The Eighth International Conference on Sport and Entertainment Business (ICSEB) will draw students and professors from Pennsylvania and Florida as well as industry professionals from as far away as Nigeria.
Sponsored by USC’s Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, the conference, set for Nov. 3–7, will feature speeches by key professionals in the sport and entertainment industry on the theme “The Building of Sport and Entertainment Worldwide” and smaller breakout sessions. With a multifaceted program, the ICSEB, to be held at the new Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, is geared to practitioners in the sport and entertainment industry, academicians, and students who want to pursue careers in sports management. Sport and entertainment management students are helping prepare for the conference, which should attract about 300 participants.
“We want to showcase our students because we firmly believe they are the best in the country,” said Laura Sawyer, an assistant professor in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management who is helping coordinate the ICSEB. “Secondly, as academicians, we’re of the mindset that our industry is so dynamic that we have to interact with people in the industry to stay current. There’s no way we could otherwise.
“People in the industry also can benefit from us. These are people who work nontraditional hours, long hours, and don’t have time to do their own research. We believe that if we bring academicians and practitioners together, we can raise the bar on research. Our conference is the only one to bring academicians and industry professionals together.”
The ICSEB will open Nov. 3 with a special celebration with help from local sponsors Budweiser of Columbia and Coca-Cola. Paul Phipps, vice president and chief marketing officer for International Speedway Corporation, will deliver the keynote address Nov. 4 at a lunch sponsored by International Speedway Corporation and Darlington Raceway.
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Mark Richardson, president of the Carolina Panthers, will speak at lunch Nov. 5. That night, Fred Rosen, former president and CEO of Ticketmaster Group Inc., will receive the Pioneer in Sport and Entertainment Award, and John Kaestner, vice president, consumer affairs for Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., will accept the 2004 Outstanding Corporate Partner in Sport and Entertainment Award for Budweiser’s service to the community. Participants also can attend a pep rally at the Colonial Center.
On Nov. 6, participants will have an opportunity to attend the USC-Arkansas football game at Williams-Brice Stadium with a pregame party on one of the Cockabooses. The ICSEB will end with a celebration at Riverbanks Zoo that night.
“We try to make sure that people who attend the conference don’t see just USC, “ Sawyer said. “ They really do see Columbia. It’s an exciting event.”
The conference also will include a continuing legal education (CLE) seminar for students interested in careers in sport law and lawyers who need continuing education hours.
Junior Karen Saladyga is in charge of public relations and marketing for the conference. “To have this experience to put on my resume and to be able to go into an internship with what I’ve learned will give me confidence,” said Karen, who has worked with the Columbia Inferno hockey team and wants to work in media relations with a professional sports team, preferably in the NHL. “This will put me a step ahead.”
Other speakers at the Eighth International Conference on Sport and Entertainment Business include:
• Steve Camp, president and CEO, Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports, and Tourism
• Dockery Clark, sports marketing and sponsorship executive, Bank of America
• Ed Cohen, senior vice president of event booking, World Wrestling Entertainment
• Tom Coe, executive vice president, Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association
• Kurt Kamperman, chief executive, community tennis, U.S. Tennis Association
• Mike McGee, executive vice president, corporate operations, Clearchannel Entertainment
• Tom Regan, chair of USC’s sport and entertainment management department
• Chrissie Poore, ICSEB staff
• Laura Sawyer, USC assistant professor, sport and entertainment management department.
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