Formula E: motorsports’ electro-therapy (Part I of II)

WOW! This is the first thought that comes to mind having followed Alejandro Agag’s “Formula E” racing philosophy since it first made headlines less than 24 months ago. And what makes this weekend one of significance you ask? We are now within days of this all-new racing series’ season opening race (dubbed an “ePrix”), hosted by the kind folks of Beijing, China. Surely, different racing series concepts have been discussed over the years; even a few have taken flight. However, this series is serious, coming in strong with major corporate backing in a time in which motorsports is struggling to regain the glory days it once experienced. Oh, and let’s not forget the major kicker here…this new all-electric racing series may have just found the solution to rev-up the next generation of motorsports fans.

To continue reading my post previewing this revolutionary series ahead of Saturday's Beijing ePrix, please click here.

Formula 1 Grand Prix-view: Belgium

Here we are folks; F1’s summer break has passed, and it’s now time to contest the 2014 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix! And what a setting it is that we’ll be treated to this weekend. Housing some of the greatest corners in all of motorsport, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is known globally for its fast, flowing nature. Although the immediate area surrounding the venue is popular for the supposed healing properties of its water, hence the recognizable term “spa,” drivers do not have a second to relax on this extremely demanding course. Boasting a mix of 19 challenging corners in total and elevation changes that rival that of an elevator car in a skyscraper, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps’ modern Formula 1 layout has hosted the most-recent 27 Belgian Grand’s Prix. On this weekend within the Ardennes forests, some of the world’s best drivers are surely ready to contest yet another at this famed venue. It’s time to go racing!

To continue reading my post previewing the 2014 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix, please click here.

Sports business' "perfect storm"

David Price in his Comerica Park debut in Detroit, MI

Welcome to summer. Summer is the time when memories are made. Whether they stem from that long-awaited summer vacation with family, or from spending evenings shooting hoops in the streets with your buddies. In my time, I wasn’t the tallest, nor was I the strongest. But boy was I the deadliest sharpshooter the courts of Caro had seen in quite some time. That’s where I made my summer memories. However, in the particular situation that I am going to expound-upon in the following paragraphs, a different type of memory was made, and it is one that can only be viewed with envy. This memory represents a city. This memory represents all who were in attendance. This memory…huh, this memory represents an entire industry’s and more particularly sports business’ “perfect storm.”

To set the stage, this particular memory came to life on Saturday, August 16^th, 2014, beginning at around 5 PM EST, placed just off of historic Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The venue: Comerica Park, home to Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers. Now how might something occurring at this venue (…which occurs about 80 times in the same capacity every April – September) achieve all that I’ve described above? Let’s find out.

How does this stage generate anywhere near the wattage to be coined sports business’ “perfect storm?” To begin, this particular setting occurred on one of the most beautiful summer Saturday evening’s that the State of Michigan has seen in quite some time. This particular Saturday evening was also one of the last before all the little Bobby’s and Susie’s out there would surely head back to school for yet another new and exciting academic journey. However, aside from all of that, this particular Saturday evening had just a bit of electricity about it. How so? This was the first evening in which the team’s new MONSTER acquisition, left-handed pitcher David Price, would do battle in front of his home crowd. And his opponent? This was none other than the likes of 2010 American League Cy Young Award-winner and perennial all-star, Felix Hernandez.

With that said, fans quickly began filing into this beautiful stadium with the City of Detroit skyline perched behind the outfield walls for all to see. People from all around knew this was going to be a good one. A plethora of brand-new David Price player merchandise had hit the Detroit Tigers shelves for the first time (…and had taken a hit on quite a few wallets). Hey, I bought-in to the hoopla as well; next thing you know, I’m wearing a David Price player t-shirt, an item that has become quite popular around Major League Baseball circles these days. But I was less concerned with this. As baseballs were jumping off Robinson Cano’s bat and towards East Adams Avenue, just behind the stadium during pre-game batting practice, I was more concerned with what was developing right before my eyes.

