Many clubs exist on the Mesa State campus to not only enhance one’s own college experience, but also meant to broaden a student’s view of the outside world.
The Sports Management Club was established in 2005 under Dr. Richard Bell to provide an opportunity for students to see how diverse the work field can be with a sports management degree. On their first of two annual trips to Denver,  members of the club were given an opportunity to establish potential networks. Members of the club went on toured the Pepsi Center and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Both venues host professional teams and have a large number of career opportunities that are sometimes overlooked by sports management majors.
Nicci Johnson, president of the Sports Management Club, continues to see growing benefits for the club.
“The Sports Management Club is a way for students to see how beneficial creating networks are for life after their degree,” Johnson said. “It’s a way for us to get connected with possible internships, meet fellow students and see just how many opportunities there are with a sports management degree. Working in this field is more than just an office job. Sports has such a broad spectrum, there’s so many different opportunities to take advantage of.”
The networking doesn’t end with a single trip, however, as members are also set to tour Coors Field in the spring semester.
“We’ve been lucky to be able to take the tours of the Pepsi Center and of Coors Field, but we’re hoping to continue growing as a club to create even more opportunities for networking,” Johnson said.
It’s not only trips to Denver that can open up such doors professionally. The club also prides itself on being a responsible, proactive community member. The Sports Management Club does fundraisers with such groups as the United Way and the March of Dimes. These fund raising efforts have helped the members of the Sports Management Club supplant themselves as positive fixtures of the community in the Grand Valley.
The club has seen positive growth since its inception and looks to continue that growth.
“We currently have 40 members, but we’re looking to add even more,” Johnson said. “You don’t have to be a sports management major to join, we’ll take on anybody who’s looking to better themselves in the work field.”
Interested members can contact Dr. Bell at 970-248-1365 or Nicci Johnson at 970-433-1640 for information.
u
chughes@mesastate,edu