BW students work Super Bowl LVIII for hands-on sport management experience

For the 12th year, Baldwin Wallace students participated in one of the biggest sport spectacles on the planet, and there are more mega-events on deck in 2024.

Baldwin Wallace University's sport management program notched an even dozen Super Bowls after another year of turning one of the biggest global sporting events into a hands-on classroom and networking opportunity for students.

While the Super Bowl may be the program's longest-running destination, it is just one in an expanding portfolio of high-profile, experiential learning opportunities that are a hallmark of studying sport management in BW's Carmel Boyer School of Business.

The week leading up to the big game in Las Vegas blended working high-profile activities, including the Super Bowl Experience, Merlin Olsen Luncheon and NFL Alumni PRO-AM Golf Tournament, with time to visit a few destinations in and around the host city.

Super-sized networking

Some of the 25 students attending were giddy first-timers, while others, like Kamaria Montgomery '24 from Louisville, Kentucky, and Vinny Lomeo '24 from Buffalo, New York, are Super Bowl veterans.

Montgomery says gameday is always a highlight, but students had a fresh experience on the itinerary this year. "The NFL Alumni PRO-AM was a new event and an exciting opportunity to network with individuals in the industry and learn a lot," says Montgomery, who now has a trio of Super Bowls under her belt after LVIII. 

In addition to professional connections, Lomeo notes the potential to rub elbows with sport legends. "I most look forward to the people I encounter every trip. I have had the opportunity to meet some outstanding individuals in the sport industry like Deion Sanders, Michael Lombardi, Kirk Herbstreit and many more."

Building industry connections

Another student who worked a third Big Game is Alissa Scattino '24. The Girard, Ohio, native, who also participated in the 2023 NCAA Football Championship Game, The Masters and others, also values the connections she forges working these events.

"Every trip, I keep building upon the relationships I established with people in the NFL, venue management companies and other supporting organizations," says Scattino. "These experiences are critical to establishing new relationships with people in the industry and have helped many BW sport management alumni connect and find careers once their time at BW is over."

Putting knowledge into practice

Third-time Super Bowl attendee Ryan Gorman '24 from Steubenville, Ohio, adds another voice for the value of networking, "These trips offer a motivating glimpse into potential career paths."

Gorman, who has put classroom knowledge into practice at a host of events, including the 2021 NFL Draft, 2022 NBA All-Star Game and two College Football National Championship Games, also expects to work The Masters Golf Tournament and the NCAA Women's Final 4 when it comes to Cleveland this year.

"My professors work closely with each student to match trip opportunities with our individual career goals," Gorman reflects. "I am incredibly grateful for these opportunities, which would not be possible without the efforts of the sport management faculty."

"We are really looking forward to the NCAA Women's Final Four because the Cleveland location allows a large number of students to engage," notes Dr. Charles Campisi, associate professor of sport management. "The Masters, NFL Draft, Kentucky Derby and F1 Miami Grand Prix will all have smaller groups and help provide customized experiences for guests of those events."

Alumni advantage

A dozen years of working side-by-side and connecting with successful professionals has also strengthened the BW sport management alumni network.

"BW is recognized as having a first-class sport management program," says Scattino.

"Many previous alumni look to BW graduates to further their careers. I can personally attest to that with my two summer experiences with the IMG Academy in Florida facilitated by a BW alum [IMG Academy senior associate athletic director Jason Elias '03]."

Highlights and Media Coverage

See more on BW's Super Bowl experience in coverage by Cleveland's WKYC-TV 3, WEWS-TV 5 and WOIO-TV 19, as well as Spectrum 1 Ohio, WKBN-TV Youngstown, WTOV-TV Steubenville, and WTRF-TV Steubenville.