Indiana, the capital city of Polis.

Conrad Hotel,

4th Floor Executive Lounge.

In a private room facing the street.

Able stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the bustling and bright city below and the city's traffic.

Although the city of Polis is small, it depends on where it compares.

As of 2001, there are still not many such cities in the world.

After 2010, as rabbits evolve wildly, more and more cities begin to build crazy infrastructure.

After that, there will be all kinds of bustling night cities in the West, except for a few places like Manhattan or the City of London.

The prosperity at night will be surpassed by the rising China.

This made the young rabbits who went abroad in that era feel very unaccustomed.

Many after visiting the cities of these capitalist countries.

In many people's hearts, they will say, "That's it?"

But that was later.

For now, the United States is still dominant.

After looking at the scenery outside the window for a few seconds, Abel turned around, he turned his back to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looked at the middle-aged white man in the room and smiled:

"Mr. Moseley. I have the financial reports of Genterson Entertainment for the past two years. You don't care how I got it, they're accurate anyway. In these financial reports, the vast majority of Genterson Entertainment's business is profitable, and only a small part is loss-making."

"That's right." Abel said to the FIA Vice President in front of him, to Max Moseley:

"The loss-making part of Gedson Entertainment's business is in the Formula 1 American station that they host."

Genterson Entertainment is a U.S.-based company that deals in media, hospitality and some travel.

The Indianapolis Speedway in the United States, the Formula 1 American leg of the Formula 1 raceway, is hosted by Gedson Entertainment.

For this reason, Genterson Entertainment pays the FIA and F1 a fee, close to 18 million dollars a year.

Max Moseley, as for him, is one of the current vice presidents of the FIA.

&, which is the abbreviation of the World Automobile Federation, is the organizer of Formula 1, which is equivalent to the status of FIFA in global football.

Max Moseley was also clear about what Abel said.

Every year, Formula 1 races are held around the world, and most of the organizers make money.

The United States is very evil.

It is one of the countries with the largest number of cars in the world.

Car culture has long penetrated into all aspects of this country.

But as the best race in motorsport, Formula 1 has been a difficult place to go in the United States for many years.

Formula 1 in the United States, even in the late 70s to mid-90s, was in a state of complete shutdown.

It wasn't until 1998 that a company stepped forward and hosted the F1 Grand Prix in the United States.

That company is Genterson Entertainment.

The company has hosted F1 in the United States three times, and this year is the fourth.

The first three times, except for the first year, I made some money.

The second and third times, I didn't make any money.

In parallel time and space, it is precisely for this reason.

The Indianapolis Speedway, after 2007, ceased to hold the American race of Formula 1.

Because I haven't made any money.

It took several years before a new wrongdoer came out and re-undertook it.

&The organizers of this Formula 1 car are also helpless about this.

In a way, the FIA's attitude towards the United States is a bit like that of their counterpart, FIFA, towards rabbits a decade later.

Looking at Abel, who told the truth, Max Moseley, the vice president of the FIA, looked at him:

"Mr. Smith

。 We all know these situations. But the reality is that we can't change anything."

If only it could change, and the FIA could do it. Then you don't have to do anything with the Americans or Abel.

The FIA, which wants to make money on the Americans, has long since taken the initiative to do it themselves.

"Leave it to me." Abel suddenly said, "I can change this."

Hearing Abel's resolute tone, Max Moseley frowned, "Mr. Smith, what do you mean?"

"I'll host F1 USA." Abel said:

"Then the FIA supported me and asked me to buy F1 Holdings."

Hearing Abel's request, Max Moseley opened his mouth silently.

The VP reacted quickly and immediately said, "I'm afraid it's going to be difficult, Mr. Smith."

"I've invited Bernie Ecclestone, and he'll be here tomorrow to talk to me." Abel smiled and said:

"Maybe Bernie Ecclestone will agree, maybe he'll refuse. But this is an attempt to bring F1 to the world's largest car consumer."

"I believe this is what the FIA would like to see the most. You don't want countries on wheels, the richest and most influential countries in the world, but there aren't many traces of F1."

Max Moseley was silent.

After a while.

The vice president of the World Automobile Federation, he whispered:

"Then why do you think you can succeed? FIA and F1 Holdings, what they have been working hard for decades and not being able to achieve, can you do?"

"Of course I can." Abel immediately replied confidently.

"Why?" Max Moseley said.

"I'm the boss of Smith Media. With Smith Media's imminent acquisition of NBC Television Network, Smith Media is on the verge of becoming one of the largest media groups in the United States."

Abel looked at Max Moseley, "As long as I'm the owner of F1. That F1 will get the most promotion in the United States. I believe that with the right means, F1 can become as popular as the big four leagues in the United States."

Max Moseley had a feeling that he was being persuaded.

The reason why F1 has not been taken seriously in the United States for a long time is that the ratings are not good.

The reasons for this are actually known to the FIA and F1 Holding themselves.

That is, on the American side, F1 has not let many American giants share the benefits.