As I was soaking-up all of this, I couldn’t help but realize that sports business’ model for the future was unfolding. Surely, this setting wouldn’t normally produce something as worthy, save the players involved in the evening’s pitching match-up. Oh, and there’s more! Detroit Tigers fans’ beloved and long-time center field patrol-man, Austin Jackson, whom had been recently traded from the Tigers for David Price, was leading-off the batting line-up for the Seattle Mariners in this particular outing. As a result, fans of all ages lined the opposing team’s dugout hoping to receive that elusive autograph from Mr. Jackson himself, following batting practice.

You see, being tied to the sports business industry, this is the moment every entity within the business seethes over. Why was that the case? This particular evening at Comerica Park provided a bit of something, along with a huge bit of electricity about it, for all involved. Families with their children were out and about, participating in child-centric, baseball-focused activities at different points around the ballpark. Men trying to “woo” their date on this particular evening could be seen here or there (…as well as on the kiss cam). Additionally, this was the perfect evening for Detroit businessmen to entertain high-profile clientele. All in all, there was a bit of something for everyone.

Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, MI

From the business perspective, both merchandise and tickets were flying off shelves in all corners of the ballpark, right from the moment the gates opened. Additionally, and to further accommodate all demographics of today’s sports fan, Comerica Park and the Detroit Tigers have introduced their former “whole lot of nothing” space, turned New Amsterdam 416 Bar, to stadium attendee’s. Within this space, you have a birds-eye view of the action happening 416 ft. away from home plate, while sipping on some of the hottest drinks in the most chique of settings. Next, you have the ballpark’s blue-collar “The Jungle” restaurant, planted right alongside the breath-taking views that come along with the ballpark’s white-collar “The Upper Deck Lounge” restaurant. For those who enjoy the “outdoorsy” part of life that goes hand-in-hand with living in Michigan, the Tigers offer lower-bowl, rustic lounge-chair seating, to make you feel right at home. Finally, in the little nooks and crannies remaining around the stadium, the Tigers organization hosts many baseball-focused activities for children of all ages to partake in.

With aging fan bases all across the sporting landscape, from baseball to most forms of motorsport these days, the scene that unraveled on the evening of Saturday, August 16^th in Detroit, Michigan, was truly sports business’ “perfect storm.” Memories were made on this summer evening, and something was available for all to enjoy; all ages and walks of life found themselves at home in Comerica Park on this evening. And finally, even a Hollywood movie script could not have written a better ending. Before their largest-ever, non-opening day regular season crowd at Comerica Park, the new hometown hero, David Price, got himself out of an 8^th-inning jam, walking to the dug-out while all within the stadium rose to their feet in jubilation. Shortly afterward, Tigers closer Joe Nathan capped-off the victory, sending the Tigers and their faithful fan base home with a 4-2 win. After the game, the Comerica Park staff treated all to a spectacular fireworks display! This setting on this particular summer evening, truly had a little bit of something for everyone, and memories were made for most. Now that to me sounds like sports business’ “perfect storm.”

Spending their way to the top...

It is said to be true that about every last penny is spent in the pursuit of victory in the world of Formula 1. For at least one supplier lining-up on the grid for the 2014 season, just a few more pennies were made available over the past 24 months, in comparison to all others. This supplier is Mercedes Grand Prix, and more specifically, the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Through the rumor mill, it has surfaced that over the course of the most recent Formula 1 offseason, Mercedes took an unconventional stab at new regulations that faced the sport, juxtaposed to F1’s other suppliers, Renault & Ferrari. But after all, winning races and competing for championships helps to increase the value of a team to a supplier or team owner. Therefore, let’s look into the Formula 1 “spending” theory just a bit further.

To continue reading my blog post regarding Formula 1's current "spending scenario," please click here.

Formula 1 says ‘G’day mate’: five-year, $250 million deal keeps Formula 1 at Melbourne’s Albert Park through 2020

In Australia’s ‘second city,’ it has now been laid to rest that Formula 1 will not go racing at night due to costs and various other factors. But due to a recent five-year, $250 million contract extension, Melbourne has at least renewed its stake in hosting the first race on the Formula 1 calendar through 2020. After more than a year of negotiations between the local Victorian government and Formula 1 officials, the two sides have agreed on what Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, calls a contract that is “significantly better [than the last] for Victoria.”

