the interest of the Dallas Mavericks.
I would say the room was quiet. It was a
(16:48):
round table type of setup. It was kind of in
a boardroom, so he was in the front along with
Rick Welts, and it was He seemed very very I
don't want to the word mellow can be construed in
so many different ways. He seemed very calm. I mean,
there was a couple slightly heated moments, but he just
kept going back to I don't think I can count
(17:10):
the amount of times he said defense wins championships. I mean,
they had to answer a lot of questions too, on
the business side of this year's season. Ticket prices went up,
so they had to answer a lot of questions about it.
But he really I hate he use the term doubled down,
but he really doubled down on this being the right
thing for the Mavericks. I think there's still many questions
(17:32):
about how it was handled and the emotion of the city,
like the city has not come around. You know, it
was interesting what he said about had everybody seen what
the team could have been, you know, Anthony Davis coming
and he only played for two and a half quarters,
so you really only saw the team together with Kyrie
as well. So he kept saying, you know, if you
(17:53):
had seen what you had seen for two and a
half quarters, but that I don't think that's at this
point sold the fan base either, Like two and a
half quarters is not going to get people through this
at this point.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Well, I think that you hit the key point. If
Anthony Davis was not injured, at least the Maverick fan
base could see the value of the trade. But you
only you know, it was just right after that that
he got injured, and it's like, oh man injured rather
and it's like, oh my goodness.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Well, I think the team really did somewhat feel like
if you would, you didn't get a chance to see
the trade really and what it was going to do
for the team. And they really tried to point that out,
like people may be a little less frustrated if that
team had been able to play healthy, but I mean
that team was crushed by injuries all year, So I
(18:46):
mean This was like a quadruple whammy for the Maps
in terms of the ticket pricing, losing Luca, everybody being injured.
Now they're in a play in last year, you know,
they were in the finals and just I think Luca,
I don't know if any I don't have to ask this.
Of course you all saw it when Luca came back
went to Dallas. I mean he had his head in
(19:08):
his hands, crying with a towel, and you could see
the fans every time he got a basket they were cheering.
And he's playing for the Lakers. So it's just been
just soul crushing, I would say for the fan base.
Speaker 7 (19:21):
Here, Yeah, I mean it's going to take some time
to get over that. And I don't even know if
winning a championship would really really recover from losing your
star for that long. Actually, I want to talk about
how it parallels to the WNBA now that the Dallas
Wings got the number one draft pick in Paige Becker's
(19:43):
and I actually saw a few fans online saying, Okay,
Page is now our new Luca. You know, what's the
excitement for the Dallas Wings right now?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
People are so excited for the Wings. We talked to
Greg Bibb last week. He came in and it was
the Friday before, so I mean, clearly they were going
to pick Page, but he couldn't say it. There's so
much excitement surrounding her. I mean, she comes here with
high expectations for sure, and you got to remember the
Wings were in less place last year, but eventually they're
getting a new stadium. It's really exciting, I think for
(20:15):
basketball fans, but I just think fans. It's really exciting
for this city, and I think certainly there's an opportunity
right now with the basketball fan base, but I think
they would have been there for Page all the way through.
It was interesting that this news conference by the MAVs
day after Page was chosen. A lot of discussion about
(20:36):
that as well. But I think the fan base here
is thrilled that she's coming here. I mean a serious
excitement for her, from.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
The court to the ice. Because you also got a
chance to talk with Dallas Stars president and CEO Brad
Albert Brett.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Alberts is a really interesting guy. He comes in to
drop a ton in a row going into the playoffs,
but they're still I mean, they still had a great,
great great season. You know, the last two years they
went to the Western Conference finals. So high hopes for
this team, and I'll tell you this city could really
get excited about a champion right now. He's interesting on
many different levels. But what they're doing in terms of
(21:15):
media rights, every fan here can now get games streaming
for free. That's a decision they made. So we talked
about the team and the economics of that as well,
and he also talked about, you know, foreign relations and
how that you know, can play into hockey.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Our thanks to Julie Fine for joining us. She's Bloomberg
Dallas Bureau chief. Now let's take a listen to Julie's
conversation with Dallas Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
I want to talk a little bit about the business
of hockey, the eyes on it, and how you're attracting
more well.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
I think success on the ice is a big differentiator,
you know, right away, and I think the fact that
we've been really really good here for the last couple
of years has really helped develop, you know, the next
generation of fans, both old and young. And I think
it's certainly things that we're focused on every day in
our office. How do we continue to grow at the
grassroots level and how do we get to grow at
(22:11):
the mature level and having a good team, there's nothing better.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
You're in your second stint here with the Dallas Stars,
and we talked a lot earlier about branding and how
important that is for a team. You did something no professional,
major league professional team has done yet, you started direct
to consumer for free streaming of all your games. Can
you talk about that business strategy, how you came up
with that decision, and what has been like implementing it.
Speaker 5 (22:37):
Yeah, we're crazy, you know, No, I think well it
it was a byproduct of, you know, the RSN dilemma
that we were faced with two years ago, and I
think we were fortunate we stumbled across, you know, an
incredible company in a PMC. Their leader, Neil Gruninger, has
done an unbelievable job building this technology to be able
(22:57):
to do this, and we really, you know, as we
sat down did our due diligence with them, we got
more and more comfortable as we went along. We ran
tests and our group is not afraid to do big things,
and certainly I preached that all the time, doing big
things and this is a big thing and we wanted
to pioneer it. We looked forward to pioneering it. We
knew that there were going to be issues that we'd
have to work through. We've done those together with APMC,
(23:19):
and we are strong believers that streaming is going to
be a big part of local sports into the future.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
This, again, though, is free economically. How long can a
team sustain that.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Well, that's going to be part of what we evaluate
and look at. You know, our short term goals are
not going to change. We have no desire to change
that philosophy in the short term. That doesn't mean that
we're not going to pivot to it at some point
down the road. But right now, going into next season,
things are going to be the same as they were
this year. We've had a really good first year, over
a million downloads for Victory, plus a number of other
(23:51):
teams you know, coming on board looking to come on
board other content. So we're excited about the future. We think,
you know, you need it two good full years to
really get a good understanding of what we're dealing with,
and probably a new normal will appear.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
When you look at the Hockey League of Scores heading
into the playoffs, but in general it is such an
international sport at this time, global tension. Is it changing
the game? How does it affect it?
