The Sport Business Program hosted several events this semester for students within the program, as well as other members of the Stetson Community. These events helped students gain insights into the industry as well as network with professionals within the workforce. Additionally, the Sport Business Program hosted the Women in Sports and Live Entertainment Professional Panel, with the participation of Geena Catalano, Angela Alea, Heather McCormick, and Duda Pavao.
The Sport Business Program embarked on two educational excursions this Spring. Among them, a noteworthy trip was organized to the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, where the students had the invaluable opportunity to observe and actively participate in the operations of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball sports organization that has taken entertainment and sports to a new level. Our students engaged in various tasks related to event management, including the setup and maintenance of merchandise stands, as well as assisting with customer services, fan relations, and ticket sales. This hands-on experience provided our students with valuable insights into event operations, marketing promotions, customer services, and sales, fostering their comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted aspects of the sports industry.
The students embarked on another enlightening educational excursion to St. Petersburg, Florida where they had the privilege of attending a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game. This visit encompassed an immersive tour of the stadium. The students explore its various sections gaining valuable insights into the meticulous considerations involved in scaling venues for different pricing tiers, targeted marketing for diverse fan groups, and the provision of amenities tailored to specific seating areas. The students had the unique opportunity to interact with team executives, gaining firsthand exposure to gameday operations and observing the intricacies of fan experiences within a professional sporting environment.
The Sports Business Program also had the opportunity to host many excellent speakers including:
- Jim Rooney: Partner, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Mike Millay: Former Disney Executive
- Gerard D’Ambrosio: Inter Miami CF
- Bobby Latmore: Varsity Sports Networks
- George Collins: Tampa Bay Rays
- Kraig Kann: Host of Sirius XM show “Tracks to Success”, author and former broadcaster on Golf Channel/NBC
- Matt Murschel: College football writer, Orlando Sentinel
Lastly, the Sports Business Association hosted their Night of Music on April 14th at Rinker Field in partnership with Persimmon Hollow Brewery. They had the chance to experience an incredible lineup of talented artists, including some of our very own: Treyfromnextdoor, Grammy-Award winning Trae Pierce & The T-Stones, Noah Campell, and the Liquid Pennies.
Congratulations to the Sport Business Association for their tremendous work this semester!