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For Pricing and details contact: Gordon Hinkle @ ghinkle@californiacenter.us
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Syllabus Information Topic: Global Sports Operations/Marketing/Business Development

Today, global marketing in different industries, especially in media, sports is increasingly critical for success! The stakes are high and marketing executives are involved in complex decision-making as they become responsible for return on their marketing investments.

This three-day program focuses on the unique challenges of marketing a successful brand in media, sports, and entertainment. Marketing topics including marketing principles and practices, marketing strategies, brand management, branded story-telling, the power of digital, social, and trans-media, fan experience, sports sponsorships and technologies, and technology advancements will be covered. Using case study examples from sports marketing marketing, students will learn the business of marketing, how to position sports property as a brand in popular culture, about target markets and how to reach them, The operation of sports complex and arenas, basic development of college sports leagues, and the leveraging of international strategies to create valuable partnerships and revenue streams.

Objectives
Students are expected to develop a comprehensive understanding of global sports marketing and how strong global brands affect the company’s performance and future. Students will also gain basic sports management and operations strategies for success!
Using case study examples from both sports marketing and business marketing, participants will learn how to achieve the following goals: -Understand the importance of a global mindset -Understand target markets and how to reach them -Leverage strategic storytelling to create a brand -Determine the best sponsorship partnerships -Create and implement digital strategies -Create a compelling fan and customer experience -Understand what it takes to run a major complex or sports arena

About the Professor – Mark Francis

Mark Francis, a native of Fredericton, NB, Canada, holds an MBA and M.A. in sports administration as well as a diploma in university teaching from the University of New Brunswick. He works as an instructor in sports management at UCLA’s Center for Managing Enterprise in Media, Entertainment & Sports (MEMES); an adjunct instructor in sports technology at Camosun College; and a sports management consultant for BaAM Productions in Los Angeles, overseeing the firm’s interests throughout the professional sports industry.

BaAM is a premier event production and management firm whose signature events include the NHL Winter Classic, MLB All-Star FanFest, 2014 NHL Coors Light Stadium Series, Pro Football Hall of Fame FanFest 2014 and the 2015 Pan American Games. A specialist in the area of fan experience and engagement, Francis has significant interests in social media marketing and ROI, brand management, marketing, business development, sports technology and law. He boasts a wealth of experience at all levels of sport, from academic, business, administrative and high-performance coaching perspectives, which enable him to speak from experience when it comes to his business relationships and teachings. Through his current and prior professional associations with numerous esteemed sports organizations, Francis has developed an extensive professional network throughout all levels of the sports industry, many of whom appear annually during his Sports Business program delivered through the Center for MEMES at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

A dedicated supporter of community involvement, Francis also serves as advisory board chair of the African Sports Business Association, and as volunteer head coach of the men’s hockey program at UCLA, where he was selected as one of two finalists for the PAC-8 Coach of the Year Award for 2012. Francis was also selected as head coach of the PAC-8 selects at the ACHA National Championships in Philadelphia in 2011 and 2013. He recently completed a two-year term serving as the executive director of the PAC-8 Men’s Hockey Conference. Mark is also the Founder and CEO of Mark One Sports and Entertainment.

Tentative Itinerary/Topics by Day:
April 27th – First day of training program: The Operation and Business Development of North America Major Sports League/s and well-known team franchise/s (Full Day of class)
9:00am – 12:00pm (Session 1)
12:00 – 1:00pm (Lunch)
1:00 – 4:00pm (Session 2)
4:00 – 6:00pm (UCLA Campus Tour)

April 28th – Second day of training program:  
9:00am – 12:00pm
1st half of day (Session 3): Sports Marketing and Sponsorship: focus on new technology, new consumer group and new consumer consumption patterns (Case Study of business case) (Half Day of Class)
1:00pm – 4:00pm
2nd half of day (Session 4): The Operation of sports complex and arenas – How can we use new technology to improve audience’s experience. (i.e. Use AEG as the business case to study)  (Full Day of class)
Special guest speaker: LA Area Sports Executive or popular sports figures (i.e. tentative – Producer at Fox Sports and former executive at Disney Sports; Host at Fox Sports Radio; Retired NFL Player and Sports Broadcast Analyst at Fox Sports)
April 29th – Third day of training program: 9:00am – 12:00pm 1st half of day (Session 5): The operation & execution of public sports events (marathon event), family style sports event.
1:00pm – 4:00pm
2nd half of day (Session 6): The business development of US college sports league and what is the new trend/fashion in sports.
Special guest speaker: LA Area Sports Executive or popular sports figures (as mentioned previously)
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Closing Reception and Award Certificates

Course Policies – Conduct and Culture
Critical Thinking: There are few ‘right’ answers in marketing. What works for one company may not work for another. It is important to think strategically and demonstrate critical thinking that describes “why” and “how”, not just “what”.