What is not beneficial, the Americans, of course, will not vigorously promote.

It's a lot like how football is treated in the United States.

If there is a giant on the side of the United States who vigorously promotes it.

With the prevalence of American car culture, coupled with the huge influence of F1 among racing fans around the world

& In the United States, there has never been a time when it has been as successful as in Europe.

But if . If you want to cede the power of F1 Holdings.

Max Moseley doesn't think the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone will agree.

"It's still hard." Max Mosley said:

"Mr. Smith. Even if I agree, the FIA doesn't necessarily agree, I'm just a vice president. Even if the FIA had agreed, Bernie Ecclestone would not have agreed. More importantly, you and I both understand that the most important thing is the attitude of the car companies."

Abel knew what Max Moseley meant.

On the surface, when it comes to Formula 1, the most powerful is the FIA.

In terms of actual organization and control, it is actually the F1 holding company founded by Bernie Ecclestone.

If you go back to a deeper level, the real power of F1 lies with those car companies.

& Gain F1's influence and reputation, and F1 Holding Company gains de facto interests and control.

&The real people behind the scenes are those causes

This benefit of the car companies.

All three parties are indispensable, and the mutual compromise and cooperation between the two sides has led to the emergence of Formula 1 cars.

"If you don't talk about it, how can you know the result?"

Abel said, "You can take what I mean and go back to the FIA headquarters."

Max Moseley nodded, "I'll do it. Don't worry."

Able smiled, and Max Moseley left worriedly.

As soon as Max Moseley left, Abel was in the box, alone for a few minutes.

A few minutes later, he called David Jones in.

"What is Miss Lee doing now?" Abel asked.

"Miss Anna Lee, I'm drinking coffee and reading a book in the café next to the Executive Lounge."

"Miss Jessica Lee, just arrived at Indianapolis Speedway with Miss Bush."

David replied.

"Let's go." Abel stood up, "I'm going to see Big Miss Lee."

David smiled back.

Surrounded by his entourage, Abel left the business box in the administrative corridor.

Halfway through the lounge hall, Able heard someone calling to him.

"Mr. Smith? Mr. Smith? Is that Mr. Smith?"

In a place like this, few people make a loud noise.

As soon as someone makes a loud noise, it's easy to get everyone's attention.

Abel also looked over, and he saw that more than ten meters away, an old white man who looked to be fifty or sixty years old and wore glasses was being blocked by his bodyguard, waving to him.

Abel felt that this old man was a little familiar, and David whispered in his ear, "It's David Stern, the president of the NBA league."

was reminded by David, and Abel also remembered the identity of this little old man.

After thinking about it, Abel said to Edward, "Let Mr. Stern come here, and we'll go back to where we just was."

A few minutes later.

David Stern and Abel came to the business box where Abel and Max Moseley had just stayed.

"Hello Mr. Stern, I'm Abel Smith, and I'm the owner of the Houston Rockets."

In the box, Abel smiled and stretched out his hand to the little old man David Stern.

David Stern looked a little flattered, and he didn't know if he was pretending.

He hurriedly grabbed one of Abel's hands with both hands, shook it and smiled:

"Mr. Smith is the happiest thing I have ever felt this year to join the NBA family! I'm David Stern, and it's a pleasure to meet you!"

Abel pressed lightly, and David Stern immediately let go of his hand.

The two sat down separately in the business box.

"How did Mr. Stern get to Polis? I don't think there's a basketball team here, right?"

"Oh, I think there is." As soon as he finished speaking, Abel remembered that there was an NBA basketball team in Polis called the Indiana Pacers, and the home arena was now called Conseco Arena.

David Stern smiled wryly, Mr. President of the league, and didn't think Abel was making fun of the NBA league if he didn't immediately think of the Indiana Pacers.

Because in fact, in the upper echelons of this kingdom.

Many big names really don't pay much attention to the NBA league.

This is mainly due to the fact that black is too much in this league.

There is so much that it suppresses the white that the big people pay attention to.

This makes the NBA league, in the upper echelons of the country, especially among those stubborn white classes.

& The league is seen as an unpopular thing, and it is regarded as the least popular ball game.

David Stern and the league have always wanted to change that.

There are a lot of things in between, such as more lenient verdicts for white players, and so on.

But basketball is a sport that is inherently stronger in the black sport

To mobilize is to have greater talent.

The alliance had no choice but to let it go.

David Stern smiled bitterly and explained to Abel:

"I'm here for the Indiana Pacers. I'm talking to Herb Simon and Melvin Simon about some alliances."

Melvin Simon and Herb Simon are owners of the Indiana Pacers.

These two old men are the founders and owners of Simon Real Estate Group.

If the wealth of the two brothers is separated, it is roughly the same as that of Ikana's father.

Combined, it can be ranked around 380 on the list of America's richest people.

"Oh." Abel nodded, "I'm here to watch the F1 USA race, I bought two F1 teams and come over to see how they perform."

"Two F1 teams?" David Stern was surprised.

