# THE BREAKDOWN: West Ham on the Brink, Are Sports Teams Just Brands & The WNBA’s Big Cash Play (E18)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/business-of-sport-6416151/the-breakdown-west-ham-on-the-brink-are-sports-teams-just-brands-the-wnba-s-big-cash-play-e18
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/business-of-sport-6416151/the-breakdown-west-ham-on-the-brink-are-sports-teams-just-brands-the-wnba-s-big-cash-play-e18.md
Podcast: [Business of Sport](https://stenobird.com/podcast/business-of-sport-6416151)
Published: 2026-05-08T09:18:52+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/business-of-sport/episodes/THE-BREAKDOWN-West-Ham-on-the-Brink--Are-Sports-Teams-Just-Brands--The-WNBAs-Big-Cash-Play-E18-e3j21sc
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/1090bf2d4/podcast/play/119653708/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-4-7%2F423703237-44100-2-23733e1313ded.mp3
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Duration seconds: 4773

## Resource

After a bucket load of requests, it’s time to talk about West Ham. I’ve been nervous about discussing them because I didn’t want to inflict the Breakdown curse and condemn them to relegation, but their situation on the pitch when reviewed against the wider business needs discussing. I think they’ve been getting off lightly. Add to that a look at what happens when a sports executive dares to suggest a club or team needs to think differently to thrive in this modern sporting environment, and the growth of the WNBA as it kicks off a new season this weekend. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at charlie@20vc.com and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly. ⁠We’re delighted to partner with Obelisk Sports Agency⁠ ⁠⁠https://obelisksports.com/⁠⁠ If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠bos@20vc.com

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## Transcript

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