Hundreds of broad-based sport management master programs exist that provide students with an overview of content across a number of topic areas. The problem with such a model is that students in these graduate programs may not get the focused specialization in any one area they need to successfully launch their sport industry careers. Syracuse University’s Master of Science degree in Sport Venue and Event Management (SVEM) was designed uniquely to provide students with a specific knowledge and skill base in managing and operating sport and entertainment facilities and events. If you have a career interest in this area, here is why the SVEM program may be the perfect platform to launch your career in sports venues and events. Our curriculum is designed to provide a set of courses focused on the management and operations of facilities and events in the realm of sports and entertainment. If you are seeking a career in areas such as stadium/arena management, events production and programming, and venue food, beverage, and hospitality, you will not find an educational program better served to educate you on this area of the industry. Additionally, you will find that SVEM coursework consistently contains theory-to-practice elements where students apply concepts learned in the classroom to actual industry settings in a hands-on manner. Each SVEM annual cohort benefits from a small class size, allowing a dynamic interactive learning environment. Throughout the curriculum, students work frequently in teams to collaborate on industry-based projects. Outside the classroom, students benefit from small faculty-to-student ratios in advising and mentoring opportunities. This attention also extends far beyond the year on campus in our program, as our students are forever members of the Syracuse University family and proud alumni of the SVEM program and David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. SU’s Department of Sport Management possesses one of the largest and strongest faculties in the world. Faculty in the SVEM program have an ideal combination of industry experience, scholarship background, and content area expertise to provide students with excellent teaching and mentoring. Learn more about faculty in Sport Management
Sample Courses
Courses center around sport finance, accounting and budgeting; sport event and hospitality management; organizational theory; sport law and legal operations management; technology and information delivery systems; facilities and venue management; communications; and event planning operations and management. Master students can select electives from the iSchool, Newhouse School, and the Whitman School spanning numerous topics including (but not limited to) digital advertising, media law, new media business, operations management, social media in the enterprise, marketing, and supply chain management.
- Foundations of Sport Venue and Event Management
- Sport Event and Hospitality Management
- Sport Facilities Management
- Marketing of Sport Venues and Events
- Financial Management of Sport Facilities and Events
- Game Day Operations
What Our Students Are Saying
Justin Brown ’15
My time at Syracuse University was invaluable as it helped me decide on a career path as well as provided me with real-world experience. After meeting with my advisor and discussing career interests, it became clear that sales was the right place to start my career.
I got right to work, interning with SU Athletics and the Rochester Rhinos. These experiences prepared me for the future, particularly when I traveled to the Mount Union Sports Sales Workshop and Job Fair in Cleveland, Ohio. I interviewed with several professional sports organizations at the event, including the Boston Celtics, who offered me an entry-level role on their sales team.
After graduation, I moved to Boston to begin my career with the Celtics. I felt very fortunate to be part of such a well-respected and successful organization, and I worked hard to make the most of the opportunity. After leading the Inside Sales Team in revenue generation during my first season, I was promoted to a full-time role. In early 2017, I began my current role as an Account Executive. I work with individuals and businesses in the Greater New England Area to develop client entertainment options, corporate outings, and memorable experiences through the Celtics.
Boston is a fantastic sports city, the NBA is an incredible league and I have really enjoyed my work here. I plan to grow my career with the Celtics as we strive for another NBA Title, while continuing to develop skillsets in sales, business analytics, and related fields as I look toward future career opportunities.
My advice to students: Put yourselves out there and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. Even after you are hired for an internship or job, the work does not stop there. Treat every day like an interview and make an impression on every single person you meet. This industry is all about developing relationships.
Our Facilities
Falk College’s Milton Conrad Technology Lab doubles as a student classroom and computer lab that meets the latest programming trends in event and sport venue operations, and provides students live game-day production experiences. Students train to operate live events using equipment identical to what is found at major sport venues, such as ribbon boards and a scoreboard systems controller.
Experiential Learning
SVEM students have the opportunity to take part in experiential learning trips to Philadelphia, Boston, and Lake Placid. Students meet with industry professionals to gain first-hand knowledge of what it is like to work in sport venues and events. Graduate students are then required to complete 9 credits of Practicum work outside the classroom in order to obtain their degree. This can be done in multiple aspects of the sport industry across the world.
What’s Next
Students who complete a Master of Science in Sport Venue and Event Management are well-prepared to pursue a job in the sport venue and event management industry or apply to Ph.D. programs in Sport Management with a specialization in sport venues and events.
Careers
SVEM faculty and staff emphasize the importance of career planning from the first days of the program’s start each summer. This one-year program goes by quickly and students are pushed to maximize every chance to take advantage of opportunities provided. Early in the program, students are encouraged to explore different career opportunities related to sports venues and events, but our philosophy is that students should identify a specific area of interest and work with our faculty and staff to execute a plan toward pursuing that career path. Ultimately, our SVEM philosophy is that the student must take ownership of their own individual career pursuit, and our role as the program, faculty, and staff is to work alongside students in that pursuit using a combination of teaching, advising, mentoring, and leveraging industry connections to assist students in their quest for fruitful careers related to sports venues and events. Some of the specific activities built into the program toward facilitating students’ career development include networking events, immersion trips, career matching, and workshops on areas such as resumes, salary negotiation, and networking. If your career aspirations are focused on sport facilities and events, we believe you’ll find no program better able to educate, mentor, and assist you in launching your career in these areas. Please find information below about the admissions process and on contacting us for more information.
Getting Admitted
For additional admissions information, contact the Office of Admissions at falk@syr.edu, or fill out our online form: