EPISODE · Jul 11, 2025 · 50 MIN
640. Why Governments Are Betting Big on Sports
from Freakonomics Radio · host Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
The Gulf States and China are spending billions to build stadiums and buy up teams — but what are they really buying? And can an entrepreneur from Cincinnati make his own billions by bringing baseball to Dubai? SOURCES:Simon Chadwick, professor of afroeurasian sport at Emlyon Business School.Derek Fisher, high school basketball coach, former N.B.A. coach and player.Kash Shaikh, chairman, C.E.O., and co-founder of Baseball United.Rory Smith, football correspondent at The Observer. RESOURCES:"China Keeps Building Stadiums in Africa. But at What Cost?" by Elian Peltier (New York Times, 2024)."Manchester Off-Shored: A Public Interest Report on the Manchester Life Partnership Between Manchester City Council + The Abu Dhabi United Group," by Richard Goulding, Adam Leaver, and Jonathan Silver (Centripetal Cities, 2022)."Manchester City's Cozy Ties to Abu Dhabi: Sponsorship Money – Paid for by the State," by Rafael Buschmann, Nicola Naber, and Christoph Winterbach (Spiegel International, 2022)."China Renews Its ‘Belt and Road’ Push for Global Sway," by Keith Bradsher (New York Times, 2020). EXTRAS:"What Is Sportswashing — and Does It Work? (Update)," by Freakonomics Radio (2024). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
The Gulf States and China are spending billions to build stadiums and buy up teams — but what are they really buying? And can an entrepreneur from Cincinnati make his own billions by bringing baseball to Dubai?
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640. Why Governments Are Betting Big on Sports
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