Clarity: Clear communications are essential in marketing. Please make sure you are communicating clearly both in class and in assignments.
Attendance: You are expected to attend all class sessions – to be on time and to stay until the end. If absence is unavoidable, please contact the instructor beforehand. More than two absences will result in an incomplete.

Respect: We will treat you with respect and expect the same. Accord your classmates, guest speakers and instructors with courtesy. Please keep your activities associated with class – do not check email, play games, or type anything but lecture notes. All cell phones MUST be turned OFF. Snacks are welcome, but please do not eat while guest speakers are present.

Professionalism: Professionalism for this class means giving every project and assignment your best possible effort; it means being on time and meeting deadlines; and it means conducting yourself in a manner that is appropriate to the policies and culture of a particular environment.

Program Includes
-Program curriculum development and content
-Program planning, organization, and administration
-Instructor selection
-Consecutive interpretation during classroom sessions
-Classrooms at UCLA Extension/UCLA Campus
-Records of participation to all participants who successfully complete the program
-Morning refreshments for the participants during the program
-Opening welcome breakfast and closing ceremony luncheon


April 30th – May 6th
Tour of popular sports stadiums, franchises, sports complexes, sports networks, sports organizations, state capitol, dignitary meetings, sports executive meetings. (Los Angeles, Sacramento, Bay Area).


BEIJING, CHINA – 4 of the Top 10 largest global themed entertainment companies in the world shared their knowledge and experience within the entertainment industry for those attending the Themed Entertainment Association’s (TEA) forum at the China Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (CAAPA) Expo in Beijing just last week. TEA also held a special panel session which featured several of its Asia Board Members, including California Center’s CEO, Margaret Wong.

The TEA panel included expert discussion on how themed entertainment is evolving in a rapidly expanding Chinese market. Specifics were shared on theme parks, family entertainment centers, edutainment centers, museums, live entertainment and more.

The China Attractions Expo has been organized by CAAPA since 1990. It is the most established international amusement and attractions exhibition in China. The floor space has increased dramatically to nearly 38,000 square meters, and is well-known as one of the most successful international amusement and attractions exhibition in the industry.

CAE Beijing 2018 drew industry professionals from over 100 countries to this year’s venue. The three-day show hosted over 450 exhibitors, with more than 100 of them coming from outside of China.

Many of the world’s leading attractions industry companies were present, including: BSH, Shendi Group, Riverside Group, Parques Reunidos Group, ABC, Accesso, Bolliger & Mabillard, Dream Park, Forrec, Huss, Ideattack, Intamin, Interlink, KCC, M&V, Murphys, OKE, PDC, Polin, Proslide, Sanderson, Severn Lamb, Simtec, Simworx, Triotech, Vekoma, Whitewater West, WTI, Xtrem, Zamperla, Zierer and many others.

California Center was also proud to join as a featured sponsor at this year’s TEA forum at CAAPA!

White House AAPI Meeting

SAN MATEO, CA – Last week, Asian Inc. and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) business centers hosted a group of Asian business leaders, including representatives from California Center for a round table discussion with newly appointed Executive Director, Holly Ham, White House Initiative on Asian American & Pacific Islanders. The leaders discussed perspectives on the AAPI landscape and relationships with federal government that impact local business and educational communities.

Among the issues raised during the discussion by the leaders present were: ways to strengthen the U.S. economy, cutting unnecessary and over-burdensome regulations on Asian businesses, improving the educational environment, cyber-security concerns, technology transfer from universities, and infrastructure investment planned by the federal government.

California Center Vice President Gordon Hinkle specifically noted at the meeting his concerns that many companies working to clean up our environment and reduce carbon output are constantly bombarded with regulations and procedures at both the state and federal level that limit application of innovative new technologies. Director Ham took note of the concern and responded that the White House is doing everything in its power to reduce over-regulation so businesses can thrive and also pointed to the role of the White House Office of American Innovation which is striving to help keep advancement of technologies progressing.

Ms. Shirley Gee, Chief Strategy Officer at DeltaTrak, Inc. and former Stanford University Professor also raised similar concerns about technology transfer from Universities into industry. Ms. Gee noted that too much useful information is sitting on the shelf in our nation’s universities. Director Ham took careful note of the issues raised and committed to helping bring such concerns to light both at the White House and at Federal Agency levels which was encouraging to the attendees.

Other noted participants at the meeting included leaders from the National Asian Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ACE), the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA), Google, Air Bnb, and several top California Asian-owned business leaders.