Abel shrugged:

"That's right. One was originally called the Prost team, and the other was originally called the Flying Sword team. Now they're called MGM and Tesla."

David Stern had heard of both teams.

As the president of the NBA league, one of the most familiar figures on the planet with the workings of commercial sports.

David Stern knows a lot about global business sports.

Including Formula 1 cars, which are far more influential, more watched and more lucrative than the NBA.

"Two F1 teams. It's Mr. Smith." David Stern smiled and said:

"You're the first person in history to own two F1 teams, and the first American to own an F1 team."

Abel looked at David Stern, and he said faintly:

"Actually, I could have been a man who owns two NBA teams at the same time, which is a world record. It's a pity that Mr. Stern, you won't allow it."

David Stern would love to give his mouth a blow.

This pot is not mentioned, but which pot is mentioned.

The president of the league laughed awkwardly, "The situation in the NBA league is different from that of Formula 1. I beg your pardon."

David Stern is not lying.

& The alliance actually put it bluntly. It is a business league composed of 30 teams.

Thirty teams are the majority shareholders of the league. The official of the alliance is the management and chairman recognized by these shareholders.

Under normal circumstances, the interests of shareholders are not touched.

The league has a high level of authority over the NBA.

But if it infringes on the interests of the vast majority of shareholders, then the alliance will only become a decoration.

Fortunately, most of the time, these 30 shareholders are never on the same page, and their interests and needs are different.

This is what allows the NBA league officials to have the greatest power in the league.

Abel wants to have two NBA teams.

This is clearly against the interests of the rest of the team owners, that is, the shareholders of the league.

These shareholders are unlikely to agree to this request.

In this way, the official of the NBA league will never agree with Abel's idea.

Abel didn't know this at first, but the advisory group made it clear to him later.

Knowing that it would be difficult, Able canceled the idea.

This is mainly due to his lack of obsession with the NBA.

If it weren't for Da Yao's feelings, Abel might not even have any interest in the NBA.

This idea was rejected, and Abel didn't try to get it anymore.

It's just a joke about David Stern at this point.

If it was Hudson's Bay City Plaza, it was something he was obsessed with.

With Abel's character, even if he knew that the success rate was low, he would bump into it.

Looking at David Stern,

Abel's heart suddenly moved, and he said again in a leisurely voice:

"That's right. Mr. Stern, the Rockets have been so poor this season. I was in the mood to watch the team play. Can't the league give some help to this kind of belly team?"

David Stern thought to himself, you're too direct.

Even if you want to cheat, would you like to be tactful?

And the NBA league, who doesn't know now that the Houston Rockets began to completely rot after you bought it.

In many games, I don't even perform a show, and the main team is half rested and all the substitutes are put on the bench.

Outrageous open the door to outrageous, outrageous to home.

David Stern had to reluctantly smile and say:

"No problem. With the current results of the Houston Rockets, there is at least a 15% chance of getting the top pick. If you can get the top pick, and then get the top pick, then the Houston Rockets will have a great hope of rising next year."

"Only 15%?"

Abel said, "This probability is too low. If not 100 percent, at least 50 percent?"

David Stern was embarrassed: "For the sake of fairness in the league, the probability of 15% is actually very high."

Abel nodded as if in approval, and then he smiled at David Stern and said:

"This year's talent show will also be held in New York, right?"

"Yes. at Madison Square Arena." David Stern said.

& The draft is usually held in New York, either at the home of the Nets or the Knicks.

"If you have time." Able smiled, "I'll probably go and watch it live."

David Stern immediately said, "What you say is true?"

There has never been a top rich man who has been to the NBA to watch a game.

But in baseball league and football league, especially in baseball league.

Not to mention the top rich, the commanders of the United States often appear.

From this point, we can see the attitude of the American upper class towards the NBA league.

If Abel goes to the draft this year, he will become the richest spectator in NBA history, and the most highest-ranking spectator.

In the beginning, this is also the reason why Abel bought the Rockets, and the NBA league passed almost in seconds.

At that time, the NBA league hoped to be able to see Abel in the audience of the basketball arena.

Who knew that Abel had bought the Rockets for so long and hadn't been to a single game.

"Yes." Able smiled, thought about it, and thought that he should add more chips, maybe it would be more stable.

He added to David Stern:

"When the time comes, I'll probably call Warren over. If Paulson was interested, he would have pulled him over."

Who is Warren?

Who is Paulson?

David Stern didn't react immediately.

Fortunately, the name Warren Buffett is too loud in the United States.

David Stern quickly thought of Buffett.

From the identity of a financial giant like Warren Buffett, I thought of Paulson of Goldman Sachs.

The thought that these two people would go made David Stern even more excited.

But what excites David Stern even more is yet to come.

"Oh. That's right." Able continued to smile, "If our esteemed Mr. Bush has time, I might as well invite him. I just don't know if he's interested."

Abel hadn't finished saying these words.

David Stern's heart was already beating fast.