The ROAR Podcast

Epizodes

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  The ROAR Podcast: Alex Heriard-Dubreuil 20.08.2026 47min

  Alex Heriard-Dubreuil didn't set out to work in sports. He trained as a civil engineer in Paris, joined Merrill Lynch in the late nineties to invest in real estate across Europe, and spent a decade in London watching an asset class transform from a passive, collect-the-rent business into an actively managed one. In 2008 he moved to the real estate arm of the Arnault family office — the family behind LVMH — where he spent the next seventeen years, thirteen of them based in Hong Kong, building luxury-anchored mixed-use districts across Asia, North America, and Europe. What that platform taught him is the throughline of his entire career: real estate stops being about cash flow the moment you start paying attention to who actually uses the building.In this conversation with host Adam Grossman, Alex explains what mixed-use development genuinely means — and why it is not simply stacking an office on a hotel on a retail box. He walks through the metrics that decide whether a project pencils, from development yield margin to cap rates to the inflation and construction-cost pressures that kill otherwise sound deals. He makes the case for sports and entertainment real estate as an emerging asset class in its own right, explains why downtown revitalization has become the central North American opportunity, and describes the work of aligning team owners, city governments, developers, and capital around a single long-term vision. And he closes with the standard he applies to every deal: a project should still be thriving in thirty years, and it should deliver two returns — one to investors, and one to the community it sits in.00:00 Welcome and introductions00:59 Paris, civil engineering, and a first job at Merrill Lynch03:17 Seventeen years with LVMH: Hong Kong, luxury, and mixed-use06:14 Why real estate: a tangible asset and a people business08:10 When real estate was passive10:41 What "mixed-use" actually means12:39 The metrics: development yield, cap rates15:20 Geopolitics, curiosity, and the case for a global career18:48 Has cross-border investing gotten easier in twenty-seven years?21:18 What you can only learn on the ground23:20 Asia after 2008: building for the luxury consumer26:55 Retail's evolution and the speed of change in China31:11 Thematic investing: tailwinds, data centers, and differentiation33:47 Why Seregh — sports, entertainment, and an emerging asset class37:10 Aligning team owners, cities, and capital41:01 Stakeholders who want in but need a guide46:53 What makes a good investment: two returns, not one49:04 Closing thoughts
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  Best Of: Jason Wright 13.08.2026 52min

  This week on ROAR we're re-running one of our favorite conversations of the season — our sit-down with Jason Wright. If you missed it the first time, it's essential listening on where women's sports, real estate, and revenue actually intersect.Most people still frame women's sports as a movement. Jason Wright runs a fund built on the opposite premise — that it's one of the most under-researched and undervalued asset classes in sports. In this episode, hosts Caroline Valvardi and Adam Grossman trace Wright's path from seven years as an NFL running back, through a labor lockout that became his first lesson in sports business, to McKinsey, the President's chair of the Washington Commanders, and now Project Level, the women's sports fund he launched with Melody Hobson at Ariel Investments.The conversation lands squarely where ROAR lives: the intersection of sports, real estate, and revenue. Wright breaks down the thesis driving Project Level — the modernization of men's sports that women's leagues can now draft on, two decades of family spending on girls' youth sports, and the "net-new fan" who never bought a men's ticket. From there the group digs into the economics of purpose-built women's stadiums, using naming rights to lower the cost of capital, and mixed-use districts that can out-earn the team next door. There's also a Northwestern reunion baked in: three Wildcats, two of them from the class of 2004, with Adam stepping into a dual host-and-guest role.01:16 From NFL running back to franchise president 04:56 What Northwestern athletics taught them 09:36 NIL, the transfer portal & the leadership question 16:06 Why women's sports: the Ariel model & Melody Hobson 20:41 The thesis: three tailwinds & the "net-new fan" 26:52 Data, AI & closing the capability gap 34:28 Inside the LP base & diversifying the asset class 40:23 Purpose-built women's stadiums: the value case 45:11 Mixed-use districts & when real estate out-earns the team 48:44 The public-funding case for women's venues 49:59 What's next: leagues, youth sports & sleeper bets
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  The ROAR Podcast: Thayer Lavielle 07.08.2026 32min

