SU’s Department of Sport Management and SU Athletics partner with Steiner Sports to market Syracuse Orange

SU’s Department of Sport Management and SU Athletics partner with Steiner Sports to market Syracuse OrangeAugust 23, 2006Wendy S. Loughlinwsloughl@syr.edu

An innovative partnership between leading sports memorabilia and marketing company Steiner Sports Marketing and Syracuse University’s Department of Sport Management and Department of Athletics will provide students with the ultimate hands-on learning experience.

Syracuse Steiner Collectibles will concentrate on obtaining, marketing and selling one-of-a-kind SU athletic artifacts, autographed merchandise, apparel, photos and game-used equipment. Students in the Department of Sport Management will manage the business under the direction of Steiner Collectibles CEO Brandon Steiner and Sport Management Director Michael Veley.

“This is a perfect example of ‘Scholarship in Action,'” says Veley. “Mr. Steiner has provided our students with the opportunity to turn classroom learning into real-world results. Through this partnership, students will develop business and marketing skills in a true organizational structure while serving fans across the country.” Veley developed the original idea for the partnership with Steiner.

Authentic items expected to be available through Syracuse Steiner Collectibles include furniture collectibles and autographed plaques created from the Carrier Dome floor on which the 2003 men’s basketball national championship team played, as well as game-used jerseys and balls. Other marketing opportunities include fantasy experiences such as “meet the coaches,” being on the field for a football coin toss, or attending a basketball post-game press conference.

Brandon Steiner ’81 is founder and chair of Steiner Sports Marketing, an 80-employee, $35-million enterprise. The company specializes in connecting athletes with corporate America through innovative programs, as well as offering high-profile, authentic memorabilia items from a veritable “who’s who” in the world of sports. Its inventory of collectibles includes more than 5,000 items, and its roster boasts more than 500 male and female professional athletes from virtually every sport.

Steiner, who is a member of the SU Sport Management Advisory Board, has worked with numerous top athletes, including Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, Derek Jeter, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Pat Riley and Cal Ripken Jr.

He is the author of “The Business Playbook: Leadership Lessons From the World of Sports” (Entrepreneur Press, 2003).

For more information about Syracuse Steiner Collectibles, contact Veley at (315) 443-9881.