Chapter 254

Chapter 254 Becoming a sports business giant

Indiana, capital of Polis.

Conrad Hotel,

Executive room on the fourth floor.

In a box facing the street.

Abel stood in front of the giant floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out at the bright, bustling city below and its bustling traffic.

The city of Polis is small, but that depends on where it is compared. Today, in 2001, there are not many such cities in the world.

After 2010, with the development of crazy rabbits, more and more cities began to build crazy infrastructure.

Then there are all kinds of cities with vibrant nightlife in the West, with the exception of a few places like Manhattan or the City of London.

Overnight prosperity will be surpassed by a rising China.

This made young rabbits going abroad at that time very uncomfortable. Many people after visiting the cities of these capitalist countries.

Many people will say in their hearts: "Is it like this?

But that is afterward.

Currently, the US still dominates.

After looking at the scene outside the window for a few seconds, Abel turned his back to the giant floor-to-ceiling window, looked at the middle-aged white man in the room, and said with a smile:

"Mr. Mosley. I have Jedson Entertainment's financial statements for the past two years. Don't worry about how I got them, they're accurate anyway. In these financial reports, most of Jedson Entertainment's business activities are profitable. Yes, only a small part is lost. »

"Nothing is wrong." Abel told the FIA ​​vice president in front of Max Mosley:

"Part of Jedson Entertainment's loss-making business appeared on the American Formula 1 racing station it hosted."

Jedson Entertainment is an American company that primarily operates in the media, hospitality, and some tourism businesses.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the United States hosted the Formula 1 USA race, presented by Jedson Entertainment.

Because of this, Jedson Entertainment has to pay the FIA ​​and F1 an annual amount of nearly 18 million USD.

As for Max Mosley, he is one of the current vice presidents of the FIA. FIA, short for World Automobile Federation, is the organizer of the F1 tournament, equivalent to FIFA's position in world football.

Max Mosley was also clear about what Abel had said.

Most organizers of Formula 1 competitions held annually around the world can earn money.

The United States is very evil.

Obviously this is one of the countries with the largest number of cars in the world. Car culture has long penetrated every corner of this country.

But as a major automotive competition, Formula 1 has not been accepted in the United States for many years.

In the US, F1 even from the late 70s to the mid 90s fell into a state of complete suspension.

It was not until 1998 that a new company stood up to host the F1 Grand Prix in the US.

That company is Jedson Entertainment. This company has hosted F1 in the US three times and this year is the fourth time.

The first three times, minus the first year I made money.

After the second and third times, I didn't make any more money.

In parallel time and space, it is precisely because of this reason.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, after 2007, stopped hosting the American F1 Grand Prix. Because I didn't make any money.

It took several years before a new owner took over.

FIA, the organizer of Formula 1 races, is also very helpless before this.

To some extent, the FIA's attitude towards the United States is a bit like its FIFA counterpart's attitude towards rabbits, more than a decade later.

Looking at Abel speaking these truths, FIA Vice President Max Mosley looked at him:

"Mr. Smith. We all know these situations. But the reality is this and we cannot change anything. »

If that can be changed and the FIA ​​can do it. This doesn't have to be done by Americans or Abel.

The FIA, which wanted to make money from the Americans, took the initiative to do so.

"Leave it to me." Abel suddenly said: "I can change this situation.

Hearing Abel's determined tone, Max Mosley frowned: "Mr. Smith, what do you mean?"

"Give me the F1 American Grand Prix." Abel said:

"Then the FIA ​​supported me and let me buy the F1 parent company."

Hearing Abel's request, Max Mosley quietly opened his mouth. The vice president quickly responded, immediately saying: "I'm afraid this will be difficult, Mr. Smith."

"I've invited Bernie Ecclestone, he'll be here tomorrow to talk to me." Abel smiled and said:

"Maybe Bernie Ecclestone will agree, maybe he will refuse. But this is my effort to introduce F1 more successfully to the world's largest car consuming country."

"I think that's what the FIA ​​wants to see most. You don't want this country in the driver's seat, the richest and most influential country in the world, but there's not a lot of evidence in F1."

Max Mosley remained silent.

after a while.

Vice President of the World Automobile Federation, he quietly said:

"So why do you think you can succeed? FIA and the parent company F1 have worked hard for decades but can't do it, can you do it?

"Of course I can." Abel immediately answered confidently.

"For what?" » Max Mosley said.

"Because I'm the boss of Smith Media. Because Smith Media is about to buy NBC, and because Smith Media is about to become one of the largest media corporations in America -United."

Abel looked at Max Mosley: "As long as I become F1 boss, F1 will have the biggest promotion in America. I believe that with good means, F1 can also become like the four giants." ." in the United States. "The tournament is equally welcome."

Max Mosley feels convinced. The reason why F1 has long been ignored in the US is because of poor ratings.

The reason for this is known to the FIA ​​itself and the parent company F1.

