Sports Management Podcast

Welcome to episode 247 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Geoff Wilson, sports consultant, former Irish FA executive, and author of the new book Leading a Grassroots Sports Club. In this episode, we spoke about: Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Back & Background 01:06 Journey Across 104 Countries 02:51 Learning from Global Sports Cultures 05:03 Why Some Countries Excel 06:17 Why Geoff Wrote the Book 08:12 Biggest Grassroots Mistakes 10:03 Importance of Coaching 11:14 Parent Coaches & Development 13:29 Building Club Culture 16:03 Creating Long-Term Culture 17:51 Why Grassroots Matters 21:05 Funding & Revenue Strategies 25:07 Community & Fan Engagement 30:37 Writing the Book Process 38:41 Advice for Young Professionals SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 246 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Emiliano Abramzon, founder and CEO of Racket360, a company building a full ecosystem around racket sports in the US - including clubs, leagues, events, and e-commerce platforms. In this episode, we spoke about: Timestamps: 00:00 Building Racket360 Explained 00:20 The Four Companies Strategy 01:28 Racket X Growth Story 02:19 E-Commerce Scaling Fast 03:27 Why Everything Is Growing 04:49 Funding & Capital Strategy 05:58 Why Padel Is Growing Fast 07:23 Challenges of Building a New Sport 08:22 Why Padel Is Addictive 10:05 Competition from Other Sports 11:36 Infrastructure Challenges 13:40 Building an Ecosystem Strategy 14:46 Future of Padel in the US 16:39 Career Journey & Background 25:04 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 245 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Claire Nelson, Managing Director of the Netball Super League. Claire is leading one of the most ambitious transformations in women's sport - building a fully professional league, growing fandom, and redefining what a modern sports product looks like. In this episode, we spoke about: Timestamps: 00:00 What Is the Netball Super League 00:16 Building Women's Sport Without a Men's Model 01:53 Turning Participation into Fandom 03:29 The Relaunch Strategy 06:19 Transforming the League Structure 07:44 New Clubs & Innovation 08:32 Creating a Fan Experience 10:52 Competing for Attention (Not Just Sports) 12:25 Digital Storytelling Strategy 13:22 Broadcast Strategy Explained 14:44 Commercial Partnerships Strategy 16:20 Aligning Brands with Purpose 18:42 Leadership Style & Vision 21:45 Biggest Challenges Behind the Scenes 26:54 Vision for the Next 5–10 Years Photo: Ben Lumley. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 244 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Bryn Drescher, a mental performance coach, speaker, and host of the Mental Advantage Podcast. Bryn works with elite athletes across multiple sports, helping them master the mental side of performance, handle pressure on game day, and build identities that extend beyond sport. In this episode, we spoke about: And more! Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:12 Why Competition Is Mental 2:18 Handling Life Outside Sport 4:30 Working Across Different Sports 6:39 Learning New Sports as a Coach 10:09 Mastering the Inner Game 12:11 Flow State Explained 13:38 Game Day Preparation 15:42 Pre-Game Routines 17:05 Visualization Techniques 18:22 Individual vs Team Coaching 23:13 Trust and Mental Coaching 26:20 Burnout in Athletes 34:29 Identity Beyond Sport 48:53 Measuring Mental Performance Results SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 243 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Parker Graham, founder and CEO of Vestible, a platform aiming to open up sports investing to everyone - not just private equity and billionaires. From investing in athletes to unlocking opportunities in clubs and college sports, Parker is building what could become the "stock market of sports." In this episode, we spoke about: Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:14 What is Vestible? 01:10 Investing in Athletes Explained 02:38 The Shift to College Sports 03:10 Why Fans Want to Invest 03:49 The Gap in Sports Investing 04:41 NIL Changed Everything 05:54 The Financial Pressure on Colleges 07:13 College vs Pro Debate 09:00 Why Athletes Should Get Paid 09:23 The Vision: Stock Market for Sports 10:30 US vs Europe Strategy 11:02 Key Challenges in Each Market 12:37 First Deals & Expansion Plans 14:23 Beyond Football: Future Sports 15:13 World Cup Opportunity 16:47 Gambling vs Investing Mindset 19:40 Parker's Career Journey 21:56 How AI Is Changing Startups 24:51 Advice: Be Undeniable 28:23 Overperformance vs Entitlement 34:51 Startup Struggles & Near Failure 37:33 The Vision for Vestible 39:00 Outro SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 242 of Sports Management Podcast. Today we dive into one of the fastest-growing sports stories