How does the Sports Industry Really Work?

by Becca Dandeneau

Want to know how the sports industry really works? The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program Sports Business Institute guides high school students through a week-long intensive. Meeting high-profile sports execs, touring professional sports facilities, and creating their own sports business strategies, students walk away with a real understanding of a career in this field.

Living in the dorms made the experience even better, giving me a taste of college life and independence.
Owen, Sports Business Institute, 2025

Owen Treadway is a high school student from Raleigh, North Carolina who participated in the Sports Business Institute in July 2025. Owen shared this testimonial with us about his experience in the program.

“I attended Wake Forest University’s Sports Business Immersion Program, where I explored how the sports industry really operates. Over the course of the program, I worked with other students on marketing strategies, team management, and fan engagement.

We also had the chance to visit professional and collegiate sports venues, including Bank of America Stadium, Wake Forest’s athletic facilities, and the Charlotte Knights stadium, which gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how teams and organizations operate.

Living in the dorms made the experience even better, giving me a taste of college life and independence. The program confirmed my interest in combining my love for sports with a strong understanding of business and analytics. Thank you, Wake Forest, for such a great experience!”