Sports Pundit Podcast Network

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Kate Veronneau. Kate is the director of Women’s Strategy at Zwift, a multiplayer online cycling and running training program that enables users to interact, train, and compete in a virtual world. A keen cyclist herself, Kate played an important role in bringing the Women’s Tour de France event, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, to fruition. This is an achievement which has since given her the opportunity to use her voice to advocate for parity and sing the praises of investing in women's sports, as well as to speak to the impact that technology can have in driving greater access and participation in sport more broadly. Time Stamps5:00 - Joining Zwift and the launch of the Zwift Academy8:00 - Creating Women’s Only Rides10:00 - What does Community Look Like on Zwift?14:00 - The (Positive?) Impact of COVID? 16:00 - The Creation of Virtual Events17:00 - The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift19:00 - Having Parity across Men’s and Women’s 21:00 - The Commercial Case for Serving Women23:00 - Making Triathlon a Stadium Sport30:00 - An Opportunity for the Apple Vision Pro? 33:00 - Could AI Reduce the Barriers to Entry for Cycling? Additional LinksHow the Zwift Academy changed Neve Bradbury's life – and how to watch the 2024 finalsReddit Was Built On Legions of Fake AccountsZwift Signs On as Title Sponsor for Tour de France FemmesZwift report highlights positive impact of the Tour de France FemmesHow the arrival of Zwift changed triathlon training foreverArena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift expands to new destinations in 2023Connect with Kate on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Rory MacFadyen. Rory is the co-founder of Reflo, a sustainable apparel brand made from recycled plastic waste and is also the chief marketing officer at the Icons Series, a team matchplay golf event featuring sporting icons such as Michael Phelps, Canelo Alvarez, and Harry Kane.In this conversation, we talk about the merging on these two lives, getting investment from England’s all-time record goalscorer, tearing up the traditional apparel business model, taking a sustainability-first approach, as well as partnering with a Extreme E team, plans to partner with a Formula E team, and to potentially one day land deals in football, cricket, and rugby.Time Stamps2:00 - Working at the Icons Series and Meeting Harry Kane4:00 - Expanding Beyond just Golf9:00 - Developing a Passion for Sustainability11:00 - 'McDonald's Makes Salads, it Doesn't Make them a Health Food Store’16:00 - Accounting for the Difference in Costs19:00 - The Opportunity for Going Digital 22:00 - Moving into Teamwear 23:00 - Introducing Reloop26:00 - Balancing Sustainability and Commerciality 30:00 - Harry Kane’s Investment into Reflo35:00 - Could an Athlete do something Themselves in the Apparel Space?⁠Additional Links⁠Harry Kane deal can make our brand a behemothThe Fortnite skin that grossed $50 Million for Epic GamesRoblox Launches Wimbledon World With Digital Swag From Andy Murray, Ralph LaurenManaging Sir Andy Murray, One of Britain's Greatest Ever Athletes with Matt GentryConnect with Rory on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Mihir Kumar. Mihir is Senior Director for MLS Emerging Ventures, the in-house investment arm for Major League Soccer. Having taken up the role just over a year ago, it perfectly compliments his previous experience in finance (at BCG) and sport (at Overtime).Recently MLS Emerging Ventures announced the launch of the MLS Innovation Lab, a program designed to shape the future of sports through the identification of cutting-edge startups and advanced technologies to help develop the next generation of athletes, enhance the fan experience and drive continued growth for the League and its Clubs. In this conversation, we talk about what spurred this innovation, the companies in the initial cohort, and the areas of interest for potential future cohorts.Time Stamps3:00 - Mihir’s Experience Working at Overtime5:00 - Launching the MLS Innovation Lab8:00 - Applying Innovation Across the MLS Ecosystem12:00 - Sourcing Investment Opportunities 13:00 - The Initial Cohort of MLS Innovation Lab19:00 - Figuring out the ‘Moat’ and Confronting Competition 25:00 - Areas of Focus for MLS Innovation Labs’ Future Cohorts30:00 - TOCA and Opportunities Around Live Experiences32:00 - Could MLS Create their Own Consumer Products within Health & Wellness? Additional LinksMLS Launches Innovation Lab Startup Accelerator ProgramGame On: Experiential Venues Worth a Shot to Engage Fans Outside the StadiumSweaty Equity: Why Sports Leagues are Setting up Investment FundsChelsea FC launches new sports nutrition app called Blue FuelPRIME Example: Rightsholders could benefit from Dodging industry incumbentsConnect with Mihir on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Matt Gentry. Matt is the co-founder of 77 Sports Management, a boutique sports marketing agency which he co-founded alongside business partner Gawain Davies and British tennis legend, Sir Andy Murray. As well as dealing with a number of young professional athletes, the company also deals with all aspects of Andy’s career, including commercial deals, formulation of brand, PR, media and management strategy - and they have even overseen 50+ seed investments - including a notable investment in Castore - a company recently valued at more than £900m. Matt first started working with Andy while at talent agency, 19 - where he also managed individual talent and media strategy, which included work with Lewis Hamilton and David Beckham - who he coincidently will be joining up with again in his next career move...Time Stamps2:00 - Starting 77 Sports Management with Andy Murray 7:00 - Leaving Money on the Table and Being Value-Driven 11:00 - Getting Involved in Early-Stage Investing and THAT Castore Deal 13:00 - Getting Educated on Investing18:00 - Finding the Right Balance Between Sponsorship and Investing 20:00 - Why Sponsorship Benefits Go Beyond Monetary Value 22:00 - Managing the Different Phases of an Andy’s Career24:00 - Setting up Andy Post-Playing Career 26:00 - Investing into the Hexagon Cup and the Rise of Padel 29:00 - The Other Sport that Andy would be Interested in Investing In 👀31:00 - Matt’s Next Career Move - Being Reunited with David Beckham, alongside other talent at Authentic Brands Group Additional Links 77 Sports ManagementAndy Murray leaves Under Armour, will end career wearing Castore outfitsPodcast: How Castore built a billion dollar British sportswear brand - Business of Sport Podcast: Meet The Man Behind Conor McGregor’s +$650M Empire - My First Million Tennis Star Andy Murray Launches Padel TeamBook: A List Angels by Zack O'Malley Greenburg   Connect with Matt on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠here

