Inside Soccer
Inside Soccer
Episode 10 - MLS is Back, NYCFC COO Jennifer O'Sullivan
NYCFC COO Jennifer O'Sullivan is a proven sports leader and great legal mind. Her experience in soccer, football, and law is unmatched. Now she is working at NYCFC as COO and takes our listeners on a journey inside the workings of a very unique MLS member.
Hello and welcome back. You're listening to another incredible episode of Inside soccer when your host bill Peterson inside soccer brings you a soccer fan expert analysis and opinion on the critical issues facing the game today. also bringing guests that have incredible stories and historical perspectives on the game, with soccer experience spanning 20 Rolodexes open to bring you the voices and opinions you want. Sit back at wherever you are in the world. enjoy today's episode.
Unknown Speaker :I want to welcome everybody to inside soccer. We have listeners from around the globe. Welcome to Episode 10. There's never been a better time to get inside soccer so much going on across the globe that affects our little world of soccer. And that's what we're focused on like no other podcast. Today we continue our young tradition of bringing you the best in the sport. We've turned our attention to our own domestic league Major League Soccer Melissa's in the process of returning with their Orlando tournament called MLS is back. And there's still a lot of questions about what's going to happen. Not only with that tournament but afterwards as well. Today we have one of the great minds and leaders of sport not just soccer in this country she is and yes, I said she has been a commissioner of women's soccer work with relevant sports on the ICC tourney and other things as an accomplished sports lawyer, and has even worked at the NFL and arena football leagues in the past. So great listeners of inside soccer. It's my pleasure to welcome and bring to you Jennifer O'Sullivan, the COO of New York City Football Club. Welcome, Jen.
Unknown Speaker :Thank you, Bill. It's really a pleasure to be here. And congratulations to you on launching this new venture.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, thank you very much. We're having a blast was it and the people listening seem to enjoy it. So we're gonna just keep rolling. It's an honor to have you here. There's so much going on. We're not going to get it all but As we say, we try to keep it to about 30 minutes. We have enough questions probably for 30 hours, we won't do that. But at the end if we have some extras, we may do a little quick fire. You know, just to get your thoughts and opinions on some stuff. But look, let's let's let's get started here and let's start with having you sort of, in a way Introduce yourself walk us through why you chose to be involved in professional sports a former Richmond spider, I believe. Yeah. Yeah, that's good. And, and also what brought you back to soccer. So it's a two parter to start things off.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah. So you know, when I was in law school, I knew that I was going to be working long hours as a lawyer and I was going to be toiling away. I wanted it to be in something that I was passionate about and had a real interest in and you know, we grew up in a in an athletic household in a sports minded house. We were we were we were all athletes, my younger brothers. My dad's a big sports fan. And so that was really something that was sort of a passion of ours. And I, that was one of the areas that I, you know, had been kicking around in law school about, you know, could I could I make a career in sports law, and I'll be totally blunt with you, I, you know, but for being in the right place at the right time and having the right conversation. I don't know that I'd be standing here today. As you know, this industry is all about relationships and, and, and networking and really having an inside track in the industry. And when I was a law student at Catholic University, I just had this idea that, you know, I wanted to work in sports law but didn't really know how I was going to make that happen. And I have I've literally told the story so many times and recently had the opportunity to thank this person who made this intro for me but I was at my brother's graduation from Georgetown and talking to a friend of his the day Have a friend of his and and he just said what kind of law Do you want to do? I said, I'd like to do sports law. He said let me introduce you to a friend of mine. And that friend was Pat O'Brien who those of you who remember Pat O'Brien back in the day was a sportscaster with CBS and he did a lot of work and with the NC double A and just that intro to him was the start of the connection in the sports industry. And but for that conversation, I honestly didn't have a plan. I didn't know anybody. I didn't know how it would happen. And that conversation turned into multiple conversations with Pat O'Brien, who then introduced me to other folks in the industry got me my first internship with David Falk, Michael Jordan's agent. And the lawyers I work with they're introduced me to other lawyers and and that became my you know, interview with the NFL and my first job out of out of law schools with the NFL and literally every job Since then, almost every job has been a result of folks that I have worked with networked with relationships I've made in the industry so so it has really been such a journey for me. And my first my first job and soccer as you mentioned earlier was was as WPS commissioner and CEO and that was my first intro to soccer I was I was not a soccer player but I was a fan of the sport and really saw the the potential in the women's game particularly and I've had the the pleasure as you said, of working in soccer with relevant sports and rec ventures. And, and then in private practice as a as an attorney with a lot of clients in soccer. And so when the opportunity came up with NYC FC, it was just a unique one that I knew I could not, not really explore and look at and it was just me The chance to be back in soccer full time means a lot, especially with, you know, the explosive growth of the game, as we're seeing it with World Cup 2026 on the horizon and being in New York, which has been a soccer hotbed for a long time. So it's been a really unique and exciting opportunity.
