When you combine a great storyteller with a lifetime of great stories, you get . . . Brandon Steiner.
Steiner, who graduated from Syracuse University in 1981 and served as founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia for more than 30 years, visited the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics earlier this fall to speak with students from Falk’s Department of Sport Management. Steiner is chair of Falk’s Sport Management Advisory Council.
From his humble beginnings growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, to working his way through Syracuse, to the creation of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, and to the formation of his current companies, The Steiner Agency and Collectible Xchange, Steiner had plenty of colorful stories and business advice to share with the students.
Steiner first met with students from two Sport Management classes: Assistant Teaching Professor Alexia Lopes’ “Principles of Sport Management” class, and David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management Rick Burton’s “Managing the Sports Organization” class. Following the classes, Steiner had lunch with eight current sport management students (and one alum).
We asked two of those eight students, Erin Moore and Tynan Weathers, to discuss their experience with Steiner. Here’s what they wrote:
Erin Moore ‘25, Sport Management major, Emerging Sport Enterprise minor
“When given the opportunity to attend a lunch with Brandon Steiner, I couldn’t pass it up! From the moment he walked through the door, his passion for the sports industry was undeniable. Listening to his stories about working with New York Yankees legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera was incredible and they showcased his passion for building personal relationships with clients and consistently delivering beyond expectations.
“It was also inspiring to hear how he’s mentoring younger players, like current Yankees infielder Oswaldo Cabrera, to help them develop not just on the field but in their careers beyond it. During the lunch, he stressed the importance of going the extra mile, thinking outside the box, and developing strong relationships—values that have been key to his success in the industry. Overall, I’m incredibly grateful to Mr. Steiner for taking the time to share his insights with us and to Falk College for offering such a unique opportunity.”
Tynan Weathers ’25, Sport Management major, Food Studies/Business minors
“Talking with Brandon Steiner was certainly an enlightening experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories he detailed to us with subjects ranging from Derek Jeter to Oswaldo Cabrera. Mr. Steiner has a passion for the sports industry as well as a major passion for Syracuse University and specifically the Sport Management program. His discussion on both the NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) space and women’s sports brought in real world cases of how he viewed issues and solutions.
“However, my favorite portion of the discussion is the fact that he seemed genuinely interested in our backgrounds, as he asked questions to learn more about who we are and our areas of interest moving forward. A major piece of advice I took away is the importance of being able to dedicate time and make sacrifices that others aren’t willing to make. That’s what puts you ahead of your competition.”
Steiner Student Support Fund
Last academic year, Steiner worked with the Falk College advancement team and Department of Sport Management to create the Brandon S. Steiner Sport Management Student Support Fund that “supports health, housing, education, and overall wellbeing of Syracuse University undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Sport Management in Falk College.”
The Steiner Student Support Fund awards support for a single academic year, and students can apply for funds by completing this survey. A student can’t be awarded funding more than twice.
In addition to the Steiner Student Support Fund, there are other opportunities and awards available to students in Falk College. Please visit the Awards and Scholarships page on the Falk website for more information on how to apply.