Business of Sport

Charlie and Harry Stebbings
  • 4.8 (52)
  • SPORT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The show that takes you behind the scenes with the industry's biggest owners, operators and athletes. It's the game you don't see!

  1. THE BREAKDOWN: West Ham on the Brink, Are Sports Teams Just Brands & The WNBA’s Big Cash Play (E18)

    2 DAYS AGO

    THE BREAKDOWN: West Ham on the Brink, Are Sports Teams Just Brands & The WNBA’s Big Cash Play (E18)

    After a bucket load of requests, it’s time to talk about West Ham. I’ve been nervous about discussing them because I didn’t want to inflict the Breakdown curse and condemn them to relegation, but their situation on the pitch when reviewed against the wider business needs discussing. I think they’ve been getting off lightly. Add to that a look at what happens when a sports executive dares to suggest a club or team needs to think differently to thrive in this modern sporting environment, and the growth of the WNBA as it kicks off a new season this weekend. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at charlie@20vc.com and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly. ⁠We’re delighted to partner with Obelisk Sports Agency⁠ ⁠⁠https://obelisksports.com/⁠⁠ If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠bos@20vc.com

    1hr 20min
  2. Tom Tainton: The Plan to Win The Prem, The Ilona Maher Effect & Building a Modern Rugby Club: Bristol Bears CEO (Ep118)

    5 DAYS AGO

    Tom Tainton: The Plan to Win The Prem, The Ilona Maher Effect & Building a Modern Rugby Club: Bristol Bears CEO (Ep118)

    This week we welcome Bristol Bears CEO Tom Tainton to the show. With a new league structure recently announced and some high profile investments across the Prem, this is a great time to talk rugby and look at one of the top clubs pushing for their first title, to take them to the next level. Now since we recorded this show last week, there has been a lot of blowback from some fans and media based on comments made by Tom at a sports industry event, most of which seems to boil down to his suggestion Bristol are a marketing business playing rugby. To those of you that listen regularly, you’ll know a huge part of our conversations with CEO’s running clubs will include our firm belief that teams are content/marketing businesses and have to think like that to continue to develop in the most competitive sports market there has ever been. On the blowback, what I can say is this. Tom is one of the most impressive CEO’s that has sat in this chair with us, across sport. He speaks like an executive that gets it. He understands the demands placed on clubs in this day and age to be more than their performance on the pitch. But, and it’s a big but, not once did I feel like he believed this was at the expense of what happens on the pitch. He clearly says the next big target is to win silverware. Win the Prem. A Bristolian running one of the city’s major sporting assets; this is what you want to see in sport. So for this conversation, think about the future of the club and the sport as a combination of striving to win on and off the pitch. It’s a challenge, but it’s a challenge all teams face to maintain relevance. From what I saw, for what it’s worth, Bristol Bears have someone in charge who is intent on driving both in equal measure. We’re delighted to welcome Tom to the Business of Sport. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:  Airwallex The intelligent financial platform for global businesses ⁠https://www.airwallex.com/uk/ Gemini We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth ⁠https://geminisports.ai/ If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at ⁠bos@20vc.com

    57 min
  3. THE BREAKDOWN: F1 is Back, The Craziest Promotion of All Time & How the Sub-2 Marathon Shows Athletics’ Big Problem (E17)

    1 MAY

    THE BREAKDOWN: F1 is Back, The Craziest Promotion of All Time & How the Sub-2 Marathon Shows Athletics’ Big Problem (E17)

    After a huge week of golf and snooker last time out, we’re breaking more new ground this week. The sub two hour marathon; it’s finally been achieved in an official race when Sebastian Sawe won the London Marathon at the weekend. But do the athletes achieving these feats get the recognition they deserve? As is there a broader problem facing athletics as fights for attention in the most competitive sporting landscape? Add to that a look at F1 as it returns with the Miami Grand Prix after a 5 week break with a few amendments to the regulations, and the craziest final day of league season you’re likely to see, as York score a 103rd minute equaliser against Rochdale to get promoted to the football league, and we have ourselves a breakdown  Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at charlie@20vc.com and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly. We’re delighted to partner with Obelisk Sports Agency ⁠https://obelisksports.com/⁠ If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠bos@20vc.com

    1hr 27min
  4. From Selecting Clubs to Signing Deals: Football’s Hidden Partnership | Chris Richards, Crystal Palace & Alan Redmond, Roc Nation (Ep117)

    28 APR

    From Selecting Clubs to Signing Deals: Football’s Hidden Partnership | Chris Richards, Crystal Palace & Alan Redmond, Roc Nation (Ep117)

