Top of the big era

Zhou Buqi didn't know who this Joe Lacob was, but when he heard him talk about the San Francisco basketball team, he reacted instantly.

This is the Golden State Warriors!

The current Golden State Warriors are among the bottom teams in the NBA. Not only are their competitive levels poor, but more importantly, their business capabilities are too poor.

San Francisco is backed by Silicon Valley. Although it cannot compare with world-class metropolises such as New York and Los Angeles, it can be regarded as the largest city in the United States.

However, due to years of poor operations, the Golden State Warriors' ball market is in a mess, and Oracle Arena is less than half full.

Many locals have lost interest in the team.

The sports industry in the United States is so developed, with baseball, ice hockey, rugby, football... there are so many professional games to watch, there is really no need to watch the boring Golden State Warriors.

Unable to change the status quo, Warriors owner Cohan thought about selling the team.

And Joe Lacob is a true sports fan. In the past few years, he has always gone to Los Angeles to watch the Lakers games. But the Lakers are impossible to sell, and the Warriors... at least have a chance!

The NBA is an absolute monopoly league, without any promotion or relegation. Even if the team is at the bottom for many years in a row, it is still a member of the NBA league.

In this case, Joe Lacob has the confidence to transform the Golden State Warriors!

Joe Raco preached: "San Francisco is a big city. It has the largest number of technological elites in the world. The richest people and the largest companies in the world are here. There is no reason why a top NBA team cannot appear here."

Zhou Buqi's interest increased, "Managing a team is actually no different from managing a company. The reason the Warriors are in today's predicament is mainly the fault of management."

Joe Lacob nodded repeatedly, "Yes, so I want to use Silicon Valley's technological achievements and management philosophy to change this team. Silicon Valley has the best corporate system and corporate culture, and there is no reason to fail in the sports arena. "

This is true.

Zhou Buqi is far less fond of basketball than football, but the future Golden State Warriors will be so famous that they can be said to have single-handedly changed the entire NBA team.

Not only does it have the best results, the best management system and team culture, it also has unparalleled business achievements. The Warriors' earning power even exceeds that of the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, two big money-drawers.

With Lacob's backing in Silicon Valley, technological achievements can play a greater role in team management. Under the technological revolution of big data applications and big data analysis, the Warriors have repeatedly been able to select super talents in the draft. People selected in the second round are often better than those selected in the top ten picks.

Zhou Buqi actually has no interest in acquiring a basketball team.

Because basketball... This is not a problem with basketball, but a problem with the American sports industry. Too much commercialization leads to a lack of competitiveness.

Zhou Buqi has also watched a few NBA games. Compared with European football, the stadium atmosphere is completely incomparable.

At the NBA scene, fans were singing, dancing and eating popcorn, or they were happily participating in on-court activities during the intermission, admiring the beautiful cheerleaders' posing.

No matter how bad the game is, there are almost no boos and curses. If the game is not played well, the game will always be lost. The fans will not enter the stadium next time. They have no faith and no loyalty.

Football is different.

For example, Old Trafford, the home ground of Manchester United, once the performance is not good, the whole stadium will be booed. Swearing, throwing things, giving middle fingers and racial discrimination are commonplace.

This is much wilder than the business league competition.

The most important thing is the high level of loyalty.

Now that Manchester United is doing well, the attendance rate at Old Trafford will reach over 99%. But in the previous life, Manchester United's performance was very poor and they became the laughing stock of Europe. The attendance rate at Old Trafford was still over 99%.

The NBA scene is a grand party. European football matches are wars in peacetime.

Zhou Buqi prefers football matches. Even in the Chinese Super League, the atmosphere is much more lively than NBA matches. When he was a child, he followed his father to watch Aodong's A-League games. After every game, his voice became hoarse because he followed the Korean mother-in-law's slogans.

but……

This is the Golden State Warriors!

Under the leadership of Joe Lacob's scientific and technological thinking, he led the team to complete a gorgeous counterattack in just a few years, becoming an NBA super team and creating the highest peak of commercial achievements in NBA history.

If there is an opportunity to become the owner of such a team, it is still very attractive.

At least it’s an opportunity for the trendy play commune!

The main development direction of the current Chaowan Commune is European football, and there is no extra energy to penetrate into American sports events. However, Chaowan Commune is raising funds. After getting the money, we can actively expand our product lines, production lines, and teams. Sooner or later we will start targeting the NBA.

Taking the Warriors, who are backed by Silicon Valley, as the entry point is the best choice.

In addition, Zhou Buqi has a network in Hollywood and can connect with the Los Angeles Lakers; he also has a network on Wall Street and can also connect with the New York Knicks.