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Well, certainly, you know, the Russians from an international perspective
have been left out of international play, so I think
it's affecting it at a big level. We're going to
have the U eighteens World Championships here, you know, next
week in Frisco, and the Russians aren't going to be
a part of that. So and the Russians have you know,
a history in hockey and have great talent. So it's
impacting the sport at a high level. At the NHL level,
(24:41):
it's you know, it's not but you know, certainly in Europe,
I think the Russia factor is a real one, and
it's it's something that we can't ignore as a sport.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
You've been in the sport a long time. Let's go
down the road a little bit. You talked about streaming
being the future in five years. You and I sit here,
what do you see the sport looking like?
Speaker 5 (25:00):
Well, I think it's going through a very transfer formational
change at this point, and I think teams are going
to have to really evolve to stay with it. I
think if you're a team that stands still, you're going
to get blown away. I think digital technology is really
taking over. I think streaming is obviously going to play
a big part in how you view the sport, how
you view you know, sports and entertainment content you know,
(25:23):
into the future. And I think the big thing, you know,
that I worry about every day is where are we
going to continue to find top line revenue growth to
be able to make all of this work in a
profitable way.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
That's Dallas Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts speaking with
Bloomberg Dallas Bureau chief Julie Fie. Up next, we turn
to youth sports and the rise of flag football for
Vanessa Berdomo. I'm Michael Barr. You are listening to the
Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around world.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Thanks for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports.
Whigs for the big funny issues in the world of sports.
I'm Michael Barr along with Vanessa Bernomo. Joining us now
is Isazella Reese. He is a former NFL player and
is now CEO of RCX Sports, a leader in youth
sports and events and he's also executive director of NFL Flag.
(26:27):
He's here to talk to us about the latest in
youth sports participation in the rise of flag football. Isael
Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports.
Speaker 8 (26:37):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
You are the CEO of RCX Sports. Tell us what
that's all about.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yes, RCX Sports is all about youth sports and youth
league play and also in a unique environment using and
utilizing NFL and Pro League IP and MARS to enhance
the experience for youth sports leagues around the country and events.
(27:07):
And a very simple way I like to kind of
put it is think of think of at the youth
sports level and an affordable and accessible model. But it
is little league Baseball meets fanatics, if you will.
Speaker 8 (27:22):
So NFL Flag is one of the programs that we run.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
And so the kids get the opportunities to be the Cowboys,
to be the Broncos through flag football, and it is
a very substantial program and I know we'll get into
that and many of the other ones that we oversee,
but yeah, we've a mask working with several of the
pro leagues now and it's just been a great opportunity
and you know, for me personally give them my background.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
That's amazing.
Speaker 7 (27:49):
As you know, one of the things obviously, like flag
football is exploded at the youth level to become a
high school sport in fourteen states. What is it about
flag football you know that's taking off. Is it just
safety element of it that you know more parents are
okay with their kids playing instead of tackle or is
it you know that it is a way to get
more girls playing. What is it about it?
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, I think it's all of the above, and then
some I think I think the safety aspect is a
part of it.
Speaker 8 (28:18):
I think the in addition of it.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
So you know, obviously tackle football and I'm thinking about
of course boys and girls, but boys in this case
you can't play it year round, and so it gives
an opportunity flag football is year round to continue to
play and participate. I think it brings females now into
football in a major way. So now you're getting both
(28:42):
boys and girls of all ages playing the sport. And
it's fun, it's exciting, it's it's fun, it's affordable and
you know, you don't have on all the equipment, and
it's fast paced. Everybody can score touchdown, and it's it's
just so much engaging involved with it. And it's also
a good feeder into learning football. So let's say a young,
(29:05):
young young boy. I mean my son is a great
example of it. He's thirteen now getting ready to go
into high school. We started with flag first and it
was a good way to teach him the game. And
then when he raised his hand and it was solely
up to him to play a little tackle football, it
won his first time playing football and you know, backpedaling,
(29:26):
catching footballs, you know, running running routes.
Speaker 8 (29:29):
It's still the same whether his flag or tackles.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
So it's also a good feeder as well and giving
kids opportunity to play. So there's a multitude of reasons why,
but you touched on one that I'm very excited about
and having a hand in it at the collegiate level,
high school level, and across the NFL Flag and it
is just just women having this opportunity in the path
to play and participate. It's just it's exciting to see
(29:54):
and just know that they have a path that goes
all the way through college and even represent their country
in the Olympics. So that is just It's just music
to my years to be able to see that in football.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Now I want to go more into that about flag
football in the Olympics. That's going to be a big
step to expose the sport.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's no greater way than to
put it on a global scale and legitimize the sport.
I mean, the fact that anything that's an Olympic sport,
a collegiate sport, a pro sport for that matter, it
just to the legitimacy of what it does and creating
that path. But no doubt, I don't think there's a
(30:33):
bigger stage to be on then, you know, having that
opportunity to represent your country for both men and women,
which is which is great to see. And now with
flag entering into LA twenty eight, which is going to
be exciting to watch.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
I mean, I'm I'm not gonna lie. I was quite
surprised actually when it did get added to LA twenty
eight because I've always thought of football, our version of football,
American football, as inherently American, right, you know, not necessarily
super Internet, but the tournament that you guys put on
with you know, the NFL also has an international division,
(31:07):
so talk to me a little bit about that, and
I guess, like, yeah, who else is really really good
at flag football internationally? Like who else is going to
be winning a medal? Obviously we're going to win gold,
but like who's gonna win silver?
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Yeah, well, well we don't know if we're going to go.
I will start by saying that, so, and I'll use
an example of so. So flag football was in the
World Games. And if you've ever heard of World Games,
it's all those sports h flag men. One of them
that are now you know, went through that path to
get into the Olympics and World Games is like the Cousins.
(31:39):
So it's every sport that's vying to get in. As
we know, softball jumps in and out and when they're
not in the Olympics, they're in the World Games.
Speaker 8 (31:45):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
So, so that this way happened a couple of years ago,
and obviously the Olympic committee was closely watching and Mexico
women blew out Team USA, blew them out, and we're
sitting there watching it and the first thing is like,
damn they you know, they're they're punishing eating a Team USA.
(32:06):
But from from my perspective, I was like, this is
a good thing because when you think about and just
what you said of and that's when you think about it,
you a team, a country just dominating that one sport.
