Super Bowl week has begun and the Baldwin Wallace Sport
Management Experiential Learning program is in full effect.
Arriving in Houston at a little after 1:00 p.m. on Tues.,
Jan. 31st, the students headed to the George R. Brown Convention
Center to pick up their credentials. After grabbing their credentials they
grabbed a quick bite to eat before heading to the Toyota Center to meet with
some of the Front Office staffers of the Houston Rockets.
Having coordinated a Q&A with Rockets Group Event
Executive Ashli Henk, the students were treated to a Q&A with Henk, the
Manager of Groups & Inside Sales Andrew Sidney, and Director of Ticket
Sales Cody Haynes.
Henk, Sidney, and Haynes addressed the many challenges
present in the industry and town with teams in the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, and
Division I NCAA athletics. Challenges are always present, but all three speakers
noted the importance of perseverance and stepping outside of your comfort zone
as key elements in success.
While the session was rife with quality questions from the
students and insightful answers from the panel, it had to come to an end, as
Henk and Baldwin Wallace University Assistant Professor of Sport Management
James Mattern had a special surprise for the BW students.
Wrapping up the Q&A, Henk led the group to the main
concourse and then into the lower level of the stadium. Once in the lower
level, the students were informed that they would be the pre-game high-five
tunnel for the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.
Upon finding out about this opportunity, Baldwin Wallace
Senior Matt Miller, who attended the Super Bowl 50 and College Football Playoff
Championship Game trips, said, “Somehow the surprises are able to continue. I’m
simply glad to be a part of another Baldwin Wallace Sport Management trip.”
The game, a 105-83 Rockets win, paled in comparison to the
pre-game festivities; however, the students enjoyed the evening and the faculty
enjoyed the presence of former NBA centers and Hall of Famers Dikembe Mutombo
and Hakeem Olajuwon in the arena.
On Wed., Feb. 1st, the students had training for
Super Bowl LI and were able to participate in the NFL Experience events. The
down time was unusual for the group on an Experiential Learning trip, but one
that is short-lived, as an early morning into early afternoon trip to Texas
A&M followed by a eveing shift at the NFL Experience is planned for Thurs.,
Feb. 2nd.
The trip to Texas A&M will be led by BW Sport Management
alum Thomas Dick (’95), who is an Assistant Director, Media Relations and
include tours of the Hildebrand Equine Complex, Reed Arena, Ellis Field, Olsen
Field, 12th Man Productions, & Kyle Field.
The day will be a long one for the students, kicking off
with a 7:00 a.m. departure for A&M and ending with an 11:15 arrival back at
their hotel. With that said, the students, faculty, and staff are all looking
forward to the excitement the day will bring.
For more information on the Baldwin Wallace University Sport
Management program, please contact Asst. Professor Dr. Charles Campisi at ccampisi@bw.edu or visit https://www.bw.edu/academics/undergraduate/sport-management/.
Baldwin Wallace University Sport Management: Experiential
Learning from Day One!
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