KEY TAKEAWAYS: Tulane launches a two-week Summer Sports Institute May 11-22 for undergraduate students. Program offers hands-on experience in team operations, marketing, sports law, and analytics. Instructors include executives from the Sacramento Kings, Tennessee Titans, San Antonio Spurs, an d NFL Players Association. Students gain insight into stadium planning, brand growth, and front-office decision-making in professional sports.   Tulane University is giving undergraduates a front-row seat to the business of professional sports with the launch of its new Tulane Summer Sports Institute. The inaugural program, “Running a Professional Sports Team,” will run from May 11-22 and offers students a two-week, three-credit-hour intensive course on the inner workings of professional sports organizations. The program is designed to provide practical, hands-on experience in areas rarely covered in a traditional classroom, including team operations, stadium development, media deals, marketing, sports law, analytics, and executive leadership. Applications are open to undergraduate students nationwide who have completed at least one year of study, with a deadline of April 30. “The Tulane Summer Sports Institute reflects what Tulane does best — bringing together industry leaders, ideas and real-world experience to prepare students for meaningful leadership roles in the sports industry,” said Gabe Feldman, co-director of the institute and Tulane’s Sports Law Program. “This program invites students to see themselves not just as fans of sports, but as future leaders, decision-makers and problem-solvers shaping one of the most influential industries in the world.” The curriculum is structured around five modules that explore stadium planning and financing, sports law and intellectual property, analytics, marketing and business strategy, and executive leadership. Classes combine expert-led workshops with simulation exercises designed to mirror real-world executive decision-making. Industry professionals will serve as instructors, including Jeff Dorso, senior vice president and general counsel for the Sacramento Kings; Dan Werly, senior vice president and COO of the Tennessee Titans; and Brandon James, senior vice president of strategic growth for the San Antonio Spurs. Other faculty include Chelsey Antony of the NFL Players Association and Betsy Philpott of the Washington Nationals. Students will also have access to guest speakers such as Mike Tannenbaum, former general manager of the New York Jets and executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins. “This Institute opens the door for undergraduates to explore how law, leadership and sports intersect in powerful and practical ways,” said Marcilynn Burke, dean of Tulane Law School. The program is a collaboration among the Tulane Center for Sport, Tulane Law School, Newcomb-Tulane College, and the A.B. Freeman School of Business. It aims to prepare students for careers across the sports industry by giving them insight into how professional teams operate and grow multi-billion-dollar brands. “Some of the most consequential work in sports happens behind the scenes through strategy, negotiation and policy,” said Antony. “Hands-on, real-world experience is essential to understanding how those decisions are made. I’m excited for this opportunity to pour back into the next generation through a classroom experience that creates space for curiosity, critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving.” ...read more read less