Full Sail University Sports Lab powered by ESPN was established in November of 2010 and most recently, their goal was to add an internship program to the students of the private establishment. Needless to say, the interviewing process for this position was something that I could not pass on. Two weeks after I submitted my resume to my adviser, I received another call to come in for an interview. Not knowing what to expect, I did. My initial interview was with Josh Mora, the Program Director for Full Sail’s new Sports Marketing and Media Bachelor’s Degree program. It went great! Nonetheless, I was rewarded the position.
Since the start of my internship, Josh has allowed me better insight about the business structure of the Full Sail University Sports Lab powered by ESPN and how the new campus degree will bridge the gap between education and the various ESPN properties including its websites, television programs and mobile applications.
My first day on the job, I was introduced to what was the second level of the pre-production phase concerning the ESPN, Monday Night Football shoot. Two days later, the actual production was being filmed in the Full Sail Live Venue, which featured Hank Williams Jr. It was a huge deal and the length of production lasted two full days. The other day during office hours, I was having a conversation with Josh about the details surrounding the Full Sail University Sports Lab powered by ESPN negotiation. I inquired about the details that went into the start of a new program, the ESPN partnership with Full Sail, as well as the various sports productions that have been featured on campus since the launch of the ESPN partnership (9 months prior). He expressed to me that the consideration to partner with ESPN was established once Disney Wide World of Sports was changed to ESPN Wide World of Sports. Furthermore, the Sports Marketing and Media program is designed to implement intellectual property and content creation in the classroom, so that the students may transfer these skills in a real world setting, such as an ESPN production on the Full Sail campus.
The two new ventures were announced to the public within the same week. Nearly 2 million amateur athletes, coaches and spectators who visit the ESPN sports complex each year. ESPN has chosen Full Sail University to help guide the development of future sports technology. Full Sail seized the opportunity because they are leaders within the education and entertainment industry and this partnership is of mutual benefit to both businesses.
