WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.919 All right, hot tag, and this is where we get 2 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:06.280 to try and chase after one of the busiest men 3 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:10.679 in show business. And I mean this because phase one, 4 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:12.599 and it took me a while to figure out how 5 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:15.359 that it is phase one. It wasn't necessarily group stage. 6 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:19.760 It's phase one. Phase one is done. Now we're getting 7 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:22.640 into quarters and semis and working through and juggling that 8 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:26.399 in the MLS schedule. And for that we go and 9 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:28.800 catch up with the executive director of Leagu's Cup, Tom Mayo. 10 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:31.839 Tom Mayo on the keyboards, Tom Mayo, Sorry, as my 11 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:33.399 Peter Frampton joke this morning. 12 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:36.320 Tom, welcome aboard to. 13 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.719 The Morning show and the chaos that is a Friday. 14 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:41.000 Glad that we were able to finally catch up with 15 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:43.039 you to find out everything about League's Cup. 16 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:46.759 Thank you apologies about the earlier bump we were in 17 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:49.200 the in the process, lots goes on right and we've 18 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:54.079 got a considerable amount of games in this very it's great. 19 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:56.960 Thank you, Thank you for appreciating on the show. It's 20 00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:59.880 great talk to you listeners, and yeah, explain a little 21 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:00.840 bit more about Leaguess Cup. 22 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.959 What attracted you to become the executive director of League's 23 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:09.120 Cup in the first place, lots. 24 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:11.599 Of aspects, great teams to work with. You know, I 25 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:16.000 met with both legam X and MLS teams and their 26 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:18.879 front of office. Great teams to work with, right, and 27 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:24.200 they've got some bold plans. I think secondly was how 28 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:28.719 often is a soccer tournament in its infancy like this 29 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:32.359 in its year three and it's got so much future 30 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:35.040 ahead of it. That's incredibly rare. There might be one 31 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:37.719 or two added to the global soccer calendar every year, 32 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:40.159 but that was it. And I think, yeah, opportunity to 33 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:42.760 work with great people. This new soccer venture that was 34 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:47.120 building had some history and was looking for some you know, 35 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:49.760 someone to jump in and you know, sort of guide 36 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:51.200 it for the next five ten years. 37 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:57.840 And if I remember your past correctly, you're a track 38 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:03.359 and field guy. Yeah, so I would imagine to carry 39 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:06.079 out an early analogy here in the interview. 40 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:08.319 Were you a sprint guy or a distance guy? 41 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:11.080 Middle distance? So mana, okay, So. 42 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:17.159 You know about strategy in a race, whether you need 43 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:20.240 to be the rabbit, whether you like to hang off 44 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.039 the outside shoulder of somebody while they're in the inside 45 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:28.039 lane and make your move last lap, bell lap, backstretch, whatever, 46 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:33.039 I would imagine that that kind of a mentality also 47 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:36.960 helps when you're trying to piece together this tournament and 48 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:39.400 all of the tweaks that are in this year where 49 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.039 the schedule is more compressed. You don't have the gap 50 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:44.599 space between the end of Phase one and getting back 51 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.639 to MLS scheduling. I would imagine that part of that 52 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:51.039 mentality helps in trying to figure out, Okay, let's do this, 53 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.800 let's do this, let's do this so that way when 54 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:56.520 we get to the bell lap in twenty five, everything 55 00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:58.280 is fine and we make the sprint to the tape 56 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:01.120 and it is what it is exactly right. 57 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:05.919 There is that ability to sort of maneuver quickly in 58 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:08.680 the environment that you're in and stay calm. At is, 59 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:11.759 stay calm in it. I mean the fact of running 60 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:13.520 a mile or a fifteen hundred meters. It's the ability 61 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:15.319 to stay calm under pressure. And the calmer you are 62 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:17.520 for the longer you are, the more the more you 63 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:20.400 can sustain and think clearly across the line. But there 64 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:23.000 was what there's one aspect of the you know, the mile, 65 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.039 and it took me eight years to break four for 66 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:28.000 a mile. It just took eight years of hard work 67 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:31.240 and it's just relenting, unrelenting hard work to