The first week of December 2016 was one I am not likely to forget. Over the course of five short days, my fellow DePaul classmates and I, lead by the enthusiastic Professor Clark, raced around the city of Chicago - visiting sports organizations and learning all about the business side of sports. Notable takeaways and experiences from the week will give me the power and knowledge to succeed in the sports industry in the future.
As the sun rose on Monday morning, a well-dressed group of students gathered in the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University’s Loop Campus. After an introduction from Professor Clark, the students left the campus to explore the sports organizations dotted within Chicago’s city limits. My expectations for the course were simple. Get a glimpse into how the hospitality industry runs in relation to management in the sports industry, discover the differences in management between different types of sport, and gain networking connections that could help me to secure a full-time job in the sports industry.
My expectations were certainly met, and my standards for all other classes and networking events grew rapidly as I heard insider advice from all the major Chicago sports leagues in regards to how they run the business side of sports and spoke with multiple prominent people in the Chicago sports industry regarding tips and advice for everything from succeeding in an interview to exchanging business cards. This was a learning and networking opportunity of a lifetime - even more than I was expecting it to be. Going into the course, I was clearly expecting to hear insights from industry professionals, but I was surprised by the vast amount of genuine insider tips regarding navigating a career in the sports industry that I would have otherwise never known. I have learned that patience is key, sales experience is always a plus, and any display of pretentious entitlement will kick you farther behind than the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV.
This class made me excited to consider a career in the sports industry. I learned throughout the course that the ladder to success in this industry is a tall one, but with the advice, knowledge, and connections I have gained from this class, I believe I have the ability to make a great contribution to the sports industry in Chicago. Event planning and management is still my priority and main focus, but the industry in which I plan and manage events has yet to be decided. With the busy never-stopping schedule and the adrenaline of the game - no matter the success of the team - encouraging everyone, I think the sports industry would be a home run. My future in the sports industry is unknown, but one thing is for sure - the first week of December really knocked it out of the park.