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SPTE Students and Faculty Attend the National Sport ForumLuke Reasor, Catherine Luthren, Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, Andy Sipes and Cecily Faenza enjoy the banquet at the National Sport Forum in Baltimore.
The National Sports Forum is one of the top sport industry conferences in the world. Representatives from hundreds of sport and entertainment properties attend each year eager to share and learn valuable information to utilize in their business practices. The Forum is structured to provide attendees numerous opportunities to not only listen to formal presentations but to also attend smaller break-out sessions. It provides an opportunity for attendees from divergent sport entities to expand their horizons beyond their sport, league, or conference.
The 2010 Forum was hosted by the National Football League’s Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, MD, on February 1-3. One component of the 2010 Forum was a graduate student Case Cup Competition that attracted students from 10 of the top sport management programs in the United States. Students working in groups of four were provided a case and given 24 hours to research potential solutions, prepare appropriate written documents and present their findings to a panel of judges. The University of South Carolina’s team included Cecily Faenza, Catherine Luthren, Luke Reasor, Andy Sipes and faculty advisor Dr. Mark Nagel. The 2010 Case Cup topic was “Childhood Obesity an Epidemic: Reducing Childhood Obesity in America by 2015”. Arizona State University and George Washington University reached the finals with Georgia Washington University being awarded the 2010 Case Cup Championship.Andy Sipes, Luke Reasor and Cecily Faenza prepare for the Case Cup Competition.
The 2010 Forum attracted 700 attendees from various aspects of the sport and entertainment industry. Some of the featured speakers included: Steve Bisciotti, owner of the Baltimore Ravens; Andy MacPhail, president of the Baltimore Orioles; Kenneth Feld, chairman & CEO of Feld Entertainment; Cal Ripken, Jr., CEO of Ripken Baseball; Kevin Plank, chairman & CEO of Under Armour; and Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals.
Attendees of the forum were provided behind-the-scene tours of Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yard and Ravens Stadium. Upon completion of the tour of Ravens Stadium, attendees enjoyed the Budweiser Gala, the signature event of the Forum.
Participating in the National Sports Forum and the Case Cup competition was a valuable learning and networking opportunity. Luke Reasor commented that it was “one of the most valuable experiences of his career. Dr. Nagel said, "The Department of Sport and Entertainment Management is already making plans to attend the 2011 Forum in Louisville, KY." |
