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  • The Fan Data Arms Race | Cole Rubin and Jack Phifer of FanFeed

    The Fan Data Arms Race | Cole Rubin and Jack Phifer of FanFeed
    2026/11/04

    Sports teams can know who bought a ticket without knowing who actually showed up, which team they support, or what would bring them back.

    FanFeed founders Cole Rubin and Jack Phifer join Eric Kasimov to discuss the fan data arms race: connecting fragmented systems, using camera-roll metadata to identify attendance, and making the exchange of data for personalization explicit. They also explore rising ticket prices, opportunities for smaller teams, and how AI could simplify the trip to a game.

    The question throughout: what does the fan get in return?

    Episode Timestamps

    • (00:00) - Why ticket buyers are not the whole fan base
    • (02:26) - Connecting the fan data teams already have
    • (03:47) - Camera-roll metadata and the privacy trade-off
    • (08:34) - Personalized offers inside a team’s app
    • (13:39) - Ticket prices, premium seats and fan access
    • (19:00) - Private equity, ticket revenue and streaming
    • (23:09) - How smaller teams can compete on fan intelligence
    • (27:28) - What AI could change about going to a game
    • (32:15) - Why relationships still matter as technology improves

    Episode page and related reporting: https://sportsepreneur.com/fan-data-arms-race-fanfeed/
    FanFeed: https://www.fanfeed.ai/
    Cole Rubin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-rubin-57a65547/
    Jack Phifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-phifer/
    Eric Kasimov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickasimov/
    SportsEpreneur on X: https://x.com/SportsEpreneur

    Recorded October 13, 2026. Hosted by Eric Kasimov. A SportsE Media production.
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    35 分
  • Are College Athletes Ready for NIL Money? | Antonio Gonzalez

    Are College Athletes Ready for NIL Money? | Antonio Gonzalez
    2026/10/27

    NIL money can arrive before a young athlete has the education, experience, or trusted support to manage it. Antonio Gonzalez joins Eric Kasimov to discuss who athletes can trust, what financial control should look like, and why earning money is only the beginning.

    Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of Great Wealth Advisors and a Personal CFO to professional athletes. He works primarily with professional athletes and educates college athletes about financial decision-making.

    Full episode and resources on SportsEpreneur

    • (00:00) - NIL money and the education gap
    • (06:00) - Working with pros and educating college athletes
    • (09:00) - Big money and the trust problem
    • (14:00) - Account access and advisor transparency
    • (16:00) - NIL guardrails and athlete responsibility
    • (20:00) - Smaller deals and tax blind spots
    • (22:00) - Planning for money like you plan for the game
    • (28:00) - Preparing for an interruption in income
    • (33:00) - Trust, verification and staying connected

    Connect: Antonio Gonzalez · Antonio on LinkedIn · Great Wealth Advisors · Eric on LinkedIn · Eric on X

    Recorded October 7, 2026. The MLB discussion concerns a possible future work stoppage.
    Hosted by Eric Kasimov. A SportsE Media production.

    This conversation reflects the speakers’ views at the time of recording and is for general education, not individualized financial, tax, or legal advice.
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    35 分
  • When the Athlete Becomes the Data | Haniff Brown

    When the Athlete Becomes the Data | Haniff Brown
    2026/10/16

    What changes when an athlete’s body becomes another source of data for teams?

    Haniff Brown, founder and CEO of FIT:MATCH, joins Eric Kasimov to examine the next layer of sports data: the athlete’s body itself. Late developers, recruiting and digital twins make the possibilities tangible. Brown explains how QuadraScan uses photos to generate body data and inform projections, while Eric presses on accuracy, athlete choice, privacy and what happens when a coach disagrees with a model.

    Episode notes and related conversations: https://sportsepreneur.com/athlete-body-data-haniff-brown/

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (00:15) - AI body data enters athlete scouting
    • (03:38) - Early physical advantage and late developers
    • (08:48) - Recruitment spending and a scout’s judgment
    • (10:21) - Prediction accuracy and growth-model limits
    • (13:40) - Photo deletion, data use and athlete choice
    • (17:30) - Digital twins and assessments at league scale
    • (21:06) - When coaches disagree with the data
    • (26:08) - From retail fit to sports technology
    • (30:13) - Team success and the long-term business case
    • (34:14) - Trying QuadraScan and building a data advantage

    Connect
    FIT:MATCH: https://www.fitmatch.ai/
    Haniff Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haniff-brown
    Eric Kasimov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickasimov/
    SportsEpreneur: https://sportsepreneur.com/

    SportsEpreneur is a SportsEMedia production, hosted by Eric Kasimov.
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    39 分
  • The Changing Business of Sports: Who’s Ready to Run It? | Matt Bakowicz

    The Changing Business of Sports: Who’s Ready to Run It? | Matt Bakowicz
    2026/10/14

    NIL, AI and sports betting are changing what it takes to run the business of sports. Matt Bakowicz joins Eric Kasimov to discuss the financial discipline, judgment and education people need to make those decisions.

