In the 49-minute sports media podcast, MLS commissioner Don Garber debates and defends the Apple TV deal, explains why direct-to-consumer will be a part of other leagues sooner than later, measures the World Cup impact, opens the door a crack for promotion & relegation, tells why Messi’s arrival is better than he anticipated and what it is like to go to dinner with the Beckhams. Plus much more.
The interview was taped in front of live studio audience as part of the “Off The Record with Andrew Marchand presented by WSC Sports” series.
How MLS, led by Bob Kraft & Lamar Hunt, recruited Garber from the NFL
The 1994 World Cup and how it led to MLS with a $5M loan
John Skipper and the fuel of the sport
What the ESPN deal did for MLS …
How has the media environment changed over Garber’s career
How new stadiums, Messi, Beckham lead to globalization and more viewership
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What is like to sit across from David & Victoria Beckham
What was Garber & MLS’ plan going into the rights negotiations that saw them leave ESPN & Fox as its main partners for Apple TV in 2022
The issue with MLS’ old start times …
“We made a very bold move” with Apple
What were Garber’s expectations of the Apple deal
Garber says that MLS was early on going direct to consumer
Garber believes another major property will do a similar deal in next five years
How the MLS is “upside down,” which is not a bad thing
His admiration of the NHL’s setup
How Garber looks at the disruptive phase of technology
The data from Apple is so specific it is impacting MLS’ rosters
How you take the Red Bulls’ young players success and turn into good business
Will we get relegation in MLS
A member of the studio audience is a big MLS relegation fan … and Garber is a great about it
Garber explains MLS’ financial reasons against it
“They would have no place to play.”
Garber opens the door open a crack for promotion and relegation
Garber didn’t realize how big Messi would be
Does Messi happen without Apple ….
Beckham designing the Miami logo
Could the fan in the audience replace Jon Meterparel
The World Cup will be “100 Super Bowls”
What will the World Cup do for MLS
How does he look at “pay to play” youth issue
Frank Isola and Garber’s soccer neighbor
Off The Record with Netflix VP of Sports Gabe Spitzer on May 12th
Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com
On Deck: Marchand & Meterparel on Tuesday