Unknown Speaker :That's an incredible story. And, you know, I think we could do an entire podcast series on people who have made it in a sports profession, like what, what allowed them to make it because yeah, there's always something that you look back on later on ago, if it wasn't for that. I wouldn't be here. So here's a question. I was with a young man yesterday and he's interested in working in sports, he's bright, he's got a tech background, everything else he's like, what do you think I said, don't. I said just don't don't go do something else. And I told my children the same thing. You're not allowed to do this. But But what advice would you give someone who comes up to you and I'm sure they do, and say hey, I I also want to be like you or I want to work in sports. What do you tell them?
Unknown Speaker :You know, I say this to people a lot, you know, sometimes you want to say like, don't do what I did, right? Because you can look at sort of the mistakes you made along the way in your career. And yet you look at it and say, okay, but it's but it's worked out. Okay. I, you know, the one thing I tell people is have a marketable skill set. That is something that's transferable to sports that, you know, you don't necessarily need to be part of the sports industry to be successful in but is, but is important and critical within the industry. So for lawyers, especially when they asked me what they should do, you know, I say there's so many different say, there's no such thing as sports law, but there are so many different areas of the law within the sports industry that you can practice in and I have really, you know, in my career have been very much a generalist. I've done a lot of different things in the industry. But I'm not, you know, a pure IP specialist or a pure litigator or Labor specialists, and yet I've done a lot of those things in my career. But I always tell people that I really do think to be marketable, have that skill set that that you know, you're the expert in, you're the best of the best. And if that's transferable into the sports industry, you know, nine out of 10 times you're going to be successful because people will look at that skill set and say, you know, what, we really need that that's something that's unique or something that we need here. And so I really tell people kind of focus more on focus more on honing your skill set and being as marketable as you can, but at the same time that that networking piece and when I say networking, I don't mean it in that you know, the the dirty word of networking, like how many business cards can you collect? I mean, I'm showing my age with business cards there but but but it really how many genuine relationships can you build and, you know, going to conferences and listening to speakers and just introducing yourself and getting yourself involved in that way, you know, can be helpful too, but I think those are the two things I really do say to people hone a skill and then just work on your relationships because that's that's sort of the key to, to success in this industry.
Unknown Speaker :And would you say that's what's helping you today? I mean, going back into the team environment, New York City, it's a it's a, it's a big club. But having all of that experience and being exposed to so many different parts of the industry, is that what you really fall back on today, as far as you know, working through your responsibilities there?
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, I really do. And, and, you know, when you're younger in your career, you don't sometimes appreciate the experiences you go through or the things that you are learning and you don't see the value in them. And now having looked back on, you know, over 20 years now in the, in the world of working and sports and the legal profession, you know, I look back at some of those early experiences and say, Wow, that that was Really has shaped me. And the the crises I've dealt with or the chaos I've had in my career. Certainly, you know, I look back now and it's like, you get to a point where you say, Okay, what else can you throw at me? or What else? You know what, what else could come my way that's gonna gonna rattle me now not much at this point. And so, yeah, I think all of those different experiences I've had, whether it's been a big league, a small League, a large law firm, a small law firm, a startup, all of those unique experiences come together and certainly helped me in the environment that I'm in now with NYC FC.
