Trine students among top sports sales competitors

ATLANTA — Two students from Trine University’s Ketner School of Business finished in the top 16 at the annual National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC) competition, held Jan. 21 and 22 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

The NCSSC is a ticket sales and corporate partnerships sales role-play competition that allows college seniors majoring in business administration and sport management the chance to compete against top talent from across the nation.

Both competitions consist of an individual student playing the role of a salesperson making a pitch to a single buyer.

Testing sales skills, knowledge

Grace Dubec, a management major from Carmel, Indiana, finished eighth in the nation in the Corporate Partnerships division.

Students competing in the Corporate Partnerships Division played the role of an account executive for the Atlanta Hawks corporate partnerships team. The student role-played a meeting with a representative to discuss a potential corporate partnership between the companies.

Josh Maier, a sport management major from Fenton, Michigan, finished in the top 16 in the Ticket Sales division.

Students competing in the Ticket Sales Division assumed the role of a salesperson for the Atlanta Hawks basketball team. The student then had to role-play a conversation with a potential buyer and try to sell them Atlanta Hawks tickets.

Chase Herrick, a sport management major from Brighton, Michigan, and Max Hoogeveen, a sport management major from Dyer, Indiana, participated in the Speed Sales and Quantum Quiz competitions, which are additional competitions designed to promote a student’s knowledge of sales.

Making connections

In addition to the competitive elements, the NCSSC gives students the opportunity to connect with other students and faculty as well as industry professionals to potentially receive job interviews and offers.

Each Trine student received second interviews with major sports organizations from across the country.

“As a first-year coach, I am very humbled and excited for the achievements of our Ketner School of Business seniors,” said Zander Atwood, faculty sponsor. “All four of these amazing students had a strong showing that has gotten multiple organizations asking about Trine and the level of talent we produce for the industry.”

“I couldn't be happier with how well our students did this year. I’m excited for next year’s class of seniors to participate in this incredible career opportunity.”

The NCSSC began with a fall virtual competition in November, with the top finishers seeded for the in-person competition in Atlanta. Trine placed 14^th as a team in each of the ticket sales and corporate partnerships competitions.