In June 2006, ten Sports MBA students met with Alan Kidd, Executive Director of the Hall of Champions, in order to discuss a number of business projects that could benefit from student involvement.  All of the projects held importance for the future of the Hall and had implications for San Diego County.  Harnessing the student’s innovative and fresh thinking, Mr. Kidd handed the reins for each project to a group of three to four students, with one student assigned as the project leader.  While working alongside Mr. Kidd and the Hall’s esteemed board of advisors, the Sports MBA students involved were also provided with the opportunity to work and network directly with established business people outside of the Hall of Champions.

For one project, a team of students worked on developing a website that would provide local San Diegans with unbiased information on the issues surrounding Qualcomm Stadium.  The students provided content for the site, including all press releases on the stadium (both for and against) and an open forum for people to express their opinions on the stadium. The site is sponsored by the Fans Taxpayers and Business Alliance, with whom the students had the opportunity to work with.

The aim of a second project was the education of children on the dangers of skin cancer.  With an established San Diego doctor on board to guide and assist, the students focused on developing a plan to distribute sunscreen to children at sporting events.

An additional project involved conducting a feasibility study for adding an ‘Action Sports’ Hall of Fame and a ‘Broadcasting Hall of Fame’ to the existing Hall of Champions.  This involved determining admittance criteria, designing the overall facility and interior displays, and securing sponsorships for these additional displays.  

Other projects included a feasibility study for a National Youth Sports Training Facility.  This is a long term study involving investigative and research work that included comparison studies to similar facilities elsewhere.  Additionally, a team of students analysed event bidding in San Diego, and how the city and county could attract further sporting events.

Brian Carter, a current student in the Sports MBA II cohort and one of the project leaders, saw this experience as a valuable supplement to the classroom lectures.

“As someone who came into this program without a strong sports background, working with Alan Kidd and the Hall of Champions has been a great way of immersing myself in a variety of sports related businesses.  It has been a great way to learn and get hands-on experience in the business of sports outside the classroom.”

All of the students involved in these projects, as well as the Sports MBA staff, wish to thank Mr. Alan Kidd and the Hall of Champions for this incredible practical application opportunity