Sports Business Institute
This is the best seat in the house for an in-depth view of one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide.
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Sports Business Institute is an unforgettable experience for high school students. Whether cold calling to bring together fans to support their favorite team, implementing promotions to enhance the game day experience, or negotiating sponsorship deals with Fortune 500 companies, students will learn about and get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of this high-profile multi-billion dollar industry’s unique application to business principles. This institute explores career opportunities in both the collegiate and professional world, as guest speakers will further provide students with opportunities to walk away with an array of industry knowledge and a broad range of networking contacts.
At a Glance
2027 Dates: Week of June 13-18, 2027 or Week of July 18-23, 2027
Program Length: Sunday – Friday, overnight
Who Can Apply?: Current 9th – 12th grade students
Tuition: $3,500
*Tuition is subject to change per year
Location: Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus
*Courses carry no secondary school or college credit. Upon completion of the program, an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all Sports Business Institute participants.
What’s the difference between the Sports Business and Sports Marketing Institutes?
What You’ll Experience
Topics Covered:
- Sales, Marketing, Branding and Promotions
- Sponsorships
- Media and Communications
- Community Relations
- Collegiate Athletics Administration
- Current Issues in Sports
Hands-On Experiences:
- Hear from and engage in discussions with leading sports industry executives
- Speak with NCAA Division 1 Coaches and Administrators
- Dive deeper into career opportunities
- Tour and see firsthand professional and college sports facilities
*Hands-on experiences are subject to change.
A Day in the Life
Typical Daily Schedule
- 8:00 am – Morning Meeting and Breakfast
- 9:00 am – Welcome and Program Introduction – Ted Tseng, Academic Leader
- 9:30 am – Workshop: Understanding the Business of Sports
- 10:30 am – Achieving Your Dream Job in Sports
- 11:15 am – Sports Broadcasting, Working at ESPN
- 12:00 pm – Lunch
- 1:00 pm – Wake Forest Athletics Facility Tour – Sutton Sports Performance Center
- 2:30 pm – Group Activity and Discussion – College Conference Realignment
- 4:00 pm – What is Name, Image, Likeness?
- 4:30 pm – Debrief for Next Day
- 5:30 pm – Dinner
- 6:30 pm – Evening Activities
- 7:30 pm – Free Time
- 9:00 pm – Prepare for Bed
- 10:30 pm – Lights Out
*The “A Day in the Life” sample schedule is subject to change.
Meet the Academic Leader
Ted Tseng
Academic Leader, Sports Business Institute
Ted Tseng is the Director of Development for the School of Business at Wake Forest University. Prior to Wake Forest, he worked in professional sports for over 13 years, most recently serving as the Managing Director for the Denver Outlaws, a professional lacrosse team owned by the NFL’s Denver Broncos, where he oversaw all day-to-day operations for the franchise. In six seasons with the organization, the Outlaws broke league attendance records and won 2 MLL Championships in 2014 and 2016. Prior to his work with the Outlaws, Ted held sales and partnership positions with Kroenke Sports Enterprises and the Colorado Rockies. During his time in Colorado, he also served as the Founder/President of the Mile High Bowl Association, a non-profit established to bring a college football bowl game to Denver and the Rocky Mountain region.
A native of New Jersey, Ted earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Wake Forest before earning his MBA in sports management from the University of Denver. While at Wake Forest, he was “The Deacon” mascot for two years, which included an appearance in an ESPN “This is SportsCenter” TV commercial. Currently, Ted remains active in the sports industry serving on the Athletic Advisory Council for Wake Forest Athletics and as a Leatherhead for the Charlotte Sports Foundation, in addition to mentoring current and former students interested in pursuing a career in sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students explore the business side of sports through topics including sales, marketing, branding, sponsorships, media, communications, community relations, and collegiate athletics administration. They also hear from sports industry executives and tour professional and college sports facilities.
Yes. The sample schedule includes a Wake Forest Athletics facility tour, and the institute provides opportunities to see professional and college sports facilities firsthand.
Yes. Students hear from and engage with sports industry executives, NCAA Division I coaches and administrators, and other professionals.
The institute introduces students to opportunities across leagues, teams, athletic departments, venues, media, and other areas of the sports industry.
A sample day includes workshops on the business of sports, career discussions, sports broadcasting, an athletics facility tour, group discussions about issues such as conference realignment and name, image, and likeness, followed by evening activities. Schedules are subject to change.