New club plans to create opportunities for students in the sports business.

By Steven-Ross Bugayong | Published February 15, 2023

Focusing on creating opportunities for students who wish to succeed in the business world of sports, Kean Sports Business Club (KSBC) was established in Dec. 2022 to prioritize the business aspects of the sporting industry.

Sebastian Salazar, a junior marketing major, founder, and president of the organization saw Kean as an opportunity to build his passion for sports through the university’s various connections with local sports teams.

“I saw an opportunity with Kean, with the Jets class they have, their partnership with the Red Bulls and FIFA, I knew I had to get here,” Salazar said.

Salazar hopes the school’s partnerships with local sports teams can provide members with first-hand experience. From providing guest speakers to setting up an internship program.

“We have all the partnerships we need at this university,” Salazar said. “The campus is near New York, the mecca of the sports universe, so why not take advantage of that.”

The Kean Sports Business Club hopes to work on career development by teaching members how to utilize sites such as LinkedIn. This, in turn, will help members enhance their careers in the sporting industry by building connections while creating opportunities for themselves. 

Club member junior sports and event management major Christina Chiarella said she joined the Sports Business Club to explore her interests in sports and help her decide on her career path after graduation.

“I hope to pursue my interests through networking and career-building opportunities while connecting with other group members,” Chiarelli said. “Learning about internships and jobs in the sports world and listening to special guest speakers is why I joined.”

A point of emphasis Salazar preaches to members of the KSBC is networking. Salazar explains to members that getting into the business world of sports is a challenging career as he has heard and experienced the hardships and benefits of following a career in sports.

“A hardship I experienced in applying to jobs and attempting to gain internships is understanding you need more than your experience,” Salazar said. “The sports community is tight-knit. It’s not the easiest to get into, but amazing once you are in. You have to develop a strong network.”

Ben Rubens, a senior sports and event management major and KSBC’s secretary, agrees with Salazar’s sentiment as he said the club is a way for students to build connections.

“The sports world, in general, is big on connections,” Rubens said. “If you have the right people around you and work in the right places, it is really easy to find your niche.” 

Though KSBC is still in its infancy, the club hopes to expand its brand with plans for a newsletter and radio show. But with the plans to expand the organization, the objective remains the same, providing a network for students to make it in the sports industry.

“For most people who want to work in sports, it seems like a pipe dream,” Salazar said. “But hopefully, students who join our club can learn that doing things such as building connections can make it seem more attainable, that you can make your own way.” 

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