    Bakowicz directs the Sports Business Management track at American University’s Kogod School of Business. He previously oversaw DraftKings Sportsbook and Racebook operations at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

    Chapters

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (00:16) - NIL spending and university budgets
    • (15:51) - Matt’s background in sportsbooks and education
    • (18:17) - AI, analytics and sports business education
    • (20:39) - Demonstrating your value in sports
    • (23:47) - Using AI without losing judgment
    • (32:11) - Mid-major strategy and player development
    • (39:19) - Inside sportsbook behavior and incentives
    • (44:49) - Responsible gambling and research
    • (54:18) - Skills future sports executives need
    • (59:02) - Graduate school and work experience
    • (01:03:18) - NIL education for younger athletes
    • (01:05:50) - Connect with Matt

    Full episode notes: https://sportsepreneur.com/changing-business-of-sports-matt-bakowicz/

    Connect
    Matt — AU profile: https://www.american.edu/kogod/faculty/mbakowicz.cfm
    Matt — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bakowicz-b016a738a
    Eric — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickasimov/
    Eric — X: https://x.com/Eric_Kaz
    SportsEpreneur: https://sportsepreneur.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportsepreneur/ | https://x.com/SportsEpreneur

    Recorded October 8, 2026. Hosted by Eric Kasimov. A SportsE Media production.
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    1 時間 7 分
  • What Are Families Really Buying in Youth Soccer? | Evan Dabby, New Jersey Youth Soccer

    What Are Families Really Buying in Youth Soccer? | Evan Dabby, New Jersey Youth Soccer
    2026/09/25

    Families can spend thousands of dollars on club soccer, travel, training, showcases, and recruiting while trying to determine which path gives their child the best opportunity.

    Eric Kasimov talks with Evan Dabby, CEO of New Jersey Youth Soccer, about what families are actually buying when they enter the youth soccer system, why fragmentation continues to create confusion, and how clubs, MLS, college soccer, parents, and coaches all influence the experience.

    Evan also shares a simpler way for families to evaluate the path: is the player having fun, getting on the field, and being challenged?

    In This Episode

    • Why American youth soccer remains fragmented
    • What families are paying for when they choose a club
    • How “elite” and “premier” can become marketing terms
    • Pay-to-play, affordability, and access
    • Where MLS fits into the youth soccer system
    • College recruiting and opportunities for domestic players
    • Why parents and coaches shape the experience so heavily
    • What Evan tells families of talented young players
    • Why recreational soccer can still be part of player development

    Chapters

    00:00 — Rebuilding American youth soccer
    02:19 — What families are actually buying
    04:35 — “Elite,” “premier,” and club marketing
    07:03 — U.S. pay-to-play vs. England
    08:00 — Affordability and access
    10:39 — Where MLS fits
    12:53 — MLS clubs and local soccer culture
    14:38 — Fragmentation and player pathways
    16:12 — Development, community, and access
    19:20 — Failure, mistakes, and keeping soccer fun
    22:30 — Why adults can become the bigger problem
    25:16 — College soccer and international players
    26:21 — Advice for families of talented players
    28:50 — Expanding grassroots soccer
    31:30 — How rec soccer helped Evan’s son
    33:26 — What families remember beyond the games
    34:57 — Just Ball and getting kids out to play

    Connect with Evan Dabby

    Evan Dabby on LinkedIn
    New Jersey Youth Soccer

    Connect with Eric and SportsEpreneur

    Eric Kasimov: LinkedIn | X

    SportsEpreneur: Website | LinkedIn | X
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    35 分
  • Who Protects College Athletes? | M. Duane Miller, The Texas NIL Lawyer

    Who Protects College Athletes? | M. Duane Miller, The Texas NIL Lawyer
    2026/08/27

    M. Duane Miller likes where college football is headed. The games are bigger, athletes can participate financially, and he believes recent seasons have been some of the most exciting the sport has produced. He also sees how exposed players can be when contracts, taxes, coaching changes, injuries, and short careers collide.

    The Texas NIL Lawyer and former University of Texas football co-captain joins Eric Kasimov to ask a direct question: who protects college athletes? They discuss NIL contracts, taxes and 1099s, recruiting decisions, reported NIL valuations, the College Sports Commission, and the possibility of a college players association.

    Duane’s central advice is to build the athlete’s team early and never sign an agreement without the right professional reviewing it. His outlook is positive, practical, and often funny. He is pro-athlete without being anti-coach, anti-school, or anti-NCAA—and he believes stronger athlete protection can make college football better.

