The Sports Info Business

These days, works seems to more and like survival of the fittest.  I continue to see people falling off the employment map, with a sharp focus on the sports business scene.  Less is more is the official motto for 2009.

My former students from Long Beach State continue to check in with me regarding jobs, careers and the pursuit of happiness.  It is not easy out there.  Here are full time and internship opportunities I have found that I am happy to pass along this Monday morning.

Internship

Organization Name: International Tennis Hall of Fame

Employment Start Date: June

Employment End Date: Mid-August

Wage/Salary: Intern/Volunteer

Job Description: An excellent opportunity to build your resume, while gaining experience in marketing and sports management. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is looking for additions to our Mobile Marketing Team. Volunteers will hit the streets of Newport promoting the Tennis Hall of Fame and museum. You will receive training on the museum, direction on how to market the Tennis Hall of Fame, and have the opportunity to work on special events.

Full link to site is here: 

Public Relations Director with IMG

Here, again is a partial list of responsibilities for the position with a live link to the actual job.

Responsible for fulfilling all media requests, which involves daily calls and e-mails.


Develop and enhance relationships with key media.


Organize, facilitate, staff and follow-up on all media interviews with the ISPA President, also the Chairman and Board Members as needed.


Draft and enhance key quotes/messages on a regular basis.


Conduct daily analysis of major consumer and travel trade publications and Web sites to track stories and trends.
6. Work with writers to develop angles for ISPA/spa member involvement in current news stories.


Responsible for the annual public relations plan, which includes assigning timely press releases for drafting and promoting coverage of ISPA’s events to media.


Serve as the final approval on releases and send them to media. 


Responsible for notifying membership of relevant media leads and assist the media in finding appropriate members to fulfill their requests.


Manage and grow the Public Relations Manager.

Link to job opportunity

College Sports Management Positions

Also finding lots of job opportunities in college athletics.  Here is a brief list with direct links to the positions.

The bottom line is, go through this web site and follow links on the right hand rail.  There are many jobs out therein sports management.  It just takes work, research, networking and a little bit of luck.

Good luck!

Today’s sports related opportunity leads have been found from Los Angeles to New York, range from Intern to Vice President and all relate to basketball.  Opportunities involve positions at the NBA, with the LA Sparks and with the Charlotte Bobcats.  The best and easiest way to land a job in sports management is by doing an internship or attending a graduate program in a sports related field (please see links on www.sportsinfo101.com) for additional references.  However, if one of those options is not available, take a sales job.  Every sports franchise needs someone who can sell.  If you have a passion for hoops, then consider giving the following a look.

The Los Angeles Sparks have several job postings listed.  Here is a list of what is currently available.

Director, Corporate Sponsorship

Ticket Sales Associate 

Project Manager Intern

Want to work on the international level? The NBA lists this manager job in Marketing/Advertising/Sales, thought it has been listed since December, 2008 so I cannot personally confirm it is still open.

The NBA has other jobs available as well.  Here is a job description for a Director Level job for Marketing and Media

The NBA is always looking to interview strong  new business development professionals at all levels from Manager to VP.  This role will be responsible for generating revenue through sales of integrated marketing and media platforms  NBA properties, e.g., USA Basketball, D-League and NBA.  The position is based in New York.

Another New York job with the NBA is at a VP level and is a financial position.

The Charlotte Bobcats, located in Charlotte, NC, have two positions I found listed, one is for Inside Sales Consultant and the second is for Account Executive, Season Ticket Sales  Both of these links wind upon the same page.

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at “Career Fest” on the UCI campus.

 It provides college students with the opportunity to visit with executives in different fields.  I sat on a panel speaking to students about marketing.  The executives that participated included an online marketer from Oakley, a president from a company that advises CEO’s, an independent practioner and a research analyst for one of the credit bureaus.

 During the presentation, I was telling a story and mentioned a friend who works for the Los Angeles Angels.  One of the students approached me at the end of the panel and said they were a really big fan of the Los Angeles Angels and wanted to work for the team. This is how a conversation usually goes for me when provided the opportunity to speak with people following a panel.

 Hi, my name is __________________

Nice to meet you.

I love the (fill in the blank) __________________ team

Do you know anyone there and how do I get a job with there?

 If it were only that easy.

 In order to have the opportunity to work in sports,  you need:

·      Luck

·      Timing

·      A lot of hard work

·      Experience. 

So where do you find the experience?  Angel executives usually do not meet people off the streets and offer them jobs. What they do however, is offer internships.

 So if you are looking to break into the business with a team, here is a little advice.

 1)   Luck – Cannot control it.  If you could, you would be in Las Vegas right now at the craps or Poker tables.  You need to create your own luck.

2)   Timing – Here you have a little bit more to work with.  Consider this.  If you want to explore a career in professional baseball, for example, think about the best time to approach the team.  Right before spring training, the all star break or right before the playoff stretch run?  Uh, no.  The best time to start working for face time and internship opportunities is right around the end of the season (if the team is not bound for the playoffs).  Talk to the human resource department anytime and find out when then hire interns.

3)   Hard Work – Go and get the experience now.  Start in the “minor leagues” and work your way up.  If you are in college, head to the athletics department today and find a way to get involved in your schools sports program.  Some schools are anything but minor leagues but to a professional baseball team, they want experience.  If you have already finished your undergrad and didn’t get the experience during your first four years, head to a graduate school that specializes in sports management. 

4)   Experience — See #3