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Julia Wall Clarke. Julia is the current Head of Communications for the Hexagon Cup, a new, innovative padel tournament, which aims to transform the sport by bringing a new approach - an approach which is brought over by a senior leadership team that has also been behind the likes of Formula E, Extreme E, and the E1 Series. It was at Extreme E that Julia first started working with this team as a Communications Manager, before quickly scaling the ranks to be Head of Communications and then Head of Impact and Communications.Prior to this, she'd already gathered a wealth of experience in communications across a wide range of sports properties including Arsenal, Tennis Australia, Wimbledon, and Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. We start this conversation by diving into the Hexagon Cup, which now, at time of release is only one week away (31st January), before diving into some of those lessons from throughout Julia’s career so far.Time Stamps2:00 - Introduction to The Hexagon Cup 5:00 - Taking Lessons from Formula E and Extreme E8:00 - Injecting Sport with Purpose12:00 - Embracing Celebrity Ownership 15:00 - The Significance of Choosing the ‘Right’ Broadcast Partners19:00 - Taking Investment from DMG Ventures 23:00 - Retaining Authenticity While Innovating 25:00 - Applying Key Communication Skills Across Different Rightsholders  28:00 - The Difference Between Working for an Established vs Challenger League36:00 - Applying Julia’s Career Lessons to Women’s FootballAdditional LinksBook Tickets - Hexagon Cup, Madrid (31 Jan - 4 Feb)DMG Ventures announces investment in €1M team padel tournament Hexagon CupITV to Broadcast the First ever Hexagon Cup Event as Tournament Chiefs Hail the Groundbreaking Deal for the Sport Lon-Glorious Addition: Hollywood Actress Provides Hexagon Cup Another DimensionVideo: Start With Why - How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon SinekConnect with Julia on LinkedIn - hereConnect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠here