    In this episode:

    • How media money and coaching compensation changed the argument around athlete pay
    • What athletes should evaluate beyond the largest offer
    • Contracts, injuries, coaching changes, and educational protections
    • Building a team of legal, tax, marketing, and family advisers
    • NIL income, 1099s, vehicles, and other noncash compensation
    • Why reported NIL valuations can be difficult to verify
    • Why Duane believes college athletes may eventually need a players association

    Chapters:

    00:00 — College football’s changing economics
    06:00 — Bowl games and postseason business
    10:23 — Texas football, licensing, and revenue growth
    13:31 — Coaching compensation and the athlete-pay argument
    22:00 — Social media pressure on paid college athletes
    29:24 — Choosing a school beyond the largest offer
    34:00 — Injuries, coaching changes, and life after football
    36:08 — Reviewing NIL contracts
    37:05 — Building the athlete’s advisory team
    42:26 — Taxes, 1099s, and noncash compensation
    45:06 — Reported NIL numbers and “Dr. No”
    49:00 — Why the old model is not returning
    1:04:08 — The College Sports Commission and government oversight
    1:05:00 — The case for a players association
    1:08:00 — Athlete protections beyond football
    1:11:22 — Where to find The Texas NIL Lawyer

    Connect with M. Duane Miller:
    The Texas NIL Lawyer | Law Office of M. Duane Miller | Email

    More from SportsEpreneur:
    Full episode notes | SportsEpreneur NIL Hub | LinkedIn | X

    Connect with Eric Kasimov
    LinkedIn | X

    Recorded August 20, 2026. NIL rules and college-sports governance continue to change. This conversation is for general information and does not constitute legal or tax advice.
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    1 時間 16 分
  • An NIL Attorney on Contracts and Athlete Ownership | Philip Sheng of Venable LLP

    An NIL Attorney on Contracts and Athlete Ownership | Philip Sheng of Venable LLP
    2026/06/22
    What an attorney who reviews NIL deals sees in the contracts, and what college athletes may be signing away.Philip Sheng is an attorney at Venable LLP, a national firm of roughly 900 lawyers, where he works in the intellectual property group and the sports law practice. His focus is college NIL, the right of publicity, and college eligibility: who owns a person’s name, image, and likeness, and what they give up when they sign.This is the on-the-ground legal view of NIL. For the full breakdown of how the system works, start with The NIL Hub, NIL Rules in 2026, and NIL Pros and Cons. This episode is narrower. It is what a practicing attorney sees inside the deals themselves.Eric Kasimov talks with Sheng about NIL as both a legal and an athlete-centered issue. They get into whether NIL is really athlete compensation, intellectual property, or both, and why the issue was known as the right of publicity long before college sports made it a household term. Sheng has lived the landscape from several sides. He played tennis at Stanford, competed as an ATP-ranked professional, and now has children navigating college athletics, including Division I basketball and tennis.TopicsNIL as intellectual property and the right of publicityThe College Sports Commission and how it reviews NIL dealsThe Nebraska and PlayFly case, and why the contracts were the problemWhy even a small NIL deal needs its rights language reviewedHow brands can work with role players, not only star athletesRoster cuts in non-revenue sports like tennis and swimmingHigh school NIL, state-by-state rules, and protecting minorsSports betting, college students, and the value of staying in schoolChapters in This Episode00:00 Philip Sheng’s background in law, tennis, and college sports00:36 Venable LLP, intellectual property, NIL, and sports law02:11 NIL as right of publicity03:15 Stanford, conference realignment, and athlete travel04:13 The burden on student-athletes06:29 What college sports used to be for07:00 Money, transfers, and the changing athlete experience09:20 NIL checks, taxes, and athlete education09:36 Bad agents and why guidance matters12:25 Has NIL gone too far?13:00 Congress, courts, media, fans, and pressure to change16:11 Money, rosters, and the college experience19:05 What the College Sports Commission does20:00 Fair market value, valid business purpose, and NIL deal review20:55 Nebraska, PlayFly, and unclear NIL contracts22:39 Why the Nebraska case was not just bad paperwork23:40 Why other schools are watching25:00 Lawyers, arbitration costs, and legal representation26:18 Sheng’s view of the CSC and NCAA enforcement28:46 College football playoff expansion and media money31:00 What happens if schools sell marquee games differently32:43 Why championships still matter34:50 Sheng’s work with non-revenue sports and NIL contracts36:08 Why brands should look beyond star athletes38:47 Are NIL contracts becoming standardized?39:45 Why athletes need contract review40:38 Rights, music, and long-term ownership42:02 College tennis, roster cuts, and non-revenue sports44:29 International athletes and college tennis47:25 Similar issues in soccer and goalkeeper recruiting48:00 High school NIL and state-by-state rules49:37 Youth sports, money, and family pressure50:29 Sports betting, college students, and addiction risk52:00 Athlete data, betting markets, and protection54:00 The cost and value of college55:00 Why athletes should not discount the college experience57:25 Athletic fees, non-athletes, and campus tension58:57 Burnout, injuries, and changing paths59:28 Where to find Philip ShengAbout Philip ShengPhilip Sheng is an attorney at Venable LLP, where he works in the firm’s intellectual property group and sports law practice. His work includes NIL, the right of publicity, college eligibility, NCAA eligibility, and athlete-related legal issues. He has practiced law for 15 years.He is also a former Stanford tennis player and a former ATP-ranked professional. That background gives him a view of college sports from both sides, as a former athlete and as an attorney working in NIL and intellectual property. He also brings a parent’s perspective, with children competing in Division I basketball and tennis. The combination shapes how he thinks about NIL, athlete contracts, non-revenue sports, and the value of the college experience.Connect with Philip Sheng:X | LinkedIn | Venable LLPConnect with Eric and SportsEpreneur:LinkedIn | X | SportsEpreneur on LinkedIn | SportsEpreneur on XRelated SportsEpreneur NIL ContentThe NIL HubNIL Pros and Cons | The College Game Is Changed ForeverWhat the Protect College Sports Act Reveals About Athlete RepresentationDid You Know You’re Paying for College Sports?
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    1 時間
  • Sports Has Turned Into a Money Game with Rachel Maeng