Unknown Speaker :But I think that's what separates very successful people at the top of the sports industry pyramid. And there's some others that are there that maybe just haven't been through the same set of experiences but someone who has that that book of experiences to fall back on, but also you just sort of said something I think is really key to this and that is go ahead, bring something at me. I'm ready for it because a live event business. And when you think you have it figured out, it's gonna send you something that you got up in the morning and did not realize that that could happen to your life. And yeah, you fall back on all those experiences and you start making decisions on behalf of fans and sponsors and owners and organizations and buildings and emergency prep, all these things come to mind. It's crazy. So now I appreciate that. I think I think there's some really good lessons there. The other thing I always add when people have to talk to people about this other than saying no is you better be really passionate about it, because it doesn't shut off and you work when everybody else is out having fun. That's right. If you'd walk into a building and you're not looking for security or a slip and fall or why there's a line at the concession stand, or you know, what's the average ticket price how many people right, you're in the wrong business because that's what it is. And you know, it's it never turns off. There's always there's always something going on. So that's cool.
Unknown Speaker :Well, everybody rarely go to sports events as fans when you work in the industry, right? Because like you just said, those are the things you notice, you start to notice things at live events that the average fan doesn't because of what you deal with on a daily basis. It's not fun to go with anyone.
Unknown Speaker :No one wants to deal with you. Because, you know, I'm gonna get up and go for a walk. Oh, God, Here he goes. Yeah. And I'm not checking concession stands and security and the lines at the entrance gates, and everyone else is having fun. And I'm like, I don't have fun here. I mean, I enjoy it. And I'm glad everyone else does. But that's not how I'm wired. So yeah, anyway, so that leads to a question What was the biggest surprise so far other than code we're going to get into coven as a separate topic, but other than that, what's the biggest change or surprise whether it's at the team level or MLS? Whatever, you know, coming back to it again. What have you gone? Wow, that's really that's really gotten better or worse, whatever, whatever it may be.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, so I mean, a couple of things. I mean, first, you know, you you touched on COVID but we are In besides COVID, we're in this uniquely challenging and historical time right with, especially here in New York City where I feel like we're we are sort of the epicenter for a lot of things, and certainly given the current environment that we see with with social injustice and the great amount of civil unrest. And so, you know, for us in New York, we're just an incredibly proud staff and our team to represent a diverse city like New York, it's probably one of the most diverse cities in the country, if not the world, and we've got such a diverse squad of players and staff and having the privilege of representing that fan base. makes us really, really proud. So, you know, we're as a club where we're really focused on celebrating that diversity, and, you know, fighting inequality and social and justices and doing our part to fight racism. So for us, this is this is like, you know, part of the ethos of our of our Club and who we are. So now, you know, I walk into this environment and for me coming into a team environment, I've never worked for a team before I've been league side and I've been management side and you know as outside counsel. And it had never been on my radar to work for a team before. Because I always thought wrongly that perhaps it would be too limiting. And I think one of the things I've really I've had other people tell me and I'm seeing it I'm really living it with with the club now is it's not limiting at all and it's it's just the opposite. And there's, there's I get to touch on every facet of this business and, and work with an incredible staff of people who are so plugged into our community and our fan base. And and you know, being with a league You know, you're sort of it's an you're not there's no bias, right? We just want great games and we want good, we want good competition, but when you Are with a club you're living and breathing you know the successes and the failures of that club every day you're immersed in that community and that fan base and so I sort of knew those things but I don't think I really understood them till I got here and just saw how much you know as a club we really embrace our fan base how we really are the community is such an important part of everything that we do and that's been you know, that's been a really
Unknown Speaker :amazing thing to see and amazing thing to be part of.
