My time in Manhattan has taught me a few things so far:
- People are everything.
- Experiences are everything.
- Groceries are expensive.
While some of these lessons are more important than others, I have found myself overfilled with information and excitement for this industry.
“I am living in the biggest city in America for the summer – that apparently comes with expensive groceries, but it also comes with access to the hub of all sport business activity, new ideas, innovations and ventures. What better place to learn, live, and breathe sports for the summer than New York City?”
1. People are everything. To this day, we have already met with dozens of sport and entertainment industry professionals, and this number does not even included our 24 fellow classmates (who are just beginning their careers) or the 75 individuals who comprise our Mentorship Collectives. MSBA has opened us all to the small group of industry professionals who lead the way in change and innovation for sports. It is amazing to hear how far so many of them have gone in their careers through the relationships and networks they have built through time. Not only are they emphasizing how crucial it is to build relationships, but they are leading by example, too.
2. Experiences are everything. From the numerous Office Field Trips we have taken together, to the volunteer opportunities offered to us, to the Speaker Series, and – most importantly – our Internship Placements, I have heard, seen, and learned so much invaluable information from this hands-on experience. In my internship with the Group Sales department at Madison Square Garden, I have been fortunate enough to be working with both the entertainment and sport sides of the company. I have been able to work two WNBA New York Liberty games (with more to come) and been an integral part in the busy time of renewing tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Elf – The Musical at The Theater at MSG, and the 2017-2018 New York Knicks and Rangers seasons, as well as much, much more. The experience I have gained from these quick four weeks of my first internship ever has not only taught me more than I thought I would learn all summer, but also taught me that this is exactly where I want to be – surrounded by excited, motivated, competitive, and driven professionals who are all passionate about one thing: creating the best fan experience to highlight the incredible sport and entertainment offerings here at The Garden.
3. Groceries are expensive. As much as this sounds like a joke, I am not kidding. I actually looked up the prices to compare common grocery items from home (Buffalo, New York) to New York City. There was a small difference, but it adds up!! My first grocery trip was pretty much the first time life really hit me. I am living in the biggest city in America for the summer – that apparently comes with expensive groceries, but it also comes with access to the hub of all sport business activity, new ideas, innovations and ventures. What better place to learn, live, and breathe sports for the summer than New York City?