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Current Video:Beyond the Box Score|
The Sports Professor, Rick Horrow, talks about the latest sports business and chats with New Meadowlands CEO Mark Lamping.
Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)
I'm Rick Horrow and welcome to beyond the box score and inside look at the business of sports. Today's guest is mark clamping Chief Executive Officer of the new meadowlands stadium company. His role as managing the most expensive stadium ever built. -- responsible for running the meadowlands marketing selling its sponsorships naming rights and luxury suites. Attracting non football events and mitigating any conflicts that rise between the Jets and the Giants.
Probably only -- alive. Might be couple others who've actually shepherded to huge Major League Baseball football. Spectator project from beginning man and lived to tell. Well it's not over yet so it'll save us and it's it's been a unbelievable experience of their. So September 1 94. You gotta call. And one of the articles says if you refer back to it as a cruel joke if people you thought people kind of screw around. Oh absolutely -- been born and raised in Saint Louis both parents are from Saint Louis and never really had to -- even dream of getting the job like that. And then on top of that you know culture and Anheuser-Busch was such that. You know once you laugh you know you they didn't win a long time before they filled your position if I feel like an hour after a -- They really did invite many people back so I was very fortunate to have benefited and then from 94. Thirteen year run. Basically I thought thirteen year run as as this present the card that was whose whose great really go through two different eras first. The end of the Anheuser-Busch -- they sold the team. Fortunate enough to stay on board with we'll build -- wouldn't partners and I could not have had a better experience they've Judy a lot of responsibility and the bills always going to grow the business so we got to a lot of fun thing. And they trade they've treated me my wife and our children what I think -- myself. Tonight and they're very well and you Korea -- you better experience yourself at 2006 he would circle a few times as a pretty good year for you right. Excuse not that often where things come together like that.
Q when you put your your heart your soul into -- In the new ball partner which. You know that's that's that's not easy -- market to -- her involved from you know very very early and they want. And get the ball park -- which was wonderful. And then to go through the year and win the World Series and win the World Series at home that's could have been. -- go to they. The an easy -- let's go to the billion for so. You get a call I do the interview and what what's your feeling when -- offered this job. And another you know sort of a strange thing that happens at a strange time I. You know when my wife and I are both -- and raised in Saint Louis. We have three children are great when that first inquiry came along. Our youngest child -- just come off to college so it wasn't first time that people have reached out to see from my interest in being considered for the job. So we were considered conduct Saint Louis until until we got an accountant thought about it. I guess we thought if we -- remotely Saint Louis that was the time to do it. And what we think about where we're going I've I've always you know opinions in the business for a long time. She knows the heartbeat of sports this is very of the arc so a lot of times you know I wonder whether you're gonna end up in New York have always true and about remind me I may end up there. And then the opportunity. To really work on a facility which I really enjoyed the experience I didn't know I would enjoy -- turns -- I really do enjoy. I'm managing the the some development and golf but for the construction of the of the new stadium. And to be able to do it -- New York. They would do with -- with two NFL teams to iconic franchises. And have an opportunity to work with you know some of the best people all sports. And and the best part about it was the financing was in place before I got up there because that's the hardest and most of the biggest difference.
It's between doing this and the -- supposed. The scale there is significantly larger. You can't overestimate. Different because we have two teams. You have you have to. Great teams you have two teams are filled -- very very talented people. But it's still teaching you know there's a little more diplomacy involved in -- in this job but. Yeah everyone was was sort of afraid of the situation of people I've talked to. -- you possibly go in there you know that the Jets and the Giants are fierce competitors. In the marketplace. And their partners in the buildings. -- there's going to be problems after problems and I haven't seen -- on and one of the reasons that it hasn't occurred. He's from the very true very powerful. I'm John -- steamed fish John Jack Johnson finished. Woody Johnson now one time since I've been up there have been not with the best interest of the joint venture first and foremost we had a tough decisions and generally housing economy affected. The way you do business to take itself yourself a hole and I don't know -- we turned the -- I think we've turned a corner you know we've you know we've seen in terms you know some business -- we've been doing I think the biggest impact is it's really slowed down people's decision to. I think by far that's the number one there's people can can really focus I don't think the fact that the economy. North through I really tough enough time there. But the real sophisticated marketers. Those that understood. What the NFL had golfer with two teams in the grand stadium in New York has to offer I don't think people really viewed. The value proposition and different it's just that left. We can't get around and focus on that right now. We've got our own issues that you liberal company overall industry that is that is the end of the food itself battles that. You know -- really -- when it just for the Giants increases in this you do it every year we. Good summer for that there's no injuries of any significance on either side pretty stairs related -- he's always been a part officials continue to speak. Give me in your estimation he wondered to most unique. Features of the building workers. Well first it's the fact that as. Two NFL teams as its tenants when you go around -- not concede anything permanent that speaks to. The New York Giants or conversely to -- to the billing itself in terms of its electronics in terms of its video. Is designed to be able to switch. Virtually. For the switch to change from the Giants looking -- Jets -- so that's so that's significant. We're not putting up licenses -- that that that's important. Number two I think is the wake of the Senior Bowl is great yeah I think first and foremost when Flynn when people get -- this building. Compared to some other ones the Bill -- the same -- gonna seem very small. Even though our capacities and almost 83000. It's a very intimate ball and it really is designed first and foremost to be a place to watch football. Yes I think double play very well this he.
