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 cancelled Apple TV and the MLS Playoffs - the F1 Factor? 2031 Women’s World Cup - the new Four Nations bid Brian 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 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.

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 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 Management 03:53 Transitioning from NHL to European Soccer 08:41 Roc Nation's Unique Approach to Athlete Representation 11:49 Building Brands Beyond the Field 15:56 Navigating the European Soccer Landscape 19:22 Expanding into Brazil and Africa 22:00 Talent Scouting and Recruitment Strategies 25:01 The Challenge of American Soccer Representation 31:21 The Future of Soccer in America 37:43 Hash Out

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.