Sport, Structured

Leonard Curtis
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  • Biweekly Series

The Business of Sport podcast from Leonard Curtis With expert insight and data-led discussion, Sport, Structured demystifies the financial, commercial and structural forces shaping professional sport today. From the financial health of your club, to new investment trends, ownership challenges, and the growth of women's sport, we provide a fresh look at the sporting landscape in the UK and beyond at a time when money does more of the talking than ever. Diving deep into the very latest developments across football, cricket, rugby, golf and many other sports, this new podcast draws on the Business of Sport series of reports from Leonard Curtis, a professional services firm specialising in restructuring and advisory.

Episodes

  1. Episode 1

    Is it time for professional sport to grow up?

    In the first episode of the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport Podcast, host James Cooper is joined by Leonard Curtis Director Alex Cadwallader and sports finance expert Prof Rob Wilson to explore one of the biggest questions facing the industry today: is professional sport operating on a sustainable financial footing? Drawing on insights from the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport report series, the discussion examines why so many clubs and governing bodies continue to face financial pressure despite growing revenues. The episode covers governance, ownership, regulation, competitive balance and the structural challenges affecting rugby, football, cricket and other sports. Whether you work in sport, invest in the sector or simply want to understand the business forces shaping the games we love, this episode provides a clear and insightful introduction to the financial issues at the heart of modern sport. ------------------------------ Read our sports finance reports: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/ Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228 Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428 Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207 ------------------------------ Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio ------------------------------ Thank you to our UCFB student production team: Rowan MacLellan, Editor Calum Spiller, Autocue Evie Malcom, Production assistant Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting Louis Jones, Audio ------------------------------ 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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

    Is it time for professional sport to grow up?

  2. Episode 2

    What next for golf’s battle between tradition and disruption?

    In episode two of the Sport, Structured podcast, host James Cooper is joined by Leonard Curtis director Alex Cadwallader, sports finance expert Prof Rob Wilson and Sky Sports Golf analyst Simon Holmes to discuss the findings of the first Leonard Curtis Golf Finance Report. The conversation examines the future for the professional game following the decision by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF to end its funding for LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season. The episode considers the potential impact of the latest developments on player earnings, the PGA Tour’s financial dominance, and the wider golf ecosystem, from fans and sponsors to women’s golf. ------------------------------ Read our sports finance reports: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/ Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228 Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428 Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207 Follow Simon Holmes on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/simonholmes1 ------------------------------ Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio ------------------------------ Thank you to our UCFB student production team: Rowan MacLellan, Editor Calum Spiller, Autocue Evie Malcom, Production assistant Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting Louis Jones, Audio ------------------------------ 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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

    What next for golf’s battle between tradition and disruption?

  3. Episode 3

    What does the future hold for English county cricket?

    Episode three of the Sport, Structured podcast welcomes former Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan to the studio as we turn our attention to the future for English county cricket. Hosted by James Cooper, the conversation unpacks the key findings of the newly launched Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026. Vaughan, who wrote the report’s foreword, shares his views on how counties can work together and develop stronger player pathways. He is joined by another ex-England skipper - Leonard Curtis director Iain Nairn MBE, who led the England Physical Disability team - and Prof Rob Wilson, co-author of the report. ------------------------------ Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & meet the panel 2:02 – Report headlines: The widening financial gap 5:24 – Rating county cricket 7:31 – Yorkshire, demutualisation & outside investment 9:48 – ECB funding, collaboration & smaller counties' success stories 12:02 – Youth development: Playtime, burnout & pathways 16:27 – The £520 million question: Debt, Durham's hotel & smart spending 18:34 – Will The Hundred Survive? Lalit Modi's prediction & the calendar squeeze 21:41 – The 2028 broadcast deal & expanding The Hundred 23:04 – Sussex, Covid resets & the case for new franchises 24:56 – Grassroots engagement: The Barclays scheme & state school cricket 27:25 – Player digital footprints & social media revenue 29:36 – Could cricket have its own 'Drive to Survive'? 32:38 – Closing thoughts ------------------------------ Read our sports finance reports here: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sport-structured-ep3&utm_content=business-of-sport Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/ Follow Iain Nairn MBE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-nairn-mbe-9552675/ Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428 Follow Michael Vaughan on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michael-vaughan-7ba4641a1/ Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207 ------------------------------ Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ (UCFB) Manchester Podcast Studio ------------------------------ Thank you to our UCFB student production team: Rowan MacLellan, Editor Calum Spiller, Autocue Evie Malcom, Production assistant Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting Louis Jones, Audio ------------------------------ 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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

    What does the future hold for English county cricket?
  • 3 Episodes

About

The Business of Sport podcast from Leonard Curtis With expert insight and data-led discussion, Sport, Structured demystifies the financial, commercial and structural forces shaping professional sport today. From the financial health of your club, to new investment trends, ownership challenges, and the growth of women's sport, we provide a fresh look at the sporting landscape in the UK and beyond at a time when money does more of the talking than ever. Diving deep into the very latest developments across football, cricket, rugby, golf and many other sports, this new podcast draws on the Business of Sport series of reports from Leonard Curtis, a professional services firm specialising in restructuring and advisory.

Information

  • Creator
    Leonard Curtis
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Leonard Curtis
  • Show Website
    Sport, Structured