To continue reading my post regarding the Formula 1 contract renewal of the Australian Grand Prix, please click here.

Formula 1 Grand Prix-view: Hungary

Welcome to Hungary; you’re just in time for this year’s Formula 1 Pirelli Hungarian Grand Prix! This event is held close to the heart within the Timko household, seeing that we are a Hungarian-American family. However, the celebratory mood for this weekend’s Grand Prix does not end there. The setting for the event, the Hungaroring, is much-lauded for being overly satisfying from a driver’s perspective. In fact, Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo has recently compared driving the venue to racing ‘like Monaco without the walls.’ The tight and twisty 14-cornered circuit nestled in the hills surrounding the Hungarian capitol of Budapest, has hosted the Hungarian Grand Prix in each of the previous 28 Formula 1 campaigns. And in speaking for the 9.88 million Magyars of Hungary and for Hungarian ex-pats wherever you may be, it’s time to go racing!

To continue reading my post previewing the 2014 Pirelli Hungarian Grand Prix, please click here.

Formula 1 Grand Prix-view: Germany

Here we go folks; it’s time for the Formula 1 Santander German Grand Prix! Sticking to recently scheduled form, this year’s event takes center stage at the Circuit Hockenheimring. Because of that form, the Hockenheimring and Nurburgring have alternated hosting the German Grand Prix since 2007; before then, the Hockenheimring had hosted each German Grand Prix since the 1986 campaign. The last time we paid homage to the circuit in 2012, Fernando Alonso took his “prancing horse” to the lead position in parc fermé, and did so in both dominant and controversial form.

To continue reading my post previewing the 2014 Santander German Grand Prix, please click here.

Formula struggles

Houston, it appears the world’s most-watched annual sports series has a problem (…or two). The sport of Formula 1 has the ability to bring-in nearly $32 million in hotel room purchases over a single three-day period in the middle of November, as it did for the inaugural United States Grand Prix hosted by Austin, Texas, in 2012. But the series’ modern business machine that has been created by one-Bernie Ecclestone and private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, is now quickly realizing that it’s not all that invincible. In fact, some of the same underlying issues that hit the American motorsport scene head-on within in the past decade are now quickly surfacing for members of the Formula 1 management team. From the head-honcho worrying about the noise of F1’s new power units as opposed to the financially-inept members of the sport, to “losing the audience” in the words of Niki Lauda, and the rules that will soon be enacted as a counter-punch. Let’s examine the sport’s latest batch of struggles just a bit closer…

To continue reading my post regarding today's "Formula struggles," please click here.

Who will carry the flag?

Given the spirit of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ that has taken the world by storm, and factoring in the United States’ involvement in such, much talk has recently centered-in on who will next carry the Stars and Stripes in world’s second-most popular sport, Formula 1. This discussion has recently seen a bit of a boost in relevance considering the fact that lauded-NASCAR team owner, Gene Haas, is currently scheduled to compete with his own Formula 1 operation in the 2016 campaign. Following this news, Haas has noted that he wants an experienced driver in his first car, and hopefully, a talented American in the second, courtesy of Autoweek’s Mike Larson. So taking all of this into account, who could be some of the “top prospects” if Gene Haas were to have his way? Who could be the next to carry the American flag into Formula 1? Let’s take a look…

To continue reading my post regarding who will be next to carry the American flag into Formula 1, please click here.

The Ultimate Grand Prix

The Ultimate Grand Prix – sounds like something that would house the world’s greatest of drivers in the world’s fastest of machines, on the most challenging of circuit’s. Well to begin my time as a Formula 1 columnist for More Than a Fan: Wheels, I’ve been blessed to cover the world’s most skilled drivers and the world’s fastest and most technically advanced machines. So now, and coming out of two of the most exciting Grand Prix the world can find – in Monaco and Montreal – and heading into the European swing on the schedule, I’d like to provide you all with an overview of what I believe could make-up the world’s most challenging circuit.