  When Thayer Lavielle set out to build a research practice around women as fans, athletes, and executives, the problem wasn't interpreting the data. It was that the data didn't exist. She describes searching for insight on women as insurance buyers and turning up a single study from 2003. Six years after launching The Collective in the wake of the U.S. women's national team's World Cup win, that gap has been filled with dozens of proprietary reports, a think tank spanning thirty academic researchers, and — by the organization's own accounting — close to a billion dollars in unlocked investment in women's sport, a figure Thayer suspects is conservative.In this conversation with host Caroline Valvardi, Thayer traces a career that ran through Paris, a New York newsroom, a French beauty conglomerate, and a NASCAR partnership before it ever touched sports strategy. She unpacks what a 15,000-respondent study across twelve countries revealed about the invisible logistical load women carry when booking live entertainment, why women athletes generate roughly twice the engagement of their male counterparts despite smaller followings, and how a decade of proprietary data is changing what AI can actually do for an agency. She also makes the case that the research itself is the flywheel: more data creates more conversation, more conversation attracts more capital, and more capital funds the next round of proof.00:00 — Welcome and guest introduction00:18 — WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago01:20 — All-Star as a convening moment for all of women's sports02:15 — The research gap in women's sports science06:36 — Into PR, then L'Oréal — and the boss who named her gift07:50 — Lancôme: under-qualified, oversized, and figuring it out08:50 — Brands, talent, and the origins of The Collective10:24 — French and religion,12:23 — Launching The Collective in 201913:20 — Women drive the economy — so why is there no data?14:10 — One insurance study from 200315:09 — Building the think tank: ten universities to thirty professors15:50 — Reports as a credibility spine17:07 — Has demand for the research actually increased?18:40 — The flywheel20:18 — Nearly a billion dollars unlocked21:45 — AI as thought partner23:30 — A decade of proprietary data meets query24:00 — Double-checking and gut-checking everything24:45 — The live music study25:15 — Cultural nuance from Hong Kong to Singapore to Toledo26:20 — 83% of women do the booking26:45 — Two and a half hours a day of unseen labor28:45 — From cable TV to social29:14 — Connection, comparison, and what we haven't cracked30:34 — Athletes as creators, NIL, and playing to different strengths32:05 — The RBC study32:50 — How the pandemic became a proving ground33:30 — The virtual draft from Kathy Engelbert's living room34:33 — Five new leagues in one year35:41 — Reflecting on a career
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  Best Of: Everett Sands, Lendistry 30.07.2026 31min

  We're revisiting one of the conversations from The ROAR Podcast that has held up best in the months since it aired — Caroline Valvardi's interview with Everett Sands, Founder and CEO of Lendistry.Lendistry is a mission-driven capital deployer that partners with Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Visa, Walmart, and government agencies (including LA County during the wildfire recovery) to move capital into small businesses and underserved communities. And over the last several years, they've built one of the most deliberate women's sports partnership portfolios in the country: the LA Sparks, Gotham FC, the Chicago Sky, and the Atlanta Dream.In this Best Of episode, Everett walks through why he compares the WNBA today to Formula 1 before Drive to Survive, how Lendistry uses transaction data — down to what hour a small business owner is uploading loan documents — to decide where to show up, and what it looks like to design mixed-use sports and entertainment districts so independent operators can actually compete inside them rather than exist beside them. The conversation also gets into the $85 trillion baby boomer wealth transfer, the growing share of new businesses started by women, the short window athletes have to convert peak earnings into long-term wealth, and Everett's own leadership philosophy — built around a North Star, technology as an equalizer, and a competitive streak he traces back to sports.00:00 — Intro01:30 — Everett's Career Journey04:00 — What Lendistry Does06:30 — Origins of the Women's Sports Strategy09:00 — The WNBA as Pre-Drive to Survive Formula 111:00 — Investment vs. Philanthropy:13:00 — Building the Partnership Portfolio16:00 — Sports & Entertainment Districts19:00 — The Data Layer22:00 — The $85 Trillion Wealth Transfer25:00 — Athletes as Entrepreneurs28:00 — Business Spotlights31:00 — Leadership Philosophy34:00 — Close
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  The ROAR Podcast: WNBA Innovation Summit 24.07.2026 31min

