KU Sport Management Students Collaborate with Swope Park Rangers for “College Night the KU Way”
By Dominique Kropp, KU Sport Management Doctoral Student
Perhaps one of the most beneficial aspects of the KU Sport Management Program is the opportunity for our students to work with professional sport organizations in the area to develop and practice the very skills they will be utilizing as they enter the field. Zach Scola, current Sport Management doctoral student and instructor for HSES 382- Facilities and Event Management, has guided his students as they collaborate with the Swope Park Rangers (affiliate of Sporting KC) to plan a special event at the upcoming Swope Park Rangers game on Wednesday, April 4th.
Students, faculty, and members of the community can take advantage of “College Night the KU Way” at Children’s Mercy Park by purchasing one of several ticket packages. One can opt to purchase a ticket at the discounted price of $5, or combine a ticket with unlimited food and beverage, transportation or both options. The round-trip bus will depart KU at 4:45pm, and is equipped with Wifi, outlets, water, and a restroom. In addition, upon arrival, a KU tailgate will take place before the game.
In discussing the collaboration with the Swope Park Rangers, Scola explained, “It’s been great to work with an organization like the Swope Park Rangers because it allows the students some hands-on experience, without having to build an event from the ground up. Rodrigo Futema (Business Operations Manager) and Tatum Cornelius (Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator) have been helpful in the structuring of my class, from the students marketing preparation to their sales plans. Having a class this small is rare, and I am extremely pleased that we could take advantage of it with this successful partnership.”
In addition, Cornelius expressed great enthusiasm about the collaborating with KU Sport Management students. “The Rangers are so excited to be working with the KU Sport Management Program on implementing their very own College Night at our April 4th home game. It’s always great to help students get these real-world experiences, while also getting to see their own creative ideas unfold in front of them. The students have been planning an awesome night of a pregame tailgate, ticket packages, in-game experiences, and overall incentives to get college students out to Children’s Mercy Park. We are so thrilled to see the whole night play out this Wednesday where students can enjoy a night of professional soccer for just $5!”
Without a doubt, the students who have worked hard to organize this event are quite thrilled to see their hard work come to fruition. Sami Laner, a junior in the KU Sport Management, expressed, “I have really enjoyed learning about the Swope Park Rangers and how the team succeeds on and off the field. It has been fun working with Tatum and Rodrigo on implementing our ideas on how to sell the event and bringing them to life. I’m excited to see college students go to this game and I hope to see this College Night game night be a successful annual event.”
“We are so thrilled to see the whole night play out this Wednesday where students can enjoy a night of professional soccer for just $5! “— Tatum Cornelius, Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator, Swope Park Rangers
Laner’s classmate, Gabe Herstig, expressed similar excitement, and plans to use the skills he has learned for a future internship. “When Mr. Scola told our class that we would have the opportunity to plan a College Night for the Swope Park Rangers, I was ecstatic. I’ve never had a class that was so hands on, so realistic, and so much fun. I took the passion I’ve gained in planning the event for HSES 382 and turned it into a summer internship, where I’ll be planning a golf tournament in Minnetonka, Minnesota. I can’t wait until April 4th rolls around, and I can’t wait to see our classes hard work pay off”
If you are interested in supporting both KU Sport Management and the Swope Park Rangers and taking advantage of the ticket packages offered, be sure to contact Scola at scola.zach@ku.edu by the end of the day on Friday, March 30th. Tickets can still be purchased at a discounted price through Tuesday, April 2nd by contacting Scola.
