Sports Management Podcast

Release Date: 03-16-2026 01:30

Welcome to episode 240 of Sports Management Podcast.

Today's guest is Erik Stover, CEO of the New York Cosmos and a leader with over 25 years of experience in U.S. soccer, including roles with the New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Arena.

With World Cup 2026 approaching and promotion and relegation entering American professional soccer, the sport is at a historic turning point.

In this episode, we spoke about:

  • The impact of World Cup 2026 on U.S. soccer
  • Why club identity matters more than ever
  • Promotion and relegation in American sport
  • Building the New York Cosmos as a true community club

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Why 2026 Is a Critical Year for US Soccer
01:25 Can Soccer Compete with NFL & NBA?
03:01 How Important Is a Strong World Cup Run?
05:21 Grassroots vs Hype After the World Cup
07:14 Soccer vs American Sports Culture
09:09 The New York Cosmos Revival
10:01 Promotion & Relegation in the US
12:25 What "Community Club" Really Means
15:22 From Stadium Manager to Red Bulls CEO
16:28 Lessons from European Football
20:25 Why US Soccer Needs Stronger Rivalries
23:09 Bringing Thierry Henry to MLS
31:37 The Future Vision for the Cosmos
34:05 Commercial Growth vs Authenticity
35:00 Outro

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Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.

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