Overview
The day-student (commuter) version of the 7-day Sports Business Bootcamp in Chicago, for teens whose family is already staying in Chicago this summer. Your child joins the residential students for five weekdays (Jul 12–16, Monday to Friday), from about 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
The day covers the morning classes with Professor Stephen Master (NYU Stern, former NFL and NBA executive) and the afternoon site visits and guest speakers, plus the team capstone project — a sponsorship strategy for a new marketing partner. It's a selective program, so day students go through the same short application after enrolling.
What it doesn't include: accommodation, meals (lunch is not included), and the city highlights, dinners and evening activities after 4:30. It's an honest option only if your family is in Chicago anyway — a teen travelling from Europe on their own needs the residential program.
What's included
The itinerary
- Mon–Fri Chicago — day program — Classes on the global sports industry: who the big players are, where the money comes from, corporate sponsorship, team ownership and franchise finance, venture capital in sports tech, media rights and broadcasting, emerging leagues, fan data and analytics, roster building and the salary cap, Moneyball-style statistics, the changing world of US college sports, and what a franchise means for its city. Case studies include Real Madrid and the "Taylor Swift effect" on the NFL. Two behind-the-scenes site visits, which may include Wrigley Field (Cubs), the United Center (Bulls), Rate Field (White Sox) or Northwestern University athletics, plus guest speakers from sports media, a major college conference and athlete agencies. The week's capstone: in small teams, design a sponsorship and activation strategy for a new marketing partner.
Meals
No meals are included for day students, and lunch isn't either: your child brings a packed lunch or money to buy one nearby. Breakfast and dinner are at home.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the day-student option for?
Only for teens whose family is already staying in Chicago for the dates — for example living or working there for the summer, or staying with relatives. There is no accommodation, no meals and no supervision outside class hours, so it doesn't work for a teen travelling from Europe on their own. For that, the residential version is the right choice — we're happy to compare the two with you.
What are the daily hours, and what's included?
Day students join on weekdays from about 9:30 am to 4:30 pm: Jul 12–16, Monday to Friday. That covers the morning classes and the afternoon site visit or guest speaker, together with the residential students. The late-afternoon city highlights, dinners, evening activities and weekends happen outside those hours and aren't part of the day-student option. Lunch is not included either.
Do day students join every site visit?
Site visits and guest speakers are scheduled in the afternoon, inside the day-student hours, so they're part of the day. A visit further out (Northwestern University in Evanston, for example) may run later than 4:30 — we'll confirm with the operator how that works for day students.
Where does my child go each morning, and who looks after them?
The operator confirms the meeting point and the drop-off and pick-up arrangements after enrolment — we'll pass them on as soon as we have them. During program hours your child is with the group and its staff; getting there and back each day, the lunch money and everything before 9:30 and after 4:30 is up to the family. Please tell us if you need anything specific (for example an earlier drop-off) and we'll ask.
Which departure is right for my child?
This program is for teens in grades 9–12 (roughly ages 14–18), and the sheet and the operator's website agree on that. Dates: Jul 12–16, weekdays only. The grade is the one your child is in during the 2026–27 school year — we'll help you match it to your school system. Dates are the operator's official start and end dates.
Who teaches it?
Professor Stephen Master, who has taught sports marketing at NYU's Stern School of Business for more than 20 years and worked as an executive at both the NFL and the NBA. The program is modelled closely on his NYU Stern course in sports marketing and media, and his industry contacts are what open the doors for the site visits and speakers. Visits and speakers depend on people's schedules, so the exact line-up can change.
Is there an application?
Yes — this is a selective program for motivated, mature students who are ready to join class discussions and talk to professionals. After the normal enrolment form and deposit, the operator sends a short application form, to be completed within 5 business days, asking about your child's interest in sports management, their goals, and their commitment to the program's standards. The decision comes by email within another 5 business days. We'll help your child prepare a strong answer — and we'll confirm with the operator what happens to the deposit if a student isn't accepted.
What exactly is included in the price?
The classes and program activities during the day-student hours. Not included: accommodation, any meals (lunch included), the evening and weekend program, transport to and from the daily meeting point, the operator's application fee and travel insurance.
Is there a discount for enrolling early?
Yes — at the moment the operator takes US$100 off the day-student tuition for early enrolment, so it costs US$2,599 instead of US$2,699. It's a limited-time offer and the operator can end it at any point, so ask us whether it still applies before you decide. The price shown on this page is the full tuition.
Does my child get a certificate?
Residential students receive a certificate from the operator and the Sports Business Bootcamp; we'll confirm with the operator that day students get the same.
Does my child need a visa or an ESTA?
Only for your family's own trip to the US — the day program itself needs nothing extra. Teens with a passport from most EU countries travel on an approved ESTA (the online US travel authorisation); a B-2 visitor visa, not a student visa, is the route for other passports — ask us.
How good does my child's English need to be?
A solid intermediate level — the operator recommends B1 or above for its career programs, because the classes, case studies, team projects and presentations all happen in English. Your child can ask for an English-speaking roommate, and one-to-one English conversation time with a staff member can be arranged daily or a few times a week.
Are phones allowed?
Yes. Teens can bring their phone, so you can call or message them directly. The operator also runs a communication centre that's staffed every day of the summer, with someone on call around the clock for emergencies.