Economic. Climate has affected the ability getting he'll get -- of this Bill Parcells and and when we predict that the don't know who they're tough deals then they're then and the times you are right now would there even even tougher particularly some of the go to categories. You know there's there's so busy here this constantly. In terms of the optics of doing a deal and you know. I guess you have to understand that accepted because usually don't have a choice. But I I'm just hard pressed to believe that took a soccer. I assume you're excited about fifa the World Cup and whether it's eighteen or 22 that's a big deal. -- absolutely and fortunate. Sepp Blatter. Presidency that was. Through -- past summer. Spent some time -- facility we actually. They allow -- scored the first goal in the history of meadowlands and the leadership of this committee and US soccer and on the roster that. You know I am of you soccer and so I want I want us to be successful track inspection but you know that that's that that's all sorts of question the person we have to do. -- do everything we can't as a building to help the USA when the good. And if if if if that occurs. Then hopefully we can become one of the twelve and eighteen facilities last. Hopefully we'll -- on twelve and if we get to that stage. It would be wonderful the opening game of the final it would not taken any of the green finally. Your legacy of looking back at the whole industry so it's five years from now I'm here reflecting your career. How people can remember mark laughter I hope they do is really nice guy that's in.
That was able to get some pretty positive stuff -- what never been. Someone who wants to. Feel. Drum beaters and it's gonna pound somebody just need to do -- deal it's never been done before it was voted. I would like nothing more than five years enough people around and interviewed people of that work for me -- that -- things.
Exactly how expensive is the meadowlands and how does it stack up against other stadiums. Let's go inside the numbers to compare cost of the five most recent NFL stadiums built. First off the previously mentioned new meadowlands stadium opens its doors -- a remarkable one point six billion dollars. Last year all the hoopla was about Cowboys Stadium and its gigantic scoreboard and holocaust Jerry Jones -- one point two billion. Third is colts' Lucas Oil Stadium which opened in 2008 at 720. Million. Next up is the Arizona Cardinals University of Phoenix Stadium at 455. And finally the Eagles Lincoln Financial Field made its debut in 2003. At a cost of 512. Million dollars. For three other ways that the economy is affecting the business of NFL and its stadiums it's time replies to -- and hope. -- The San Diego Chargers have made little progress on their new downtown stadium. Ballot measure requesting approval for a stadium plan which will include requests for public funds won't happen until 2012. At the earliest now -- Santa Clara voters approved plans to build a 937 million dollar football stadium for the San Francisco 49ers. And while financing details still must be worked out the public contribution will be a 115. Million. The niners hope to break ground in January 2012. And to have the doors open for the 2014. Season and finally know. California leaders and representatives from -- EG recently met to discuss building an NFL stadium in Los Angeles. Majestic realty CEO at koskie also was looking to build his own stadium and nearby city of industry. While the city of industry hopes for a new stadium the city of Arlington already has one. And with the revenue generated by Cowboys Stadium in its first -- Arlington is my valedictorian of the week. It's on track to generate 27 million dollars from taxes while only just twenty million to service the debt my flunk out of the week is visit. Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh tourist board declared interest in lowering the future Super Bowl. However since Heinz Field doesn't have a roof or -- seating requirements the city doesn't have the glitz and glamour of new York and Pittsburgh Super Bowl is nothing more than a pipe dream. Now for my final take. Los Angeles does have two viable stadium options. At -- he's been waiting to build in city of industry YEG and wasserman media group are exploring options downtown. Regardless of how ready either group is to put a shovel in the ground no stadium -- built without the guarantee of a team. And LA is no closer to having NFL franchise now than it was two years ago as a today. The top two candidates to move to LA the Minnesota Vikings in San Diego Chargers. Both teams have tried building new stadiums in their current respective markets. With the new 49ers stadium on the way and grassroots support growing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chargers and Vikings could use the very real threat of relocation. To leverage to get their own venue. The question is which LA stadium proposal comes to fruition first. I'm Rick Horrow won't you join me next week when once again and we go beyond the box score.