To continue reading my post regarding "The Ultimate Grand Prix," please click here.

Toronto: my kind of place…

Myself in Toronto, ON

Thanks to my spirit of spontaneity, I found myself with a sour start to my travel to the “T.O.,” as the border patrol thought of my ventures a bit differently. Let’s just say that experience was enough of an experience for an entire lifetime. However, as I inched closer and closer to this North American metropolis that I love so dearly, it was the spirit of the folks in much tinier places such as Delaware and Ingersoll, Ontario, that helped to restore my wanderlust mentality. But finally there it was. As I turned the corner to head east on the Gardiner Expressway, that breathtaking “needle” Canadian nationals hold so close to their hearts, shot into my line of sight. The remainder of the Toronto skyline began to pop-up around the CN Tower, soon after.

I then found myself standing at the doorstep of the Bond Place Hotel, which arguably gives you maximum Toronto bang for your American buck, and is just steps away from Canada’s “Times Square,” the Yonge-Dundas Square. And this is where the true beginning of my love for this city, commences.

Yonge Street in Toronto, ON

After exchanging a few Andrew Jackson’s (a must if American, as you avoid exchange rate charges that will be incurred upon credit card use), I found myself meandering down the busiest street, Yonge Street, in Canada’s largest municipality on a Friday evening. This, my friend, is a sight that begs to be seen, as cultures and interests from all across the globe, both citizen and tourist, happily coexist with one another. Caucasians and Asians. Businessmen and hipsters. Heterosexuals and homosexuals. In Toronto, anything goes, and to quote Will Ferrell, “everybody love everybody.” However, the closest thing I can compare the sight of Yonge Street on a Friday night with, is one’s first sight of Las Vegas: glitz, glamour and lights galore, minus the gambling of course. Finally, my feet decided they had enough, and my stomach began to direct my every move.

Considered the culinary capital of Canada, if not one of the major players on the global culinary scene, Toronto knows how to do food and do it right. However, being the simple guy that I am, what sounds better than a brand new Italian antiquity-styled sports bar? With that being said, my stomach took me to the Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar on the corner of Yonge and Gerrard. Now trust me when I tell you this place was awesome! The staff was made-up of the some of the friendliest individuals I have met in ages, and with SportsNet’s “Friday Night Hockey” Ontario Hockey League telecast being played overhead, this experience could not feel more Canadian.

With their pasta claimed to be made fresh in-house daily, I could not pass up their “Pesto Pollo” dish, consisting of fresh fettuccine, sautéed chicken, baby spinach and basil pesto cream sauce. Torn between portion sizes, my kind waitress said to me “I can see it in your eyes that you are ready to put down some food.” Well you know what, after the day that I just experienced, you are absolutely right; give me the large! As the energy in the restaurant began to pick up around the 7:30 PM to 8 PM time range, a result of Toronto’s European influence over Canadian lifestyle, I had finally packed my stomach to capacity, and it was now time to explore the rest of city by night. Might I add a huge ‘thank you’ to the Scaddabush staff for their “places to see” list discussed over dinner.

Chinatown in Toronto, ON

In Toronto, going-out on any night of the week seems to be considered a necessity. As you quickly dip in and out of coffee houses whilst grabbing a hot chocolate to warm your soul at this time of the year, you quickly pick up on the whispers of workers as they discuss evening plans with coworkers. However, my plans for the evening led me to first explore Toronto’s Chinatown neighborhood. As I quietly strolled past hundreds of Asian-owned businesses, you could quickly tell that although thousands of miles away from their homeland, the local population was truly at home. Tightly packed into numerous restaurants along the Dundas Street neighborhood, you could faintly make-out a plethora of Asian dialects as families, friends and neighbors alike, ate, laughed and smiled together. I then ventured down Spadina Avenue towards the King Street entertainment district, as the brisk February Toronto air prompted my legs to pick up the pace just a bit. However, as I neared the neighborhood, the time was inching closer and closer to “that time of the night.” And when it’s “that time of the night” in Toronto, this is the area of town you want to be!

