LONDON -- U.S. baseball teams are luring some of the brightest and best employees in the country, who are turning down more lucrative careers because of their love of the sport, according to Oakland Athletics Exec VP Billy Beane.
Speaking at Wednesday's Leaders Sport Business Summit, Beane said that the Oakland Athletics and other MLB teams were attracting candidates who would otherwise work in Wall Street, investment banks or at high-profile technology companies. He added that baseball was "flooded with the best and the brightest." Beane: "They want to work for a sports team. These really bright people [with] PHDs sit in my office. They could be just across the bay and make three times what I am paying them. But they are passionate about sport. They have something to offer. In some respects, the fact that they didn’t play actually helps me."
Beane is said to be part of a consortium, including Chinese businessman Chien Lee and U.S. investor Paul Conway, to acquire League Championship side Barnsley. The consortium is to pay £20M for a 98.5% stake in the club from current Owner Patrick Cryne, who is terminally ill.
Beane did not speak specifically about the proposed bid, but he did address his love of English football. "The closest thing I can compare to English football is college football in the States," he said. "Away fans can travel. When we play the New York Yankees people aren’t going to fly six hours to watch our players. You have a unique environment. I was attached to the emotion."
Beane was being interviewed on stage by cycling club Sky Team Sky Principal Dave Brailsford. Beane and Brailsford discussed a range of issues, including data, the value of having a big budget and good teamwork. Asked about the benefits of having a big budget, Beane said, “There are some decisions in sport that cost of a lot of money, that are good decisions. Having a lot of money just gives you access to very good decisions.”
Beane said that he was “a big fan” of Arsenal. "I won't go deep into it, but I'm a huge fan of the Arsenal football club, because I think it's a really [good example], from the football field to the way it's been run, the stadium and everything," he said. "To me, it's an admirable football club. It's a football entity, with all's said and done."
Leaders is owned and operated by American City Business Journals.
John Reynolds is a writer in London.
