From coaching community sports to planning events and managing concessions, businesspeople are the driving force behind sporting events. A new two-year Sports Management degree at A-B Tech provides students with the skills needed to enter the field. The program also offers an online certificate that enables graduates to begin working in associate roles after completing only 18 credits.
Sports Management is not just about sports, said Business Administration Chair Brad Scott. Skills acquired in the program can be widely applied to Asheville’s vibrant community, qualifying students to work as facilities managers, sports event planners, sports marketing specialists, and more.
“Everyone says ‘I want to manage the Carolina Panthers’,” Scott said. “What we forget is that our community has bike trails and many events. When they leave, graduates will feel confident that they can design a 5K race, work with the YMCA to support community sports, or manage a basketball arena so it can bring in event revenue. This is having a real-world impact in [the things] we believe in here in Asheville.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), entertainment and sports occupations could see up to 13 percent growth in the next few years, more than twice the average for all occupations. Convention and event players may see an 18 percent increase, while coaches and scouts could see as much as a 20 percent increase.
Students in the program acquire a wide range of skills, including accounting, business law, marketing, and facilities management. The curriculum also includes the growing field of e-sports and online gaming competitions.
Along with classroom learning, the program offers the chance to connect with people working in the field through job shadowing at local events, including basketball games at UNCA’s Kimmel Arena and community events such as the Taste of Asheville, a culinary event organized by Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR) that takes place on A-B Tech’s campus.
Scott said graduates will be eligible to work in entry-level roles in sports and recreation management or go on to study further in business or sports-related fields.
Learn more at Business Administration: Sports Management A.A.S.