Speaker 8 (32:18):
That is not a plus.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
When you think about, you know, an Olympic sport, you
don't want just one country just dominating. You want you
want it to be competitive and exciting. So it really
builds that global fandom. And flag football is that the
women's side is competitive, the men's side is competitive. The
ease of learning that sport in football versus tackle to
(32:40):
start it only helps the continued growth of the game
at both levels.
Speaker 8 (32:45):
But flag, you.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Know, again bringing in both men and women and the
ease of learning that game at either as a starting
point or only point is good. And then so it's
now given the NFL the sport of football something that
they've always wanted, and it's how do we grow the
game globally? And I don't think there's any greater indication
of that than you know, getting it approved and signed
(33:07):
off by the Olympic Committee and now entering into the
Olympics in LA.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
We're not that far off from the second annual Flag
Football tournament. It's going to take place in Canton Ohio,
tell us about that, because again that's another avenue for
exposure for the sport. I think ESPN is going to
help broadcast that.
Speaker 8 (33:27):
Yeah, Yeah, ESPN is going to broadcast.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
This is our second year in doing it, and of
course in conjunction with the NFL and the NFL Flag Championships,
and so it's exciting. You know, our reference a Little
League earlier, I mean that was this is the equivalent
of that called it Little League World Series with it
being on ESPN and being global, and it is massive
to say the least will probably have three hundred plus
(33:52):
teams there, but NFL Flag as a whole in those
leagues that vo for those opportunities. There are eight hundred
thousand kids participating in the NFL Flag leagues around the country.
Is the largest organized flag football league in the world,
and now with a bigger, greater global footprint of teams
and coming from different countries. So you're only going to
(34:13):
continue to see continued expansion across that. But last year's
tournament on ESPN was such a huge success and exciting
to watch, and only ask to that exposure and that
fandom that's being built around the sport and the momentum,
which also you need to see is entizing very well
with Olympics because it's like, okay, flag is in the Olympics.
(34:35):
Who's watching There's people that's watching it for the first
time that may be intrigued, but there's this huge base
within the US and globally that's a part of that too.
So giving these kids these opportunities, all age groups, boys
and girls to play on an NFL ask ESPN televised
type stage and canting at the Hall of Fame, it's
just such a cool and unique experience that's pretty much
(34:58):
here to stay. It was such huge hit last year,
and we can't wait to uh, you know, to see
it this summer as well. Uh and now in the
second year, and and we'll continue to grow from there.
Speaker 7 (35:10):
Love it, I mean it has to, yeah, continue to grow.
I'm sure. I'm sure there's no no stopping at this
point for sure. And there you brought up some some
things I'd love to talk about there obviously, like you said,
the NFL flag and and who will be watching it
at the Olympics, that really ties into you know, the
NFL wants to start a professional league, right, so I
think when when will we see that obviously, like one
(35:33):
of our reporters just you know, he said they want
to start it next year ahead of the Olympics. Do
you think that that's something we'll really see or why
get it out before the Olympics. Do you think an
NFL professionally, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
I think I think given the the raatest flag football
is growing, I think there's a chance you could see
it if if if a good game plan is put together,
why wait, right? So and who better to have a
hand in it than the NFL and whatever strategic partner
that they add to it to you know, announce a
(36:07):
pro league, but just giving the excitement and buzz and
just growth the flag, even even the Pro bowlers playing
flag at the Pro Bowl or NFL players and their
wanting and willingness which which is TVD to be figured
out if they have that opportunity to play. But adding
pro flag and knowing that, I think it's the other
(36:28):
phenomenal opportunity. When you think about the Olympians, you're thinking
about pros right, you know that opportunity which if you
were to ask them today is when those teams get
selected or the professional players now that are deeming for
those those spots. Would they want to play and participate? Absolutely?
And all these young kids and millions around the country
(36:50):
that are participating in flag would you watch? Would you
would you want to be a part of it? Would
you want to go see it? Would you want to
watch if it was cell avized pro league? I think
those are the big question. And I think you already
see that because I don't think if it didn't exist
and you didn't have this base, in this momentum, in
(37:10):
this door that opened at the Olympic level, at the
collegiate level, and the fastest growing sport in high school
for girls in the US being flag football, you know,
it's showing all the momentum of what's next. I mean,
I think that's the big question because we're already on
this path. Flag football is at the collegiate level across
all three collegiate associations. Alabama State University just became the
(37:34):
first D one program to offer it, so you know
others will follow. So I just say all that to say,
why not you know, why not add it as a
pro league sport? And you see all of what's happening
with women's sports today and how just the fandom and
excitement and buzz and women getting to just doing basketball
and volleyball.
Speaker 8 (37:54):
In these sports. It's just it's great to see.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
So I think the time is right and people are
hungry for continued sports in professional sports and enhancing the experience,
and so as you can say, I'm all for as
you can see, but I think it's right for the taking,
and I think no time like the Presidence to not
(38:19):
only announce something like that, but see it come to
fruition even before the Olympics potentially.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Our thanks to Isel Reeves for joining us. He's a
seven year NFL veteran and now executive director of NFL
Flag and CEO of rc X Sports. Hey, thank you
for joining us Foranessa Pernobo. I'm Michael Barr. Don't forget
to catch our podcast on all your podcast platforms. Tune
in again next week for the latest on the stories
(38:45):
moving big old money. I'm not talking small, big old
money in the world of sports. You're listening to the
Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberger Radio around the world.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Two
Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News. This is the Business
of Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
The business of sports can be intimidating or hard for
a starting to break into.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
We really appreciate when our owners are actually there, you know,
with us through the journey.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Teams ours especially have been very intentional to diversify at
all levels of the company.
Speaker 5 (00:23):
I think we're in the bolden years for the NFL
and college football.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Our demographic reach has continued to exploise.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
This is going to be really unlocking the streaming platform
for sports fans.
Speaker 6 (00:34):
Sports valuations arising, We'll see when they peak.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
You don't have to be the best in your sports
to make a whole ton of money.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We explore the
big money issues in the world of sports. I'm Michael
Labarr along with Vanessa Bernamo, Scarlett fu Is on assignment,
and Damian Sasauer. We'll be back next week coming up
All the sh Show. We talk hockey, and here from
the CEO of the Dallas Stars, Brad Albert.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Across the line, Graham and looking for help.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Has Itlyn Delphie stares to nothing, Dallas.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Plus we'll talk youth sports and the NFL's big plans
for flag football with former NFL player and now CEO
of RCX Sports Isazel Reese. All that and more is
on the way on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. But first,
the WNBA wastes no time coming out of March Madness.
