Summary: Phil and Anto are joined by Professor Stefan Szymanski of the University of Michigan and sports economist of Soccernomics notoriety to debate his most recent article on Forbes.com where he explores Manchester United under the Glazier ownership both in terms of his theoretical angle up against where many club supporters reside in relationship to his provocative premise. This is designed as an article meant to be thought-provoking, but beneath that surface are some real world implications that bear discussion as the Glaziers move toward an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in tandem with its newly established Cayman Islands registry. The discussion evolves across a variety of fronts but in stark contrast is the evolution of traditional England club culture toward commercial enterprises over the past decade and how this phenomenon is resisted and debated now that finances are put into clear view - resulting in a collision between culture and finance. From a financial perspective the implications are very complex, from the surging levels of debt to the lack of transparency from club administration and how the future commercial implications will be resolved. However, we also explore how the cultural fractures are just as complex as well, and that is where the conversation begins to reflect the raw emotions that this episode uncovers. In many ways, the cultural complexities have been largely overlooked by a financially intricate relationship in modern football through a concert of commercial deals, increased financial competition and match day expenditures that have filtered down to fans and supporters. We also engage on the matter of anti-Americanism that has been alleged - among other alleged sentiments - which serve as a distraction to the main areas of concern to Manchester United supporters groups. We climb underneath a number of volatile issues surrounding the Glazier tenure in a very emotional episode where facts, emotions and perceptions are measured and analyzed to their fullest. We also gauge the evolution of football club supporters against a context of other American sports, which is where the Glaziers base a lot of their relationship to their sports properties, and how American sports economics is largely being repeated in the English Premier League and Manchester United, in particular. Professor Szymanski also provided oral testimony into a Football Governance Inquiry that examined the state of football governance in the UK for the House of Commons, Culture Media and Sport Committee chaired by John Whittingdale, has written numerous books on the subjects of sports management and economics, sport history, culture and society so this episode is well worth the listen.