Unknown Speaker :That's a great thing to hear and you know you're gonna in six months we're gonna come back and visit with you You're gonna be a never leaguer type of person. I've had the pleasure of doing both and when you're at a team level you're like, dang like doesn't know what they're talking about. League obviously like on teams are off on their own they don't know what they're doing. It's just human nature. It's hilarious but yeah, six months you'll be a never leaguer? Yeah, so let's talk about COVID then so you've got This you've got this focus on the fans, which is is very, very important. And you walk in in April, is that true? April is when you start. April, you're, I mean, you walk right into the middle of this. Yeah. What was that like?
Unknown Speaker :So, you know, you're right. I mean, I had accepted the job COVID was out there but not you know, everyone was still working and still operating and, and as I had, you know, accepted the position and was was getting ready to transition out of my law, firm life. Everything sort of shuts down and everyone ends up working remotely. And, you know, games are put on pause and so I walked into a situation where I'm working at home, I haven't met my direct reports. I haven't met the staff I've met you know, the CEO and, and my co CEO and Chief Commercial Officer And I haven't met anyone else and so um you know, I walked into this where business as usual is no longer operating in my normal with NYC FC is not NYC FC is normal and you know everybody is working at home homeschooling three kids, for me personally, you know, we're all dealing with these these stresses and but but what I walked into in New York City, like I said being the epicenter, certainly of the virus and and how it was affecting our communities, you know, the club's response to COVID-19. And the unique circumstances we have in New York is something that was very evident to me and something that that, you know, I've been really impressed with, I mean, our focus was entirely on those underserved communities and our fans and our staff and making sure everyone was taken care of, and staying true to those those very core values of the club. So in the future Getting stages of the pandemic, the club announced our partnership with the Yankees to create a $1.4 million COVID 19th Disaster Relief Program for NYC FC and Yankees game day staff. The club at our partners donated 143,000 meals to New York common pantry in the Bronx, which went directly to the South Bronx community an area that you know, was hit really hard during this pandemic. The club created a resource hub, stay healthy stay home that brings together fans, staff and our first team players and just you know, and and, and the way that the club, you know, took care of its of its own staff by not following or reducing compensation, you know, it was sort of like these are all things that are important to us, the fans listening to what was important to them and their feedback. And you know, we chose not to pause payments for season ticket holders for the 2020 season. So, you know, all of those things are what I will Walked into seeing a club that wow genuinely cares about staff cares about its fans cares about the communities in which it's, it's connected. And, you know, as challenging as the circumstances have been, you know, seeing that that's the organization I've walked into has been, you know, just so, you know, impressive for me and made my transition a lot easier to know that, yeah, we're all in this in this challenging time, but we're in it together. And this club is doing everything I can, you know, to help those that that are so critical to its success.
Unknown Speaker :So the fans, you know, obviously the fans are involved in this as well. This is not some sort of top down issue. I mean, they're living COVID they've surely understand the challenges you all have. How have they reacted so far to the outreach you guys have had and the communication you've had with them? I mean, they're, they're really, really at the end of this. How
Unknown Speaker :to find the right words. How did they feel about everything that's happening.
Unknown Speaker :You know, I think our fans have been amazing. You know, it's definitely our priority to keep bringing them closer to the club and the players they love. And, and we're trying to do that, in this environment where, you know, we desperately want to be playing in front of them in stadium and we can't do that right now. But they've been they've been awesome in terms of staying connected with us and we've hosted some really cool town hall meetings with with some of our our supporters, to stay connected with them where they've got an opportunity to interact with us at the club level and, and just make sure that they know that that you know, they're they're the heartbeat of our of our of our club and we want to stay connected with them in the best way that we can. Everybody is looking forward to at some point getting back out on the field and working towards that goal, but we all recognize, you know, the the severity of the situation that we're in and the importance of, of doing it in a, you know, the right way and the best way for everybody. So, yeah, it's it's we've been trying to be creative about it, but I think our fans have been have been tremendous and supporting us throughout this time.
