Sports business economics explained by a Washington University professor.
Suite Talk is a sports business podcast hosted by Dr. Patrick Rishe, a sports economist at Washington University in St. Louis, who breaks down the financial and strategic forces behind major league and collegiate sports. Topics span ticket pricing, media rights, naming rights deals, corporate partnerships, and franchise valuation. Front office executives, sports marketers, and business students follow the show for rigorous, source-backed analysis.
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Episodes
Viva Las Vegas: Football Economics Led to the End of the Pac-12, but not College Football in the Silver State
A conference's collapse opens new opportunities as Vegas positions itself as college football's premier destination
Lionel Messi Increases Ticket Prices: Can He Also Boost the Quality Perception of Major League Soccer?
A legendary player's arrival sparks debate over whether star power alone can transform the league's global reputation
Unparalleled Reach Meets Operational Experience: the ESPN and Penn Entertainment Partnership Is One to Bet On
A media giant's sports betting ambitions prove stronger when paired with an operator's proven infrastructure and scale
The Importance of Legal Counsel to Major League Organizations
Live sporting events continue to be at the forefront of entertainment in America year after year. Between enthused fans, good food and drinks, and anticipation for record-breaking moments, the ambiance of a stadium on a game day is unmatched. However, behind the scenes of our beloved stadiums and sports traditions lies term sheets and contracts…
Snapdragon Stadium and Record-Setting Expansion Fee Keys to San Diego’s Inclusion as Major League Soccer’s 30th Franchise
As Major League Soccer (MLS) continues to grow and gain popularity in the United States, the recent announcement of San Diego becoming the league’s 30th franchise marks a new era in the sport. Patrick Rishe, the host of Suite Talk: The Business Behind Sports, hailed the move as a victory for the vibrant San Diego…
Unveiling the Crucial Role of Baseball Analytics: A Journey into Statistical Insights
Baseball analytics have become a pivotal aspect of the sport, revolutionizing player evaluation and game strategy. Analytical insights hold influence on player evaluation, inform rule changes, and revolutionize the overall strategy of the game. As data availability continues to expand and comprehensive approaches become essential, it’s time to unveil analytics’ profound impact on America’s beloved…
NBA Faces Dilemma: Ja Morant’s Latest Firearm Incident
In a startling turn of events, the Memphis Grizzlies’ rising star, Ja Morant, finds himself embroiled in controversy once again. Just months after a highly publicized incident where he brandished a firearm in a video posted on social media, Morant has seemingly repeated his behavior. Sports enthusiasts and fans of the NBA are left questioning…
Records Were Meant to be Broken: Tennessee Titans to Receive $1.2 Billion in Public Funding for New Stadium
Suite Talk: The Business Behind Sports host, Patrick Rishe, recently commented on the Oakland A’s plan for its franchise move to Las Vegas. Part of that deal includes public funding to supplement the new stadium’s estimated $1.5 billion cost. Topping that news comes the announcement that the Tennessee Titans NFL franchise just closed a new…
Sports Business is Booming in Dallas
Big cities love their sports, but one city recently rose to the top of the list. In Sports Business Journal’s March 2023 ranking of the top 50 cities in the U.S. for sports business, Dallas, Texas came in at number one. Dallas has several major sports franchises, from the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, and…
Are the Oakland A’s Making a Move to Las Vegas?
Although Major League Baseball’s Athletics have been on the move before, since 1968, Oakland, California, was the home turf of the A’s. If the rumors are true, and this story seems to be getting more factual by the moment, the A’s could soon be playing baseball in the desert after team president Dave Kaval…
Storytelling in Branding and Marketing Builds Fan Experience in the Sports Industry
What’s new for 2023 in the world of branding and marketing in the sports industry? Personalization and fan engagement are two focus areas in branding and marketing in the sports industry. Brands understand the power of mobile content to make connections and build stories with fans throughout a sporting event, from non-match to game-day…
Musial Awards: The Most Important Awards Ceremony, Highlighting Character and Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship means being kind, but most importantly showing respect and humility during a sporting event. Competition can be fierce but it’s important not to let the negativity of a competition drown out the positives of a sport. To highlight the importance of kindness and selflessness in the sports industry, the Musial Awards were created….
Providing Analytics for the Sports Creative Community to Track Their Content
LinkedIn is fantastic, no doubt about it, but it only tells a story of how good you are and where you’ve worked on paper. Especially for those who are a part of a creative community, more platforms need to be available for creators to showcase and claim ownership of their work. If you really want…
The Business of Sports Data: How Analytics Are Bringing Intentionality in Every Layer of the Sports Industry
If sports are a multibillion-dollar engine, the data fueling that engine is big business too. Strategic Market Research puts sports analytics at a value of $2.1 billion in 2020, with a growth trajectory of $16.5 billion by 2030. The rise of machine learning and AI technologies drives this market growth. Companies like SBRnet provide comprehensive…
St. Louis CITY SC Expands Pro Soccer
Missouri soccer fans have reason to celebrate as St. Louis CITY SC kicks off its expansion year season. And St. Louis is doing it in style with its beautiful, state-of-the-art open-air stadium, CITYPARK. This brand-new facility boasts 22,500 seats, all within 120 feet of the pitch, with the closest seats a mere 15 feet from…
The XFL Ushers in Spring Football. Can it Also Bring in Attendance and Ratings?
The 2023 Super Bowl has come and gone. While that TV ratings bonanza is over, officially marking the end of the 2022-2023 NFL season, plenty of action remains on the gridiron. Spring football is here with the XFL. Eight teams play a ten-week schedule, plus a semifinal and a championship round ending May 13,…
FIFA World Cup 2026: Navigating the Hosting Process
The FIFA World Cup is one of the most prestigious global tournaments in soccer. Held every four years, cities and countries spend billions of dollars preparing for and hosting the event. So, how does the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) select host locations? On today’s episode of Suite Talk: The Business Behind Sports, host…
Eagles’ Star Quarterback is Predicted to be Signed Long-Term
Philadelphia Eagles’ Star Quarterback, Jalen Hurts, came up short in his quest for his first Super Bowl win, but his performance was no less than historic. Could Jalen Hurts’ next contract prove just as historic? In yesterday’s defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts scored 20 points himself (three touchdowns and a two-point conversion) and…
Sports Betting and TV Ratings for Super Bowl LVII
What is the relationship between sports betting and TV ratings? The Super Bowl is the largest television and sports event of the year, but it’s also the biggest sports betting event too. Betting on this weekend’s Super Bowl matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, according to the American Gaming Association, is…
Secondary Ticket Market Prices Spike with LeBron James on the Verge of History
38,387 points. That’s the number of points scored by all-time NBA points leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And all that separates LeBron James from surpassing that number is 36 points. LeBron’s career average is 27.2 points scored per game. That number puts James on pace to overtake Jabbar’s record on February 9 when the Lakers face the…
Breaking Down Super Bowl LVII Business Figures
The biggest event of the season is coming up in football, and no it’s not the Pro Bowl. As the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs face each other this coming Sunday, Super Bowl LVII kicks off with high stakes and high reward. But while Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are focusing on the outcome,…
Super Bowl LVII Ad Spots Sold Out. Why Did It Take So Long This Year?
Patrick Rishe, Host of “Suite Talk: The Business Behind Sports“, takes a look at the 2023 Super Bowl LVII Ad trends. An uncertain economy is one of the biggest factors as to why it took companies so long to buy out the ad spaces for this year’s Super Bowl. Not to mention we have seen…