  For the first time, co-hosts Adam and Caroline record together — and they do it on location in Chicago at the WNBA All-Star Media & Innovation Summit, sitting courtside on Home Court, the new basketball facility at the Obama Presidential Center. It's a fitting backdrop: a purpose-built venue on a huge piece of developed land, capturing exactly where this show lives — the intersection of sports, real estate, and revenue. That word, purpose-built, becomes the thread through the whole conversation, because the story of women's sports right now isn't only about growth; it's about designing for it from the ground up.Adam and Caroline dig into why "pink it and shrink it" is the wrong playbook, and what it actually takes to build products, performance centers, and content made for women's sports rather than borrowed from the men's game. They get into the data behind the business case, why AI is still underinvested on the business side, what fans really want from athlete-creators (hint: not always the biggest names), and how you actually budget across talent, production, and research. Caroline brings the fan-and-communications lens, Adam brings the data-and-revenue one, and the line they keep returning to ties it together: this was never charity — it's good business, and the data can finally prove it.00:00 — Cold open: what this episode is really about01:37 — Why this is the first combined episode, live on Home Court02:41 — Obama Center's long road from vision to venue03:49 — Why the WNBA Summit: the topics worth showing up for04:44 — Caroline's take: four All-Stars in05:17 — The data case and the science gap06:04 — "Pink it and shrink it": why purpose-built beats scaled-down07:08 — Playing, fandom, and a male-dominated industry07:53 — Empowerment as business case08:24 — Women in leadership and the coaching09:31 — BOA Construction and the women who built Home Court10:15 — Purpose-built performance centers 13:00 — AI and data: the business case,16:00 — Athletes as creators19:00 — Produced vs. organic 23:00 — Beyond the Summit: All-Star week26:00 — Chicago in the summer
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  The ROAR Podcast: Seth Rubinroit, NBC Universal 16.07.2026 44min

  Seth Rubinroit talked his way into NBA Summer League media credentials before he was old enough to drive — becoming, by his own account, one of the first credentialed reporters under 18 to cover the event. That early hustle, and the lesson underneath it, has defined a career that runs from a scrappy USC basketball website to a leadership role in audio and digital strategy at NBCUniversal. In this episode, Adam Grossman traces that arc with Seth: the Magic Johnson interview that taught him to earn someone's time, the "everything is sales" instinct that carried him from college sponsorships to pitching NBC executives, and the London 2012 logging internship that got a peacock in his title for good.The back half gets into the business. Seth breaks down how he sold audio to NBC leadership on reach rather than revenue, why the arrival of video rewrote the entire economic model of podcasting, and how the smartest shows super-serve a specific audience instead of chasing high-profile talent. He and Adam dig into the data behind launching a 30-plus-show slate, whether there's a real audience for sports business content, how AI tools like Riverside and WSC are quietly reshaping production, and what teaching at USC ahead of LA28 has taught him about how the next generation actually consumes content.00:00 — Welcome00:47 — Credentialed at 12: the NBA Summer League origin story05:08 — The Magic Johnson interview and the lesson that stuck08:56 — Beating the gatekeepers: distribution before social media10:18 — USC, a business degree, and the #1 USC basketball site15:50 — "Everything is sales": the skill that carried his career18:32 — The London 2012 logging internship 20:35 — Universal Sports Network to the NBC Olympic team22:39 — Pitching audio: selling reach over revenue24:59 — When video changed the revenue math29:46 — Building a 30-show slate: audience over talent35:16 — AI in production: Riverside, WSC, and freeing up the humans41:07 — Teaching at USC, LA28GUEST BIO Seth Rubinroit leads audio and digital strategy at NBCUniversal, where he oversees more than thirty shows. He began his career as a teenage sports journalist, reporting alongside his brother Sam and becoming one of the first credentialed media members under 18 to cover the NBA Summer League, with bylines in outlets like Sports Illustrated for Kids and Time for Kids. A graduate of USC's Marshall School of Business, he founded what became the most-read USC basketball website while in college. He began his professional career at Universal Sports Network before joining NBC, where he worked the London, Rio, and Pyeongchang Olympics and went on to build the company's podcast slate. He has served on the board of the Podcast Academy, helped launch the CNBC Sport Podcast, and teaches a course on multiplatform Olympic and Paralympic storytelling at USC. He is also a judge for the Sports Business Journal Awards.
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  The ROAR Podcast: Kirtan Mehta, Washington Commanders 09.07.2026 38min