Unknown Speaker :And as the league held off any hard announcements if they have I've missed it any hard announcements on what happens after the Orlando tournament?
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, there hasn't been anything announced yet. You know, I think it's it's we're so focused on the MLS is back tournament in Orlando, which is really, I think, exciting for everybody. We're looking forward to I know our players are looking forward to it. I know our fans are looking forward to it. And I think that's been the real focus for everyone. I think there's, there's there's a lot of talk about what we do afterwards and being able to return to our markets and I think everyone is hopeful we can we can do that sooner rather than later. And it's In a safe and, you know, environment for everybody.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, I agree. I think the tournament's a great idea. I understand those naysayers who are concerned about risk but you know, right now there seems to be risk in anything you do. And you know, it is the business and is the life that everyone's assigned, you know, stepped up to and you know, I think as a player if I was a player, I'm sitting there looking at the Bundesliga. I'm looking at EPL back now. Yeah, the women are back in this country. So, you know, let's go let's go do this. And I also see you know, some of the reports and some of the team showing up with some people positive and, and that's never good, but it'd be nice to see him get back out on the field and start to compete. I can imagine it's a huge relief for you know, your your hardcore supporters and others around New York to see, you know, somebody's out there actually competing, so that's cool. That's good stuff. Yeah. So so let's Answering a question it's an interesting thing I find about the soccer fan base in this country is just the the spread of knowledge you know from from hardcore expert to you know my daughter plays on a club team type of thing and everything in between. But you guys have a really interesting situation with your ownership with your relationship with Man City and I know you haven't been there years but you've been there long enough and you've watched it long enough. Share with us a little bit about you know, how that manifests itself how it works day in and day out.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, so you know, it's interesting that you bring that up because it was really also one of the one of the main drivers for me making the decision to join the club. We do have a unique ownership structure with City Football group who's the parent company who owns NYC FC and also owns Man City and we own and we all tell him not clubs around the world and there's really nobody else you know, with that, that unique structure. So, so we do work closely with our colleagues at CFG in Manchester and across the globe. And we definitely believe that that relationship is a is a huge you know, and strong advantage for us both on the sporting side and the business side. And there The advantages are probably more obvious on the sporting side just in terms of our global scouting network, which is really second to none. But but the advantages of in terms of sharing best practices and innovative ways of working and commercial partnerships all you know, contribute to help make us stronger. But But we definitely operate you know, with the most important and immediate decisions that directly impact our club and fans are made here in New York. So our Vice Chairman, Marty Edelman is a New Yorker, he's he's extremely focused on NYC FC has just been a tremendous resource for me and for the club. And our other executives and even though I've only been here a short time I already you know see and and can feel how important NYC NYC FC is as a priority for CFG and the high ambitions that they've had for the club have not changed since day one they still expect us to live trophies first and foremost and that's what we're striving to do from the front office staff to the coaching staff so it's it's really the best of both worlds, you know, having that having that ownership that ownership group that really supports us but yet provides us with that, that ability to to operate independently in our own market here in this country and it's a like I said it was a huge driver for me even you know, evaluating the opportunity.
Unknown Speaker :I can imagine that's it that's that's exciting stuff. Okay, so we're
Unknown Speaker :we're on the downside of this. So we are going to do a couple of have sort of quick fire. You know, someone will require more than one word answers. But we'll keep moving along here and wrap this up. So let me start first with and we touched on it, but Orlando what constitutes success for the club? From the team in Orlando.
Unknown Speaker :So if, if Dave Lee, our sporting director were here, his answer would be winning. That's I think that's I think that's the top team goal winning in Orlando.
Unknown Speaker :Excellent. And this one's maybe a little more complicated the outlook for 2020 in your mind, what happens once they come back?