in the world — how padel went from unknown to obsession in Pakistan in just a few years. Talal Shah, Co-Founder & CEO of Total Sports and Legends Arena, shares how he scaled from one facility to a nationwide movement transforming sports participation. In this episode, we spoke about: Timestamps: 00:01 The vision behind Legends Arena 00:22 From construction to sports empire 01:34 Choosing which sports to build 02:43 Why padel changed everything 03:26 Courts booked 24 hours a day 05:21 Early operational mistakes 06:51 Pivoting from cricket to padel 08:09 Why padel beats cricket logistically 10:19 Making padel affordable for the masses 10:41 Sponsorship boom and brand demand 12:26 Hosting international tournaments 14:20 The coaching gap challenge 16:15 Scaling to 11 venues 17:34 Building a full sports ecosystem 24:35 Advice for future sports entrepreneurs SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 241 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Andrew Wisniewski, Partner and Head of Activation at Seventeen Sport, the world's purpose-first sports marketing agency. We explore how purpose is moving beyond CSR and becoming a commercial necessity in sport. In this episode, we spoke about: Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:04 What "Purpose-First" Really Means 01:40 Athlete Representation & Investment in Sport 03:00 Avoiding Greenwashing & Sportswashing 04:31 The $5B Paralympic Opportunity 07:09 LA28 & Olympic Legacy Strategy 08:21 The $2.3T Sports Economy Risk 10:11 Why Reach Metrics Are Losing Power 12:35 Brand Trust & the Patagonia Effect 14:25 Designing Systemic Change in Sport 18:54 The Rapid Rise of Women's Sport 21:20 The Future of Purpose-Led Partnerships 24:00 AI & Technology in Sport 26:23 Andrew's Career Journey 31:45 US vs Europe Sports Marketing Differences 34:00 Outro SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 240 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Erik Stover, CEO of the New York Cosmos and a leader with over 25 years of experience in U.S. soccer, including roles with the New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Arena. With World Cup 2026 approaching and promotion and relegation entering American professional soccer, the sport is at a historic turning point. In this episode, we spoke about: Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:18 Why 2026 Is a Critical Year for US Soccer 01:25 Can Soccer Compete with NFL & NBA? 03:01 How Important Is a Strong World Cup Run? 05:21 Grassroots vs Hype After the World Cup 07:14 Soccer vs American Sports Culture 09:09 The New York Cosmos Revival 10:01 Promotion & Relegation in the US 12:25 What "Community Club" Really Means 15:22 From Stadium Manager to Red Bulls CEO 16:28 Lessons from European Football 20:25 Why US Soccer Needs Stronger Rivalries 23:09 Bringing Thierry Henry to MLS 31:37 The Future Vision for the Cosmos 34:05 Commercial Growth vs Authenticity 35:00 Outro SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 239 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Kyle Israel, co-founder of , a $100M fund investing at the intersection of sports and real estate. Kyle shares why his firm is focusing on middle-market teams instead of billion-dollar franchises, how mixed-use developments are reshaping club economics, and why women's sports and secondary markets represent the next wave of growth. In this episode, we spoke about: Timestamps: 00:00 From Quarterback to Sports Investor 02:22 The $100M Sports Fund Explained 04:47 Why Avoid the Big Leagues 06:05 What Is an SPV 07:26 The Explosion of Women's Sports Valuations 08:38 The Hardest Decision in Sports Real Estate 11:36 The 50+1 Rule and Europe Challenges 14:11 Why Secondary Markets Win 17:08 Lessons from Sporting JAX 19:54 The 3–5 Year Vision for Momentous 22:07 Athlete Identity and the Transition Struggle 29:59 The Neurochemistry of Retirement 33:12 Leadership Lessons from Sports 40:07 How to Stand Out in Sports Business 47:04 Why Networking Changes Everything SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 238 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Dr. Alicia Naser, mental performance coach and founder of the Naser Institute for Behavioral Sport Psychology. She works with professional athletes in the NHL, ATP Tour and PGA, helping them optimize performance through behavioral science and mental training. In this episode, we spoke about: Timestamps 0:00 Mental Performance in Elite Sport 1:18 Dr. Alicia Naser Introduction 3:11 The Most Important Behavior for Athletes 5:21 Team vs Individual Sports Psychology 8:52 Control and Performance Mindset 10:11 Roger Federer & Performance Perspective 11:20 Djokovic on Emotional Recovery 12:56 Superstitions in Professional Sport 14:50 Henrik Lundqvist's Routine 16:15 Assessing Underperformance 17:51 Biggest Mental Roadblocks 20:05 Social Media Pressure