do that, 68 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:33.360 and you only see the end and it's the race. 69 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:36.120 But and I think that the team around me and 70 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:38.719 myself is we've dug in for the long run. It's 71 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:40.639 gonna be really hard, and so sort of I've got 72 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.599 the same mindset. Look, this is going to take eight 73 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:46.360 to ten years to to you know, keep keep applying 74 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:49.759 pressure every day, keep building the tournament, and that's how 75 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:51.960 you end up with those great races because it's just 76 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.159 hard work every day. So that's sort of my mentality 77 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:57.840 of going into it. It's it's delightful when you get 78 00:03:57.879 --> 00:03:59.400 to that end of the eight years and you break 79 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:01.520 the break the all minute mild, but it is just 80 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:02.759 that focus every single day. 81 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:05.479 You just keep going and going. So yeah, both skills. 82 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:09.439 How difficult is it to show patient or have other 83 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:12.800 individuals around you be as patient as you and your 84 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.480 group are, because there's always that idea of instant results, 85 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:17.439 instant gratification. 86 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.439 Hey we got to turnament on. Hey it's new, Hey 87 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:20.000 it's shiny. 88 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.600 We've got to you know, we have to have all 89 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.319 the fireworks exploding, you know, like the end of the 90 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:26.720 Yabu Dhabi you know, one race or something, how difficult 91 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:29.480 is it for folks around you to be patient understanding 92 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.360 that slow, you know, slow and steady wins the race. 93 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:36.319 It's sometimes it is difficult sometimes, and I think everybody 94 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:38.360 wants there's there's no magic wand and I learned that 95 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:40.680 probably quickly, of course all the sports I've been involved with. 96 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.000 Sometimes you're blessed with moments like MESSI with his comments 97 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:47.439 last week or two weeks ago, and that suddenly gives 98 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:50.240 you a bump. But I think incremental every single day 99 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:53.240 you make an incremental step forwards. You're making incremental changes, 100 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:55.399 and the stakeholders and all the partners you're with, whether 101 00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:00.560 it's Ligo, Max, MLS, Conker, CAF, sponsors, everyone, they're seeing 102 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:03.639 these incremental changes and just building on the tournament, building, 103 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:06.560 you know, building its future. And I think that's important 104 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:09.160 that everyone sees so that we're just focused on, Look, 105 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:11.439 we want this to be a cornerstone of global and 106 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:13.639 US soccer in ten years and how are we going 107 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:14.040 to get there? 108 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:15.600 And all those little steps together is there. 109 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.759 I know that scheduling for those of us that cover 110 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:26.319 the event, the idea of wrapping phase one and the 111 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:29.680 tournament into the MLS schedule instead of having the big 112 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:32.800 gap spaces there have been in years past. That's been 113 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:37.480 a help in blending everything together. What's the feedback that 114 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.519 you've gotten from clubs etc. When it comes to the 115 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:44.920 new tweaks coming into the twenty twenty five version. 116 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:46.879 Good, very positive. 117 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:49.920 So obviously there was a lot of work then actually 118 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:52.040 before my tenure. I started in December, but I know 119 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:54.639 as soon as the format finished last year, all the 120 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:57.839 club CBOs you know, the front office staff and every 121 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:01.000 club in Mexico and US got together into right this, 122 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:03.000 there's something great to this tournament. How do we just 123 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:05.360 make it better? And they just went through in a 124 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:07.959 process and went to, okay, every aspect, what's our focus 125 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:09.399 and those matchups? 126 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:09.879 Was it right? 127 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:11.800 So you put the matchups on and you put Lega 128 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:15.240 X versus MLS and then you see that creates the 129 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.199 competition on the field and everything flows off that. And 130 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:20.319 then it was about finding that window. And there are 131 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:23.720 much smarter people than me and you know, in MLS 132 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:26.600 and Lego X putting these schedules together, and it's a 133 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:29.519 very complicated process, you know, sort of the regular season, 134 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:32.399 the FIFA windows, you've got CONCAFT competitions. 