Unknown Speaker :So I think like we're all working closely with the league right now to see what the rest of 2020 looks like and and throughout MLS. You know, we believe that we'll be able to finish the season in some capacity. I have every confidence that the league will, you know, be able to make this happen and I truly hope you know, we're playing in league MLS matches in a safe environment before before too long. And we'll keep working with the league and local government. And as soon as we have, you know, that that laid out in that picture figured out, you know, we'll we'll be ready to do t
Unknown Speaker :at. That's a piece I think a lot of fans want to forget. And you just mentioned it. But, you know, you don't get to make the decision on your own. It's not just an MLS decision or a club decision. I mean, these governments and communities and the people who live there also have a say on what happens, especially with public gatherings. So that's a that's a great little point you just made there. So next question is, let's take COVID out for a second and pretend it's not there, which is almost impossible to do. But what would the top two or three priorities be for a CEO of an MLS club in New York City to
Unknown Speaker :ay? So I think Well, for me, specifically, you know, the stadium project. Having our own stadium is a huge priority for us and and that's something that I work on every day. We've got a huge working group that works on every day. That's our goal. And I'm really, you know, excited about that project. So it's important for us. And then I think, you know, just in general, for me, looking at the club, so much has happened in the last five years of the club's existence, and we have so much more that that we can accomplish. And I feel like we're at a very transformational time, you know, for the club, and it's exciting for me, just in general to be part of that vision, be part of that growth and, and looking at, you know, what we look like, you know, five years from now 10 years from now particularly with with World Cup 2026 coming in New York, you know, hopefully being a center of that and taking advantage of growing our our fan base even more continuing to provide more value for our artists, currencies and ticket holders, and then just continue to do more work in the community. You know, it is Like I said before the ethos and, and just part of who we are as a club, and that's our focus and something we'll continue to build upon and have even more impact long term in our communit
Unknown Speaker :es. That's fantastic. And look before I start getting emails about, you know, why don't you ask about the stadium, I just want our listeners to know that I'm not going to ask about the stadium because it's a you know, it's a process and I've been through it in a lot of different cities, including New York and, man, there's and we talked about it here a couple issues a couple episodes ago with the Austin folks, you know, they got all the land you could possibly imagine in Texas, and they were still having, you know, fits trying to find the right location that everybody thought was was the right location, but then also get the deal done that made sense. And think about going to New York, all you have to do is fly in, fly out. Take a look around and see. I mean, I've looked at every park in here today gone. Well we could put a station They're a good way, you know, I mean, they just don't exist. So we all wish you well, we're looking forward to that day for sure. And I think we also know it's not easy. Going through the process. So we'll, we'll spare you there for now, we're not a journalistic operation here. So we have a break any news? Last couple questions? Gen. One? Personal one, which professional position has brought us the most joy? And which one? Would you say you left feeling like there was still some unfinished busin
Unknown Speaker :ss? So that's a good question. I think they've all they've all brought, you know, joy in some way, shape or form at certain points in my career. I'm the one I will say, you know, that I thought was, I still look back on is probably one of the most challenging but also the one that brought me the greatest satisfaction was with depth ups the opportunity to push the needle on women's sports and to be part of of helping that league grow and grow a fan base and just help grow the game was something that was really important to me having the first time we had you know, I poaches fans, parents come up to me thanking us for the work we were doing and, and for for providing role models for their daughters. I think that's also the one where I feel like there was unfinished business in the sense that, you know, our demise was, I think, hastened by some internal, you know, turmoil, we were going through that, but for that situation, you know, we might have been able to hold out a little bit longer. We had a lot of challenges at the time, and when I look back on it, but you know, we had the best product in the world on our field, all the best players in the world played in WPS. And when we shut down and there was a year taken off between that and Ws You know, I feel like players, you know, sort of had other opportunities they went to play elsewhere in the globe and, and, and NW ESL I'm so proud of what what they've been able to accomplish and how long they've been able to survive and thrive. And Lisa bear is doing a tremendous job. And as you said before, they're playing now and it's, you know, it always makes me smile to see what the women are accomplishing. But it's a different landscape now, and there's so many more opportunities globally for women to play now, which is great for the women's game. You know, it's just a different environment that we have with WPS I sometimes look back and just wish you know, we've been able to try to hold that one out a little bit longer and see where we could have gone with
