00:00 - Intro

01:16 - Assessment of job 3 years in

04:17 - Post-House reality for NCAA

04:59 - NCAA would have been bankrupt

05:20 - Prop bets

07:58 - Commercial appeal of NCAA

10:29 - Growth sports around the country

11:06 - SCORE Act update

12:30 - Private equity caution

14:38 - Issues that keep Charlie Baker up at night

17:00 - Reaction to fans complaining about CFP

19:27 - Is college sports too professionalized?

22:40 - USOPC and NCAA relationship

23:57 - Sports Broadcasting Act changes

24:59 - Hope for changes 1 year from now

27:01 - Does Charlie Baker like the job?

28:48 Closing remarks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of On Stage, Tom Ricketts, Chairman of the Chicago Cubs, joins Joe Leccese, Chairman Emeritus of Proskauer, for a wide-ranging conversation about stewardship, leadership, and the evolving business of baseball. Recorded on November 19, 2025, at SBJ Dealmakers Conference, the discussion explores how Ricketts balances the weight of tradition that comes with owning one of the most iconic franchises in sports while positioning the Cubs for long-term success in a rapidly changing industry.
Key themes include:

• Owning a Legacy Franchise: What it means to lead a century-old team with a deeply rooted fan base and global profile.
• Long-Term Vision: How the Cubs think about competitive windows, financial discipline, and sustainable success.
• Business of Baseball: Ricketts’ perspective on league economics, media evolution, and the forces reshaping MLB.
• Leadership & Governance: Lessons from navigating change, aligning stakeholders, and making decisions with generational impact.
• Wrigley Field & the Fan Experience: How the Cubs continue to evolve their ballpark and surrounding ecosystem while honoring tradition.

It’s an insightful conversation with one of sports’ most dynamic owners — offering perspective on how legacy organizations adapt, endure, and evolve.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of On Stage, we take you inside a panel conversation unpacking the launch of one of the most ambitious new properties in sports: TGL. Recorded on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the SBJ World Congress of Sports in Nashville, this discussion brings together leaders from across sports, media, technology, and investment to break down the vision, execution, and early lessons from TGL’s inaugural season.

Moderated by Sports Business Journal staff writer Chris Smith, the panel features:

• Mike McCarley, Founder & CEO of TMRW Sports and TGL
• Rosalyn Durant, Executive Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions at ESPN
• Don Cornwell, Co-Founder & CEO of Dynasty Equity and TMRW Sports investor
• Alexis Ohanian, Founder of Seven Seven Six and founding control owner of Los Angeles Golf Club

Together, they explore:

• The TGL Vision: Why this new format was created — and how it aims to modernize golf for today’s fan.
• Media & Distribution Strategy: How ESPN approached programming, storytelling, and audience development for a new league.
• Capital & Ownership: The role of strategic investors in building credibility, momentum, and long-term value.
• Season One Learnings: What worked, what surprised the group, and what they’d approach differently going forward.
• What’s Next: How TGL fits into the broader evolution of sports entertainment and next-generation fan engagement.

It’s a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how a new league comes to life — from idea to execution — told by the people who built it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.