Sport management students gain marketing, communications, event operations skills through collaboration with SU Athletics at Spring Football Game

Consistent with the Department of Sport Management’s deep commitment to integrating real-world, hands-on experience with classroom studies, SU students enrolled in Assistant Professor Gina Pauline’s SPM 444, “Sport Marketing” course have been involved in a semester-long collaboration with the Department of Athletics to help promote the April 17 annual Spring Football Game at the Carrier Dome.

For the annual Spring Football Game, the students in the College of Human Ecology’s sport management program have focused their efforts in marketing, media relations, event management and sponsorship activities surrounding the game, which offers the first opportunity to see the 2010-11 Syracuse University Football squad in action.

According to Pauline, the students began the project with an objective of getting a minimum of 5,500 fans in attendance. “The students have had to work extremely hard to not only brainstorm ideas but more importantly, to implement them into a large-scale event. In doing so, this project has provided students with experience that will set them apart from other candidates when they apply for internships and jobs,” says Pauline.

“We are thrilled to continue the great partnership with the students of the Department of Sport Management in marketing the Spring Football Game. The students enrolled in the sport marketing class this semester have worked directly with our staff in Athletics to promote it. We encourage the community to come enjoy a fun-filled day on Saturday and support our team and the students who assisted in marketing the game,” says Scott Sidwell, executive senior associate athletics director.

“Rather than just learning definitions, lists and theories in a classroom setting, being involved with the SU Spring Football Game has given us the opportunity to be a part of a real world business experience,” says Tyler Young, a senior majoring in sport management.

“This experience has been very hands on and has allowed me to apply textbook concepts to real-life situations. I have faced obstacles along the way, but even the most challenging tasks can become valuable learning experiences. I definitely feel this experience will help me in the future with my career endeavors in sport management,” says Thuong Hoang, a junior sport management major.

According to Ashley Neiman, a senior sport management major, the students will know their hard work has paid off with a good turnout at the event. “Hopefully, the work of my peers and I will show at the event and there will be 5,500 fans at the Spring Football Game.”

Earlier this semester, students in SPM 444 assisted the Syracuse Crunch staff who hosted the American Hockey League’s first outdoor hockey game, the Mirabito Outdoor Classic. The students were involved in areas including ticketing, hospitality, VIP operations, marketing, promotion, parking and sales.

The 2010 Spring Football Game is open to the public and includes free admission and free parking. There will be various other activities, including face painting, pictures with Otto and the SU Dance Team. After the game there will be an autograph session with the student-athletes as well as youth football activities on the field with former SU and current NFL player Steve Gregory. For more information about the game and related activities, contact SU Athletics at (315) 443-7673 or tlbowman@syr.edu.