In other words, on the American side, F1 does not let many American giants share in profits.

Of course, Americans will not promote unprofitable things.

This is very similar to the way soccer is treated in the United States. If there was a giant in the United States that promoted it heavily.

With the prevalence of American car culture, along with the enormous influence of F1 on racing fans around the world.

F1 in America has never failed to achieve the same success as in Europe.

But if. If the power of the F1 parent company is abandoned.

Max Mosley doesn't think the FIA ​​and Bernie Ecclestone will be on the same page. "It's always difficult," says Max Mosley:

"Mr. Smith. Even if I agree, the FIA ​​does not necessarily agree. I am only the vice president. Even if the FIA ​​agrees, Bernie Ecclestone will not agree. More importantly, both you and I everyone understands that Ultimately, what matters is the attitude of these automakers.

Abel knew what Max Mosley wanted to say. Obviously, the FIA ​​has the greatest power over Formula 1 racing.

In terms of actual ownership and control, this is essentially the F1 holding company founded and established by Bernie Ecclestone.

If we look back at a deeper level, the real strength of F1 lies with these car manufacturers.

The FIA ​​gets F1's influence and reputation, and the F1 parent company gets real attention and control.

The real people behind the scenes of F1 are the car manufacturers that benefit from it. All three parties were indispensable, and the mutual compromise and cooperation between the two gave rise to the emergence of Formula 1 racing cars.

"If you don't talk, how will you know the results?"

Abel said: "You can understand what I mean, go back to FIA headquarters."

Max Mosley nodded and said: "I will definitely do it. Please rest assured."

Abel smiled and Max Mosley nervously left.

As soon as Max Mosley left, Abel remained alone in the box for several minutes.

A few minutes later, he called David Jones. "What is Miss Li doing now?" » Abel asked.

"Miss Anna Li, is drinking coffee and reading a book at the coffee shop next to the operating room."

"Miss Jessica Lee, just arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Miss Bush."

David replied.

"Let's go." Abel stood up: "I'm going to see Miss Ly."

David smiled back.

Surrounded by his entourage, Abel kept his business case in the executive hallway.

As he passed the living room, halfway into the house, Abel heard someone calling his name. "Mr. Smith? Mr. Smith? Mr. Smith?"

In this place, very few people make noise.

Once someone makes a loud noise, it is easy to attract everyone's attention.

Abel also watched. He saw about ten meters away, an old white man who looked about fifty or sixty years old, wearing glasses, stopped by a bodyguard, waving at him.

Abel felt that this old man seemed familiar. David whispered in his ear: "It's David Stern, president of the NBA."

As David reminded him, Abel also remembered the identity of this little old man.

Thinking for a moment, Abel said to Edward: "Let Mr. Stern come, we will return to the place just now."

Minutes later.

David Stern and Abel arrive at the business resort where Abel and Max Mosley were just staying.

"Mr. Stern, hello, my name is Abel Smith and I am the owner of the Houston Rockets."

In the box, Abel smiled and reached out to little David Stern. David Stern seemed a bit pleased, not knowing if he was pretending or not.

He quickly grabbed Abel's hand with both hands, trembling and laughing:

"Mr. Smith joining the NBA family is the happiest thing this year for me! My name is David Stern, nice to meet you!"

Abel used a light force, David Stern immediately let go.

The two of them sat separately in the business box.

"How did Mr. Stern get to Polis? I remember there's no basketball team here?"

"Oh, it seems so." As soon as he finished speaking, Abel immediately remembered that Polis has an NBA basketball team called Indiana Pacers, and the local arena is still Conseco Arena. David Stern smiled bitterly, Mr. League President, he didn't think Abel was making fun of the NBA because he didn't immediately think of the Indiana Pacers.

Because in fact, at the pinnacle of this country.

Many big guys really don't pay much attention to the NBA.

This is mainly because in this tournament, black is too large.

so much so that it has eliminated the white color favored by influencers. This makes the NBA, the upper class of this country, especially these stubborn white people.

The NBA is considered an unpopular sport and is considered the most notorious ball game.

David Stern and the federation always want to change this situation.

Many measures were taken in between, such as softer evaluations of white players and others.

However, in sports like basketball, black athletes born with the ability to jump higher have greater talent. The Alliance has nothing to do with it and can just let it go.

David Stern smiled bitterly and explained to Abel:

"I'm here for the Indiana Pacers. Talking to Herb Simon, Melvin Simon, something related."

Melvin Simon and Herb Simon are the owners of the Indiana Pacers.

These two old men are the founders and owners of Simon Real Estate Group.

If the assets of the two brothers were divided, that asset would be equal to Ikana's father's assets. Together, they could be ranked about 380th on the list of richest Americans.

"OH." Abel nodded: "I came here to watch the American F1 race. I bought two F1 teams and came to watch them perform."

"Two F1 teams?" » David Stern asked in surprise.