This past week we saw the WNBA Draft, with.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
The first pick in the twenty twenty five WNBA Draft,
the Dallas Wings Select Page Beckers University of Connecticut.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Bloomberg US Sports Business reporter Randa Williams was at the
WNBA draft and did some reporting on how the WNBA
players Union is still waiting for the league to start
talks with them about raising player wages. Randall is here
now to talk with us about the latest and to
preview the next WNBA season. Oh friend, Randon Williams, Welcome
(02:08):
back to the Bloomberg Business Sports.
Speaker 6 (02:10):
That was a nice intro. That's one of the more
different ones you've given me. I appreciate it, and thank
you for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Here officially from the un Man that's where I got Hey.
We just kind of wrapped up the w NBA Draft
page Beckers man Yu Khan is like, we're going to
miss you for sure.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
And hats off to the WNBA because this year's draft,
I think was a significant improvement on last year. They
upgraded the space, it was more feasible, it was nicer,
more red tape. But as the league grows, they have
to make adjustments. It's the draft is always a celebratory
night that is a lot of fun.
Speaker 7 (02:44):
I was gonna say, you got to set the scene
for us a little bit, because you know, I was
wondering about that. How were they going to build on
last year? Continuously build? I mean we've both been to
them before, even the NBA drafts. I mean, it wasn't
the Barclay Center, I'm sure, But does it look like
it's going to start getting up to that that level
of fervor that the NBA and NFL draft skill.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Yeah, I think they're going to stay at the Shed
a little bit now. I do think that over time
that they will grow. The reason I think they'll stay
at the Shed, of course, is because like Kaitlyn Clark
is obviously this huge figure. Everything that she touches essentially
turns to gold, and I think she'll be that figure
for a long time. But let's say that someone comes
along and is dunking in a way that you know,
women's basketball has never seen and attracts people to the
(03:28):
game similar the way that Caitlyn does. Like that would
I think bring a bigger audience, and you know, it
might give them reason to expand in bar plays. But
for now, like you think about the stars that are
here right now, we just had Page, there will be Juju,
there will be Hannah Hildrago, think things like that. I
think that they'll stay there and the audience might increase,
(03:48):
but who knows, who knows, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Well, I think it is increasing because you know, it's
it's easy to talk about Caitlin and and everybody, right,
but we're talking about Paige Beckers of course, and you
know you've got to be in the sport to understand
where we're going with that. I think that is significant
that you know, we're talking about other players in the
w NBA.
Speaker 6 (04:10):
Yeah, I think it is a pivotal year for them.
Obviously a good portion of the national TV games are
Caitlin Clark focused, but the ability for the league and
their partners, and I think media has some responsibility on
this as well to build up other athletes, so that
the league is not so dependent on Caitlyn is very
very important. Obviously, there's there's a history between Page and
(04:31):
Caitlyn playing. I think that was the final four last year.
We'll see them play again, and there's just a lot
of history. It can't just be Angel Caitlyn. You have
to establish Asia and and Breonna Stewart so that people
know them and granted when I mean, what I mean
when I say established is that you want to promote
them the same way. You don't just want it to
(04:51):
be Kitlyn Kaitlyn Caitlyn, because I think that's how you
end up with players unhappy.
Speaker 7 (04:57):
And that was one of the other things, you know,
I was interested to hear about because obviously when Kaitlyn
came in last year in you know, the draft and
all that, but she wasn't the only one that people
were paying attention to. With Angel rees and they had
a really strong overall class rocky class last year. Was
this year kind of just the Page Backer show at
the draft? Do you think or were other stars created
(05:18):
throughout the nights?
Speaker 6 (05:19):
Do you think I think that this year was more
basketball focused than last year. Was like something that happens
when stars come into leagues is that the aura that
comes with them, and sometimes that aura isn't always basketball related.
And with Caitlyn and Angel like, I think that their
rivalry dating back to Iowa and LSU and sort of
the tension that came with it from both sides of
(05:40):
the spectrum was a discussion in this year. It's like
whenever you hear these these players being discussed, it's just
more so about their college careers and how they fit
into these teams. And they did that last year too,
But I think this year that there isn't as much
tension with the WNBA draft.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
And as usual, you have beautiful work that's on our
terminal and you have just written an article with the
WNBA season it's just around a month away. The players union,
let's just say there are some issues there.
Speaker 6 (06:11):
Yes, as we know, the CBA is currently being negotiated.
The union opted out of it in November. My sources
tell me they sent something over to the league in
December that had not been responded to. Now, when Kathy commissioned,
WWA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert got to the podium, she said
(06:32):
this report was inaccurate, but also said that they had
received a proposal and that it had they had received
it recently. She did not get into the specifics of
the timeframe, and recently is obviously subjective recent to you.
If I got married yesterday and you heard about it
six months later, that's news to you, but that would
wouldn't be news to me. So I think that they
(06:52):
are still negotiating. There's a long way to go. We'll
have more news on that in months to go.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
And Renald, what.
Speaker 7 (06:58):
Is it you know in these proposals, have you say
or whatever that the WNBAPA is asking for that is
giving the league tension? Is it just the higher salaries
they're asking for, or what is it that's gonna that
they're asking for that could possibly bring the talks to
a whole.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
Well, it really remains to be seen, because when you
ask the WNBA commissioner about it, she just doesn't say
much in terms of the detail. I asked her what
is a fair deal, and she said, you know, we're
not going to negotiate publicly.
Speaker 8 (07:28):
Now.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
What the union has said is they want a new
economic model. They want higher pay, they want better retirement benefits,
they want minimum standards upgraded. That's facilities and stadiums and
things like that they want. They have made a very
firm statement from the beginning. And if you compare this
to let's say NBA CBA negotiations, a lot of these
conversations in NBA, like you think of luxury tax and
(07:50):
things that are really in the weeds for fans. Now
this is like the essence of the WNBA. And like
there has been some speculation about if they're headed towards
the lockout, It's way too early to say that right now,
but the WNBPA has been aggressive from the moment that
they opted out. That statement that they said, and their
phrasing saying this is business is what I would consider aggressive.
