Gathering near their seats at Rocket Arena are (from left): Jaivon Eggleston, Dr. Sungick Min, Sarah Conner and Sonja Green.
They’re not Sport Management majors so far, but that doesn’t prevent non-majors from experiencing an NBA game through elective courses.
Sarah Conner, an Adolescence Education: English major, and Sonja Green, a Psychology major, are the latest non-majors joining a SUNY Fredonia Sport Management contingent at a professional sports venue. The group saw the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Miami Heat on March 5.
Each year, School of Business Associate Professor Sungick Min arranges to take a group of students to either the Rocket Arena, where the NBA Cavaliers play, or KeyBank Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.
It allows students to experience the sport industry firsthand, rather than solely relying on theoretical learning. Students can gain insight into the inner workings of sports organizations, such as event planning, operations and marketing strategies.” - Dr. Sungick Min
“This trip offers students valuable real-world learning opportunities, supplementing classroom knowledge with practical experience and industry insights,” Dr. Min explained. “It allows students to experience the sport industry firsthand, rather than solely relying on theoretical learning. Students can gain insight into the inner workings of sports organizations, such as event planning, operations and marketing strategies.”
The two non-majors who went to the Rocket Arena are enrolled in SPMG 210: Principles of Sport Management.” Students in SPMG 211: Facility Management have also gone on the yearly trips.
Ms. Conner, a sophomore from Brewerton, NY, described her experience at the Cavaliers game as an awesome opportunity.
“The stadium had amazing energy; everyone was pumped for the Cavs to win it. There was always something going on whether that be the dancers or the cheerleaders while the game was going on or the mini performances going on during the quarters,” Ms. Green explained.
“I never would've believed that I would be able to do something like this with my own major, so I am really glad that I decided to take a Sport Management class,” Conner said. “I'm even thinking of minoring in Sport Management, not only so I can keep having these experiences at games, but because class with Dr. Min is also a great time.”
The students’ seats were not in the nosebleed section; it was VIP all the way with ground-level parking adjacent to the arena, very comfortable platinum-grade seats, just steps away from courtside and a convenient lounge serving up all-you-can-eat snacks and other munchies. Fruit tarts were Conner’s favorite.
“The court had Jumbotrons on each side and there were seats as far as the eye could see,” Ms. Green, a sophomore from Ogdensburg, NY, noted. The great seats were probably only about seven rows away from the court, she added.
“There was always something going on whether that be the dancers or the cheerleaders while the game was going on or the mini performances going on during the quarters. Overall, the experience was incredible and something I would love to experience again,” Green said.
Expectations that Jaivon Eggleston, a junior majoring in Sport Management and Theatre Arts from Irving, NY, had for his second excursion to the area in as many years were exceeded, he said.
“The experience of going to the Cavaliers game will never be taken for granted, even though I am a Lakers fan. I appreciated the quality of the experience and I feel that everyone should get to experience something like this at least once in their lifetime.” Mr. Eggleston said.
He appreciates opportunities the Sport Management program provides and hopes the off-campus experiences will inspire students to join the program.