Unknown Speaker :it. I'm going to bring it back next week because next week, we are actually dedicating the week two and Ws L and we have some love and the commissioner right now penciled in and we're trying to lock that stuff down this afternoon, but yeah, It's, it's exciting to see him back out in the field. And, you know, I've known Lisa for a long time and I think she'll do a great job but the groundwork is been, you know, put in and you were part of that. So congratulations. And, you know, hopefully they can take this to the next level. That's, that's the hope anyway, so. Okay, so, um, last two questions, we asked everyone, the first one would be, what does NC FC do better than anyone else? Your m
Unknown Speaker :nd? So I think NYC FC hands down. It's our, our work in the community and our connection with our fans. You know, it's only been a short time but but but both of both of those things, you know, sort of flow up into me within the organization. And I don't think there's anybody out there who does a better job working with the community than we do. And in our short, you know, five years we have been you know, nominated for Or ESPN, humanitarian sports Team of the Year award three times. There's no New York club professional club that can say that they've got that. And so, you know, I'm really proud of what we've accomplished in that time from the community. face and then just our fan base, I think our fan base is second to none our connection with them, our supporters, our city club memberships, members, they they they come out for us day in and day out. And they've been so supportive of us during this, this pause and play. And so I think, I think those are the two areas that we really we really excel, and that's fan
Unknown Speaker :astic. And it is a great story and it's it's nice to see people making that investment in the communities especially so last one. Any great stories along the way that you want to share with our listeners or any shenanigans you want to share and we'll protect the guilty h
Unknown Speaker :re but shenanigans one of my favorite ways to describe some of what's out In my career, I mean, you know, looking back Look, I've with women's soccer the challenges we faced, you know, Arena Football League being the last person to to to shut down the the office and turn off the lights when that league went into bankruptcy I was I was, you know, in a unique position but you know, we talked about before all of those those crises and things that lead you along in your career to a place where you say, what else can you throw at me? You know, when I started on April 13, with NYC FC in the midst of a global pandemic, I also had just was being tested that day for the virus. So the first three weeks on the job, I literally, you know, was homeschooling three kids starting the new job remotely and I'm sick with with COVID. So it's been a heck of a couple of months for me coming into this and, you know, a very unique time but like I said, you know, what, doesn't kill us makes us stronger. So you know, I have that attitude of what else can you throw up? Because if I can handle COVID and homeschooling three kids while I'm starting a new job remotely I think I can handle pretty much anything that comes my w
Unknown Speaker :y now. I'm just gonna give you credit for homeschooling because I think I would take a pass on that when I leave. gone fishing forever. I'm like I'm out of here and I've got a background I'm still in ever
Unknown Speaker :teach every first grade teacher out there I think deserves a lot of money because my my seven year old has been chall
Unknown Speaker :nging. Yeah, for sure. Well, look, thank you, Jennifer. Again, I really admire your work and leadership and soccer. I know you bring a lot to the growth of NYC FC. I think they're also lucky to have you on board. For our inside soccer listeners. We'll be watching closely now to see the success on the field and, and also in the community and keeping an eye on the things you guys do to build that fan base. So again, much success and again, thank you for
Unknown Speaker :oining us. Thanks so much, Phil. I really enjoyed it. I look forward to maybe coming back another da
Unknown Speaker :soon. Absolutely. Okay. So inside soccer That's 10 episodes, but we're not done yet. Next week as I mentioned earlier, we'll visit with the NW ESL. We've got owners and a commissioner on tap and we'll make those announcements soon. So tune in again Tuesday. Invite your friend to listen and be sure to catch all the past episodes which can be found on most podcast platforms or www inside top sports calm. S
Unknown Speaker :until Tuesday, everyone take care. Tha