The Syracuse Crunch hosted the American Hockey League’s first outdoor hockey game, the Mirabito Outdoor Classic, against the Binghamton Senators on February 20 at the New York State Fairgrounds. Forty-five students in assistant professor of sport management Gina Pauline’s SPM 324—Sport Event Sponsorship and SPM 444—Sport Marketing Management classes played a role with Crunch staff in all facets of the event. The students from the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’s Department of Sport Management assisted in areas including ticketing, hospitality, VIP operations, marketing, promotion, parking and sales.
Earlier in the month, Pauline and her students enrolled in SPM 324 played a dual role in the February 5 Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics in Syracuse. Students were present not only to support the athletes, but also to evaluate the sponsorship and marketing efforts of the event. The students findings and recommendations were then presented to the Special Olympics. For this particular event, students will be working with the Special Olympics on a bigger project throughout the semester designing and soliciting a sponsorship proposal for the summer games. In addition to the SPM 324 students’ involvement in the Special Olympics, members of SU’s Sport Management (SPM) Club and Women in Sports and Events (WISE) supported the athletes in the Special Olympics as “fans in the stands,” specifically floor hockey, on February 6.
Future activities planned for Pauline’s students throughout the semester will continue to illustrate the Department of Sport Management’s deep connections with the sport industry and how they translate to hands-on learning opportunities for SU students.