As part of its founding partnership, the San Diego State University Sports MBA program has a strong relationship with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.  Instrumental in the creation of the program, the Padres front office continually supports the program, faculty, and its students on a day to day basis.  

Padres Executive Lecture Series
Students in the SDSU Sports MBA program are offered unparalleled access to the front office of the San Diego Padres. Top level executives from various departments within the organization are frequent guest lecturers in the Sports MBA classroom, and many have continued their relationships with SDSU students by offering career advice or serving as mentors for members of the Sports MBA community.

Program Interaction with the Padres Front Office
Each year, Sports MBA students are exposed to the business operations of the Padres in a number of ways. Students have attended class sessions inside PETCO Park, taken a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility with one of the ballpark’s chief planners, and collaborated with faculty and team executives to produce in-class consulting projects for the team. This year, for the first time, students will have an unprecedented opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s best, as Padres Executive Vice President and PETCO Park General Manager Richard Andersen will serve as a member of the program faculty, teaching Operations Management to the SMBA Class of 2009. 

Behind the Scenes Tour at PETCO Park
Students in Robert Judge’s Operations Management class visited PETCO Park for a behind the scenes tour of the facility and guest lecture from Richard Andersen, Executive VP, Ballpark Management & General Manager/PETCO Park. Students learned of the issues facing Mr. Andersen during homestands, how the Padres use forecasting to anticipate demand for concession items, and how the club has adjusted to its new ballpark in its first few years of operation.

As part of the ongoing partnership with San Diego State University’s Sports Business Management MBA program, the San Diego Padres hosted the class of 2006 for a behind-the-scenes tour of PETCO Park. Padres Executive Vice President of External Relations Erik Judson, an instrumental figure in the ballpark’s design and construction, gave students an informative all-access tour of the facility.

Judson explained how team officials, ballpark design experts, and traditional architects collaborated to devise a ballpark representative of the unique environmental and cultural qualities of San Diego County. Students witnessed pregame preparations and batting practice from the Sony Dugout Club, toured the Omni Premier Lounge, and visited Padres' Chairman John Moores’ suite.

Judson discussed the economic and political factors that influenced the ballpark’s construction and pointed out the unprecedented impact that PETCO Park has had on the redevelopment of downtown San Diego, which he said has exceeded even the loftiest expectations of both the team and the city.

Students learned about the Padres’ efforts to ensure that the team maximizes the entertainment and ballpark experience for every fan that enters PETCO Park, regardless of their seat location. Judson stressed that the attention to detail in constructing a beautiful facility and maximizing the fan experience has made the ballpark a success for both the team and the city of San Diego.

Following the tour, students were escorted to seats in the ballpark’s Toyota Terrace level to watch Padres ace Jake Peavy take on NL ERA leader Roger Clemens. In a classic pitcher’s duel that saw both aces go the distance, Peavy defeated his idol, and the first place Padres prevailed 2-0.

SDSU's Sports MBA students wish to sincerely thank Erik Judson for his informative and thought-provoking tour of the ballpark as well as his tireless dedication to the program.