The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is a showcase for the best in the national pastime. It’s also a showcase for current and future leaders off the field, including University of South Carolina Department of Sport and Entertainment Management students and alumni.
Department of Sport and Entertainment Management Internship Director and Senior Instructor Steven Taylor led a group of 28 students to Arlington, Texas for the 2024 edition of the Midsummer Classic.
The Department of Sport and Entertainment Management is committed to offering opportunities for top-level real world experiences for students. Taylor leads that effort, working closely with industry-leading companies like Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC). CSC is the world leader in crowd management and event security.
The sport and entertainment management students worked the MLB All-Star Village fan festival with CSC, as well as taking a tour of AT&T Stadium and meeting with sport and entertainment management alumni Madison Ballengee (Assistant Director of Merchandise at AT&T Stadium) and David Crapps (Merchandise Coordinator). Several took time to share their reflections on the experience.
Alli Garner: “This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work the PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, NBA Eastern Conference Finals, and the MLB All-Star Fan Fest with CSC.
“One highlight for me was being promoted from Event Staff to Event Supervisor before the MLB All-Star Fan Fest. Throughout the week, I oversaw a total of 20 staff members, allowing me to learn how to effectively manage a team and ensure smooth operations during a large-scale event.
“Some of the most rewarding aspects of working with CSC are connecting with industry professionals across the country, building relationships with other Sport & Entertainment Management students, and gaining hands-on experience in the field. Plus, traveling to new places makes the whole experience even more exciting.
“I’m so thankful to those at CSC for providing our students with opportunities to learn outside the classroom. These experiences have taught me a lot that I’ll carry with me as I move forward in my career.”
Jake Fleming: “My role at the event was guarding a stage in the fan zone where the DJ was playing all week, and where concerts were held. All in all, this was a very unique experience that I will cherish forever. Besides being in these cool places at these awesome events, the thing I love the most about these opportunities is getting to know and build relationships with others in sport management here at USC. From this event and all of the other events I have worked, I have made lifelong friendships, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.”
Emily George: “Being able to work in the fan village at the All-Star Game was an extremely rewarding experience that allowed me to experience a different side of sporting events that I previously had not had the opportunity to. I personally enjoyed getting to know different people in the industry whether they were other students from USC, full time employees with CSC, or other industry professionals we had the opportunity to meet at AT&T Stadium. It gave me a chance to learn from other people’s previous experiences within the sports industry.”
Zach Martin: “For me, this was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Growing up a baseball fan, being a part of something as special as the All-Star game was truly a dream come true. And knowing that I played a role in ensuring that people had a great experience at this year’s All-Star game is something that I will hold onto for the rest of my life.”
Eric Parsells: "This was a great hands-on learning experience that allowed me to build on my leadership skills by supervising multiple deployments. As both a supervisor and marketing intern for CSC, it was a great time in particular providing security for and taking photos of concerts put on by MLB including Tee Grizzley and BigXthaPlug. This was definitely one of my favorite work experiences I have had in my time at USC."
Other sport and entertainment management alumni were on hand in their professional roles for the big game, including MLB Ballpark Operations and Security Manager Madison Benner, Phillies Director of Security Operations Kevin Hackenbrack, Leap Event Technology Senior Operations Manager Mikayla Miller, T-Mobile Sports Sponsorship Manager Grace Wallmeyer, and CSC's Ryan Scales and Jonathan Harmon.
Numerous graduates (like Scales and Harmon) are currently working in various managerial positions with CSC. CSC, through Sergio Caracciolo, Regional Manager New York/Northern New Jersey/Connecticut for CSC, and Dan Sidders, Senior VP for Special Events for CSC, and in partnership with the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, provides South Carolina students with unique opportunities to gain event experience at major events including the Super Bowl, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, Players Championship, Presidents Cup, Kentucky Derby and many more. CSC was the 2022 recipient of the South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management’s Distinguished Friend of the College Award in 2022.