  The Washington Commanders didn't just negotiate a stadium deal with a city — they needed a federal bill passed to get there. Kirtan Mehta, the team's Chief External Affairs Officer, joins Caroline Valvardi to unpack one of the most complex real estate projects in American sports.A Northwestern grad who took an unlikely route through Harvard Law, two U.S. Senate offices, and an early-stage Robinhood before landing in football, Kirtan brings a government-relations lens you rarely hear in sports business. The conversation covers what it takes to align owners, fans, and three separate jurisdictions; the case for building a neighborhood rather than just a stadium; how data and AI are being deployed from construction phasing to fan experience; and the leadership ethos the franchise calls the Commander Standard.It's a grounded look at the politics, real estate, and revenue underneath the Commanders' return to the RFK site — and a useful playbook for anyone watching the new wave of sports-anchored mixed-use development.00:00 Cold open & intro 00:31 An unlikely path: math, mock trial, law, and politics 03:02 What Capitol Hill experience brings 04:52 Finding intersection among diverse stakeholders 06:04 Translating between groups — the 11–2 DC Council vote 07:49 Why listening is the underrated skill in public affairs 11:46 Jurisdictions and the federal-land overlay of the RFK site 14:42 Building a real estate team for a real estate project  17:12 Legislative timelines and the 2030 / 2031 World Cup  20:05 The $2.7B case: housing, environment, and a food desert 21:40 The Nationals ballpark as the blueprint 24:23 Partnering with the city — and the mayor's role 26:57 Data & AI: Voice of Fans30:51 Experiential design inside and outside the stadium 34:25 The transportation puzzle: Metro, tunnels, and a river36:09 What drives him: service, joy, and a product you believe in 38:56 Leadership and the Commander Standard — the five C'sGuest BioKirtan Mehta is the Chief External Affairs Officer for the Washington Commanders, where he leads government relations and public affairs across the franchise's stadium and mixed-use development efforts. A 2004 Northwestern University graduate, he earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and practiced in Chicago and Washington, D.C., before moving into public service. Over his political career, he worked across multiple levels of government — including serving as chief of staff to a U.S. senator — and held private-sector roles spanning trade-association advocacy and an early stint at the fintech startup Robinhood. He joined the Commanders under the team's new ownership, where he helps steer one of the most jurisdictionally complex stadium and real estate projects in American sports.
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  Best Of: Alex Teodosi, Chicago Sky 02.07.2026 43min

  We're taking the week of the 4th of July off from new episodes, but we didn't want to leave you without something to listen to. We're re-running one of our favorite conversations from the season — Adam Grossman's interview with Alex Teodosi, Vice President of Corporate, Community, and Strategic Partnerships for the Chicago Sky. New episodes return next week.This conversation covers the rapid growth and evolution of the WNBA, the impact of that growth on the Chicago Sky as an organization, and Alex's role overseeing corporate, community, and strategic partnerships for the franchise. Adam and Alex dig into changing conversations with brands, the operational evolution of the team, the upcoming practice facility in Bedford Park, and what business growth actually looks like inside a franchise heading into its 20th season.The conversation also explores the adoption of data and analytics on the partnership side, the use of AI-driven insights and narratives in sponsorship conversations, the organizational impact of SmartDaaS, and how senior leadership at the Sky is thinking about AI as a strategic priority across the business.TakeawaysRapid growth and breakout moment of the WNBAEvolution of data-driven partnership conversations with national brandsThe role of AI in sports and entertainment partnership operationsLeveraging AI for data-driven insights, narratives, and speed-to-decisionChapters00:00 — Use of AI-Driven Insights20:35 — The Impact of AI in Sports and Entertainment33:46 — SmartDaaS and Organizational Impact
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  The ROAR Podcast: Jason Wright 25.06.2026 52min

