The Covid hiatus led to promises of major reforms in the sports industry, but has anything really changed?Five (and a bit) years on from the coronavirus pandemic, SportsPro's Cian Brittle, Elena Kouyoufa, Michael Long and Sam Carp reflect on how the sports industry has (and hasn’t) transformed since. From the rising tide of private equity and the emergence of newfangled fan engagement tools like NFTs to bubble tournaments and fake crowd noise, the team discuss what ideas have tested positive and what would be better left in lockdown.
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30:08
How IPL teams use data to get ahead on and off the pitch
With the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season in full swing, Subhayu Roy, director of CricViz in India, joins the podcast to lift the lid on how the Ellipse Data-owned cricket data and analytics provider is powering teams to success, delivering insights across everything from fan engagement to performance analysis.Talking points:Why the IPL is a commercial juggernautThe work CricViz does with the IPL and the difference it makesTrends and shifts in how IPL teams are leveraging dataEffectively gathering and presenting data
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38:32
Where the Olympic movement goes next under IOC president-elect Kirsty Coventry
Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry is the first woman and first African to be elected as president of the International Olympic Committee in its 130-year history. At 41, the former swimmer turned politician is also set to become the youngest person ever to hold perhaps the most influential position in global sport.In this episode, SportsPro’s Michael Long, Sam Carp and Ed Dixon reflect on the vote that saw Coventry, a former Olympic gold medallist in the pool, make history by defeating her rivals in a landslide. The trio also discuss the state of the IOC she inherits in the wake of Thomas Bach’s departure and what the future holds for the ever-evolving Olympic movement.Key talking points:• How the presidential vote went down• What skills and experience Coventry brings to the presidency• Bach’s tenure and the commercial health of the Olympic brand• Where Coventry stands on the big issues, such as athlete compensation and gender eligibility• What comes next for the IOC and wider Olympic movement
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34:39
More than a sponsor: How Dove is tackling girls' sports dropout crisis
To mark International Women's Day and shine a light on the barriers facing young girls in sport, SportsPro's Katie Preston and Elena Kouyoufa – co-hosts of the newly launched NEW ERA podcast – sit down with Stacie June, Global Head of Education & Advocacy at Dove, to explore how the personal care brand is tackling the dropout crisis.Last year, Dove was among 11 brands inducted into the Laureus Sport for Good Index, recognised for its efforts in driving positive impact through sport. Central to this is the Body Confident Sport initiative, a partnership with Nike aimed at redefining body confidence and keeping more girls engaged in sport. On this episode, we discuss:Why girls are dropping out of sport at twice the rate of boys, and how brands can help reverse the trendThe power of purpose-driven partnerships and the role of brands outside of sport in driving real changeHow Dove is using its platform to challenge beauty standards and build a more inclusive sports culture Find out more about NEW ERA here
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33:15
MLS turns 30 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s new broadcasting gig
One year ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup and in what could be Lionel Messi’s final year in the league, the 2025 MLS season is now underway.As the competition celebrates its 30th year, Michael Long, Sam Carp and Josh Sim assess the commercial growth of the league, including its sponsorship portfolio, global following and broadcast partnership with Apple.Then, the trio reflect on the success of the NHL’s inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which was a huge television hit in North America. There’s also time to ponder potential lessons from Cristiano Ronaldo streaming the Premier Padel P1 event on his YouTube channel, as well as what’s next for DAZN after it announced a long-rumoured investment from Saudi Arabia’s SURJ Sports Investments.Content we mentioned:1. MLS Commercial Guide2. The Health Check: Why MLS sponsorship growth is about more than just Messi3. Canada v USA 4 Nations Face-Off final draws 16.2m viewers across North America4. Cristiano Ronaldo’s YouTube channel becomes Premier Padel broadcaster5. Saudi Arabia’s SURJ takes ‘US$1bn’ stake in DAZN
South Africa