on Athletes 23:30 Building a Personal Brand Online 28:34 How She Started Working in Hockey 34:04 From Autism Research to Elite Sport SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 237of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Dawn Scott, one of the most influential high performance leaders in women's football. She has worked with England, led performance for the U.S. Women's National Team during two World Cup wins and an Olympic gold, and now supports global development through FIFA. In this episode, we spoke about: Time stamps: 00:00 High Performance Defined 01:13 Motivation vs Consistency 03:10 Entering Women's Football in 2001 07:22 Then vs Now in Sports Science 09:28 Misinformation in Female Nutrition 13:00 The 6% Research Gap 14:33 Boots, ACL & Female Anatomy 16:43 Return to Play Postpartum 20:29 Building Performance Departments 23:21 England Highlights & Growth 26:09 Moving to the U.S. National Team 30:12 Olympic Gold & World Cup Wins 33:50 Investment & Staffing in Women's Sport 37:28 The Future of Women's Football 39:05 Advice for Young Professionals 40:00 Outro SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 235 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Theo Dedes, a UEFA Pro License coach who recently led TSG Hoffenheim's women's team in Germany. From growing up in Athens to coaching at the highest level in European football, Theo shares what modern leadership really looks like, why empathy beats authority in today's game, and what it takes to survive - and thrive - in one of the most pressure-filled industries in the world. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:40 The UEFA Pro License Explained 02:01 Eligible for Champions League 02:36 The Coach as Manager 04:33 The Loneliness of Leadership 05:49 Controlling the Uncontrollable 07:29 Managing Friction Inside the Squad 08:51 Handling Weekly Pressure 10:22 Being a Young Head Coach 12:31 Coaching as Brand & Identity 15:13 Greece vs Germany Leadership Styles 17:25 The Coaching Odyssey 19:50 Why Germany Felt Fair 21:17 Learning from Termination 31:15 Advice for Future Pro Coaches 33:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 234 of Sports Management Podcast. College sports has changed forever. NIL is here, brands are everywhere, and student athletes are now entrepreneurs whether they like it or not. But are they actually prepared? Today I'm joined by Stephen Bienko, co-founder of 42U, former dual-sport athlete and life coach. We dive into: And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. 00:00 Intro 00:28 What 42U Is Building in the NIL Era 02:03 Transferable Skills Beyond "Hardworking Athlete" 05:16 Athlete Identity & Overthinking Performance 08:45 NIL Should Have Existed Years Ago 10:35 Soft Skills vs Hard Skills in the AI Era 12:18 Why Identity Impacts Performance 14:21 Why Athletes Are Underprepared for NIL 17:37 Why Most NIL Partnerships Fail 20:33 Brand First, Deals Second 23:41 The Power of Athlete IP & Social Media 29:31 The Future of NIL and High School Athletes 32:59 Putting "Butts in Seats" Through Athlete Brands 39:44 The Decathlete Mindset in Business 49:18 Why Now Is the Best Time to Enter Sports 55:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 233 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Gloria Mariwa - a footballer, professional freestyler, digital creator known as 14th Gunner and founder of Wichesa. At just 19, she's building the future of African women's football at the intersection of sports, tech, and community. We spoke about: And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Building 14th Gunner 04:30 Growing Women's Football in Kenya 07:37 Why Women's Sports Must Build Their Own Model 08:30 The Future of Sports Tech & AI 09:41 Creators vs Traditional Media 12:03 Why YouTube Could Win Sports Streaming 14:31 Copying the West? Or Building Africa's Own Model 16:57 The Kenyan Sports Landscape 18:36 The Meaning Behind Wichesa 19:34 Grassroots Impact in Women's Football 24:46 University or Startup Life? 26:48 Monetizing as a Young Creator 27:53 Advice for Young Sports Professionals 30:29 Redefining Sports Tech 32:23 Invest in African Women's Sports Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 232 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is JP Lutz - a former Philadelphia Eagles executive turned professor, entrepreneur, and cancer survivor. We spoke about: And much more! This one is packed with practical advice for anyone who wants to work in sports and a powerful life lesson you won't forget. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 From Working Elevators to the NFL 04:25 Why You Must Say Yes Early in Your Career 06:24 Creating Your Own Luck in Sports 08:10 How to Network the Right Way 12:53 Do You Need a Degree to Work in Sports? 