(08:12):
And how they speak to each other, how they negotiate,
is important because obviously we all agree to get WNBA
players are underpaid, and this economic model, the way that
it has been displayed and shown to people, it's like, oh,
the WNBA doesn't make any money, Well, you just signed
a new media deal that is two billion dollars. It
(08:33):
could reach three if they add more partners. And when
you talk about all there's new money that's coming into
that the players want to share. Now, what is fair
for the players and what is fair for the league
so that the league continues to grow and be as
successful as it has been.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
We're going to find out now that begins in twenty
twenty six. And that deal. About the media deal, it's
about four times more than the previous agreement, yep.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
And it'll be with ESPN, Amazon, on an NBC and
the league is considering adding more media partners that could
push it to three billion. But again it's it's a
huge increase from one to the next. It's just about
from my perspective, like how big When we talk about
the last CBA, you know, the highest WNBA salary doubled. Well,
when the media deal quadruples or it gets a lot
(09:19):
bigger than the players get a lot bigger, and that
just isn't for the WNBA. You think about NFL contracts
or NBA contracts, think about what a super max is
right now versus what it was five or six years ago.
These numbers are astronomical for the WNBA and it's players.
I'm sure that they will get a raise, it's just
about how much and what do the players want that raise.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
To be, right?
Speaker 7 (09:40):
And also about revenue sharing, right, because like you just mentioned,
they want a cut of it, but they've never technically
gotten that cut before because they've never been able to
unlock revenue sharing under this last CBA because of it
was very complicated to unlock. Can you talk about about
that and if that's something that has to have been
(10:00):
for them to get those bigger contracts.
Speaker 6 (10:02):
Well, there are a lot of different models that work
for this or that can work for this, But to me,
it's a The negotiation is about what decides are willing
to accept. It's a give and take. And as far
as the revenue sharing model, there aren't a lot of
specifics as to how the WNBA's business works outside of
you know, how the ownership is set up where you
(10:24):
have some NBA owners involved, you have some owners who
don't own NBA teams, and then you have the change
makers who have invested in the league as well. And
so where does who's getting the revenue? Where is it
coming from? Is it the media?
Speaker 8 (10:37):
Is it you know?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
The players?
Speaker 8 (10:39):
Like?
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Where is this money coming from? And how much do
the players want? Like if you think about it, from NBA, NFL, MLB,
these unions try to get as close to fifty percent
as they can. The WNBA is not close to that
right now, and with respect to that, let's add some
contexts that these leagues are over Most of these leagues
are over one hundred years old or close to seventy
years old. The w is thirty years old. It had
(11:01):
a much different start than the NFL, the NBA, the MLB,
all of these leagues. And granted, it is the oldest
women's professional sports league out there. So I think from
a fan perspective, from a journalist perspective, people are like, Okay,
you're the oldest. You've been around the block the longest.
We expect to see progress, and we're going to find
out what progress looks like over the course of the
(11:21):
summer and especially in the fall.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
The NBA playoff season early, early, early, and I know
everybody's trying to look at the marquee matchups, and of
course we all know it is the Knicks against the Pistons,
and I see the look. Your opinion is, where do
you see this season going? Because you've got so many
(11:48):
very good teams out there.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
I think the best case scenario for the NBA is
that there is a point of tension in the peak
of the playoffs, like it doesn't matter where, but you
there has to be some ten. If you remember last
year in the finals between the Mavericks and the Celtics,
there wasn't a lot of ten. Like the tension was
really if Luca could guard and if he could stay
(12:09):
in the game to keep the MAVs alive. And Kyrie
obviously didn't perform to the best of his abilities. But
at some point, like I went to Game one and
it was like, Okay, in order for this game to
be close, Luca's gonna have to score sixty. He didn't,
and they lost, and they lost in five. For this
year's playoffs, there are a number of teams and a
number of marcus that will attract viewers. But you know,
are this series going to be competitive? Are the Celtics
(12:30):
going to dominate? Are the Calvs going to dominate? And
will people tune in to watch stars like stars that
aren't Lebron, Steph and Kd's not even in the playoffs
this year, So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Randall the man with the hand of Williams. You are
the man. Thank you, sir for coming back, an old
friend all the business of sports.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Appreciate you for having me as always.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Up next, we had to Texas and talk with Bloomberg
Dallas Bureau chief Julie Vine about her conversation with the
CEO of the NHL's Dallas Stars. For Vanessa Perdomo, I'm
Michael Barr. You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports
from Bloomberg Radio around the world.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We explore the
big money issues in the world of sports. Michael Barr
along with Vanessa Perdomo, Scarlett foo Is on assignment, and
Damian Sasauer. We'll be back next week. Coming up, we'll
hear a special conversation with the NHL's Dallas Stars President
and CEO Brad Alberts. He spoke with Bloomberg Dallas Bureau
(13:38):
chief Julie Fine, but before we get there, we've got
to talk about the Mavericks. This week, Dallas Mavericks CEO
Nico Harrison was part of a media event where he
doubled down on his reasoning for trading away superstar Luka
Dantage to the Lakers, a move that fans are still
reeling from. Bloomberg Dallas Bureau chief Julie Fine was in
(14:01):
the room for the meeting, and she is here now
to talk with us about what she learned.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
It's my favorite thing. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
You know a lot about the Dallas Mavericks because you
were there for a media event when the GM Nico
Harrison was giving a news conference about it. But I'm
sure a lot of people were wondering about the Luka
Danks trade to the Lakers and the As for the Mavericks,
(14:34):
Let's be honest, they're still kind of reeling from it.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Well, I think the whole situation they're reeling from. I mean,
this was a devastated fan base. I mean you almost
have to live here to understand. Luca meant a lot
to this community. He was very active in the community.
So I think it was the shock he leaves in
the middle of the night, so this was really They
spoke after the trade. Nico Harrison spoke the day after
(14:58):
the trade. We have not heard from him, so he
sat with the with the CEO as well, and it
was just an interest like it was. I think you
left with still many questions about really why this happened.
I mean, Nico Harrison over and over again said defense
wins Championships and they're trying to build the team that
(15:20):
will win for many years to come. However, last year
with Luca, the team went to the finals. So a
lot of questions it's still remaining after this one hour.
