We have had an amazing few months listening to people from a wide swath of backgrounds tell their stories of success and innovation. Thanks to our summer intern, Drew Antin, we can doculent and summarize many of these podcats, so no time better to get it going than a holiday weekend.
First up we listen and learn from Markus Kuhn about the growth of football…from flag to the NFL…in Germany, and learn a great deal from our friend Andy Dolich on the demise of pro sports in Oakland, a ying and yang of opportunity abroad and failure at home in the states. We hope you enjoy both, and can listen to all our podcasts here.
Markus Kuhn Explains the Growth Football in Germany.
Markus Kuhn ‘19 returns to the The CUSP Show to discuss the growth of the NFL in Germany and why the league has found more success there than in countries. Joe and Tom talk to Markus about the growth of flag football in Germany as a gateway to growing the NFL’s product and how football is now the second-most popular sport in the country. Markus also shares his experiences broadcasting NFL games in Germany and how it led to him starting his company, Kuhn Sports and Media.
Key Points:
Markus Kuhn, Born and raised in Germany and ended up playing American Football.
Showed up to colleges with just a highlight tape, ended up getting a scholarship to North Carolina State University,
Got drafted in the 7th round, played for the NY Giants and then ended up entering the graduate program with us at Columbia.
Not many people realize there are many business opportunities in Germany.
Teams have to write a five year business plan on how they are going to tackle that specific market for International Home Market Area.
Creating content specifically for Germany was very beneficial and starting flag football leagues have been essential for football growth at the grassroots level
American football is second most watched sport besides soccer; NFL is an attractive family brand as opposed to soccer.
You can hear the full episode here.
Andy Dolich on the Loss of Professional Sports in Oakland
Andy Dolich talks about his timely new book with Dave Newhouse, Goodbye, Oakland, which explores the professional sports teams that came, and ultimately left, Oakland. Dolich, now deeply involved in Fan Controlled Sports, has spent a career building teams like the Sixers, the Grizzlies, the Capitals and the 49ers, but was part of the heydey of the Oakland Athletics’ front office as well, shares the highs and lows of that team’s time in the Bay Area and the events that lead to the team’s almost-guaranteed departure for Las Vegas. He explains why he believes Oakland still works as a market for major professional sports and what this potential move means for everyone heavily invested in the team.
Key points:
-Doesn’t believe that Oakland will ever see NFL, NBA or MLB again
-In the late 80s Oakland A’s market outdrew the SF Giants market and combined they outdrew NY, CHI, LA.
-Dave Stewart – wanted to buy 50% of the land the stadium was on that hasn’t been sold. The city of Oakland didn’t allow it. Now leading Nashville, TN expansion group
-Group called SOS (Save Oakland Sports) fans who protest and are supporters of the teams trying to keep them in Oakland
-Points to SF as a turnaround model with the bay, retail, 3 sports teams, AT&T Ballpark being such a great park
-So much more to learn from a leader who has seen it all in markets from Philly to Vancouver, Memphis to Oakland.
