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Students Gain Real-World Experience Working with Tigers, Red Wings
SARNIA, October 7, 2024 - When it comes to sales training, Lambton College students are getting a front row seat from some of the biggest names in professional sports.
As part of their Fundraising and Sport Sponsorship course, students enrolled in the College's Sports & Recreation Management program were recently given the opportunity to complete Fundamental Sales Training with both the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings organizations.
Working directly with the sales teams for both organizations allows students to gain real-world experience and insight into how major professional sports organizations manage group sales, build relationships, and work to find solutions for clients.
As part of their training with the Tigers, students travelled to Detroit's Comerica Park where they gained hands-on experience in Game Day operations, and learned more about the organization’s Business Operations.
Students were then tasked with testing their newfound sales tactics in the real world by selling single-game tickets throughout the regular season.
According to Aaron Ryley, Director of Group Sales for the Detroit Tigers, the students knocked it out of the park, selling over 1,200 tickets in the 2023-2024 season.
“The Detroit Tigers are ecstatic to be working with the talented Sports and Recreation Management students at Lambton College for another year of our ticket sales partnership,” said Ryley. “Lambton's emphasis on experiential learning has resulted in a lot of talented students ready for job opportunities following their graduation. We look forward to growing this relationship next season.
With the MLB regular season coming to a close, sports marketing on their mind, and a Sports Event Capstone course to complete, what’s a Sports & Recreation Management student to do? At Lambton College, the answer is simple: switch sports and sell more tickets.
Hot on the heels of their successful sales run with the Tigers, students are currently working directly with Dean Dickinson, Director Ticket Sales for Illitch Sports + Entertainment - Detroit Red Wings, where they're learning about NHL ticket sales.
In addition to gaining a deeper understanding into relationship building and understanding customer needs, students will also be handling ticket sales for select games for the Detroit Red Wings upcoming season
“We're thrilled to work with the Sports & Recreation Management students at Lambton College on this project, to spread the excitement of Red Wings hockey and provide a unique opportunity for students to get behind-the-scenes, first-hand experience at selling for a professional sport organization,” says Dickinson.
Real-world experience and exposure to global employers are one of the unique features that sets Lambton's Sports & Recreation Management program apart from other similar College programs. Students enrolled in Lambton's program are exposed to a variety of projects and activities designed to introduce them to potential employers and give them experience working in the field. In addition to working with organizations like the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, students also have the opportunity to work with the Toronto Blue Jays, MLSE, and the OHL's Sarnia Sting.
“At Lambton College, we're proud of our strong connections to industry, particularly the partnerships we're able to form through our academic programs,” said Rob Kardas, President & CEO, Lambton College. “Giving our students the opportunity to work directly with some of the biggest names in professional sports is a testament to our commitment to providing the real- world experiences that they need to prepare for successful careers.”
To learn more about these opportunities, as well as the community partnerships, mentorship programs, and university pathways available to Sports & Recreation Management students, go to lambtoncollege.ca/sram.