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 Approach 02:04 The Rise of USL: Opportunities and Challenges 07:37 Building a Soccer Community: The Rhode Island Project 11:19 Stadiums and Surrounding Development: A New Era 16:47 Promotion and Relegation: The Future of USL 22:12 Quality Over Quantity: Rethinking Stadium Standards 27:48 The Multi-Club Ownership Model: A New Strategy 35:34 Youth Soccer: Investing in the Future 37:12 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.

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 Developments 02:48 The Unique USL Approach to Stadium Building 05:51 City Partnerships and Economic Impact 09:10 Fan Experience and Entertainment Districts 12:00 Financing and Municipal Support for Stadiums 14:51 The Scale of Stadium Projects in USL 17:58 The Economics of Soccer Venues 20:55 Revenue Streams and Future Growth 24:00 Media Presentation and Broadcast Quality 26:50 Regional Development and Market Trends 30:06 Investor Interest in USL 32:58 The Future of Soccer in America

La Liga's attempt top play the first ever European league regular season game in the USA was given a boost this week when the Spanish federation backed their plan.

But many hurdles remain before this plan can become reality with Real Madrid and others opposed and UEFA, CONCACAF, US Soccer and FIFA having to approve.

We look in detail at Javier Tebas' plans and the motivation for it with ESPN's Spain Correspondent Sam Marsden.

Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United and England defender turned pundit and broadcaster recently left his role with TNT Sport in the UK to focus fully on his own content production and the rest of his business portfolio.

Rio talks to Simon Evans about his new plans for his video content business, his role as an agent, the future for American soccer, the nature of the soccer business from a player's perspective and his advice for players planning their post-playing career options.

It's an interview jam-packed with insight and perspective from one of the leading voices of Premier League and Champions League soccer coverage and one of the early adopters of the 'player as brand' approach.

Simon and Alex Silverman of the Sports Business Journal were in Austin this week for the MLS Board of Governor's meeting and other business events around the All Star Game and they break-down the main takeaways in this pod.

Find out about how MLS's relationship with Apple is 'evolving' - the calendar realignment progress, the looming CBA talks, competition format changes and much more in this in-depth episode.

Xavier Sanchez, the Commercial Director of Liga MX club Monterrey, joins the podcast to discuss his club's strategy in the U.S. market.

Discover how Monterrey has thousands of fans in the USA including some who have little connection to Mexico but have developed a deep passion for the Rayados. Learn how the club connects with these fans throughout the season.

Xavier also gives his thoughts in Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and the Club World Cup and how international competition helps boost his club's profile internationally.

This week's guest is Olek Loewenstein is President of Global Sports at TelevisaUnivision, the world's leading Spanish-language media company.

In our conversation, Olek talks about how his company approach soccer coverage and content for the Hispanic market; the changing habits of the viewer; the modern fan's loyalties and where non-Hispanic brands can get it wrong.

Plus some early insights into how the Club World Cup performed among Spanish language viewers.

In our first Soccer Business 'News Focus' episode Jonathan Tannenwald, soccer correspondent with the Philadelphia Inquirer, joins Simon to discuss the opening week of the Club World Cup from a business point of view.

We look at attendances, ticket-prices, marketing and the cultural impact of the tournament.