Beyond the field, court, & pitch is the business of sport: connecting fans to the athletes, teams, and experiences they love. That business has gone through a massive transformation driven by emerging technologies like high quality video, sensors and analytics, new experiences for fans in the stadium and via subscription services, and the rise of social media and NIL opportunities for collegiate athletes. In addition, the landscape for North American sports is expanding, with the rise of soccer, surfing (the World Surf League) and other sports, as well as the increasing visibility of women’s leagues like the WNBA and NWSL, along with female athletes across a wide array of sports. In addition, Los Angeles is the home to two state of the art arenas (SoFi and Intuit) and will host the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

The Summer Discovery for High School Students: Sports Business Program will address key shifts in the industry and identify ways for students to innovate and lead in a number of job functions. Our two-week summer course provides our high school students with an overview of key business principles, major trends, and innovation across the sports industry. During their session, students will:

• Learn business frameworks, including finance, marketing, strategy and economics.
• Review case studies.
• Meet with industry professionals.
• Learn about concepts, analyses and principles that drive the sports industry.
• Discover the mechanics of sports management and business.
• Explore behind-the-scenes of L.A.’s most famous arenas and stadiums.

Students will also complete a final group presentation where they propose a solution to a sports-related challenge. Students participating in this course will leave with a deeper understanding of (and appreciation for!) the unique opportunities, challenges, and dynamics of the sports they follow.

Note: course description subject to change.