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Leanne Bats. Leanne is President of The RugbyDAO and also holds the title of Head of Web3 at New Zealand Rugby, where she has been an advisor since 2019. She has also done work for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and consults in the women’s sport area with READY Sport. Not to mention she has also founded the internet's coolest climate action corporation, Tres Cool.In this discussion, we talk about her early involvement in sport and the important role that community has played throughout her playing days and into her professional career – as well as her transition into, and fascination with, Web3 and digital innovation more broadly.Time Stamps1:00 – Growing up Sport-Mad5:00 – Community as a Common Thread6:00 – Taking Inspiration from the Bored Ape Yacht Club 13:00 – Implementing Innovation, and Web3, within anOrganisation 16:00 – Launching an NFT Campaign with NZ Rugby and World of Women28:00 – Attitude Towards the Term Web330:00 – Online will become ‘On Chain’ 38:00 – Introducing RugbyDAO 48:00 – Democratising Creativity with AIAdditional LinksAll Blacks' Performance Labs New Zealand Rugby Takes First Step into the MetaversePioneering the Future of Rugby with Emerging TechVideo: How an NFT Book Can Fight Climate Change - Web3 AcademyConnect with Leanne on LinkedIn - ⁠here⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠here

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Jo Redfern. In September, Jo became Wind Sun Sky’s first-ever managing director of kids.Before joining the Vancouver-based animation studio, Jo was global head of brand at 24 Watts, leading content strategy and expanding the studio’s Cozmo & Friends property into an animated series for YouTube and into a Roblox game. Prior to that, she was head of brand at BBC Children’s & Education for eight years, overseeing live events, consumer product launches and opening a CBeebiesLand Theme Park and Hotel in 2017. She has also served in marketing and media consultant roles at companies such as WWE and Disney Branded Television.Like in these consultancy roles, this conversation aims to apply her vast experience in kids content over to the world of sport & entertainment - leading to a ton of fresh ideas you may not have thought about before... Time Stamps1:30 - Why Should Sport Create Content that Resonates with Kids?4:00 - Monetising kids Content7:00 - What is Roblox?10:00 - Branded Experiences on Roblox15:00 - Why are Kids Platform Agnostic? And Why Does it Matter?18:00 - Repackaging IP25:00 - Personalisation of Content (Thanks to AI)30:00 - Creating A New Sport like ‘Blade Ball’37:00 - The YouTuber Approach to Monetisation40:00 - Removing the Distribution Barrier45:00 - Using Content to Educate Kids and Change BehaviourAdditional LinksJo's Kids Media Club Podcast on Spotify or Apple PodcastsEvan Shapiro's Substack - Media War & PeaceZoe Scaman's Substack - Musings of a Wandering MindMean Girls reposts entire movie to TikTokIs TikTok the Future of Television?Why Should New IP Launch on Roblox?Connect with Jo on LinkedIn - hereConnect with Andy on LinkedIn - here

Today's episode, I'm joined by Stefano Petruzzo. Stefano is the Principal Owner of Hampton & Richmond FC, an English football club based in South West London and competing in the 6th tier of English football.  Stefano and his brother and business partner on this venture, Rafa, recently celebrated their first anniversary of ownership of the club, having initial conceived the idea whilst working together at the Arcadia Group as Chief Strategy and Chief Digital Officers respectively. Stefano also spent 6 years as Strategy Director for Liverpool FC, contributing to their journey back to challenging at the top of the Premier League and for the highest European honours. It’s an incredibly unique journey, and while the internet signal was in places a little lacking, the insights from Stefano more than make up for it. Time Stamps: 2:00 - Investment Interest in the English Football Pyramid5:00 - Applying Benchmarks to your Performance8:00 - Going from the Premier League to the National League12:00 - Are There Lessons to Take from Topshop's Digital Transformation?16:00 - Reducing Reliance on Third-party Platforms20:00 - A Groundbreaking Partnership with Movember26:00 - Launching a Newsletter and Being Transparent with Fans33:00 - Rallying Youth Participation On and Off-the-Field37:00 - Putting the Foundations in Place for a Women's Team43:00 - Aspirations for the Future of Hampton & Richmond FCAdditional LinksDonate to Hampton & Richmond FC's Movember PageEmbracing identity: What we can learn from Liquid DeathLose the excuses: Creating a winning sustainability formulaConnect with Stefano on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠here

