Portland is a hotbed of the Sports Business Industry. A quick game of six-degrees of separation will have you struggle to find someone not connected to the Sports Industry in the area. That said, what happens on the inside, how it works and who all the players are remains a mystery to most.

There is a massive Academic push in the local college scene with most local colleges offering Sports Management, Sports & Outdoor Product, and other Sports Business degree and certificate programs. Many students dive into the allure of it all but don’t have great answers to Why should focus on a degree in this space? is this a path suited to my strengths? What are the potential career paths in this space?

Offering courses outside of the students current academic curriculum allow for the best of both worlds. Students can put focus on driving traditional academic excellence while also gaining awareness, education, experience, and mentorship in the world of Sports Business. Maximizing the concentration of Sports Business professionals, experiences and potential in the area, Students will be presented with a great base of knowledge which will help them truly understand the world of Sports Business and how they may want to fit into it.

Be a guest speaker. Be interviewed by our students. Host a “field trip” to learn about your business. Sponsor a “scholarship”. Offer real world experience in the form of a project, case study or even internship. Offer a service opportunity Become a Mentor around the College application, selection process.