SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan speaks to Craig Dews, chief executive of Limelight Sports, a marketing agency that unlocks the power of participation sport. They discuss the truth about building and launching a new strategy, at a point where so much of the sports industry – not least the mass participation space – has had to rethink how and why it does things. The conversation covers how best to assess an organisation’s needs in an uncertain future, the realities of change management in the face of day-today priorities, bringing staff on board for the journey and judging progress along the way.  The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond. 

SportsPro Podcast

Playbook: How to launch a new business strategy with Limelight Sports’ Craig Dews

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and deputy editor Sam Carp are joined by Ricardo Fort, founder of the Sport By Fort consultancy and former global head of sponsorship at Coca-Cola, to look ahead to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  They discuss the reported apprehension around the host city as athletes and media arrive before the opening ceremony, whether the story of the event can escape the shadow of Covid-19, and how activities for partners will have been adapted. They also consider what value the Olympics holds for brands, reflect on Toyota’s decision not to promote its Games sponsorship within Japan, and ask how the movement’s message can be taken forward – and whether it is fans and Olympians who are best placed to do that.  There’s also time for a brief dip into the pages of issue 114 of SportsPro magazine, which is available this week. 

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games commercial preview

As Tokyo 2020 looms, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Max Siegel, chief executive of USA Track & Field. They discuss preparing a team for the Olympics in pandemic conditions, how Covid-19 has affected the USATF, Sha’Carri Richardson’s THC ban, broader questions around anti-doping and competitive fairness, and how digital media and connected participation could shape the future of athletics. Max also talks about diversity in leadership, how to bring new perspectives and experiences into an organisation, and the importance of giving athletes a voice on social issues as well as the growth of their sport. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

USATF chief Max Siegel on Tokyo 2020 and the way forward for athletics

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by Misha Sher, global head of sport, entertainment and culture at Mediacom, to talk about the growing role of athletes in media. They discuss the fallout from Uefa Euro 2020, with England players on the front foot over racist abuse on social platforms, what to expect from the Olympics and next year’s Uefa Women’s Euro 2022, and how brands should navigate athlete-led conversations on social issues. There’s also time to look at LeBron James’ version of the Looney Tunes basketball caper Space Jam, and consider how entertainment crossovers have changed since Michael Jordan’s film in 1997. Then (35.04), as the Open Championship approaches, soccer stars James Milner and Adam Lallana explain how they’re applying their experience to specialist golf agency White Rose Sports Management, appearing alongside new signing Ben Schmidt. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

James Milner and Adam Lallana’s golf venture, and athletes in media from Euro 2020 to Space Jam

SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan talks to Claire Harvey MBE, former Paralympian turned global inclusion lead at telecoms brand Vodafone.  They talk about how to do better in the complex and sensitive area of inclusion and diversity, drawing on Claire’s experience in sport, business and beyond to try and set a path through new social norms and expectations. They also identify some positive steps that any organisation can take to improve their practices and their culture, and a few strong examples of where sport is getting things right. The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond. 

Playbook: How to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion with Vodafone’s Claire Harvey

As Wembley Stadium gets ready to welcome England and Italy for the Uefa Euro 2020 final, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Chris Bryant, tournament director at the Football Association.    They talk about the job of managing the demands of Uefa, public health authorities, local and national government as London’s role in the tournament has changed. They also discuss how Wembley Stadium has been prepared for the closing stages of the tournament, creating the right atmosphere for fans, the evolving identity of the ground and the surrounding area, Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 and the future. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

The Uefa Euro 2020 final: the FA’s Chris Bryant on preparing Wembley Stadium for England and Italy

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam welcome Jean-Baptiste Roy, founding partner of Asia Sports Tech, as they review the second and final day of SportsPro APAC.   On the agenda: the distinctive social media markets of India and China and what they mean for sports brands inside and outside those countries, the efforts of World Table Tennis to build an offering fit for the 2020s, and the power of the Paralympics to change perceptions of disability across Asia during Tokyo 2020.    The panel hear from Facebook India VP and managing director Ajit Mohan, Chelsea head of global fan engagement Adam Field, and The Valuable 500 founder Caroline Casey.    Find out more about SportsPro APAC and register for on-demand access at www.sportsproapac.com  

Chelsea, Facebook and the Paralympics on SportsPro APAC day two

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and staff writer Ed Dixon are joined by Janna Jauhar, APEC director at Mailman Group, to wrap up the opening day of the SportsPro APAC virtual conference. They discuss topics ranging from fan engagement and content customisation during the pandemic, and how to address a breadth of local audiences, to the differing impact of esports and mobile and digital platforms across a diverse region. They also hear from Star and Disney India head of sports Sanjog Gupta, Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley, and Yoichiro Basso, the DAZN Group senior vice president for subscription growth in Japan. Find out more about SportsPro APAC and register for live and on-demand access at www.sportsproapac.com  

Star India, DAZN, Tennis Australia and more on SportsPro APAC day one

In a special edition of the podcast, SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan dives deep into his new book, All To Play For: How Sport Can Reboot Our Future, in conversation with editor at large Eoin Connolly.    Matt explains how a more connected vision can not only help the sport prepare for the challenges of the era to come, but also help deliver its social and health benefits more powerfully. He discusses how the industry can better communicate its values to win round the next generation of fans, how it is already finding innovative points of contact with communities, and where technology and creativity will open up new opportunities. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/    All To Play For: How Sport Can Reboot Our Future, by Matt Rogan with Kerry Potter, is available now in hardback and ebook from Ebury Publishing. 