Street-art along Portland Street
in Toronto, ON

With the city serving as the stomping grounds of the likes of electronic dance music producer Deadmau5, and recording-artist Drake, this city knows its music and knows how to party. In this area of town, you have hundreds of bars that play to the liking of nearly any taste, and not to mention some of the most popular nightclubs in all of North America. I had my sights set on one such nightclub, known as Uniun. On this night in particular, Uniun was headlined by the House music duo of Matthew Van Toth and Julio Mejia, better known as GTA. However, with the air only getting brisker, and the line to see this “one heck of a show” lining at least two sides of the building, I found an even better opportunity to mix with Torontonians.

For this, I headed just down the block to the corner of Wellington and Portland, to bar Wellington. Inserting myself at the bar of this corner pub for a few Arnold Palmer’s (although bar Wellington serves the finest in Canadian craft beers), I had the chance to experience the true Canadian. They love their beer, their food, their hockey, but most importantly, they live for their conversations amongst one another that happen on nights like these. Nearing midnight (the typical “check-out” time for me as of late), I tossed a few toonies (two dollar coins) to the waitress at the “Welly” for her service, and took the cab back to the hotel. As the majority of Toronto was hitting their evening stride, it was now time to call it a night and recharge the batteries for all of what Toronto had to offer the next day.

As the rising sun signaled a new day for the Canadian metropolis, there was no act of “pulling” myself out of bed for the day ahead. I quickly prepared myself for the day, and hit the streets heading towards the world-famous and historic St. Lawrence Market. As I near the market, the rest of Toronto shakes off the sandman and begins their pursuit of weekend activities. Upon arriving at the already-bustling St. Lawrence Market, colors and the smells of food run rampant, while shouts of “here, here” ring-in from all across the market floor.

The St. Lawrence Market
in Toronto, ON

Each vendor, from cheese and wine to seafood, proclaims their product to be the “world’s best” whatever. However, after settling upon a chocolate chip bagel and cream cheese from the St. Urbain Bagel Bakery, I truly did stumble across something that was the “world’s best.” Whipping-up their Montreal-style bagels in an old-fashioned wood fire stove, these little buggers were to die for, and I am now questioning why I have not brought any back with me to the United States? After taking in all the market had to offer, I made like a Torontonian and purchased a few items of my own, and set out towards the King Street area to meet up with a friend for lunch, and do a bit of shopping along the way. All the while, however, I now came to the realization that Toronto offers the complete package: Toronto has glitz, is quaint, provides excitement and plays to the historian in us all.

After perusing the streets of Toronto once more on my way to lunch, I finally landed at the Fynn’s of Temple Bar, an Irish pub located between Spadina and Portland on King Street. This is where I had the chance to meet up with a friend of mine and his fiancé for a few laughs of our own. Thirty minutes later, after ignoring our duty of deciding upon which food item we’d each like to order, I finally jumped at their offering of the “Temple Bar Fish & Chips.” Hey, if you’re at a place named “Fynn’s,” they must be masters of their craft when it comes to fish, correct?

Regardless, after scarfing down this fabulous dish and talking Toronto life and business in the same, I realized I had just seen the true side of a Torontonian once more. And as expected, they could not halt their proclamation of just how much they love their restaurants and the city’s culinary traditions. After this conversation, I could easily walk away with enough restaurants to visit for my forthcoming three to four trips to Toronto! However, and in alignment of thought with Torontonians, conversation with friends is always a pleasurable experience, and I can only look forward to enjoying a possible Detroit Red Wings / Toronto Maple Leafs game with them in the future (notice how my Red Wings were mentioned first)!

The CN Tower
in Toronto, ON

As the clock struck 4 PM, it was now time to head out on my final venture through town. Out of necessity, I strolled towards the Rogers Centre and CN Tower, and like always, glanced up towards the sky in awe. And for the swansong walk towards the hotel to gather my belongings, I made one last shot down Yonge Street towards the never-failing-to-take-your-breath-away, Yonge-Dundas Square. Along the way, I made a stop at the world-famous shopping mall, the Eaton Centre. But all the while I could not stop thinking in anticipation as to when the next time would be, that I could experience this North American beauty.

