“That’s a winner folks!” Those famous words spoken by the late, great Jack Buck live in the hearts and minds of baseball fans everywhere. Sports captivate and intrigue people; they inspire and make believers out of all. The sports industry is part of our society and, for some, a way of life. However, not many people work in sports.
The John Cook School of Business has introduced the Sports Business concentration to its curriculum this fall. This new option prepares students for a career in the sports industry. Students learn the intricacies of a professional franchise, collegiate athletics and sports marketing.
The Sports Business concentration is the only one of its kind amongst our region’s Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredited business schools. It distinguishes itself from other schools’ because it focuses on all aspects of the sport management field, not just certain elements.
“I like how it provides Sports Business students opportunities in the industry that is really difficult to penetrate,” Colin Artinger, a junior in JCSB, says. “I chose SLU because it will provide me with the opportunities that I couldn’t have without it.”
The partnership between Saint Louis University and Sports Business makes sense. St. Louis is regarded as one of the best sports towns in the country because of its three professional sports franchises as well as an established Division I program right here on SLU’s campus. The resources that St. Louis offers are better because there was no dominant Sports Business program in place until now; therefore, there are jobs to be had.
“It’s a winning program for everyone,” Anastasios Kaburakis, Ph.D., assistant professor of management and the interdisciplinary program’s coordinator, said. “Our students need it, the University needs it, the city of St. Louis needs it and the sports industry needs it. The convergence of what is needed with what we can offer is remarkable.”
The curriculum includes courses in management, marketing, economics, and IT management and communication. All Sports Business students have the resources of the Sports Business Advisory Board, which includes members of professional sports organizations, agencies, sporting goods manufacturers and sponsorship organizations.
Another option that is available on campus is the Sports Business Association. This club is brand new and looking for support. It is designed to promote education of business in sports and to create opportunities for people to get internships in the sports industry.
“We want to build a strong voice,” Dr. Kaburakis said. “We want to continue the buzz and become a key player in the Sports Business field. The students are instrumental and we want to build this with them. I want it to be an integral part of the business school.”
Even though the program is in its infancy, it has the potential to become a noteworthy program when people talk about SLU. The stage is set for this discipline to pave the way in the field of athletics. The real question is, “Are you going to be the next general manager of the World Series champions?”