135 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:34.439 You've got all of this myriad and. 136 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:37.959 Then they're presenting everyone of the best options for you know, 137 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:42.240 players travel, player travel. You know, what's the best windows 138 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:46.160 for you know, for broadcast, what's the best windows, for partners, 139 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.639 what's the best window. But you know for fans and 140 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:51.000 so yeah, there's lots to take in. But I think 141 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:54.519 it's been great so far, so I won't say anymore. 142 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:58.160 We head into a quarter final with some great feedback. 143 00:06:58.040 --> 00:06:58.519 No doubt. 144 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:04.600 Guy like Dominate Toron has been quite vocal about the 145 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:08.439 scheduling from a Lega Emeki's perspective. I believe he called 146 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:11.399 it a trap tournament, where he says it gives you 147 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:14.160 very little, takes away a lot, takes away training time 148 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.079 quality from what we're trying to build, argues winning the 149 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:19.879 trophy wouldn't bring much prestige. What would you say to 150 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.040 coaches and to those that might have that point of 151 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.480 view when it comes to the Lega Mchi side of things, I. 152 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:28.600 Think, Look, we work with Lega e Mechis closely and 153 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:31.160 you know, I know lots of comments in post match 154 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:36.000 conferences and it's it's always you know, people are immediate 155 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.120 views and they think we just take a step back, 156 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:40.519 and we talked to them all as well after the competition, 157 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.639 and we meet with all the players and many players 158 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:44.240 as we can, and the coaches, and we say, look, 159 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.160 what is it about this format that we can improve 160 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:49.519 and look after we've made considerable strides with you know, 161 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.399 looking after players this year flying in from Mexico and 162 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:55.279 their travel arrangements and how we best prepare them for 163 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:58.040 their best performance. And I think it is you know, 164 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:01.600 we are still year three and this format, the tournament, 165 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:05.160 everything else only aims to improve and address any comments 166 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:09.879 that they've got when we all catch up afterwards in September. 167 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:15.160 I know that it's difficult to juggle two leagues, three 168 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.120 countries all at the same time. And I know that 169 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:21.279 there is probably a desire on some front, at some 170 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:24.759 point somewhere down the road where the Lega Emechi sides 171 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:27.519 could have home matches in their own stadium, because if 172 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:29.839 you go to a place like Nemessio Diaz or Akron 173 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:34.639 or as Teca, those are great ambassadorial locations for the sport. 174 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:38.639 How difficult is it for someone who doesn't know the logistics, 175 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:41.799 How difficult is it to do something like that where 176 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:44.000 all three countries are represented, and I know that for 177 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:46.799 the sake of travel and making sure that everybody gets 178 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:49.960 the destinations, that it's self contained inside the US and Canada. 179 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.200 Yeah, once again, I think good question because when I started, 180 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.840 as was another question I had as well. It's like, 181 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:58.480 look at you know, we've got a location in the USA, 182 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:01.639 and what's what's the now for this at this stage 183 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:04.360 in year two heading into year three, and I'm about 184 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:06.159 to go through that process as well. But it is 185 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:10.440 a very thorough analysis just around starting a tournament, the logistics, 186 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:13.759 the schedules, and they chose the USLC to and both 187 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:16.240 parties in LIGROMX and with the support of all the 188 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:19.039 clubs and the US as well. So look, it's going 189 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.480 to be a full analysis at the end of this 190 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:22.440 year and then we start to look at we will 191 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:25.000 look at it again and it's something we're committed to 192 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.519 every single year as this tournament grows. So I won't 193 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:31.559 say a either way, but look, it's full analysis. We 194 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:33.720 go back to the just like coaches do. Right of 195 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:35.240 the end of the tournament, you go back, you look 196 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:37.600 at everything, so how can we improve And it'll be 197 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:39.039 definitely a consideration. 