I don't know what you would really call it. Select
media were invited, there were no cameras, no recordings, and
(15:40):
recordings allowed publicly, I should say. And so it was
just an event like none I've ever been to before
in working in news and being sent to, you know,
fill in and cover sports many times.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
That is a statement. Jually, it's an event like you've
never been to before in your entire career covering. I mean,
that's that's a big statement, you know. I looked over
the transcript and obviously he's constantly he's just bombarded with
questions about the trade. Obviously as it should be, and
this is the GM's job to take these hard questions.
(16:14):
But I want you to tell us, like what the
tone of it was like in the room. Did he
appear frustrated by all these questions? You know, do you
think he actually believes in himself that it was a
good trade.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
I think I think he clearly believes it was the
right trade. I mean he said it over and over.
I mean I asked him if he had any regrets
about how the whole thing was handled, and basically he said,
you know, he doesn't have any regrets. He thought this
was the best in the interest of the Dallas Mavericks.
I would say the room was quiet. It was a
(16:48):
round table type of setup. It was kind of in
a boardroom, so he was in the front along with
Rick Welts, and it was He seemed very very I
don't want to the word mellow can be construed in
so many different ways. He seemed very calm. I mean,
there was a couple slightly heated moments, but he just
kept going back to I don't think I can count
(17:10):
the amount of times he said defense wins championships. I mean,
they had to answer a lot of questions too, on
the business side of this year's season. Ticket prices went up,
so they had to answer a lot of questions about it.
But he really I hate he use the term doubled down,
but he really doubled down on this being the right
thing for the Mavericks. I think there's still many questions
(17:32):
about how it was handled and the emotion of the city,
like the city has not come around. You know, it
was interesting what he said about had everybody seen what
the team could have been, you know, Anthony Davis coming
and he only played for two and a half quarters,
so you really only saw the team together with Kyrie
as well. So he kept saying, you know, if you
(17:53):
had seen what you had seen for two and a
half quarters, but that I don't think that's at this
point sold the fan base either, Like two and a
half quarters is not going to get people through this
at this point.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Well, I think that you hit the key point. If
Anthony Davis was not injured, at least the Maverick fan
base could see the value of the trade. But you
only you know, it was just right after that that
he got injured, and it's like, oh man injured rather
and it's like, oh my goodness.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Well, I think the team really did somewhat feel like
if you would, you didn't get a chance to see
the trade really and what it was going to do
for the team. And they really tried to point that out,
like people may be a little less frustrated if that
team had been able to play healthy, but I mean
that team was crushed by injuries all year, So I
(18:46):
mean This was like a quadruple whammy for the Maps
in terms of the ticket pricing, losing Luca, everybody being injured.
Now they're in a play in last year, you know,
they were in the finals and just I think Luca,
I don't know if any I don't have to ask this.
Of course you all saw it when Luca came back
went to Dallas. I mean he had his head in
(19:08):
his hands, crying with a towel, and you could see
the fans every time he got a basket they were cheering.
And he's playing for the Lakers. So it's just been
just soul crushing, I would say for the fan base.
Speaker 7 (19:21):
Here, Yeah, I mean it's going to take some time
to get over that. And I don't even know if
winning a championship would really really recover from losing your
star for that long. Actually, I want to talk about
how it parallels to the WNBA now that the Dallas
Wings got the number one draft pick in Paige Becker's
(19:43):
and I actually saw a few fans online saying, Okay,
Page is now our new Luca. You know, what's the
excitement for the Dallas Wings right now?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
People are so excited for the Wings. We talked to
Greg Bibb last week. He came in and it was
the Friday before, so I mean, clearly they were going
to pick Page, but he couldn't say it. There's so
much excitement surrounding her. I mean, she comes here with
high expectations for sure, and you got to remember the
Wings were in less place last year, but eventually they're
getting a new stadium. It's really exciting, I think for
(20:15):
basketball fans, but I just think fans. It's really exciting
for this city, and I think certainly there's an opportunity
right now with the basketball fan base, but I think
they would have been there for Page all the way through.
It was interesting that this news conference by the MAVs
day after Page was chosen. A lot of discussion about
(20:36):
that as well. But I think the fan base here
is thrilled that she's coming here. I mean a serious
excitement for her, from.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
The court to the ice. Because you also got a
chance to talk with Dallas Stars president and CEO Brad
Albert Brett.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Alberts is a really interesting guy. He comes in to
drop a ton in a row going into the playoffs,
but they're still I mean, they still had a great,
great great season. You know, the last two years they
went to the Western Conference finals. So high hopes for
this team, and I'll tell you this city could really
get excited about a champion right now. He's interesting on
many different levels. But what they're doing in terms of
(21:15):
media rights, every fan here can now get games streaming
for free. That's a decision they made. So we talked
about the team and the economics of that as well,
and he also talked about, you know, foreign relations and
how that you know, can play into hockey.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Our thanks to Julie Fine for joining us. She's Bloomberg
Dallas Bureau chief. Now let's take a listen to Julie's
conversation with Dallas Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
I want to talk a little bit about the business
of hockey, the eyes on it, and how you're attracting
more well.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
I think success on the ice is a big differentiator,
you know, right away, and I think the fact that
we've been really really good here for the last couple
of years has really helped develop, you know, the next
generation of fans, both old and young. And I think
it's certainly things that we're focused on every day in
our office. How do we continue to grow at the
grassroots level and how do we get to grow at
(22:11):
the mature level and having a good team, there's nothing better.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
You're in your second stint here with the Dallas Stars,
and we talked a lot earlier about branding and how
important that is for a team. You did something no professional,
major league professional team has done yet, you started direct
to consumer for free streaming of all your games. Can
you talk about that business strategy, how you came up
with that decision, and what has been like implementing it.
