Manhattan Sports Business Academy Continues To Help Ambitious College Students Break Through

NFL execs address MSBA participants during a presentation in the league’s New York City headquarters (Photo via MSBA)

For the past six years, Manhattan Sports Business Academy (MSBA) has hosted one of the nation’s premier sports business immersion programs in the heart of New York City.

MSBA provides aspiring young professionals an unparalleled opportunity to live, learn, work and play in the epicenter of global sports business. From career workshops led by industry thought leaders to internship placements at leagues such as the National Football League (NFL) and agencies like Roc Nation, their flagship summer academy runs eight weeks and is designed for intense professional and personal growth.

“Each summer we aim to deliver the most practical development vehicle for those aspiring young professionals who are most serious about pursuing a career in sports. Hands-on learning, better vision through broad exposure, and genuine relationship cultivation are the key ingredients,” explains David Oestreicher, MSBA’s Managing Director.

This year, the program runs from June 10th to August 4th and will once again tap into a deep roster of key contributors spanning every industry sector. MSBA collaborates with these leading organizations to offer a turnkey experience that includes tailored internship placements, membership to a carefully curated network, private teachings from today’s influencers, interactive workshops, exclusive office visits, lifelong mentorship pairings and much more.

MSBA participants visit NBC Sports in Connecticut for a private studio tour ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics (Photo via MSBA)

According to Program Director Lorne Segall, attracting and cultivating diversity across incoming talent and industry partners respectively is what makes the academy so special.

“We teach business at the core and businesses need diversity in thought, skills and perspective to succeed. Developing only aspiring GMs or player agents contradicts our mission to provide the most holistic view, training and impact necessary to drive our industry forward. Instead, we focus on how it all comes together and recruit for strong intangibles in those who express a desire to build transferable skills, rewarding them with staying power as top candidates for a multitude of roles in an ever-evolving landscape.”

As for candidates, the MSBA Office of Admissions seeks applicants with strong performance in the classroom, extracurricular campus leadership efforts, relevant work experience, professional online presence, diverse industry knowledge and a passion for learning. The application for Summer 2018 closes February 28 so serious prospects should visit the company’s website to apply now.

MSBA’s promise also extends beyond the summer months.

“As a former participant and now Dean of Students for MSBA, I’m leveraging my own first-hand experience to ensure we support our members during the program and well after graduation as they navigate their careers for many years to come,” shares Bailey Weigel.

Since launching six years ago, MSBA has helped countless students grow inside and out of the sports business industry with their alumni landing notable full-time positions at companies like CAA, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Nike.

“MSBA is a chance to establish a professional foundation that will ultimately ensure long, successful careers in our field; it’s not just an eight-week crash course, but rather a career springboard into an incredibly exciting and competitive industry,” shares Ryan Nowack, Manager of Team Partnership Sales at Madison Square Garden (MSBA Class of 2014).

As it goes inside the industry, all it takes is the opportunity to get your foot in the door, and with MSBA you’re not only getting your foot in the door, you are firmly entrenching it inside the room.

The application process for MSBA 2018 is currently open now through February 28th. Interested candidates should visit the company’s website to apply or learn more.