Students in the University of South Carolina’s Department of Sport and Entertainment Management have an extraordinary new opportunity to learn from industry leaders alongside esteemed faculty members.

The Professional Development with Oak View Group class, offered for the first time this semester, is led by Instructor Matt Dunn and Associate Professor Nick Watanabe in partnership with Oak View Group. Oak View Group executives, including Chairman and CEO Tim Leiweke, will visit Columbia and appear virtually to serve as speakers.

The course is designed to introduce students to the unique environment of live event management and the production of live sports and entertainment through the vision of Oak View Group, live experience and venue development, management, and hospitality services. By the end of the semester, students will be able to explain event management from the perspective of those who work in the industry and have a firm foundation to enter the industry ready to make an immediate impact on revenue development opportunities.

The first distinguished visitor of the semester was Oak View Group Chairman: Facilities & Alliances Peter Luukko. He shared wisdom, frank advice and fascinating stories from his long and distinguished career and answered questions from the students. He encouraged them to be unafraid to approach him or others and ask for help.

“The new OVG course at USC is providing these students with tremendous hands-on experience and insight from many of our senior leaders who will share their experiences, knowledge, and resources, and help position them for a future in our industry. I had a great time returning to my roots and sharing stories with the students,” Luukko says.

Classes will be participation-driven, with students expected and encouraged to ask questions and offer observations. These could be inspired by course readings, social media connectivity, independent study and personal experiences (such as events attended or internships).

“Success within this industry depends on asking the correct question as much as it does on finding (rather than knowing) the answers, as situations and scenarios can always be circumstantial in nature,” Dunn says.

The class is the latest example of the South Carolina Department of Sport and Entertainment Management’s commitment to uniting theory and practice at the highest level with an award-winning roster of exceptional faculty featuring top-level researchers alongside past and present industry leaders.

“At South Carolina, we focus on providing students with a top-class education. Partnering with Oak View Group allows us to collaborate in bringing cutting-edge theory and practice to the future leaders of our industry,” says Watanabe.