Sports Industry Workshop

Launched in the Fall of 2020, the Sports Industry Workshop provides a unique, immersive experience for highly motivated Kelley undergraduate students intent on pursuing a career in the sports industry, familiarizing them with the latest trends in this dynamic and multifaceted field.

In addition to rigorous coursework, workshop students will benefit from frequent professional development and networking opportunities, including industry guest speakers and site visits to various professional sports organizations.

The workshop is directed by Professor Nathaniel Grow with the help of leading industry professionals, many of whom serve on the workshop's advisory board, including individuals affiliated with organizations such as:

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Churchill Downs, Inc.
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Fox Sports
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Indiana Sports Corp.
  • Jordan Brand, Nike
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • National Collegiate
    Athletics Association
  • O’Connor & Advisors LLC
  • Pacers Sports & Entertainment
  • PGA Tour
  • Pittsburgh Pirates
  • rEvolution
  • Roc Nation
  • TeamWork Consulting
  • Upper Deck
  • WarnerMedia

Workshop Application and Admission

  • In order to be eligible for admission to the workshop, students must be enrolled in the Kelley School of Business and currently be in their sophomore or junior year of study. In addition, students cannot have been a member of another Kelley workshop, and must commit to being in residence on the Bloomington campus for the entire 2023-24 academic year (i.e., you cannot study abroad during the Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 semester).

  • Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the sports industry.
  • Strong academic record.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • The ability to work well in groups.

  • Membership in the Sports Industry Workshop is by application only. Unless prior approval has been obtained from Professor Grow, students should plan to apply in the spring semester of their sophomore year for enrollment in the program during their junior year of study.
  • Students interested in applying to the workshop must have a demonstrated interest in working in the sports industry. Such interest may take the form of prior internship or work experience in the industry, or by prior enrollment in sports-related coursework (including the BUS-L 315 course), among other indicators.
  • In addition to a student’s cumulative GPA, other factors that will be considered for admission will include an application essay and (for those selected) an in-person interview with Professor Grow and several current workshop students.

  • Applications for the 2023-24 school year will open on Thurs. Jan. 19th and close at 5:00 p.m. eastern on Thurs. Feb. 9th

  • We hope to complete the admissions process by early April.

Call-Out Meeting:
Wednesday January 18th, 2023
7:00 p.m. eastern in Hodge Hall 1038

Apply Now

Required Courses

Students enrolled in the workshop must complete two required courses:

Recommended Courses

Experience/Expectations

The fall semester class will focus on introducing students to various segments of the sports industry (including topics such as ticketing, arena management, and analytics), and will frequently utilize guest speakers from the industry to give the class practical insight into the current issues that sports professionals are confronting in their work.

The spring semester class will then be centered around a series of case simulations and experiential learning projects, giving students the ability to develop their skills and provide them with tangible work product they can discuss during future job interviews.

Workshop Faculty

Nathaniel Grow

Associate Professor

View Profile

Workshop Enrollment Questions?

Please email grown@iu.edu