However, and in the same fashion that my nerves were put at ease on my way into town, what made this trip to Toronto so fulfilling, was the time spent with the people of the city. You can be known for your art, your culinary masterpieces, or even architectural works, and Toronto has all of this and more. But what Toronto has that not all cities can give themselves a pat-on-the-back for, is a population that gives the city a soul and provides a livelihood for all interests and walks of life. In all honesty, this is what truly makes Toronto the “complete package” of a city. This is why I call Toronto “my type of place.”

Welcome to the newest edition of the ‘Money Games’, brought to you by the ‘Russian Riviera’

The Fisht Olympic Stadium amid the opening ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympiad

So the time has come, and the 22^nd edition of the Winter Olympiad is now open for business. Hosted by the Black Sea summer-resort town of Sochi, you may now have heard many controversial storylines leading up to the Games. From the threat of “black widow” terrorists from not-so-far-away diplomatically-torn territories, to packs of stray dogs gathering in unfinished hotel room lobbies; Sochi is definitely faced with an uphill-battle to win back the hearts of media members from across the globe. However, the one unnoticed and overlying issue that I am most concerned with, is the fact that this year’s winter games is the latest in a line that I like to call the “Money Games.”

What are the “Money Games” do you ask? Well this Winter Olympiad has already become internationally-acclaimed as the most expensive Olympic Games to ever take place. How so? Sochi and the Russian government have pledged nearly $50 billion – four times more than originally proposed – to make this all happen. This price-tag rings in at just under $10 billion more than the previous holder of this record, Beijing. So after answering these first two questions, you still probably have at least one more. Why are the “Money Games” a bad thing? Well, history has shown that in a scenario of the sort, they usually are not the best organized – both for the Games presently at-hand, as well as for the future that awaits.

For the Games at-hand, the Sochi Olympic Games Organizing Committee had crews working around the clock to finish construction on venues, as well as install a few knobs on hotel room doors, as guests quickly realized as they descended upon the tiny resort town. And because of this last-second “scramble,” how could the SOCOG possibly have had enough time to plan for the future? Granted, the Russian government has said that through the Games, they will “transform an old-fashioned summer destination for some Russians into an international sports and conference and winter destination.” However, without solidified plans, these words are pretty much all but empty (…said Athens, post-2004 Summer Games).

Although the weather may have been a bit warmer than what we currently have in Sochi, for the most positively played-out example in Olympic Games hosting history, you must look all the way back to Barcelona’s shot at the ‘92 Summer Games. What the Barcelona Olympic Games Organizing Committee did that give them this honor in my book, is that they spent just over $15 billion (adjusted for inflation); and only 9.1% of which was spent on new and upgraded sporting facilities. In addition to this, only 38.5% of all expenditures were spent within the city limits of Barcelona. The goal of the BOCOG was to create new urban sub-centers, producing regional prosperity in the form of new transportation, housing, and telecommunications infrastructure. At the end of the day, the forward mindset of the BOCOG produced an economic impact that rang in at significantly more than that of all final expenditures. And in the time since, Barcelona has become one of the most frequently-visited tourist destinations in the world.

So to sum-up my answer as to why the “Money Games” are quite honestly only “fun and games” at the time of their happening, look no further than the precedent set-forth by Barcelona in ’92, and duplicated by Sydney in ’00 and London in ’12. In each example, each cities respective organizing committee did not attempt to build a truly international city from the ground up. Therefore, each city had the opportunity to properly plan for the future, without spending last year’s entire GDP to do so. Although Atlanta, Athens and Beijing all looked good on television when their time was called, each now faces the issue of having rusty, unused venues that had millions upon millions of dollars pumped into them. Surely, each had their benefits; Atlanta put themselves on the map, Athens developed a highly-effective subway system, and Beijing spread the Olympic spirit all-throughout the world’s most densely-populated country, enhancing and increasing overall sport participation.

