Necessity spurs innovation, and in the case of the Gonzaga Sport Consulting Group (GSCG), that is completely true. The group operates as a committee within the Sport Management Club while serving a unique function and affording students the chance to gain valuable experience in the field of sports consulting.
“There was a lack of opportunity within Gonzaga … in both the sport industry and consulting,” said Mateo Valdez, executive chair member and founder of the GSCG.
With the rise of GU’s reputation within the world of athletics, more students at GU are interested in the sports industry.
Enter Valdez. In the fall of 2021, he worked on developing the group and launched it the following semester with 13 members. After contacting teams all along the West Coast, Valdez and the group settled on two — the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Trailblazers.
The GSCG was divided among these teams, with each section of the group working independently with their chosen team. The work depended on what the team organizations needed done, providing GSCG members with the opportunity to do real work in a number of fields, from business research to social media strategy.
“Every project is unique, but the points of overlap [are] giving students exposure to how sports marketing works and how a front office for a team functions,” Valdez said. “We wanted to make sure we bridged [the gap] between students and bigger companies outside of Spokane.”
For this semester, the GSCG hoped to add representation from Californian teams. They achieved just that, working with the Los Angeles Clippers and San Diego Padres while retaining the Seattle Sounders as a client.
The growth in membership for this semester has contributed to the GSCG’s ability to field more clients. There are currently 21 members divided between the three teams, which meet weekly. In addition to their internal meetings, GSCG teams typically meet with representatives of their respective team organizations every other week.
“We have pretty good communication with them,” Valdez said.
The GSCG’s relationships with their client teams have been positive thus far.
“We had really good reception, really good feedback for our projects to the point where both the Sounders and the Blazers wanted to partner with us again,” Valdez said.
He attributed the success of the group to its passion and competitive students who have higher ambitions each year.
Experience with sports consulting is nothing new to Valdez, who has interned for a sports technology start-up. His inspiration for the GSCG is also tied to a trip he took to the Michigan Sport Business Conference, where he learned about a similar program at the University of Michigan, even meeting with its founder. With more research, Valdez found that many state schools, such as the University of Washington, had similar programs.
“Without that inspiration, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Valdez said.
The work that Valdez and the GSCG have done has allowed them to forge professional connections with both team organizations and individuals within the sports consulting field.
“Being able to work in the sports world is a really tough task,” said Anthony Boragno, the GSCG’s vice chair of membership. “Once [members] meet their contacts with these teams, they can reach out to them in the future to get more advice and to possibly get a job with these teams.”
These relationships are supported by offers from client teams to present at their offices. Both the Sounders and Trail Blazers offered to host GSCG team presentations. One member took the Sounders up on their offer, attending a Sounders game last May.
Valdez and his leadership team are exploring avenues for funding these trips so that they are more accessible.
“We’re hoping … to be able to provide that opportunity for students to give their final presentations of the projects in person to the teams,” Valdez said.
The GSCG is open to any GU students who are interested in the sports industry, regardless of major. Recent applicants included students majoring in business, sports management, applied mathematics and more.
“Anyone who is willing to work hard and is passionate about the industry [is welcome],” Valdez said.
Valdez, a junior, and Boragno, a senior, hope that the group will be able to continue on after they have graduated. Valdez in particular is inspired by the hard work and dedication of the underclassmen within the group.
“These are people that really want to drive the organization forward,” Valdez said of the GSCG’s younger members. “A great resume line … is not the only reason why our members are here.”
For Boragno, part of his main goal is to keep the group alive even after he graduates.
“Once we leave here, we would love for this group to continue growing and improving for years to come,” Boragno said.
As for this year, projects for the Clippers, Padres and Sounders are in full swing. Applications will be accepted for next semester, and Boragno encourage anyone who may be interested to look the group up on LinkedIn.
“If [applicants] want to find an opportunity to work with very bright and ambitious people interested in sports business or consulting ... and build connections … in the competitive sport industry, they should apply,” Valdez said.