Soccer and Tennis, Golf and The Octagon, Featured As Sportfolio Unveils Its Summer Special

NEW YORK - July 2, 2013 - PRLog -- Baseball is no longer the only "summer game" capturing the attention of sports fans. This week Bloomberg TV's Sportfolio examines several other sports that have moved onto the summer stage and are taking a growing share of the seasonal business.  Major League Soccer recently announced that its 20th franchise, New York City FC, will begin play in 2015. MLS Commissioner Don Garber discusses his league's robust financial and geographical growth: not only the record $100 million franchise fee for NYCFC, but also the establishment of a new business unit (MLS Business Ventures) that will expand the MLS marketing and merchandising footprint.          

Former World #1 tennis player and multiple Grand Slam champion Jim Courier shares his perspective on the state of the tennis business, including the decrease in the number of contending U.S. players at Wimbledon and the increase in prize money at all four "major" open tournaments.  

Bloomberg TV's Rachel Crane reports on the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, and the series' continuing upswing despite its inability to hold sanctioned events in New York.  Fourty nine states now allow some form of regulated professional Mixed Martial Arts competition within their borders. UFC President Dana White tells Crane that his business will thrive even without direct access to the nation's top media market.          

From the PGA Tour to local golf courses, the business of golf is preparing to adjust to the USGA's rule prohibiting anchored putting (which will go into effect in 2016). Rick Horrow and Dominic Chu speak with USGA and PGA officials, professional golfers, and manufacturers about the impact of the controversy.

This week’s show debuts Wednesday night at 9:30 PM and 12:30 AM ET Thursday on Bloomberg TV (DirecTV 353, check your local cable systems for the channel near you). The show reaches more than 270 million households through first-run and syndicated airings.

Sportfolio premiered on September 27, 2011 and has now produced over 50 original episodes, all of which can be viewed at bloomberg.com/video/sportfolio. The guest list has already included: NBA Commissioner David Stern, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, MLS Commissioner Don Garber,  MLB Executive Vice President for Business Tim Brosnan, Pac 12 Commissioner Larry Scott, Ivy League President Robin Harris, Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross,  Dodgers and Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, Arizona Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall, Wasserman Media Group CEO Casey Wasserman, Boston Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino, Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren,  Atlanta Falcons GM Rich McKay, Cubs general manager Theo Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, 49ers president Jed York, Los Angeles Angels GM Jerry DiPoto, San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer, Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark, NASCAR’s Brian France, Carl Edwards and  Jeff Gordon, the Utah Jazz’ Trey Burke, the L.A. Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, NBA Hall of Famer Earl Monroe, Masters Champion Bubba Watson, Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, golf hall of famers Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, and many, many others.

Contact: Joe Favorito/917-566-8345

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