The Next Big Thing

The tension in the room seemed to heighten as Joel asked the question again, despite Ed having already provided an answer.

Ed, hearing this, furrowed his brows and said, "Sir, it’s, Ehm, just like I said—these are the players we’re intending to buy this summer. They should be more than—"

Before he could finish, Joel slammed his hands on the table, shouting, "Enough!" Clearly, that was not the response he had hoped for.

Joel Glazer, the second son of the late businessman and billionaire Malcolm Glazer, had come from humble beginnings in real estate before branching out into healthcare and other industries. But his most successful venture had been in sports.

Malcolm had acquired both English giants—Manchester United of the Premier League and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. Both clubs had experienced massive growth under his ownership, generating enormous profits. The jewel of it all, however, had been Manchester United.

That was in the past. Now, while Manchester United was still making a profit each year, its earnings continued to grow, surpassing Tampa Bay in revenue.

Recently, things had taken a surprising turn. His brother’s NFL club, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had been making serious waves. They had signed Tom Brady—arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of American football. It wasn’t just the signing that made headlines; it was the immediate impact. With Tom at the helm, the Buccaneers secured back-to-back victories and were on their way to becoming Super Bowl champions, clinching the second title in their franchise history.

For Joel Glazer, it wasn’t the trophies or the wins that piqued his interest. As a businessman, the allure was in the numbers—the projections and the profits. That was the real game for Joel.

Yes, Manchester United was earning more. Yes, their valuation was higher. But just like the loyal fans, the club was coasting on history. The projections, however, told a different story. Joel’s data analyst had created a graph showcasing the club’s current value of $3.81 billion and its expected growth over the next five years. If they maintained their current level of play and accounted for the rise in sports viewership along with broadcasting and sponsorship rights, Manchester United’s valuation was projected to soar to $6 billion.

A staggering figure, nearly doubling the club’s worth. Their revenue for the current year stood at £500 million, with projections suggesting a record-breaking £661 million by 2025. For Joel, these numbers were more thrilling than any championship—because in his world, the scoreboard was measured in dollars.

Joel had been pleased when he first saw Manchester United’s valuation projections. But that sense of satisfaction quickly waned when he turned his attention to his brother’s team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.