198 00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:41.519 Tom Ayo, the executive director of League Cup, hanging out 199 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:44.639 whether it's here, is phase one is now complete? There 200 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.440 were some bouts are crazy in phase one. I mean, 201 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:50.120 I'm not gonna lie there. There were some matchups that 202 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.600 were just absolutely nuts. You had Seattle putting seven on 203 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:56.759 the board in forty five minutes. You had matches that 204 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:00.000 were going through thirteen minutes. Added, you had Crazy shoe 205 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:04.480 out to going twelve frames before they were decided. What's 206 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:08.240 the feedback been like for you about Phase one in general? 207 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:11.720 Where you've had a great run by a team like Juarez, 208 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:14.120 who was I think ranked thirty second coming in and 209 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:16.360 they get right to the end before math and a 210 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:18.320 loss takes care of it. What's the feedback then about 211 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.919 phase one with all the different storylines. 212 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:23.200 I think there's been a we're getting stats last night 213 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:26.519 in the operations center. There hasn't been a game nil 214 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:29.480 MIL in this tournament, which is unheard of. 215 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:29.799 Right. 216 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:33.000 Ninety three percent of our games that have gone through 217 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:35.559 have consequence, right, And it was only in that final 218 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.480 day that you know, you found those teams, a couple 219 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:39.480 of those teams that matched up that weren't able to 220 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:44.799 alter the table. So from those fronts, we were delightfully 221 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:47.159 surprised that the nil nil aspect, you know, there is 222 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:50.639 no nil, it's just everyone's scoring and then going into penalties, 223 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:53.000 we've got on average or was it three point five 224 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:55.440 goals per game, up from two point five last year 225 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:57.559 and up again from them less league next season. 226 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:00.000 So it's we're going to go and looking at it. 227 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:02.320 The intensity on the field that's being created by this 228 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:03.759 intense tournament, which you. 229 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.360 Know it's it is. 230 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:08.759 There are no prisoners here, right, You've got to win 231 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:10.440 straight away, as soon as you're in your first game. 232 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:12.240 You've got to take as many point time as possible. 233 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:14.480 When you go again, you go again, and I think 234 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:17.679 there is yeah, and I think that's shown on the 235 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:18.320 field emotion. 236 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:21.919 I was delightfully surprised as well. 237 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:23.919 You know, when the penalties are taken, all the teams, 238 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:26.759 you know, arm in arm, and they're very emotional about it, 239 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:27.519 and it starts. 240 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:30.039 It means a lot to them, right, they are going 241 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:30.879 to advance or they're not. 242 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:33.200 And for some players this is their first international tournament 243 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:35.759 and for some clubs this is the first potentially a 244 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:38.840 first international trophy as well, and it's a different pace 245 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:39.679 and it's a different level. 246 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.600 I remember my first international tournament. 247 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.120 Right, and it's just a completely different world, different pace 248 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:47.039 of the game, different just everything changes and you just 249 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:49.639 step up another level. And that's what I've been That's 250 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:52.440 what's been great to watch is just that competitive aspect 251 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:55.759 of these are hard games to win and people are fighting. 252 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:58.879 For it is Obviously, I would imagine one of the 253 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:01.679 other things that's going to get just put on the 254 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:04.480 table the idea of more than four making it from 255 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:07.000 each side. Obviously TV partners have to be a part 256 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.279 of the discussion as well, because in American college football 257 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.919 there is the discussion with the college Football Playoff where 258 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.159 they go from four to eight to twelve and it's 259 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:16.519 like Team thirteen. 