Episodes

LA's $12 Billion Sports Economy: How Shohei Ohtani Changed Everything

Episode 16 · October 24, 2025 · 13:05

Professor Shirin Mollah sits down with Stephen Cheung, CEO of the LA County Economic Development Corporation, at the Intuit Dome during the LA Sports Council's innovation conference....

From Taylor Swift to Gen Z Problems: Understanding Modern Sports Fandom Through Data

Episode 15 · October 3, 2025 · 52:10

Dr. Shirin Mollah sits down with Neil Schwartz, president of SBRNet and host of "My First Job in Sports," for a deep dive into the data driving modern sports business. Schwartz share...

The Economics Behind the Voice: How Play-by-Play Announcers Drive Revenue

Episode 14 · August 8, 2025 · 47:06

Professor Shirin Mollah sits down with Dr. Kevin Curran, a seasoned play-by-play producer and college professor with over 30 years of experience working with teams like the Oakland A...

More Than Just Hoops: Jason Logan on Mentorship and Community Building Through Basketball

Episode 13 · July 25, 2025 · 26:04

Professor Shirin Mollah sits down with Jason Logan, head coach of a high school girls basketball program and director of Logan Basketball Academy, to explore how youth sports functio...

The Business Behind the Game: Inside LA Rams Partnership Strategy

Episode 12 · July 11, 2025 · 40:13

 Tyler Potts, Senior Director of Partnership Sales for the LA Rams, breaks down the sophisticated world of sports partnerships that go far beyond simple logo placement. The conversat...

The Art of the Steal: How Sports Stadiums Extract Public Money for Private Profit

Episode 11 · June 27, 2025 · 53:43

 Sports journalist and author Neil deMause joins Professor Shirin Mollah to unpack the complex world of stadium financing and sports economics. Drawing from nearly 30 years of resear...

The Business of Community Building Through Global Run Clubs

Episode 10 · June 13, 2025 · 45:17

This week The Sports Economist sits down with Maggie Hughes and Quentin Wolfe, captains of Midnight Runners San Francisco, to explore how run clubs create economic and social value i...

Team Economics: How Flag Football is Changing the Sports Landscape

Episode 9 · May 30, 2025 · 53:54

This week on The Sports Economist, host Professor Shirin Mollah speaks with flag football enthusiasts Travis Andre Ross and Blake Lewis about the economics and community aspects of t...

Negotiating the Triangle: Players, Clubs, and Agents with Richard Motzkin

Episode 8 · May 16, 2025 · 51:59

Professor Shirin Mollah interviews Richard Motzkin, Executive VP and Managing Executive of Global Soccer at Wasserman. Motzkin shares his journey from law firm attorney to soccer age...

Slaying the Trolls: Dr. David Berri on Sports Economics and Gender Inequity

Episode 7 · May 2, 2025 · 01:04:41

In this informative conversation, host Dr. Shirin Mollah welcomes Dr. David Berri from Southern Utah University to discuss sports economics with a focus on women's sports. Dr. Berri ...

The Evolution of Sports Economics with Dr. Dan Rascher

Episode 6 · March 28, 2025 · 01:06:44

In this conversation with Dr. Dan Rascher, Professor of Sports Management at the University of San Francisco, Shirin explores the evolution of sports economics from a niche academic ...

The Business of Premium Sports Experiences with Tom Ravenhill

Episode 5 · March 14, 2025 · 57:08

Tom Ravenhill from Keith Prowse, the official hospitality partner for Wimbledon, joins Professor Shirin Mollah to discuss the evolving landscape of sports hospitality. Tom shares ins...

Soccer, Stadiums, and Statistics: Inside the Mind of a Sports Economist

Episode 4 · March 7, 2025 · 01:02:29

Dive into the fascinating intersection of economics and sports with Dr. Reade from the University of Reading. As both an economist and passionate Oldham Athletic supporter, Dr. Reade...

Super Bowl LIX: The $500 Million Game

Episode 3 · February 28, 2025 · 06:40

Dr. Shirin Mollah dives into the economic landscape of Super Bowl LIX, hosted in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome. The episode explores how the NFL's biggest event affects variou...

The Economics Behind NFL's Vikings-Lions Showdown

Episode 2 · February 21, 2025 · 06:15

Dr. Shirin Mollah dives into the economics behind a crucial December NFL matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. The episode explores why ticket prices skyrocketed t...

Why Jamaica Sprints and Norway Skis: Comparative Advantage Explained

Episode 1 · February 14, 2025 · 05:11

Dr. Shirin Mollah explores how comparative advantage shapes success in sports, from individual athletes to entire nations. She breaks down this economic principle through various exa...

Welcome to The Sports Economist

Trailer · February 3, 2025 · 00:50

Unlock the hidden numbers that drive the world of sports. Join Dr. Shirin Mollah on The Sports Economist as we dive deep into team performance, competitive balance, revenue streams, ...