Grand Park trip showcases career opportunities in marketing, tourism

KOKOMO, Ind. - Sports management and hospitality and tourism management students gained an inside look at what it's like to run a large athletic facility, with a field trip to Grand Park in Westfield.

Esra Topcuoglu, Indiana University Kokomo assistant professor of hospitality and tourism, led students in a sports marketing class and an event production class to the 400-acre sports campus in Westfield, which hosts indoor and outdoor competition year-round. The trip was offered as part of the IU Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) program, which offers transformative learning opportunities through a wide variety of hands-on experiences - from faculty-mentored research, internships, and retreats, to overseas study, domestic field trips, and project-based learning.

"They saw an ecosystem of sports events, and understood how the knowledge they learn in the classroom makes sense in a real-life setting," Topcuoglu said. "They were able to meet professionals in their fields, in their working environment."

Students toured the events center and campus, meeting with staff members in facilities and operations. They learned about what kinds of sports leagues and events are hosted, services available, and toured a non-sporting event in progress during their visit. They also learned about how staff maintain the grass, handle water issues, and deal with logistical issues like ticketing and parking.

"I hope students understand how to look at a sports facility as a product, and also to develop their networks and meet professionals from the sports industry," she said. "They gained familiarity with industry related terms and an understanding of how the business is going in the sports industry."

Students also were able to ask questions and talk about internship opportunities.

For those in event production, it was a look at a potential venue they may not have considered prior to the visit.

"I want them to understand how to operate, design, and deliver an event in a sports venue, and how producing a sports event is different than a corporate event," Topcuoglu said.

Going to see Grand Park in person gives a more lasting impression than reading about a sports venue or talking about it in class, she noted.

"You need to hold their attention," she said. "They want to see what's told in the textbooks, and it's a good way of practicing their knowledge they've learned in class. It increases their motivation to learn."

It's also a chance to get an in-person look at career opportunities.

"They explore opportunities when they go on a field trip," Topcuoglu said. "When they visit, they meet new people and see the interaction with the staff there. It may change their mind on what direction they want to go. It gives them the chance to see themselves in that field."

The KEY program provides IU Kokomo students with unique, hands-on opportunities to explore the fields they want to enter after graduation. Travel has been a hallmark of the KEY program since it was founded. The goal is to provide students with real-world experiences, connect them with people, and offer a travel experience within their major. Destinations have included sites significant to World War II in Germany, France, and England; a business incubator in Nashville; Google headquarters in California; Indiana Dunes National Park; ESPN in North Carolina; behind-the-scenes in security at Gainbridge Fieldhouse; and much more.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.

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