Super Bowl experience teaches students team-building skills

In the week that led to the “Super Sunday” showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9 in New Orleans, students from the Sports Management Club made the most out of their chance to be directly involved with pre-game festivities.

Throughout their time in New Orleans, the LC group helped with various stations, including those set up at the Super Bowl Experience and NFL Fans First.

Senior Jaden Long, who assisted with operating games and taking photos of fans with NFL legends and the Vince Lombardi trophy, said he was amazed at the amount of preparation that goes into developing a Super Bowl atmosphere for the fans.

“This experience taught me the importance of teamwork,” he said. “There is a lot of work happening that people do not see.”

Junior Kyle Moore said his favorite part was interacting with the participants.

“We were there to provide an unforgettable experience for NFL fans and create memories for families, whether it was through intentional conversation with fans or helping families take pictures to be able to share on social media or with loved ones,” he said.

For senior Parker Lovett, the networking opportunities were beneficial.

“We met a lot of individuals in the sports industry who have jobs a lot of us dream to acquire one day, so getting to work with them hands-on was a unique experience,” he said.

Associate Sports Management Professor Dr. Clay Bolton said these types of experiences help students build connections and gain real-world knowledge about the industry.

“Our group made lasting memories and was able to see what happens behind the scenes leading up to and on gameday at arguably the largest sporting event in the United States!” he said.