    Sports Has Turned Into a Money Game with Rachel Maeng
    2026/06/12

    Rachel Maeng joins Eric Kasimov to talk about NIL, college sports, influencer marketing, athlete brands, and the money changing the system.

    Rachel is a former Rutgers student-athlete, fractional COO, NIL strategist, and founder who built and sold an influencer agency. She explains why real NIL is different from revenue sharing, why college sports keeps getting more expensive, and why access still matters.


    Topics covered:

    • Why influencer marketing is the prequel to NIL
    • What real NIL actually looks like
    • How revenue sharing and roster caps changed college sports
    • Why paid athletes face more fan pressure
    • Why sports has turned into a money game
    • The gap between top programs and everyone else
    • How recruiting rankings and camps shape opportunity
    • Why athletes are being asked to become media companies
    • Why internships, mentors, peers, and sponsors matter

    Chapters in This Episode

    00:00 — Rachel Maeng on her current work
    00:34 — Fractional COO work, NIL, and representation
    01:42 — Rutgers, student government, and alumni advocacy
    03:27 — Rutgers in the Big Ten and the reach of major universities
    05:13 — Why Rachel chose Rutgers
    06:55 — Big schools, small schools, and the future of college athletics
    07:18 — Women’s flag football and Title IX
    09:23 — Cutting sports, roster caps, and international athletes
    12:57 — Syracuse, football spending, and donor ROI
    14:14 — Why college teams are hiring GMs
    16:16 — Student fees, tuition, and the cost of college sports
    18:00 — NIL money, fan pressure, and athlete criticism
    19:39 — Recruiting rankings, camps, and access
    22:43 — College sports deficits and the money problem
    25:36 — The growing gap between top programs and everyone else
    27:10 — Recruiting facilities, spending, and shared governance
    29:13 — Sports betting, expansion, and more games
    32:10 — Rachel’s view on NIL
    35:43 — Why Rachel watches more college sports now
    37:35 — Flag football, NFL expansion, and global growth
    39:17 — Youth sports, cost, and the money game
    43:55 — Athletes as media companies
    46:15 — TikTok, creator marketing, and the road to NIL
    48:31 — Advice for young women in sports and business
    54:50 — AAPI representation and women in sports business
    57:50 — Sponsors, mentors, peers, and building community
    59:10 — Internships, networking, and real career experience
    1:03:38 — The enrollment cliff and the future of college
    1:10:37 — Staying curious through podcasts, documentaries, and daily learning
    1:11:26 — LA, the Olympics, and travel realities
    1:15:51 — How to find Rachel Maeng

    Connect with Rachel Maeng:

    X | LinkedIn | Instagram

    Connect with Eric & SportsEpreneur:
    SportsEpreneur.com | X | LinkedIn
    Eric on LinkedIn | X

    Related SportsEpreneur NIL Content

    • Did You Know You’re Paying for College Sports?
    • Brendan Sorsby Bet on His Own Team and Is Somehow Still Eligible to Play
    • The Protect College Sports Act Explained: NIL, Transfers, Antitrust, and the Future of College Sports
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    1 時間 16 分