The Soccer Business Podcast

The Bundesliga in America - Robin Austermann on strategy and partnerships

The Bundesliga signed a 17-year partnership with Relevent Sports to boost their performance in the U.S. market and the broader Americas market. What is the strategy for the German league as they seek to enhance their business performance and profile in the Americas? Robin Austermann, head of Europe and Latam for the Bundesliga joins Simon Evans on The Soccer Business Podcast to break down that deal and the overall strategy for standing out in a crowded market of international soccer properties looking to establish themselves in the U.S market.

USA 1994 World Cup - the story behind the scenes with Alan Rothenberg

Alan Rothenberg was the President of US Soccer and took charge of the hosting of the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He then helped set up Major League Soccer and has been an influential figure in taking the game from the backwaters of the 1980's to the modern era.
Alan's new book, 'The Big Bounce - The Surge that Shaped the Future of U.S Soccer' is the inside story on the hosting of the 1994 World Cup and he joins host Simon Evans to discuss the book and his remarkable career as a true game-changer in the American soccer business.
 
 

MLS: Season Pass Scrapped and a New Apple TV Era for Summer to Spring League

This episode reviews the key decisions from the MLS Board of Governors meeting: MLS content will move from Season Pass into the Apple TV subscription bundle, and the league will shift to a new summer-to-spring calendar starting in 2027 with a transitional mini "sprint" season.
Host Simon Evans and guest Alex Silverman of the Sports Business Journal discuss the rationale behind the Apple deal changes, potential audience and revenue implications, how the new schedule affects transfer windows and players, and unanswered questions on playoffs, contract length and distribution.

Building OKC Pro Soccer: Court Jeske

Simon Evans interviews Court Jeske, a veteran soccer executive whose career spans MLS, USL and founding Nashville SC. They discuss his role leading the OKC Pro Soccer project, plans for a downtown, expandable 10,000–12,000-seat stadium, and the broader mixed-use development.
The episode covers community engagement, private partners (including Russell Westbrook and tribal stakeholders), commercial strategy, timelines for launch, and concerns over how the 2026 World Cup can be leveraged to grow lasting local support for American soccer.

Soccer Business News Review - MLS and Apple, La Liga Miami Dream Over, Women's World Cup

Host Simon Evans is joined by Alex Silverman of the Sports Business Journal and Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer to go over this week's main news items impacting the North American soccer industry.
LALIGA's Miami plans cancelledApple TV and the MLS Playoffs - the F1 Factor?2031 Women’s World Cup - the new Four Nations bidBrian McBride becomes GM of USL club Brooklyn FC  NBA star Jimmy Butler invests in the NWSL's San Diego Wave.
 

Megan Oglesby of Carolina Core - Building a New Club from Scratch

Megan Oglesby of Carolina Core joins the podcast to discuss how she and her team created a new club from scratch in High Point, North Carolina.
Megan goes through each stage of the journey from the initial idea, due diligence, early steps, stadium work, creating player pathways and delivering a state-of-the-art training facility that has been earmarked by FIFA as a potential World Cup base for a team.
She also explains why she chose MLS Next Pro as the right league for the project over other alternatives and details the advantages of being an independent club in the Major League Soccer ecosystem.
Plus why WPSL Pro could be prove to be the 'perfect bridge' between lower league women's soccer and the top flight NWSL and how a thriving soccer club can be at the heart of a community and local economy.
 
 

Sunil Gulati on American soccer past, present and future

In this episode we welcome a true architect of American soccer - Sunil Gulati.
Sunil is widely regarded as one of the most influential figure in the sport’s growth in the United States, having been involved in the administration of the game since the 1980’s and serving as president of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 2006 to 2018.
With over 30 years of experience at every level of the game, Sunil continues to shape the future of soccer business. He is a senior lecturer in economics at Columbia University and Chairman of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body.
In this interview, Sunil looks at the growth of the game from the tough days of the 1980’s through the 1994 World Cup, the creation of Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. He also gives us his thoughts on the prospects for USL and on the state of youth soccer.  It’s a wide-ranging interview and I am sure you’ll find many insights.
Before we get down to this interview - if you enjoy this podcast make sure that you are subscribed to our weekly newsletter - The Soccer Business. You can sign up for free at thesoccerbusiness.com