  Most people still frame women's sports as a movement. Jason Wright runs a fund built on the opposite premise — that it's one of the most under-researched and undervalued asset classes in sports. In this episode, Caroline and Adam trace Wright's path from seven years as an NFL running back, through a labor lockout that became his first lesson in sports business, to McKinsey, the President's chair of the Washington Commanders, and now Project Level, the women's sports fund he launched with Melody Hobson at Ariel Investments.The conversation lands squarely where ROAR lives: the intersection of sports, real estate, and revenue. Wright breaks down the thesis driving Project Level — the modernization of men's sports that women's leagues can now draft on, two decades of family spending on girls' youth sports, and the "net-new fan" who never bought a men's ticket. From there the group digs into the economics of purpose-built women's stadiums, using naming rights to lower the cost of capital, and mixed-use districts that can out-earn the team next door. 00:00 Cold open & a special two-grad format 01:15 From NFL running back to franchise president 04:15 What Northwestern athletics taught them 09:13 NIL, the transfer portal & the leadership question 15:30 Why women's sports: the Ariel model & Melody Hobson 18:00 The thesis: three tailwinds & the "net-new fan" 25:46 Data, AI & closing the capability gap 33:08 Inside the LP base & diversifying the asset class 38:45 Purpose-built women's stadiums: the value case 43:08 Mixed-use districts & when real estate out-earns the team 47:33 The public-funding case for women's venues48:11 What's next: leagues, youth sports & sleeper betsGuest BioJason Wright is a managing partner at Project Level, a women's sports investment fund and wholly owned subsidiary of Ariel Investments that he launched alongside Melody Hobson. A Southern California native, Wright played running back at Northwestern before a seven-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals, where he served as a team captain and NFLPA representative. He earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and became a partner at McKinsey & Company in the firm's Washington, D.C. office, leading a global practice. In 2020 he was named President of the Washington Commanders, where he reset the organization's revenue strategy, rebuilt its season-ticket base, helped oversee the sale of the team, and worked to return the franchise to the RFK site before joining Project Level.
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  The ROAR Podcast: Amina Bulman, Boston Legacy FC 18.06.2026 45min

  Most sports executives inherit a brand. Amina Bulman is building one from zero.As Chief Revenue Officer of Boston Legacy FC, Amina is launching a professional women's soccer club in a city that already lives and breathes its teams — with no history to lean on, a fan base that doesn't exist yet, and a permanent home still under construction. In this episode, Adam Grossman traces her unlikely path into sports: a competitive rower who studied political science and economics, expected a career in government, helped stand up the Obama Foundation, and then got a phone call in the spring of 2020 that pulled her into the franchise that had just become the Washington Commanders.Five years and one ninety-year-old rebrand later, she came home to Boston. Amina and Adam dig into what it actually takes to lead through transition — adding value when you're not the expert in the room, the difference between information and insight, and why her first season feels like running two races at once across two very different stadiums. They also get deep into the real estate: why she believes mixed-use is the future of sports venues, how White Stadium and "The Grove" are designed to function as civic assets year-round, and what it will take to turn the women's sports "rocket ship" into lasting cultural staying power.00:05 — Welcome to The ROAR Podcast00:37 — A circuitous path: rowing, government, and a five-year plan that never happened05:06 — Why the sports industry can feel "opaque" from the outside06:16 — What the Obama Presidential Center taught her about building a stadium07:16 — Leading when you're not the expert in the room10:43 — Saying yes to Jason Wright and a franchise in transition14:39 — Inside a 90-year-old rebrand19:30 — From chief of staff to the external face of the club25:35 — Rebranding a zero-year-old club: when unified sentiment raises the stakes26:59 — What fans actually wanted: values, experience, community29:35 — Information vs. insight: "Who is our fan?"31:41 — Two states, two stadiums, one first season37:04 — Why mixed-use is the future of sports venues40:07 — The Grove: a 365-day revenue engine41:37 — Mixed-use for women's sports vs. men's sports42:35 — The women's sports rocket ship — and how to keep it climbing45:14 — Year-one north star: more eyeballs on the productGUEST BIOAmina Bulman is the Chief Revenue Officer of Boston Legacy FC, where she leads commercial strategy for the new NWSL club — overseeing the launch of its brand, fan base, and revenue operation from the ground up. A Boston native and former competitive rower, she studied political science and economics and began her career in public-sector consulting before helping stand up the Obama Foundation in its earliest days, working across strategy, operations, and civic engagement programming. After earning her MBA, she joined the franchise then known as the Washington Football Team, spending five years through its transformation into the Washington Commanders — starting as chief of staff and expanding into external-facing leadership across communications and community efforts, including the organization's rebrand. She returned to Boston to help launch Boston Legacy FC, where she is focused on brand-building, mixed-use venue development, and growing the audience for women's sports.
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  The Compounding Effect: Start Times, Districts, and the AI Land Grab 11.06.2026 38min

