For the fourth time ever, a team of UISRM master’s students challenged legacy sport management programs at the National Sports Forum (NSF) Case Cup Competition. Connor Bendull, Derek Ravlin, Lucas Russell, and Grant Smaellie traveled to Los Angeles to compete for the right to be called NSF Case Cup Champions. 

Led by UISRM Lecturers, Anna Jensen, Packy Moran, and Jeremy Parrish, the quartet began their ‘training camp’ over winter break. Through mock challenges and faculty feedback, the squad began to understand the rigors of the competition. Once the semester began, their participation in the Marketing and Sport Promotion course provided additional learning activities to refine informational gathering strategies and presentation skills to amplify their ideas in the competition. Then, on Saturday, February 25, Connor, Derek, Lucas, and Grant learned of their charge: maximize NIL opportunities for Learfield Properties with a focus on women’s sports and the potential for nationwide rollout. 

With charge in hand, the team had 24 hours to research, develop strategy, and construct an impactful presentation to win favor with the judges. While their idea of a branded content-creation focused business center fell short of advancing to the championship round, the competition taught Team UISRM the importance of identifying key performance indicators and performing strategic analyses to bolster recommendations. Here’s what two competitors had to say about the competition:

Lucas Russel (BS 2022, ex. MA 2024, pictured above right): Receiving the opportunity to compete as part of this team is a memory I will never forget. I cannot recommend the National Sports Forum enough and believe it to be a one-of-a-kind experience for master's students. The forum allows students to make face-to-face connections and gain an advantage in the job market. Thank you UISRM, for the opportunity! 

Derek Ravlin (UISRM Minor 2021, ex. MA 2023, pictured above left): The opportunity to attend the National Sports Forum is one I will never forget. The benefits of testing our skills in a lifelike master's competition paired with unbelievable networking to get ahead in the job market, cannot be emphasized enough. This truly was a remarkable experience that I wouldn’t have had without the help of UISRM. In particular I’d like to thank Anna Jensen, Packy Moran, and Jeremy Parrish.  

With the NSF Case Cup Competition complete, the team had the ability to attend the National Sports Forum program alongside industry professionals. Participation in the NSF Case Cup is the only way students can attend the premier event for revenue generators in sport and recreation. Each February, top sports executives gather at the National Sports Forum to connect, learn, and share. The 27th edition of the event was hosted by the City of Los Angeles at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel. 

NSF educational sessions shared information related to marketing, business development, sponsorship, ticket sales, and/or diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, attendees received behind-the-scenes tours of SoFi Stadium and BMO Stadium as part of the program. For the UISRM master’s students in attendance, it was an exclusive opportunity to jumpstart their professional careers. 

Congratulations to Connor, Derek, Lucas, and Grant for competing admirably and representing the UISRM MA program with outstanding professionalism among the top professionals in the industry!