Bloomberg Business of Sports: Trading Cards, Triathletes, and NFLPA Insights

The Business of Sports Media

• The "Bloomberg Business of Sports" podcast explores major financial issues within the sports industry.
• Hosts Damian Sassower and Vanessa Perdomo cover topics ranging from media rights and team valuations to finance and real estate.

Insights from the NFLPA

• Former NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith discusses his tenure, including the 2011 CBA negotiations and concussion settlement.
• Smith's new book, "Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America's Game," offers behind-the-scenes details of his time leading the union.
• The conversation highlights the intense negotiations between players' associations and league owners, emphasizing the need for compromise while acknowledging adversarial dynamics.
• The NFL has made strides in player safety and well-being, partly influenced by the stronger player power seen in leagues like the NBA.

The Trading Card Market Boom

• The sports trading card market is experiencing significant growth, projected to reach $49 billion by 2032.
• The COVID-19 pandemic fueled a resurgence in collecting as people rediscovered old binders and cards.
• Pokémon TCG products currently dominate sales, accounting for about 60% of Bleecker Trading's revenue, driven by nostalgia and high value.
• The term "ripping wax" refers to opening old packs of cards, a practice that dates back to when cards were wrapped in wax paper.
• High-value cards, like a Gem Mint 10 1952 Mickey Mantle, are often stored in secure vaults due to their immense value.
• The recent surge in WNBA card values, exemplified by Caitlin Clark's rookie card selling for $660,000, is attributed to a combination of the league's growing popularity and individual athlete star power.

Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO)

• The PTO was founded by athletes to improve the economic and commercial aspects of professional triathlon.
• Modeled after the PGA Tour and ATP, the PTO aims to own its economic destiny by raising venture capital and creating its own league, the T100 Triathlon World Tour.
• The PTO recently received significant investment from Surge Sports Investments, the sports arm of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
• Triathlon events are positioned as mass participation festivals, attracting a valuable demographic of high-achieving individuals, including CEOs.
• The T100 tour features nine global locations, with events designed to be media-agnostic, focusing on driving attendance and participation rather than solely relying on media rights revenue.
• The organization invests in data and biometrics to enhance broadcast storytelling, making the sport more engaging for viewers by providing context on athlete performance and race dynamics.