Michael Yormark of Roc Nation Sports

Michael Yormark of Roc Nation Sports International, who heads up the companies agency work in the soccer industry, talks to Simon Evans of The Soccer Business about the history of Jay Z's company, their move into soccer and their new plans to enter the domestic American soccer business.
Chapters
00:00 Michael Yormach's Journey in Sports Management03:53 Transitioning from NHL to European Soccer08:41 Roc Nation's Unique Approach to Athlete Representation11:49 Building Brands Beyond the Field15:56 Navigating the European Soccer Landscape19:22 Expanding into Brazil and Africa22:00 Talent Scouting and Recruitment Strategies25:01 The Challenge of American Soccer Representation31:21 The Future of Soccer in America37:43 Hash Out

Brett Johnson - Ipswich Town and Rhode Island FC

Brett Johnson isn't just another American investor in English football - he is also building soccer in the USA with his USL club Rhode Island FC and their brand new stadium.
Having cut his teeth in Phoenix, a friendship with former Ipswich player Frank Yallop led to his move into English football where he has tasted two promotions and a relegation.
Find out Brett's views on Ipswich, the USL and the future of American club soccer.
Chapters
00:00 Investing in Soccer: A Dual Approach02:04 The Rise of USL: Opportunities and Challenges07:37 Building a Soccer Community: The Rhode Island Project11:19 Stadiums and Surrounding Development: A New Era16:47 Promotion and Relegation: The Future of USL22:12 Quality Over Quantity: Rethinking Stadium Standards27:48 The Multi-Club Ownership Model: A New Strategy35:34 Youth Soccer: Investing in the Future37:12 The World Cup Effect: A Bright Future for Soccer in the US
In this episode of the Soccer Business Podcast, host Simon Evans sits down with Brett Johnson, a unique figure in the soccer investment landscape. Brett Johnson has made significant strides in both American and English soccer, investing in clubs across different levels. His journey began over a decade ago in Phoenix, where he acquired a Division III club, Arizona United, and transformed it into Phoenix Rising. This venture was marked by the recruitment of notable figures like Didier Drogba, who joined the ownership group and played for the team.
Brett's passion for soccer extends beyond the US, as he has also invested in Ipswich Town in England. His love for English football, where he spent a significant part of his life, drives his belief that true soccer investment must include a presence in England. Brett's approach to soccer investment is not just about owning clubs but also about creating sustainable models that integrate stadiums with surrounding real estate developments. This strategy has been successfully implemented in Rhode Island, where he has developed a $140 million stadium, transforming it into a vibrant live-work-play destination.
Throughout the episode, Brett shares insights into the challenges and opportunities within the USL and MLS landscapes, emphasizing the importance of quality over quantity in stadium development and the potential of USL as a premier development league. His vision for the future includes leveraging the USL's strengths to attract international talent and investment, positioning it as a key player in the global soccer ecosystem. Brett's story is one of innovation, passion, and a deep commitment to the growth of soccer both in the United States and abroad.
 

Stadium Boom - USL working with over 70 cities on plans - Justin Papadakis

USL Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer Justin Papadakis reveals how the league is in talks with over 70 cities in the USA about building new soccer stadiums and bringing new clubs to communities across the country.
Takeaways
There's real momentum in the USL.The USL's approach to stadium development is unique.City partnerships are crucial for stadium financing.Stadiums are seen as community assets by cities.The fan experience is central to stadium design.Financing stadiums involves complex political and economic factors.The scale of stadium projects varies across USL.New stadiums can significantly increase revenue for clubs.Media presentation is vital for attracting viewers.Investor interest in USL is growing rapidly.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to USL Stadium Developments02:48 The Unique USL Approach to Stadium Building05:51 City Partnerships and Economic Impact09:10 Fan Experience and Entertainment Districts12:00 Financing and Municipal Support for Stadiums14:51 The Scale of Stadium Projects in USL17:58 The Economics of Soccer Venues20:55 Revenue Streams and Future Growth24:00 Media Presentation and Broadcast Quality26:50 Regional Development and Market Trends30:06 Investor Interest in USL32:58 The Future of Soccer in America