Speaker 5 (22:37):
Yeah, we're crazy, you know, No, I think well it
it was a byproduct of, you know, the RSN dilemma
that we were faced with two years ago, and I
think we were fortunate we stumbled across, you know, an
incredible company in a PMC. Their leader, Neil Gruninger, has
done an unbelievable job building this technology to be able
(22:57):
to do this, and we really, you know, as we
sat down did our due diligence with them, we got
more and more comfortable as we went along. We ran
tests and our group is not afraid to do big things,
and certainly I preached that all the time, doing big
things and this is a big thing and we wanted
to pioneer it. We looked forward to pioneering it. We
knew that there were going to be issues that we'd
have to work through. We've done those together with APMC,
(23:19):
and we are strong believers that streaming is going to
be a big part of local sports into the future.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
This, again, though, is free economically. How long can a
team sustain that.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Well, that's going to be part of what we evaluate
and look at. You know, our short term goals are
not going to change. We have no desire to change
that philosophy in the short term. That doesn't mean that
we're not going to pivot to it at some point
down the road. But right now, going into next season,
things are going to be the same as they were
this year. We've had a really good first year, over
a million downloads for Victory, plus a number of other
(23:51):
teams you know, coming on board looking to come on
board other content. So we're excited about the future. We think,
you know, you need it two good full years to
really get a good understanding of what we're dealing with,
and probably a new normal will appear.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
When you look at the Hockey League of Scores heading
into the playoffs, but in general it is such an
international sport at this time, global tension. Is it changing
the game? How does it affect it?
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Well, certainly, you know, the Russians from an international perspective
have been left out of international play, so I think
it's affecting it at a big level. We're going to
have the U eighteens World Championships here, you know, next
week in Frisco, and the Russians aren't going to be
a part of that. So and the Russians have you know,
a history in hockey and have great talent. So it's
impacting the sport at a high level. At the NHL level,
(24:41):
it's you know, it's not but you know, certainly in Europe,
I think the Russia factor is a real one, and
it's it's something that we can't ignore as a sport.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
You've been in the sport a long time. Let's go
down the road a little bit. You talked about streaming
being the future in five years. You and I sit here,
what do you see the sport looking like?
Speaker 5 (25:00):
Well, I think it's going through a very transfer formational
change at this point, and I think teams are going
to have to really evolve to stay with it. I
think if you're a team that stands still, you're going
to get blown away. I think digital technology is really
taking over. I think streaming is obviously going to play
a big part in how you view the sport, how
you view you know, sports and entertainment content you know,
(25:23):
into the future. And I think the big thing, you know,
that I worry about every day is where are we
going to continue to find top line revenue growth to
be able to make all of this work in a
profitable way.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
That's Dallas Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts speaking with
Bloomberg Dallas Bureau chief Julie Fie. Up next, we turn
to youth sports and the rise of flag football for
Vanessa Berdomo. I'm Michael Barr. You are listening to the
Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around world.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Thanks for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports.
Whigs for the big funny issues in the world of sports.
I'm Michael Barr along with Vanessa Bernomo. Joining us now
is Isazella Reese. He is a former NFL player and
is now CEO of RCX Sports, a leader in youth
sports and events and he's also executive director of NFL Flag.
(26:27):
He's here to talk to us about the latest in
youth sports participation in the rise of flag football. Isael
Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports.
Speaker 8 (26:37):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
You are the CEO of RCX Sports. Tell us what
that's all about.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yes, RCX Sports is all about youth sports and youth
league play and also in a unique environment using and
utilizing NFL and Pro League IP and MARS to enhance
the experience for youth sports leagues around the country and events.
(27:07):
And a very simple way I like to kind of
put it is think of think of at the youth
sports level and an affordable and accessible model. But it
is little league Baseball meets fanatics, if you will.
Speaker 8 (27:22):
So NFL Flag is one of the programs that we run.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
And so the kids get the opportunities to be the Cowboys,
to be the Broncos through flag football, and it is
a very substantial program and I know we'll get into
that and many of the other ones that we oversee,
but yeah, we've a mask working with several of the
pro leagues now and it's just been a great opportunity
and you know, for me personally give them my background.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
That's amazing.
Speaker 7 (27:49):
As you know, one of the things obviously, like flag
football is exploded at the youth level to become a
high school sport in fourteen states. What is it about
flag football you know that's taking off. Is it just
safety element of it that you know more parents are
okay with their kids playing instead of tackle or is
it you know that it is a way to get
more girls playing. What is it about it?
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, I think it's all of the above, and then
some I think I think the safety aspect is a
part of it.
Speaker 8 (28:18):
I think the in addition of it.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
So you know, obviously tackle football and I'm thinking about
of course boys and girls, but boys in this case
you can't play it year round, and so it gives
an opportunity flag football is year round to continue to
play and participate. I think it brings females now into
football in a major way. So now you're getting both
(28:42):
boys and girls of all ages playing the sport. And
it's fun, it's exciting, it's it's fun, it's affordable and
you know, you don't have on all the equipment, and
it's fast paced. Everybody can score touchdown, and it's it's
just so much engaging involved with it. And it's also
a good feeder into learning football. So let's say a young,
(29:05):
young young boy. I mean my son is a great
example of it. He's thirteen now getting ready to go
into high school. We started with flag first and it
was a good way to teach him the game. And
then when he raised his hand and it was solely
up to him to play a little tackle football, it
won his first time playing football and you know, backpedaling,
(29:26):
catching footballs, you know, running running routes.
Speaker 8 (29:29):
It's still the same whether his flag or tackles.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
So it's also a good feeder as well and giving
kids opportunity to play. So there's a multitude of reasons why,
but you touched on one that I'm very excited about
and having a hand in it at the collegiate level,
high school level, and across the NFL Flag and it
is just just women having this opportunity in the path
to play and participate. It's just it's exciting to see
(29:54):
and just know that they have a path that goes
all the way through college and even represent their country
in the Olympics. So that is just It's just music
to my years to be able to see that in football.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Now I want to go more into that about flag
football in the Olympics. That's going to be a big
step to expose the sport.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's no greater way than to
put it on a global scale and legitimize the sport.
I mean, the fact that anything that's an Olympic sport,
a collegiate sport, a pro sport for that matter, it
just to the legitimacy of what it does and creating
that path. But no doubt, I don't think there's a
(30:33):
bigger stage to be on then, you know, having that
opportunity to represent your country for both men and women,
which is which is great to see. And now with
flag entering into LA twenty eight, which is going to
be exciting to watch.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
I mean, I'm I'm not gonna lie. I was quite
surprised actually when it did get added to LA twenty
eight because I've always thought of football, our version of football,
American football, as inherently American, right, you know, not necessarily
super Internet, but the tournament that you guys put on
with you know, the NFL also has an international division,
(31:07):
so talk to me a little bit about that, and
I guess, like, yeah, who else is really really good
at flag football internationally? Like who else is going to
be winning a medal? Obviously we're going to win gold,
but like who's gonna win silver?
