Last month, University of Guelph students had the chance to learn more about the sports business industry and network with several professionals in the industry at the second annual networking event, Networking Night: a career in sports business.
The event was hosted by the Guelph Sports Management Association and offered the chance for all students with an interest in the sports industry to attend and network with industry professionals.
This year’s event featured industry professionals from five companies, including Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and the Guelph Nighthawks, a new Canadian professional basketball team in Guelph.
The event’s keynote speaker was Dan Lauer, Coordinator of Global Partnerships at MLSE. He spoke to students about his years within the MLSE organization and about his journey to a position within global partnerships.
“Having the ability to network with people not only in the sports industry, but also in the supporting industries, really opened my eyes to how broad and expansive the sports industry is,” said Brandon Webb, a 4th year business student in the leadership and organizational management program.
More than 70 students attended throughout the evening, with one lucky student going home with a signed Nazem Kadri Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, which was brought by Dan Lauer.
The event took place on January 31st in the Fire Place Lounge in the Athletics Centre. Attendees and organizers were invited to watch and support the Men’s Volleyball Game after the event.
The Guelph Sports Management Association is an on-campus club for all University of Guelph students that aims to connect students with industry professionals and organizations. The GSMA offers a number of events throughout the year, including case competitions, social events, speaker series and workshops.
The College of Business and Economics at U of G also recently launched the International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership [1], an institute designed to collaborate with academics and industry from across the world to produce peer-reviewed and industry-impacting research of the highest quality and be recognized as a place where future scholars in sport business are trained.
