One of the most important concepts I have learned throughout the duration of my experiences in the sport and entertainment industry is that it is vital for each and every department to work together as one strong organization. Unity is the most important characteristic of a successful organization, venue, stadium, and team. If you are not a team player then you have no business working in the sport and entertainment industry. Not only are you working for a team itself but all of the people behind the scenes have their own team as well. For instance during my first internship with the Marketing department at Colonial Life Arena I was fortunate enough to be extremely hands on because the venue was in a much smaller market than Lincoln Financial Field. I was able to attend all of the operations meetings with every department before all of the events held at the arena. Whereas I have not been able to attend an operations meeting while working for the Philadelphia Eagles because they have hundreds of employees involved and there is just not enough room for us academic interns. However in the meetings I have attended each department informs the other of what their game plan is that week leading up to the event and operations breaks down the day of the event down to nearly the minute. These meetings are extremely important for the day of an event to go smoothly so that the guests can come and go without any interruptions.
The Philadelphia Eagles Ticket and Fan Services Department wants to keep everything very easy for their season ticket members and every day die hard Eagles fans. To do so we have to be very organized and be available as much as possible to help. For this reason we have several forms for our fans to insure that they can be kept in the loop of what is going on with the Philadelphia Eagles. If you have an account with us then we have all of your informatoin so we can send things such as our Season Ticket Member flags and clear bags as a thank you at the beginning of every season. If a season ticket member moves it is important for them to update their address so that they still receieve all of the benefits. Below is what we send directly to them so we can fulfill their address change request instantly.
Both organizations take great pride in the fact that you are a part of the family when you work there. If one department needs an extra hand you need to step in and assist with any necessary projects and make sure the guests and fans have he experience of a lifetime whenever they enter the building. In order for this to happen having that minute to minute schedule provided by the Operations department is extremely helpful. For us in the Ticketing and Fan Services department it helps us answer any questions the fans may have in the week(s) leading up to the event. This can include anything from the time the parking lots open to the inner gates to what is or is not allowed to enter into the stadium. Without communication and fluidity between departments it is impossible to put on a successful event. As I have moved to a venue in a larger market I realize even more so how important that is. When the Marketing department is disorganized it falls back on the Fan Services department. Therefore if one department fails, we all fail. Hence you must be a team player to work in this industry and that is one thing I truly love about my field.
Although being a team player is not always as easy as it seems. Sometimes being a team player may even mean that you let your team grow and transform on its own. What I am referencing is when the University of South Carolina’s Former Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, stepped down in the middle of the football season. It is hard to imagine how difficult of a decision that must have been for Coach Spurrier. But as I state in the essay I have included below from my Ethics in Sport and Entertainment Business class, Coach Spurrier was trying to make a decision for the team. The South Carolina Gamecocks had not been very successful for a while under Coach Spurrier and he made the tough decision of resigning so the team can start to reform.
Mackenzie Williams 