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Yeah, well, well we don't know if we're going to go.
I will start by saying that, so, and I'll use
an example of so. So flag football was in the
World Games. And if you've ever heard of World Games,
it's all those sports h flag men. One of them
that are now you know, went through that path to
get into the Olympics and World Games is like the Cousins.
(31:39):
So it's every sport that's vying to get in. As
we know, softball jumps in and out and when they're
not in the Olympics, they're in the World Games.
Speaker 8 (31:45):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
So, so that this way happened a couple of years ago,
and obviously the Olympic committee was closely watching and Mexico
women blew out Team USA, blew them out, and we're
sitting there watching it and the first thing is like,
damn they you know, they're they're punishing eating a Team USA.
(32:06):
But from from my perspective, I was like, this is
a good thing because when you think about and just
what you said of and that's when you think about it,
you a team, a country just dominating that one sport.
Speaker 8 (32:18):
That is not a plus.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
When you think about, you know, an Olympic sport, you
don't want just one country just dominating. You want you
want it to be competitive and exciting. So it really
builds that global fandom. And flag football is that the
women's side is competitive, the men's side is competitive. The
ease of learning that sport in football versus tackle to
(32:40):
start it only helps the continued growth of the game
at both levels.
Speaker 8 (32:45):
But flag, you.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Know, again bringing in both men and women and the
ease of learning that game at either as a starting
point or only point is good. And then so it's
now given the NFL the sport of football something that
they've always wanted, and it's how do we grow the
game globally? And I don't think there's any greater indication
of that than you know, getting it approved and signed
(33:07):
off by the Olympic Committee and now entering into the
Olympics in LA.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
We're not that far off from the second annual Flag
Football tournament. It's going to take place in Canton Ohio,
tell us about that, because again that's another avenue for
exposure for the sport. I think ESPN is going to
help broadcast that.
Speaker 8 (33:27):
Yeah, Yeah, ESPN is going to broadcast.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
This is our second year in doing it, and of
course in conjunction with the NFL and the NFL Flag Championships,
and so it's exciting. You know, our reference a Little
League earlier, I mean that was this is the equivalent
of that called it Little League World Series with it
being on ESPN and being global, and it is massive
to say the least will probably have three hundred plus
(33:52):
teams there, but NFL Flag as a whole in those
leagues that vo for those opportunities. There are eight hundred
thousand kids participating in the NFL Flag leagues around the country.
Is the largest organized flag football league in the world,
and now with a bigger, greater global footprint of teams
and coming from different countries. So you're only going to
(34:13):
continue to see continued expansion across that. But last year's
tournament on ESPN was such a huge success and exciting
to watch, and only ask to that exposure and that
fandom that's being built around the sport and the momentum,
which also you need to see is entizing very well
with Olympics because it's like, okay, flag is in the Olympics.
(34:35):
Who's watching There's people that's watching it for the first
time that may be intrigued, but there's this huge base
within the US and globally that's a part of that too.
So giving these kids these opportunities, all age groups, boys
and girls to play on an NFL ask ESPN televised
type stage and canting at the Hall of Fame, it's
just such a cool and unique experience that's pretty much
(34:58):
here to stay. It was such huge hit last year,
and we can't wait to uh, you know, to see
it this summer as well. Uh and now in the
second year, and and we'll continue to grow from there.
Speaker 7 (35:10):
Love it, I mean it has to, yeah, continue to grow.
I'm sure. I'm sure there's no no stopping at this
point for sure. And there you brought up some some
things I'd love to talk about there obviously, like you said,
the NFL flag and and who will be watching it
at the Olympics, that really ties into you know, the
NFL wants to start a professional league, right, so I
think when when will we see that obviously, like one
(35:33):
of our reporters just you know, he said they want
to start it next year ahead of the Olympics. Do
you think that that's something we'll really see or why
get it out before the Olympics. Do you think an
NFL professionally, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
I think I think given the the raatest flag football
is growing, I think there's a chance you could see
it if if if a good game plan is put together,
why wait, right? So and who better to have a
hand in it than the NFL and whatever strategic partner
that they add to it to you know, announce a
(36:07):
pro league, but just giving the excitement and buzz and
just growth the flag, even even the Pro bowlers playing
flag at the Pro Bowl or NFL players and their
wanting and willingness which which is TVD to be figured
out if they have that opportunity to play. But adding
pro flag and knowing that, I think it's the other
(36:28):
phenomenal opportunity. When you think about the Olympians, you're thinking
about pros right, you know that opportunity which if you
were to ask them today is when those teams get
selected or the professional players now that are deeming for
those those spots. Would they want to play and participate? Absolutely?
And all these young kids and millions around the country
(36:50):
that are participating in flag would you watch? Would you
would you want to be a part of it? Would
you want to go see it? Would you want to
watch if it was cell avized pro league? I think
those are the big question. And I think you already
see that because I don't think if it didn't exist
and you didn't have this base, in this momentum, in
(37:10):
this door that opened at the Olympic level, at the
collegiate level, and the fastest growing sport in high school
for girls in the US being flag football, you know,
it's showing all the momentum of what's next. I mean,
I think that's the big question because we're already on
this path. Flag football is at the collegiate level across
all three collegiate associations. Alabama State University just became the
(37:34):
first D one program to offer it, so you know
others will follow. So I just say all that to say,
why not you know, why not add it as a
pro league sport? And you see all of what's happening
with women's sports today and how just the fandom and
excitement and buzz and women getting to just doing basketball
and volleyball.
Speaker 8 (37:54):
In these sports. It's just it's great to see.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
So I think the time is right and people are
hungry for continued sports in professional sports and enhancing the experience,
and so as you can say, I'm all for as
you can see, but I think it's right for the taking,
and I think no time like the Presidence to not
(38:19):
only announce something like that, but see it come to
fruition even before the Olympics potentially.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Our thanks to Isel Reeves for joining us. He's a
seven year NFL veteran and now executive director of NFL
Flag and CEO of rc X Sports. Hey, thank you
for joining us Foranessa Pernobo. I'm Michael Barr. Don't forget
to catch our podcast on all your podcast platforms. Tune
in again next week for the latest on the stories
(38:45):
moving big old money. I'm not talking small, big old
money in the world of sports. You're listening to the
Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberger Radio around the world.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
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