    Player & Agent; we’ve been targeting a show like this for years, and today we bring it to you. This relationship is one of the most important in sport, but shrouded in mystery and hear say, often not portraying either side in the best light. You can put that all aside today. Crystal Palace centre back and the USA’s Men’s Player of the Year Chris Richards joined us with his agent Alan Redmond to talk through what it is like operating at the highest level in sport…together. Chris’s story is unique, from finding football as a youngster in Dallas to moving to Bayern Munich as a teenager to being a Premier League regular and FA Cup Winner. The role stable representation and Alan in particular has played in that seems integral; that’s what I took from this conversation. This really is one of a kind insight. Sit back and enjoy as we welcome Chris and Alan to the Business of Sport. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:  Airwallex The intelligent financial platform for global businesses https://www.airwallex.com/uk/ Gemini We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth  https://geminisports.ai/ Navan Save BIG with Navan’s Business Travel Management  https://navan.com/uk/sign-up/home If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at bos@20vc.com

    1hr 22min
  5. THE BREAKDOWN: LIV on the Brink, The Premier League’s Big End of Season Showdown, & Snooker Back in the Big Time (E16)

    24 APR

    THE BREAKDOWN: LIV on the Brink, The Premier League’s Big End of Season Showdown, & Snooker Back in the Big Time (E16)

    Spoiler alert, while I’m recording this after Liam Rosenior got the sack from Chelsea, we recorded the show just before the 3-0 defeat to Brighton. For those of you familiar with the show you’ll not be surprised by my sentiments: what a shambles! I’m not too upset we don’t get to talk about it today because what more is there to be said other than, yes he blew a big chance to succeed, but the decision makers above yet again have it all to answer for, and quite frankly it’s astonishing none of them are out the door with Liam. Anyway, what we are doing today is looking at a mad week for LIV golf and what looks like it could be the final nail in this very expensive sporting disaster, followed by a business assessment of the closing stages of the Premier League; what are the financial implications of title wins, European qualification, relegation. To finish off and after many requests from you, it’s the turn of snooker as we get to enjoy the World Championships. Plenty to get through on this week’s Breakdown! Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at charlie@20vc.com and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly. We’re delighted to partner with Obelisk Sports Agency https://obelisksports.com/ If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at ⁠bos@20vc.com

    1hr 23min
  6. Tom Burwell: How Sunderland Have Positioned Themselves for Premier League Success (Ep116)

    21 APR

    Tom Burwell: How Sunderland Have Positioned Themselves for Premier League Success (Ep116)

    A huge show for you today with a Premier League club flying high in their first season back at the top. Sunderland have had a difficult and well documented 10 years, but under the ownership of Kyril Louis Dreyfus and the Bia Sports team, the good times are coming back. Tom Burwell has taken over as interim CEO as the club plan the next phase of this growth story. He delivers one of the most impressive and compelling football leadership conversations we’ve had on the show. It’s the case study every potential football investor will point to when asked where value can be found in the game. Most importantly, it’s the case study to show how you can nail your business and performance strategy. We’re delighted to welcome Tom to the Business of Sport. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:  Gemini We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/ Slate The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/ If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at bos@20vc.com

    1hr 21min
  7. THE BREAKDOWN: There’s NO Excuse if Arsenal Collapse & Why Women’s Rugby is Nailing its Development (E15)

    17 APR

    THE BREAKDOWN: There’s NO Excuse if Arsenal Collapse & Why Women’s Rugby is Nailing its Development (E15)

    What a weekend of sport it was last week. Rory’s Masters triumph, Grand National bashing for the bookies, Premier League blown wide open, and Championship relegation heating up with the Scottish title race. Dialling in, it’s Arsenal who are in the sights this week, and I knew they would be at 2:30pm on Saturday when they were booed off the pitch while 9 points clear in the Prem having lost 2-1 to Bournemouth. Is it a fair reaction to a club threatening to blow the achievement this project has strived for for 6 years or a lack of respect for the job those on the performance and business side have undertaken to put the club here in the first place. Add to that a look at the rapid growth of women’s rugby and how it compares to women’s football and we have ourselves a Breakdown! Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at charlie@20vc.com and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

    1hr 6min
  8. John Grabowski: KSI, Andy Carroll, & The Dagenham & Redbridge Revival (Ep115)

    14 APR

    John Grabowski: KSI, Andy Carroll, & The Dagenham & Redbridge Revival (Ep115)

    Dagenham & Redbridge has been all over the footballing news in recent weeks. A takeover fronted by John Grabowski and Happy Fan Group saw KSI come on board as a minority owner while Andy Carroll has been enjoying his time both on the pitch and in the dugout. Therefore this was never going to be your normal football club conversation. Non-League football in the UK is highly competitive. There is also some great business to be had. But of course, there are challenges to overcome. What does it take for Dagenham to put the excitement and media buzz that comes with high profile ownership into results on the pitch that ultimately leads to what really matters: winning. John takes us through the takeover story, football club’s challenges when talking about money, getting KSI on board, and how they plan to take the club back to the football league. We’re delighted to welcome John to the business of sport. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:  Gemini We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/ Slate The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/ Navan Save BIG with Navan’s Business Travel Management https://navan.com/uk/sign-up/home If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at bos@20vc.com

    1hr 15min
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4.8
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

The show that takes you behind the scenes with the industry's biggest owners, operators and athletes. It's the game you don't see!

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie and Harry Stebbings
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    140
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Charlie and Harry Stebbings
  • Show Website
    Business of Sport

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