After winning the NBA's top three, Chaowan Commune has a basic base to develop the NBA's basketball blind box business.

So within a few breaths, Zhou Buqi made a decision quickly and decisively.

This project can be done!

Joe Laco said: "Actually, Cohan was interested in selling the Warriors as early as six months ago. I am an old friend with him. However, he did not make up his mind. After Christmas, he gave me a personal phone call , saying that he has made up his mind to sell the team."

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "NBA bosses have changed a lot recently. I read the news and it seems that Jordan also wants to buy a team."

"Yes, it's the Bobcats." Joe Lacob paused, "It seems that the league is going to introduce stricter management measures. Many owners feel that it is unprofitable, so they have withdrawn."

Zhou Buqi nodded, "What about the price? How much does it cost?"

Joe Lacob was a bit embarrassed, "Based on the current market value of the Warriors, it might be US$120 million or US$150 million. But this is a San Francisco team, backed by Silicon Valley, and has huge market development potential. . There are many investors bidding, and I’m afraid it will take a substantial premium to impress Cohan.”

Zhou Buqi hummed softly and waved his hand, "Okay, let's talk about the cooperation plan."

"ah?"

Joe Lacob was surprised and pleasantly surprised.

How many minutes has it been?

This is agreed!

He carried dozens of pages of material about the Golden State Warriors in his bag, and wanted to send it to Boss Zhou to read and use as a reference. I didn’t expect that people wouldn’t even look at it. He was so courageous and decisive!

Zhou Buqi said: "Let me tell you my requirements first. It's very simple. There are only three requirements. The first one is, no matter what the final transaction price of the Golden State Warriors is, we will split it 50-50, each with 50% of the funds, and each with 50%. % share.”

Joe Lacob happily said: "Yes, it's a fair collaboration."

Zhou Buqi continued: "Second, I am too busy with my usual work. I am afraid I don't have much time to participate in the management of the team. If we cooperate, the management and operation of the Warriors will be handed over to you in the future. ”

"Of course! It's an honor!"

Joe Lacob was even happier now.

If Boss Zhou gets involved and a layman guides an expert, he will be very worried. Lacob comes from a basketball family. He lived in Boston when he was a child, and his family were all Celtics fans. Later, his family moved to Los Angeles, and his family became fans of the Los Angeles Lakers.

He has been obsessed with NBA teams since he was a child.

The owners of other NBA teams are more interested in making money, including Michael Jordan. The god of basketball is the biggest hawk in labor negotiations.

Lacob is different. He is not short of money. He wants to play basketball and he really has feelings for it. He doesn't care how much money he spends to earn, he just wants to build a strong fantasy team.

If someone else interfered with his team building, it would be a hindrance.

Boss Zhou's delegation of power is what he looks forward to most.

Zhou Buqi extended a third finger, "On rare occasions, I may make some suggestions to the team. Of course, the implementability of the suggestions still needs to be discussed based on the implementation status."

"no problem."

Joe Lacob readily accepted this.

As a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, he really likes this kind of cooperation plan. This is a typical Silicon Valley-style cooperation model.

Just like a VC investing in a startup company.

VCs must completely delegate their power and leave it to startups themselves. Only on rare occasions, VCs will put forward some requirements to the entrepreneurial team based on their own understanding or needs, and both parties will jointly negotiate whether these requirements need to be implemented.

This pattern is all too familiar to Zhou Buqi and Joe Lacob.

Zhou Buqi checked the time, stood up, and handed over a business card, "In that case, it's settled. You can just handle the matter of acquiring the team. I believe in the credibility of Silicon Valley Venture Capital." . After the negotiation, I will sign the check. I am still busy and have to go to Oracle to see Ellison. If you have any questions, call him."

Joe Lacob was filled with admiration.

Larry Ellison!

That's a big shot on par with Bill Gates. Although Joe Lacob is also an investor in Silicon Valley, he is just a small figure and he really has no chance to discuss cooperation opportunities with big names like Bill Gates and Larry Ellison.

Look at Boss Zhou, he is really like "there are big bosses when talking and laughing, but there are no juniors when interacting with others".

Then, my heart surged.

It is really a great honor to be able to cooperate with Mr. Zhou Buqi to acquire an NBA team and then jointly own and manage it.

Look at their behavior, how grand they are?

Such a big matter was decided decisively in just a few minutes.

Power, just give it up.

He also showed full trust and gave himself full authority to lead the acquisition of the Golden State Warriors.

This is the real warrior!

Well, this must be done well!