260 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:17.759 Is going to sit there and go, well what about us? 261 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:23.000 Obviously, the idea possibly expanding after phase one into a 262 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:24.559 phase two on the table two. 263 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.919 Yeah, I think, well that happened in some respects last 264 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:30.600 years we went into that other round and we had 265 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.840 seventy seven and this year we you know, we've gone 266 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:36.559 down to sixty two. So it is a very it's 267 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:39.320 a very you know, tight pyramid in that regard, whereas 268 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:42.519 last year there was that that that room. So yeah, 269 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:44.519 I think once again, we'll just get the end this season, 270 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:48.440 say right, what can we do to take that feedback 271 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:50.799 from those clubs that you know may want to you know, 272 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:53.360 have a second chance or be you know, remain in 273 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:56.759 the tournament for longer. But it is a it's ruthless. 274 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:59.039 It's a tough competition. You've got to win everything and 275 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:03.279 get out on top. Look at Seattle, yeah they they 276 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.159 and then look at Club America. You know, if you 277 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:07.720 don't put away that first win, it's your strategy has 278 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:10.039 to be as many goals as possible and as many 279 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:10.720 wins thereafter. 280 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:14.559 Nothing like win and win big. You got to like 281 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.679 win them all and you've got to win big from 282 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.799 the absolute beginning. 283 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.559 Loaded with strikers, right, you're just going to put all 284 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:22.080 your strikers on goal. 285 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:24.559 We're going to go nine to one one, and we're 286 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:26.879 just going to go ahead and line everybody up and 287 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:28.799 rock and roll. How many of the matches were you 288 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.840 able to see in person to gauge atmospheres and things 289 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:33.279 like that. 290 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.919 I saw two in person, and obviously we were running 291 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.639 and that was great to see. I think we were 292 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:39.919 down at Red Bulls there was the we were watching 293 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.879 the weather down there, and that was great to see 294 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.159 the atmosphere. And I think from from our perspective obviously 295 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:48.480 in the the O sort of the operations committee, so 296 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.879 we're surrounded with you know, you know, I'm sure the 297 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:55.200 listeners understand, but everything from medical to security to broadcast, 298 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:58.279 and we're in there making live decisions whether the game 299 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:00.200 needs to be bumped because of lightning, you know, as 300 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:03.840 you find sort of you know in Orlando or Cincinnati. 301 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:06.200 We're watching those, and then you're looking at other aspects 302 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.879 that on the field, quality of the field, how are 303 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:11.960 the players, the referees, the var all of those aspects 304 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:14.639 that's all coming into one room, and it's it's a 305 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:18.159 very intense five six hours that we go from you know, 306 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:20.320 I'll say it's longer at seven hours, from seven in 307 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:23.679 the evening to last night with two am, and then 308 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.679 we pick it. 309 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.759 Up again the next morning. 310 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:28.559 So yeah, it's I couldn't go to as men as 311 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:32.399 I wanted because it's just the way the formats structured. Right, 312 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:34.480 You've got East coast, West coast, five to six games 313 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:37.159 a night and it's on and I'll spend all my 314 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:39.080 time in an airplane, but I'll get to see more 315 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:40.600 as quarters, semis and final go on. 316 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.360 So what cup of coffee are you on this morning? 317 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:47.000 But my second, my seconds ago. 318 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:52.120 But look, i'm I'm I benefit from an incredibly smart 319 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.919 bunch of people that work in LEGA X and MLS, 320 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.200 right there is some of the smartest brains in soccer, 321 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:01.240 whether it's the scheduling, whether it's the fields, whether it's weather, 322 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.279 and they really surround themselves with some very smart people 323 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:06.759 to help us all make good decisions together and keep 324 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.879 building this tournament. So yeah, I think everyone's on coffee, 325 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:14.200 and yeah, we're all in this together. And let's three weeks, 326 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:15.919 two and a half weeks to go and we'll find 327 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.279 the winner. 328 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:19.240 Yep. And there's some great matchups coming up in the quarters. 329 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:24.039 When it comes to officials and officiating, who is in charge? 330 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.320 Is that a conker CAFF decision crews and such? 331 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.600 Yeah, it's concer We work with CONCAF on it and 332 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:31.600 it's a program we have in working with Concer CAF 333 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:34.039 and it's a long time. We don't just turn up 334 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:35.960 to them and say, hey, look can you provide some referees. 