Sport Marketing Panel and the 2009 PRISM Awards

            On Friday May 8th, 2009 the UMass Department of Sport Management and The Center for Spectator Sport Research hosted the Turnkey Sports and Entertainment 2009 PRISM Award judging.  The Turnkey PRISM Award is given annually to leaders in sport marketing and management on both college and professional sport levels.

            The panelists included Jeff Price, MS '89, President, SI;  Chuck Steedman, BS '84,General Manager and VP, Northland AEG; Thorr Bjorn, BS '90, Athletic Director, University of Rhode Island; Lindsey Burket, MS '06, Corporate Sales, New England Patriots/Revolution; Rachel Spates, MS '05, PR Director, Major League Lacrosse;  Dave Stys, MS '06, Director of Product Development; and Terry Lefton of the Sport Business Journal.

            Before the judging of the finalists sport management programs, a panel discussion and Q&A session was held. The group discussed various issues in sport marketing including effects of the current economy on marketing and sponsorship and technology in sport marketing. The group also fielded questions from an audience of students and professors. After the discussion, graduate student Parker Knox presented the finalists' submissions and fielded questions from the audience.  

            Following the presentation, the panelists conferred and chose the winners.  "All submissions were outstanding, but ultimately the submissions of the University of Texas - El Paso in the college division and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer in the professional division that really impressed the judges" said Tracy Schoenadel, director of the Center for Spectator Sport Research.