All To Play For: Matt Rogan on how sport can reboot our future

SportsPro deputy editor Sam Carp talks to James Rothwell, head of marketing for EMEA at TikTok, about the social media company’s partnership with Uefa Euro 2020. They cover how TikTok’s campaign was brought together in the months before the tournament, what it has been doing to bring the fan conversation to its platform, and the impact that has been having on its community and its profile. They also identify the type of content that has captured the imagination so far, from user-generated posts to Ed Sheeran's live-streamed concert. Then (31.26), Sport Buff co-founder and president Jonty Whitehead explains to SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly how gamification and interactive layers are encouraging deeper engagement with fans and giving rise to new monetisation opportunities. He also discusses the lessons sports broadcasters can learn from audience behaviour in esports and on streaming sites like Twitch. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

TikTok’s Uefa Euro 2020 journey and the gamified future of sports content

In this special edition of the SportsPro Podcast, editor-at-large Eoin Connolly speaks to outgoing Pac-12 commissioner, Larry Scott. As the former WTA chief executive prepares to bow out at the end of June after leading the conference for 12 years, Scott reflects on his time at the helm of the organisation, the impact of the recent federal NIL ruling and the commercial state of US college sports post-Covid. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Larry Scott: The Pac-12 commissioner's exit interview

SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan talks to Daniel Geey and Andrew Nixon, partners at leading technology, media and sport-based law firm Sheridans.  They discuss what goes on under the bonnet at a sports service company, from the demands of a typical working day to the balance between working in the business – bringing in fees – and working on it by leading and managing. They also reflect on what the post-Covid era might mean for the law sector, how to attract the right new talent, relationship-building with clients and much more. The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond. 

Playbook: How to lead and manage a service business in sport with Daniel Geey and Andrew Nixon

As the first round of Uefa Euro 2020 draws to a close, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Kirsten Sibbit-Johnston, associate director at The Sports Consultancy, about how the tournament will have been viewed by the host cities. They discuss the measurements that will have been most meaningful for understanding the tournament’s local impact, what Uefa will have learned about the political challenges of taking games to Munich and Budapest, whether the multi-nation model will appeal to other rights holders, and the compromises ahead for the events industry in a post-bubble, pre-normal phase of the pandemic. Then (37.06), SportsPro digital editor Tom Bassam gets a host venue’s perspective from Paul Bush OBE, director of events at EventScotland, who talks about the value of Glasgow’s Euro 2020 games, the impact of Covid on planning, and what’s next for the country’s strategy and the wider sector. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Uefa Euro 2020 host cities: local impact, political tensions, Covid compromises and Scotland’s journey

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Scott O’Neil, chief executive of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, the group that owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.   In a conversation recorded before a disappointing end to the Sixers’ playoff run, Scott talks about how HBSE has managed the priorities of two organisations at different stages of their development, how it has tried to keep employees energised and supported through the pandemic and two unusual NBA and NHL seasons, and what a post-Covid future looks like for the leagues.    He also discusses his bestselling new book, Be Where Your Feet Are, about the importance of staying grounded and acknowledging difficult experiences, and how he has applied some of those lessons in trying to foster an honest, open dialogue over the tumultuous past 18 months.Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspectorLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

HBSE’s Scott O’Neil on leading and learning through adversity with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined again by Matt Slater, football news reporter at The Athletic, to look back on the opening days of the men’s Uefa European Championship. They discuss the handling of Christian Eriksen’s shocking collapse during Denmark’s game against Finland, reflecting on crucial advances in medical protection for players but asking whether Uefa and the media will review their protocols after the tournament. They also consider the UK government’s stance on the booing of England players’ anti-racist gesture of taking a knee, and share some wider reflections on the competition so far.Then (36.22), TJ Iaciofano, head of growth and strategy consulting at Infront X, lays out some of the key trends for rights holders to look out for in developing digital products for fans. He explains how the delivery of fan experiences is changing – both for live content and, as supporters return to venues, for live events – and how to assess your own priorities and match that to design. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspectorLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   

Uefa Euro 2020 week one in review and digital fan experiences in focus

Join SportsPro writers and guests for comment, insight and analysis on the matters of the moment in the global sports industry.

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