  This week it's just the three of us. Brice, Adam, and Caroline step out from behind the guest chair for a wide-ranging conversation on the stories moving sports business right now — and the single idea tying them together: compounding effects. One small change is almost never just one change.We start with Major League Baseball's quiet race to beat 7 PM, and why moving first pitch earlier is far more than a scheduling tweak — it reshapes who can attend, how long they stay, and how much they spend. From there the conversation widens to the mixed-use districts replacing the mall as America's gathering place (and how that model is cascading down to minor league, youth, and even high school facilities), the "land grab" of AI companies pouring into sports sponsorship, and what it actually takes to turn an AI partnership into something operational — including a look inside SmartDaaS, the Smart District as a Service platform powered by ROAR. Where sports, real estate, and revenue converge — in one conversation.00:00 — Catching up: the rebrand, Caroline's hosting, and the community throughline03:20 — Beating 7 PM: why moving first pitch earlier is more than a tweak06:47 — The counterintuitive case for the suburban family (end times, not start times)10:14 — Compounding effects: one small change, many revenue streams16:33 — From ballpark to district: malls, gathering places, and mixed-use18:18 — Why games ran late, and how streaming and the RSN decline reset the math22:00 — Pitch clock, ABS, and turning rule changes into partnership assets24:16 — Cascading down: minor league, youth, and high school sports real estate29:24 — The sports AI land grab and "business-backed" partnerships38:13 — Enterprise risk, top-of-funnel attention, and Oracle Red Bull Racing41:05 — Inside SmartDaaS: making AI actionable for sports, real estate, and revenue46:34 — What's ahead for The Roar Podcast
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  The ROAR Podcast: George Barrios 04.06.2026 55min

  Adam Grossman sits down with George Barrios — former Chief Financial & Strategy Officer and Co-President of WWE, co-founder of ISOS Capital, board member and investor in Global Sport Group, and author of the new book Sometimes Wrong, But Never in Doubt.George helped take WWE from a company worth less than a billion dollars to a valuation north of nine billion, architected its merger with UFC, and — alongside his longtime partner Michelle Wilson — wrote a playbook that reframed how the sports industry thinks about intellectual property, content, and the fight for a fan's time. In this wide-ranging conversation, he unpacks the WWE Network gamble, the "swamp of despair" that forged an 18-year partnership, getting fired in 2020, the triumphant return to negotiate the UFC deal, and why he believes AI is foundational technology on the scale of the integrated circuit — not the internet.Chapters(00:00) Welcome & introductions Adam welcomes George to the show and sets the table for the conversation.(00:58) A "not so long" career — Time Warner to WWE to ISOS George traces the arc: early finance, management, and strategy roles at Time Warner, HBO, and the New York Times Company, the move to WWE, and the founding of ISOS Capital and Global Sport Group.(03:55) The book — Sometimes Wrong, But Never in Doubt Where the title came from, the Harvard-surgeon origin story, and why confidence rooted in preparation isn't the same as bravado.(08:41) The IP unlock: it's not sport, it's live The 12–18 months of consumer research and first-principles thinking that led to repositioning WWE around live, tribal, passionate, multi-generational content — and the "content factory" strategy.(09:22) Launching the WWE Network Cannibalizing a hugely profitable pay-per-view business to build an SVOD service for the most passionate fans — the criticism, the cannibalization fears, and the climb past two million subscribers.(13:03) Working with Vince McMahon What it was actually like — not the loud TV persona, but a stoic who was hard to read — and selling him on "killing the baby" of the pay-per-view business he created.(19:13) The "swamp of despair" The emotional journey of doing something big: naysayers, public-market pressure, and the three-to-four-year wait for the economics to manifest.(22:49) The Michelle Wilson partnership How two high-powered executives built an 18-year partnership, why the co-CEO model is so hard, and the Venn diagram of intellect, integrity, and energy.(30:40) Getting fired — January 2020 The wind-down with Vince, the decision to leave, the abrupt ending, and the stock drop that followed.(39:05) The dinner, the call, and the return Reconnecting with Vince in 2020, the 2023 phone call to bring back "the A team," and rejoining the board.(43:06) Architecting the UFC merger The strategic process, the conviction around scale ("one plus one is more than two"), and why the deal has looked better every day since.(48:22) What "data-driven" really means The difference between dabbling in data and doing the hard work — cross-platform content measurement, data engineering vs. analysis, and building the infrastructure from scratch(51:51) Closing question: Artificial intelligence Why George thinks AI is foundational like the integrated circuit, the danger of "dabbling," sports' competitive moat, and the discipline of not duct-taping AI onto an old business model.(55:35) Where to find the book & wrap-up
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  The ROAR Podcast: Everett Sands, Lendistry 28.05.2026 31min

  The conversation covers Everett Sands' career journey, Lendistry mission, partnerships in women's sports, Lendistry's role in capital deployment, connecting women's sports and community development, using data to evaluate partnerships, supporting small businesses in sports and entertainment districts, and leadership priorities. Key takeaways include mission-driven finance, access to capital, and impact investing.TakeawaysMission-driven financeAccess to capitalImpact investingChapters00:00 Career Journey and Lendistry's Mission19:20 Supporting Small Businesses in Sports and Entertainment Districts37:19 Leadership and Priorities
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  The ROAR Podcast: Alex Teodosi, Chicago Sky 21.05.2026 43min

  The conversation covers the rapid growth and evolution of the WNBA, the impact of this growth on the organization, the role and responsibilities of Alex Teodosi, strategic partnerships and community initiatives, changing conversations with brands, operational growth and evolution, the practice facility and business growth, adoption of data and analytics, and the use of AI-driven insights. The conversation delves into the impact of AI in sports and entertainment, highlighting the use of AI for data-driven insights and narratives. It also explores the organizational impact of SmartDaaS and the expectations of senior leadership regarding the use of AI.TakeawaysRapid growth of the WNBAEvolution of data-driven partnerships AI in sports and entertainmentLeveraging AI for data-driven insightsChapters00:00 Use of AI-Driven Insights20:35 The Impact of AI in Sports and Entertainment33:46 SmartDaaS and Organizational Impact
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  Best of The ROAR Podcast: Craig Sloan 14.05.2026 50min

  The conversation with Craig Sloan covers his journey in sports media, the evolution of local media, the seismic changes in sports media, and Playfly's involvement in college sports multimedia rights. It delves into the impact of non-traditional sports providers, changes in data usage, and the future of multimedia rights in college sports. The conversation delves into the impact of multimedia rights and the challenges and opportunities of working with student athletes. It also explores the innovative approaches to revenue generation and the influence of data and technology on the industry.TakeawaysEvolution of MediaSeismic Changes in Sports Media Innovation in revenue generationImpact of multimedia rightsChallenges and opportunities of working with student athletesChapters00:00 Journey in Sports Media06:09 Evolution of Local Media19:28 Multimedia Rights in College Sports26:00 Multimedia Rights and Revenue Generation31:33 NIL and Revenue Sharing40:26 Data and Technology Impact
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  The ROAR Podcast:Jim Renne, AECOM 07.05.2026 50min

  In this episode, Caroline Valvardi interviews Jim Renne, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of AECOM's Sports Practice. They discuss the evolution of stadiums and arenas, the impact of transportation and mixed-use development, global insights and projects, favorite projects, and the use of data analytics in sports architecture.TakeawaysSports venues as community anchorsChallenges in sports architectureEvolution of stadiums and arenasChapters00:00 Favorite Projects and Data Analytics
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  The ROAR Podcast:Chris Bevilacqua, Smash Capital 30.04.2026 43min

  Chris Bevilacqua, a partner at Smash Sports, discusses the $5 billion annual deficit threatening the sustainability of college sports and the role of private capital, real estate, and artificial intelligence in reshaping the college sports model. The conversation also delves into the legislative process, media rights, and the impact of AI on college sports.TakeawaysPrivate CapitalLegislative ProcessChapters00:00 The Role of Artificial Intelligence in College Sports
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  The ROAR Podcast:Jordan Goldstein, Gensler 23.04.2026 36min

  The podcast episode features Jordan Goldstein, Co-CEO of Gensler, discussing Gensler's impact and involvement in sports and entertainment districts. The conversation covers Gensler's background, expansion into sports and entertainment, employee ownership, evolution of sports districts, community impact, innovation, sustainability, technology integration, data analytics, future trends, and leadership priorities at Gensler.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background of Gensler15:15 Evolution of Sports and Entertainment Districts22:40 Integration of Technology and Immersive Experiences29:27 Future Trends in Sports and Entertainment Districts
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  Scott Sonnenberg 16.04.2026 44min

  Discover how NBA veteran Scott Sonnenberg has helped craft one of the most innovative sports venues with cutting-edge technology, unique fan experiences, and impactful partnerships — all while harnessing data and AI to elevate the game.In this episode:Scott Sonnenberg's journey from the Chicago Bulls to Chief Commercial Officer of the LA Clippers.Key innovations at the Intuit Dome: seamless entry, tailored fan experiences, and high-tech features like Gameface ID.How the venue's design enhances gameplay, impacts opponent performance, and creates a significant home-court advantage.The strategic approach to global branding, partnerships, and community engagement within the LA market.The role of data, analytics, and AI in personalizing fan interactions and optimizing venue operations.Insight into premium experiences, premium seating design, and how LA’s competitive market shapes them.The future of sports venues: embracing AI, maintaining the essence of live sports, and creating memorable experiences.Timestamps:00:00 - Building the greatest NBA arena from scratch01:21 - Scott Sonnenberg's NBA career timeline02:47 - Innovations at Intuit Dome: Restroom design, Halo Board, and fan experience04:03 - Building a global brand while focusing on local fan base06:41 - Leveraging international partnerships and global NBA reach08:11 - Competition with Lakers and industry leadership in venue design10:17 - Creating ROI-driven, innovative sponsorships and partnerships12:02 - Sustainability and environmental initiatives at Intuit Dome15:04 - Seamless entry, personalized fan experience, and fan engagement technology17:04 - Early partner engagement during venue construction18:36 - Use of technology partners like Clear and AT&T within the venue20:29 - Interactive fan experiences driven by Candy Crush partnership26:53 - Personalization of fan experiences using data and analytics33:07 - Impact of venue design, the "Wall," and home atmosphere35:53 - Premium seating options and creating unique experiences41:16 - The role of AI in transforming sports and fan engagement44:11 - The future of sports venues: technology enhancement without replacing live elements
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  Craig Sloan 09.04.2026 50min

  Craig Sloan, CEO of PlayFly Sports, discusses the evolution of sports media, the impact of non-traditional providers, and the seismic changes in the industry. He shares insights on the journey in sports media, the evolution of local media, and the role of multimedia rights in college sports. The conversation delves into the innovation in college sports sponsorship and media rights, the challenges and opportunities in college sports, and the impact of NIL on college sports. It explores the dynamic nature of multimedia rights, the need for sustainable revenue growth, and the role of technology and data in enhancing fan engagement and game day experiences. Additionally, it discusses the complexities of working with student-athletes in the context of NIL and the influence of artificial intelligence on the sports industry.TakeawaysEvolution of MediaSeismic Changes in Sports Media Innovation in sponsorship and media rightsChallenges and opportunities in college sportsImpact of NIL on college sportsChapters00:00 Journey in Sports Media10:05 Impact of Non-Traditional Providers19:28 Multimedia Rights in College Sports26:00 Innovation in College Sports Sponsorship and Media Rights31:33 Challenges and Opportunities in College Sports40:26 Impact of NIL on College Sports