Every investment comes with plenty of responsibility, but in a multifaceted market like sports and entertainment with varied revenue streams and worldwide integration, navigating this complex landscape can be overwhelming. Today’s guest is helping his clients make sure that all the bases are covered. Literally.
We’re sitting down with Charles (Chuck) Baker, who chairs Sidley Austin’s Entertainment, Sports, and Media Group. Chuck represents investors in professional sports, businesses and teams, and advises on sports and entertainment transactions. He has decades of experience in the sports industry and has represented sports franchise purchases across multiple leagues, including the NFL, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the NBA, the NHL, the National Women’s Soccer League, and multiple European football leagues.
Recently, Chuck represented Genius Sports in its multi-year strategic partnership with the NFL and the Canadian Football League, and also advised on the acquisition minority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, the Charlotte Hornets, as well as the 6+ billion dollar purchase of the Washington Commanders.
Chuck has been highly recognized in the field of sports and entertainment law by multiple national publications. Most recently, the National Law Journal named him to its 2022 list of sports gaming entertainment law trailblazers. The Sports Business Journal also named him to their 2021 Power Players list, and Law 360 added him to their 2020 Sports Betting MVPs.
Chuck is an active board member for the March of Dimes and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He is also an adjunct professor and advisory board member at the University of Miami School of Law, and a distinguished lecturer at NYU’s Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media and Business.
Chuck was also an associate for former Senator, Dollar Bill Bradley, one of Tom’s all time favorite Knicks!
Highlights:
- Chuck’s background and how he came across the opportunity at Sidley Austin (3:10)
- Secular trends currently driving the sports and entertainment investment market (6:46)
- Chuck describes the investor audience specific to sports and entertainment (9:07)
- Current sports markets with high deal flow (11:55)
- Chuck tells the story of the Chelsea FC deal and his role in the transaction (14:01)
- The current trend and future of sports investments going international (17:10)
- Chuck describes Sidley Austin’s recent partnership with Arctos (19:12)
- Market competition, industry saturation, and the market’s outlook (22:31)
- How streaming and entertainment consumption effect media rights (24:33)
- Women’s sports and growing investment markets (26:32)
- How market developments and investments affect fan experience (27:47)
- Chuck’s most recent wins with his own sports teams (28:43)
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If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you’d like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.