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Ari Mark, the Senior VP, Head of Partnership Development at The Drone Racing League. Mark joined the DRL from the NFL, where he led corporate partnership sales for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. Before that, Ari spent eight years in global business development for the NBA, securing sponsorships across the NBA, WNBA, G League, USA Basketball, and NBA 2K League.Over the last several years, Ari built a legacy for developing new, groundbreaking programs, including the creation of the DRL’s largest ever partnership with Algorand, the leading high-performance blockchain platform as well as launching DRL Labs, an innovation hub to research and develop next generation drone technology with Dragan Fly. The league is flying high *pun intended* as the world’s premier, professional drone racing property and in the process is creating a new era of sports that brings high-speed competition in real life and digitally.Time Stamps:3:00 - Taking Lessons from the NBA and NFL5:00 - The DRL as an Innovation Hub and Accelerator of Technology 10:00 - Tapping into Alternative Budgets 11:00 - Solving Problems for Partners and Tapping Partners to Solve Problems 13:00 - Engaging with Fans Away from Broadcast TV16:00 - Connecting with Fans of the Non-Traditional Sports 19:00 - Embracing Meta’s Launch of WhatsApp Channels24:00 - Evolving the DRL from Season to Season 27:00 - Deciding on where to Race 29:00 - Tapping into Athlete Appeal of the DRL Pilots 32:00 - Esports as a talent funnel and engagement tool37:00 - An opportunity for DRL events to tap into culturally relevant IP.38:00 - Vision for the future of the DRLAdditional LinksServing Fans: Why FC Barcelona Are Embracing An Overlooked Social PlatformOvertime's Playbook: Focus on 'Winning' the Group ChatThe Great Divide: The Future of Social MediaHow F1 Technology has Supercharged the WorldHow High-Speed Drone Racing could Aid Struggling Air Force RecruitmentConnect with Ari on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠here

Today’s episode I’m joined by Eddie Lewis. Eddie was an American soccer player and is now the CEO and Founder of TOCA Football. During his 14 year tenure as a professional player, he spent much of his time in the US and UK, playing for the likes of San Jose Clash, Preston North End, Leeds United, and LA Galaxy - where he played alongside David Beckham. Since finishing his playing career, Lewis has remained in football, founding TOCA, a training technology company that is used in both elite training centres as well as within TOCA Social, entertainment venues that tap into the trend competitive socialisation, which is best encapsulated by the likes of TopGolf and more recently, F1 Arcade. Time Stamps: 2:00 - Visiting TOCA Social at the O2 in London 3:00 - Expanding the Experiential Venue Concept into the U.S.5:00 - The Growth of Women's Soccer and How TOCA can Support8:00 - The Impact of Beckham and Messi and Forecasting the Growth of Soccer in the U.S. 10:00 - Taking Investment in TOCA from Major League Soccer14:00 - Becoming 'TopGolf for Football' and Engaging with Fans and Players 17:00 - Applying Lessons from Playing Professional Football to Founding a Company20:00 - Using Technology to Close the Gap and Enhance Player Development26:00 - Dealing with Rivals and Taking Inspiration from Other Sports31:00 - Building for Athletes First - A Lesson from Will Ahmed, CEO of Whoop34:00 - Future Plans for TOCA FootballAdditional Reading: Game On: Experiential Venues Worth a Shot to Engage Fans Outside the Stadium Driving Engagement: F1 Arcade Opens First US-Based Venue Digital Revolut-ion: Why it's Important That WeWork On and Offline Sweaty Equity: Why Sports Leagues are Setting Up Investment Funds Diary of a CEO Podcast with Whoop CEO, Will Ahmed - How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Connect with Eddie on LinkedIn - ⁠here⁠Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠here