Photo credit: Ralph Freso
A stadium or arena scoreboard may tell you who won a game, but when it comes to the business side of the sports world, scoreboards don’t keep track.
Tami Neely, who teaches at Grand Canyon University and is vice president of communications for the International Sports Science Association, told students to look beyond the scoreboard.
“Don’t go to the sports center with a notepad and look for the scores,” Neely said, advising students to keep their ambitions in check and just think about working for the team. It needs to be considered across the business world. “Look at what’s happening in the arena. You start to note down the brands you see. Those brands are reinvigorating the sport.”
Students didn’t have to look far to understand Neely’s point. Sitting next to her on the lobby stage at the Colangelo College of Business was Jeffrey Luck, chief marketing officer of Discount Tire.
Mr. Luck was featured on the “Beyond the Sidelines: Developing Non-Traditional Career Paths in Sports Business” panel discussion, where he and Mr. Neely discussed the sports and sports entertainment markets and preparing for employment in those industries. provided insight.
Discount Tire’s sports sponsorship deals include Team Penske, one of the most successful auto racing companies, and Major League Soccer.
Luck leads all aspects of Discount Tire’s marketing, including sports sponsorships with Team Penske auto racing and Major League Soccer.
Discount Tire is in its 16th year as a partner with Team Penske, which has won 47 national motorsports championships, including three consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championships (2022-2024).
Luck said the sponsorship with Major League Soccer is “a great fit for our brand in terms of the values that the organization embodies,” adding that the sport is growing in popularity.
So what impression does an interested job seeker make of a ruck, sports organization, or company associated with a team?
It’s important to show up on time and dress appropriately for the interview, he says. “You can’t show up disheveled.”
Being prepared is essential, but Luck takes it a step further.
“You need to think about what you want to learn from that process that day before you participate,” he said. “And it’s important to ask questions for the day. Bring questions to the table. Show interest.”
Neely and Luck acknowledged that while interviews can be scary, there’s no need to be discouraged if a potential employer doesn’t respond to your call or application.
“Someone’s going to (call),” Lack said. “You have to knock on enough doors.”
Ms. Neely told the story of how she contacted Mr. Luck without knowing anything about him, and Mr. Luck responded with a free dinner and a wealth of wisdom.
A willingness to work can separate you from those who put limits on your work hours, Lack says.
“You have to be willing to work,” he added, noting that wandering into an interview with a list of demands probably isn’t the best tactic.
Once employed, you will be able to work and think more independently and have an authentic opinion about what you want to do, who you want to be, and how you want to portray yourself. It will be.
Luck said the biggest gift is calling his parents after he gets his first job and thanking them for their support.
“It’s really nice when they say, ‘Mom, I’m an adult and I want to pay for myself.’ They’ll be happy that you’re finding your own way.” Luck said.
Mr. Neely pointed to the Colangelo Code of Ethics, which emphasizes integrity, honesty, respect and responsibility, etched into the university’s walls.
She also noticed how Discount Tire stands for integrity during a recent visit. Neely noted that the company offers some services for free, promotes from within and finds ways to maintain a strong culture.
“If something goes wrong in the store, people don’t get in trouble,” Luck said. “Together we identify the problem and then provide coaching and training.”
This panel discussion made a strong impression on Mateo Marta, a sports management major and director of the Sports & Entertainment Business Club. He said he learned a lot about always being prepared for interviews.
And Destiny Duran-Wise, a sports management major and captain of the Lopez women’s soccer team, will take Neely’s advice and pay attention to more than the scoreboard at games.
Duran Wise, former game day operations assistant for the Savannah Bananas, said he can see which companies have ties to different sports.
Another important lesson for her was to not push too hard into the work, but to listen and pay attention to know how to handle certain situations, and ultimately to develop one’s own code of ethics. is to remember.
“The best way to approach (work) is honesty.”
GCU News Senior Writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at (email protected)
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