Show Notes
Sports organisations have spent years talking about data as the key to growth. But what if most are approaching it the wrong way?
In the latest episode of our New Economics of Fandom miniseries, Chris Stone and Nick Meacham are joined by UEFA Chief of Marketing and Digital, CMDO, Roman Putsch to explore how one of the world's leading sports properties approaches fan engagement, first-party data and commercial growth.
Putsch explains why UEFA views data as "crude oil, not gold", how the organisation measures audience quality rather than simply audience size, and why creating value for fans must come before collecting information from them. The conversation also explores sponsorship activation, media rights, and the capabilities sports organisations need to build for the future.
The New Economics of Fandom is produced in partnership with Genius Sports and explores how sport's commercial future is being reshaped by technology, data and changing fan behaviour.
Key Points: How are sports organisations are thinking about data the wrong way. How fan value creates data value, not the other way around. The best metrics for evaluating audience quality. Why "owning the fan" may be the wrong objective for sports organisations. How to build the capabilities needed for sport's next commercial era.
More from SportsPro Podcast
Formula One has confirmed a long-awaited return to Africa, with a ten-year deal to stage a race in Rwanda from the early 2030s.
Few people know the business of event hosting quite like Esther Britten. As UK Sport's deputy director and head of major events and external affairs, Britten has overseen more than 100 major international sporting events and plays a key role in deciding which ones the country should bid for.
Since its launch in 2010, On has grown from a Swiss running startup into one of the world's fastest-growing sportswear brands. The company generates more than CHF 3 billion in revenue, has nearly 100 stores worldwide and recently announced a move into football with France and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé.
Kylian Mbappe stunned soccer last week by announcing that he was ending his 20-year partnership with Nike to become the face of Swiss sportswear brand On’s move into the sport. This week, Steve McCaskill dials in from New York to join Sam Carp to unpack why the France and Real Madrid star made the switch, how the reported equity component could benefit both sides and what this deal says about the trajectory of On and Nike. They also consider whether On, a premium brand whose growth story has been built around product innovation, can recreate the success it has seen in running in a sport that has long been dominated by Nike and Adidas. Meanwhile, with the new NHL season fast approaching, the pair also take a look at the growing business of the North American ice hockey league and preview some of the key media developments that are likely to dominate the headlines during the 2026/27 campaign.
What happens when a football league needs to broadcast its own live games?