335 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:39.120 We really you know, we've got a very close relationship 336 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:43.320 and we work on every aspect. Obviously the tournament's new 337 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:45.879 and educating the format and educating the new rules of 338 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.000 the game that came in this year as well, and 339 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.159 we do summits and workshops and we really are very. 340 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.879 Close in this process. 341 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:56.399 But ultimately it's Conka CAF that make those decisions nominate 342 00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:57.000 the referees. 343 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.919 But they're a great partner. 344 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:02.519 I was going to ask because does League's Cup as 345 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:07.759 an entity have discussions about peer review, official review, those 346 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.000 kinds of things where that specifically just left a conkor 347 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.960 Calf and their own devices when it comes to cruise 348 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.759 an individual, I think. 349 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.759 I think we have an open conversation about the games. 350 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:19.039 You know, every day we're looking at every game, whether 351 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.159 it's what were the the red cards, what were the 352 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:23.759 yellow cards, what with the you know what the field 353 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:26.440 conditions like, what with the picture everything. You can imagine 354 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:28.679 that we're just going through for two hours every morning 355 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.559 and just reviewing. 356 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:33.679 So if there's something with with referees or there's feedback, it's. 357 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:36.039 It's an open communication with conkor CAF on it and 358 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.200 it's something we'll review as well at the end of 359 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.639 the tournament and we put. 360 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.039 It all together. 361 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.799 We don't make decisions in the heat of the moment 362 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.399 with this stuff. We we really try and take it away. 363 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.480 If we can't sit down, then just have a you know, 364 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:50.080 have a have a discussion around how it went, what 365 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.960 we can do to improve, and we move. 366 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.559 On to next year. 367 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:56.240 Round of eight and there's one matchup that just jumps 368 00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:01.279 out at you. Messy and Friends and Tea and nothing 369 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.480 like nothing like being the three team out of League 370 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.640 Amechis and having to play Inner Miami in round two. 371 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:10.759 It's Seattle Puebla, Messi and friends in Tigress lag who 372 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:12.839 has had a rough season in Major League SciTS. We 373 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:15.440 always talk about tournaments and what they can be. You 374 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.000 get through the math in the West and you take 375 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:19.200 on Pachuca and the Purple team, ticking on to Luca. 376 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:21.039 You look at those final eight, what do you see. 377 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:24.720 I think it's always a surprise, right, you know, as 378 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.680 much as everyone in the office has got their own 379 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:29.119 sort of different positions, I think we've got a very 380 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.119 you know, we've got some very strong games and some 381 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:33.839 good narrative going in. I think our focus is just 382 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.279 like we're just you know, working with all the stadiums 383 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:39.640 of the venues and they're travel and making sure you know, 384 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:42.440 all the places in place for the players for broadcast 385 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.880 for TV, and yeah, that's going on all around us 386 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:49.119 this morning before we announced the exact date and time 387 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:53.440 for kickoff. So yeah, it's great matchups. It's the into 388 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:55.880 Miami t gress. Well you've got those, you know, two 389 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.680 Argentinian strikers. Who would have thought that in Messi's hometown, right, 390 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:03.680 And yeah, it's good, it's exciting to watch, but lots 391 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.200 of work. 392 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.839 To do in the meantime. 393 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:09.519 Well, as always, you know that as long as the 394 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:12.119 tournament exists, you've got a home. You know, if you 395 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.720 want to come in and sit there and say, I 396 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:16.160 got something to talk about, what we'd like to do 397 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:20.359 if it's okay when League's Cup is over over, is 398 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:23.279 have you back to kind of talk about the tournament 399 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:26.079 on the whole and what everybody learned and now that 400 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:27.920 you've got a champion with a trophy and all these 401 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:30.440