Like the “Money Games” before them, Sochi experienced much of the same issues leading up to this month’s winter games. If my predictions are spot-on, they could see many venues go unused afterwards, and may only see minimal economic stimulation figures in the years to come (…especially given their location). As argued, you cannot build a truly international city from the ground up, or through simply bringing the Olympic Games to town. But through the power of regionally sustainable and impact-worthy Olympic Games planning, history shows that you can surely give people a reason to visit one.

End Game: Peyton Manning and Oprah Winfrey team-up as the William Morris Endeavor talent management agency acquires sporting-giant, IMG

WME Co-CEO's, Ari Emanuel (Left) and Patrick Whitesell (Right)

You all may have heard the storylines by now: ‘the balance of power in Hollywood shifts as the William Morris Endeavor acquires IMG Worldwide for nearly $2.4 billion.’ Recent Hollywood economics have pushed for talent agencies to seek-out new revenue sources, as few stars command the paycheck they once did, while the number of motion-pictures produced by studios has also dwindled. Hence, here comes the accordion, because at the end of the day, this all affects agency compensation, as they have traditionally been paid a percentage of their clients’ pay.

Therefore the key players involved with the slowing entertainment industry, have turned to the rapidly growing business of sports, giving reason to why WME opened their checkbooks for the acquisition. For quite some time, the William Morris Endeavor has been chasing the likes of the Creative Artists Agency in this line of business; CAA has built a sizeable “CAA Sports” division by pursuing former IMG talent, and developing a client-base of 800 coaches and athletes. However, now WME leapfrogs CAA in terms of size and scope; now Peyton Manning (IMG) joins Oprah Winfrey (WME); Novak Djokovic (IMG) with Denzel Washington (WME); and Kate Upton (IMG) and Alicia Keys (WME) are now playing for the same team.

But the question has arisen quite often: did WME pay just a tad too much to acquire IMG? Some insiders believe so, as WME’s top-dogs, Ari Emanuel (yes, the real life “Ari Gold”) and Patrick Whitesell, aren’t quite adept when it comes to the areas of business that made IMG money. And will they correctly manage all that comes with acquiring such a large entity like IMG, who own and operate a dozen or so businesses in 30-plus countries? Currently, IMG is the world’s largest independent producer and distributor of sports programming, delivering more than 20,000 hours of content annually. IMG also serves as a top-ranked sports licensing agency and represents TV rights for nearly 100-plus colleges and collegiate conferences. With all of that, on top of IMG’s talent management business, which reaches the entertainment, fashion and sports industries, need I say more? This is quite the demand for WME while managing the current, daily demands of folks such as Charlize Theron or Matt Damon.

To add more to content behind the transaction, rumors have it that the acquisition comes with a hefty amount of debt; in the neighborhood of $750 million of debt, that is. And finally, it is predicted that WME’s private equity firm, Silver Lake, will pressure Emanuel and Whitesell to aggressively ready the business for its IPO during the next few years- a daunting task given the timeline, while integrating the two mega-entities.

Finally, the question begs: with this move, what is the end game for the William Morris Endeavor? I mean, they now own Hollywood and a large chunk of the sporting landscape. However, while operating at such a large capacity, one can only guess that WME could struggle in such a consumer-driven mode of business, in the years down the road. As consumer spending habits change with the direction of the wind, and once again, in ten-plus years down the road upon the completion of the merger, the door could slowly open for up-and-coming Hollywood figures and celebrity athletes to partner with, say a rejuvenated Creative Artists Agency, or one of many “new kid on the block” agencies. Only time will tell…

But for now, and amidst some of the acquisitions’ largest critics, I am a large advocate for the end-result of the transaction (…and not because I am a HUGE “Ari Gold” fan). Some may call it “stupid” or “careless"; I call it “brash,” and will stand behind anyone as hard-charging as WME’s Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, as I seek to emulate their overall business saavy within myself. Although some question their leadership capabilities when it comes to manning the wheel of such a large organization, I believe Emanuel & Whitesell’s hard-bargaining talents, will send the sports business world into a 360-degree spin. I say, let the games begin!