January 24, 2025, Press Release from the University of Northwestern Ohio: Ten University of Northwestern Ohio Sport Marketing and Management students, accompanied by two professors, are set to showcase their skills on a national stage at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana! The internship, hosted by the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee, will see the students actively participating in events leading up to the big game on February 9, 2025.
The students’ primary assignment involves volunteering at the Super Bowl Experience, a dynamic interactive pro football theme park at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The Super Bowl Experience features interactive games, youth football clinics, merchandise shops, autograph sessions with NFL players, photo opportunities with the Vince Lombardi trophy, and unique fan experiences such as the 40-yard dash and vertical jump games where fans compete against NFL players on an LED screen. As ambassadors for the event, the students will play a crucial role in assisting visitors, answering questions, and ensuring a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere for the expected 1 million visitors.
Working closely with the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee, the centralized planning group for Super Bowl LIX, the students will gain hands-on experience in planning, organizing, and supporting activities that enhance the overall Super Bowl experience for the city, state, and region.
In addition to their roles at the Super Bowl Experience, the students will collaborate with On Location Services to contribute to hospitality events outside Caesars Superdome on game day. Professors Julia Etzkorn and Phil Gunder hope this experience will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the meticulous planning and execution required to transform the Super Bowl into an unforgettable fan experience.
“I want them to see what goes into executing a huge event like this, to be able to experience it first-hand and gain experience on a large-scale setting like the Super Bowl. The best part is that they will be able to make connections here that could help them obtain jobs within the sports industry when they graduate,” said Professor Etzkorn. “This year’s group of students are more excited than ever to experience the Super Bowl in person.”
Students will depart on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, and return on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Students attending the internship experience are: Anna Ankney - Ney, Ohio; Anika Burke - Chadron, Nebraska; Tess Denning - Dalton, Ohio; Dani Keighley - Chesterfield, Michigan; Derek Crawford – Marion, Ohio; Marquette Derrick-Rowles – Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Veronica Valentine – Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Kyle Drazil – Northfield, Ohio; Lane Kerby – Lewisburg, Ohio; Jacob Taylor – Kenton, Ohio.