17:11 The Magic of Game Day 19:52 $5 an Hour and Moving Back Home 22:34 Transitioning from Pro Sports to Higher Ed 23:56 Starting a Sports Business from a Basement 25:27 Soft Skills That Actually Matter 29:19 A Cancer Diagnosis at 46 32:39 The Power of Being Proactive About Health 34:30 AI, Analytics & The Future of Sports Jobs 36:55 Why You Should Consider Entrepreneurship 41:45 Career Advice: Follow Your Heart and Say Yes Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 231 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is one of the most ambitious football investors in the world. Brett Johnson is the founder of Benevolent Capital, owner of multiple football clubs including Phoenix Rising, Rhode Island FC, and part of the Ipswich Town ownership group. In this episode: And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 From Analyst to Football Owner 00:20 Why Phoenix Needed a Team 01:17 The 1994 World Cup Thesis 02:06 Why the US Must Perform 03:39 Ipswich's Back-to-Back Promotions 04:43 How to Run a Club Properly 05:26 Why Multi-Club Ownership Wins 06:44 Promotion/Relegation in the U.S. 09:02 Building a $140M Stadium 11:20 Creating a Fan Base from Scratch 14:01 Inside Benevolent Capital 15:32 Why Youth Sports Is the Next Goldmine 22:39 Advice for Sports Entrepreneurs 26:25 The Dark Days in Phoenix 28:13 Almost Losing Rhode Island Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 230 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest has lived football from every angle - player, coach, owner, executive, and advisor. Matt Driver is the founder of Soccer Universities and Football Club Advisory Group, and he's worked across Europe and the U.S. helping clubs move from survival mode to scalable success. In this episode, we talk about: And much more! This is a masterclass in the business of football. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:38 Why College Soccer Doesn't Create Pros 03:18 The Wake-Up Call Playing La Liga Clubs 05:30 Creating Real Player Pathways 08:10 Why Most Clubs Are Structurally Broken 11:13 A Bulgarian Club Case Study 15:09 Why Vertical Silos Kill Clubs 16:41 What American Sports Get Right 18:30 Why Fans Jump Between Sports 20:08 Why "We've Always Done It This Way" Fails 26:21 Turning Fan Phones Into Revenue 30:23 Monetizing Club Assets 35:47 Why Fans Must Be Entertained 55:26 Career Advice for Sports Professionals 01:05:54 Why the USL Could Explode Next 01:10:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 229 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest has been at the center of that work for over a decade. Christian Klaue is Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the International Olympic Committee. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of how the Olympic Games are planned, positioned, communicated, and ultimately delivered - from Milano Cortina to LA28 and beyond. If you've ever wondered how the biggest sporting event on earth actually comes together, this conversation is for you. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:31 Life Inside the IOC Right Before the Games 02:45 What Olympic Communications Really Do 04:47 Why Positioning Matters More Than Reacting 05:06 Working on Multiple Olympic Games at Once 06:55 Why Milano Cortina 2026 Is Different 07:52 Legacy Beats New Construction 09:13 Avoiding Olympic "White Elephants" 10:12 Designing the Athlete Experience 11:22 Why the Olympic Torch Changes Everything 13:32 How the Torch Relay Really Works 15:21 The Power of Opening Ceremonies 20:09 Christian Klaue's Career Journey 27:42 Leading Through Olympic Crises 41:51 Advice for a Career in Sports Communication 43:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 228 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is John P Reynal, the President & CEO of The Women's Cup - one of the most ambitious global platforms in women's football. John has spent his career building sports properties across continents and in this conversation, he makes a bold case: women's football isn't charity - it's one of the most undervalued growth opportunities in sports. We spoke about: And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 02:21 Why women's football is a massive investment opportunity 04:18 "Women's football is a business" 04:50 What over-investing really looks like 06:53 Building a premium brand through experience 08:21 Fixing the production problem in women's football 10:07 How media rights unlock real growth 11:09 Why the US women's football model is different 13:30 The danger of women's teams as afterthoughts 15:45 Rethinking how women's football is marketed 21:58 Why investors are flooding into women's football 23:00 From $1M to $150M franchise valuations 26:01 Latin America's untapped audience power 31:01 The audience shift every club must prepare for 32:43 Why Brazil 2027 will change everything 45:00 Outro Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com