SBS helps students enter sports management industry

When he first came to the University of Maryland, Sports Business Society vice president Ben Garner became a kinesiology major in an effort to find a path to work in the field of sports business.

Garner said he took a big step towards ultimately finding that career by joining the Sports Business Society.

"I think one of the biggest problems with our university is that there isn't a sports management major," Garner said.

 He defines sports business as anything from managing players to running game day operations, to even doing communication and writing about sports.

Garner said SBS tries to solve that problem by finding a way for students to meet sports business professionals through speeches, which can provide important networking opportunities and hopefully help members get their foot in the door.

Club Co-President Zach Nerenberg said sports management can be a hard field to get into, where you have to take any opportunity you can get.

"If you want to be an agent, and can only get in through the team, that's what you do," Nerenberg said.            

Nerenberg said SBS can give students a "look behind the curtains" into how and why a team operates.

 "People see the high salaries players get, and they assume it's just a hobby for the owners," Nerenberg said. "But it's not, it's a big business."

Nerenberg said the club does not hold regular meetings, but they keep the club stable through social events and speakers. Right now the club has around 80 members.

Garner said the club tries to get as diverse speakers as possible, including journalist Kevin Blackistone and baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian.

"Where else will you meet an ESPN personality, and have them shake your hand?" Garner said.            

Garner said members have the opportunity to meet with speakers after the speech, hopefully networking for potential jobs.

 Nerenberg said around one internship per semester is offered through the club, by past speakers or other sports professionals who contact them looking for interns.

Garner said the club will be doing some planning this summer so they can have about four speakers come in the fall.