Abel shrugged:

"That's right. One was originally called Prost Racing and the other was originally called Feijian Racing. Today they are called MGM and Tesla. »

David Stern has heard of both teams.

As president of the NBA, he is one of the people best versed in the workings of commercial sports on the planet.

David Stern knows a lot about everything related to global business sports.

Among them is Formula 1, which has a much greater influence than the NBA, with higher ratings and profits.

"Two F1 teams. As expected from Mr. Smith. » David Stern smiled and said:

"You are the first person in history to own two F1 teams and you are also the first American to own an F1 team."

Abel looked at David Stern and said softly:

"In fact, I was able to become the owner of two NBA teams at the same time. That is also a world record. Unfortunately, Mr. Stern, you do not allow that."

David Stern wanted to bite his lip.

Which pot doesn't mention it, but which pot does?

The president of the NBA federation smiled awkwardly: "The situation in the NBA is different from Formula 1. Please forgive me."

David Stern doesn't lie.

The NBA tournament is truly brutal. This is a commercial tournament consisting of 30 teams.

About thirty teams are major shareholders of the tournament. The head of the league is the management board and the chairman is recognized by these shareholders. Under normal circumstances, when shareholder interests are not at stake.

League officials have extremely high power over the NBA.

But if the interests of the vast majority of shareholders are violated, the formal alliance will be nothing more than a facade.

Fortunately, most of the time, these thirty shareholders never have the same opinion, and their interests and needs are also different.

This allows the NBA to officially have the greatest power in the league. Abel wants to own two NBA teams.

This clearly violates the interests of the remaining owners of the team, that is, the league's shareholders.

These shareholders absolutely cannot accept this request.

In this way, it is absolutely impossible for NBA officials to agree with Abel's opinion.

Abel didn't know this at first, then the advisory group explained it to him. Knowing it was really difficult, Abel canceled the idea.

This is mainly because his obsession with the NBA is not that deep.

If Dayao didn't have Yao's affection, Abel probably wouldn't have any interest in the NBA.

This idea was rejected and Abel did not do it again.

Right now it's just to tease David Stern. If it were to be replaced by Hudson's Bay Town Square, which he was extremely obsessed with.

With Abel's personality, even though he knows the success rate is very low, he will still try.

Looking at David Stern, Abel's heart suddenly moved and he repeated in a deep voice:

"That's right, Mr. Stern, the Rockets' performance this season is so bad, I'm not in the mood to watch the team's matches live. Can't the league help such a weak team? »

David Stern thinks you're too direct.

Even if you want to deceive, could you be more tactful?

And in the NBA, who doesn't know that the Houston Rockets began to completely decline after being acquired.

In many games, we don't even perform. Half of the main players were rested and all were placed on the bench. Wrath **** opens the door to Wrath, Wrath is home.

David Stern had to force a smile and said:

"No problem. With the Houston Rockets' current results, there is at least a 15% chance of getting the #1 pick. If you can get the #1 pick then go for the #1 pick, then The Houston Rockets have high hopes for next year.

"Only 15%?"

"This probability is too low," Abel said. Not to mention 100%, at least 50%?

David Stern embarrassed: "For fairness in the tournament, the probability of 15% is really high."

Abel nodded as if agreeing, then smiled at David Stern and said:

"This year's talent contest will also be held in New York, right?"

"Correct. At Madison Square Arena," David Stern said.

The NBA Draft usually takes place in New York, at the home of the Nets or Knicks.

"So if I'm free." Abel smiled: "Maybe I'll go see it live."

David Stern immediately asked: "Is what you said true?"

Never before has a man so rich come to the NBA to watch a game live.

But in baseball and football, especially baseball.

Not to mention America's richest people and top leaders regularly appear. From here we can see the attitude of the American upper class towards the NBA.

If Abel participates in this year's draft, he will become the richest spectator in NBA history, as well as the most prestigious spectator.

At first, this is why Abel bought the Rockets and the NBA almost surpassed reason in a matter of seconds.

Then the NBA hopes to see Abel in the auditorium of the basketball stadium.

Who knew that Abel had bought the Rockets for so long and had never attended a single game. "Correct." Abel smiled. After thinking, he thought he should add more tokens to make it more stable.

He added to David Stern:

"I might as well call Warren then. If Paulson is interested, I'll stop him."

Who is Warren?

Who is Paulson? David Stern did not immediately respond.

Fortunately, Warren Buffett's name is too famous in America.

David Stern quickly thought of Buffett.

Given Buffett's identity as a financial giant, Paulson of Goldman Sachs came to mind.

David Stern was even more excited when he thought these two would leave. However, the most exciting thing for David Stern is yet to come.

"Oh, that's right." Abel continued to laugh: "If we respect Mr. Bush, maybe we can invite him." I just don't know if he cares or not.

When Abel had not finished saying these words.

David Stern's heart is already pounding.

(end of this chapter)