Sports Management Podcast

#243 The Future of Sports Investing: How Fans Can Own a Piece of the Game | Parker Graham

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: The rise of sports as an investment asset class How fans can invest in teams and athletes The impact of NIL on college sports economics Why the future of sports ownership is changing 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

#242 How Padel Exploded in Pakistan: Building a 500-Court Sports Empire in 2 Years | Talal Shah

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: Building a sports facility empire from scratch Why padel exploded faster than cricket in Pakistan The business model behind pay-as-you-play sports Scaling from 1 to 11 venues in under 3 years 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

#241 The $2.3 Trillion Question: Can Purpose Save the Future of Sport? | Andrew Wisniewski

Welcome to episode 241 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Andrew Wisniewski, Partner and Head of Activation at 17 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: Why purpose is now a commercial risk factor in sport The untapped $5B Paralympic market How Adidas and Nike approach impact differently The future of women's sport and LA28 legacy 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

#240 World Cup 2026 & The Future of US Soccer | Erik Stover on Promotion, Identity & Building the New York Cosmos

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: The impact of World Cup 2026 on U.S. soccer Why club identity matters more than ever Promotion and relegation in American sport Building the New York Cosmos as a true community club 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

#239 The $100M Sports Investment Thesis | Kyle Israel, Momentous Sports

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: The rise of middle-market sports valuations Blending team ownership with real estate development The growth of women's sports investments The neuroscience behind athlete identity and transition 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