The Sports and Entertainment Management Society is gearing up for their fourth year as an organization at the University of Tampa. Started in the Fall 2007 semester by sophomore sports management majors, Alex Miles, Josh Fleishman and Jeremy Figueroa, the organization was designed to create a network for sports management majors at UT. But as the club developed, they quickly found more than just sports management majors were joining. Many business, marketing and advertising and public relations majors started joining the club, according to Jake Citron, president of S.E.M.S.
The goal of S.E.M.S. this year is to provide a hands-on experience in the field of sports through various volunteer and internship opportunities.
“We have a standing relationship with organizations such as the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Tampa Bay Rays, the United Soccer League and the NCAA,” said Citron.
S.E.M.S. hosts many on campus events. This year will be their fourth year hosting their Annual Homerun Derby in the Spring Semester. In addition to this yearly event, the club plans to begin their first Punt-Pass-Kick competition this fall.
“We try to create a business model for our members, in that they seek sponsorships, write event proposals and do marketing and promotions,” said Citron.
This gives members a preview of what they might experience in sport-industry jobs they wish to hold in their future careers. “We want our members to make their mistakes now before they get out into the real world of sports,” said Citron.
S.E.M.S. has a wide range of volunteer opportunities that they offer their members. Two of their biggest volunteer opportunities are the Ford Iron Man World Championship 70.3 and the United Soccer League Super-Y League Championship Tournament.
In addition to on-campus events and volunteer opportunities, S.E.M.S. also has club-social events. “We take day trips to the beach, mini-golf outings, game day parties, and in September we’ll have a bowling meet-and-greet,” said Citron.
Every February, members travel to Savannah, Georgia to attend the annual Georgia Southern University Sports Management Conference. “This is a chance for us to meet many great people who work in the sports field as well as other sports management majors from Universities all over the country,” said Citron.
“We try to give S.E.M.S. members as many opportunities as we can,” said Citron.
For more information about S.E.M.S., contact Jake Citron at jcitron@spartans.ut.edu or join the Facebook group: Sports and Entertainment Management Society. You can also attend one of their meetings beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 9pm.