Overview
A week-long, college-style introduction to the business of sports in Chicago, one of America's great sports cities. It's led by Professor Stephen Master, who has taught sports marketing at NYU's Stern School of Business for over 20 years and worked as an executive at the NFL and the NBA.
The week looks at the industry as a whole: where the money comes from, sponsorship, franchise ownership and finance, media rights, data and analytics, the salary cap and college sports. There are two behind-the-scenes site visits (for example Wrigley Field or the United Center), guest speakers from sports media and athlete agencies, case studies such as Real Madrid, and a team capstone project — a sponsorship strategy for a new marketing partner.
Evenings are for Chicago: Navy Pier, Millennium Park and the Bean, the Riverwalk and a Cubs or White Sox game. The group of up to 36 students stays at the historic Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue. It's a selective program — after enrolling, students fill in a short application — and finishes with a certificate and an alumni network. This is the first week of the 14-day Chicago & New York program.
What's included
The itinerary
- Days 1–7 Chicago, Illinois — Arrival on day 1 and check-in at the Hilton on Michigan Avenue. Then: 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. Late afternoons and evenings in Chicago: Navy Pier and the Centennial Wheel, Millennium Park and the Bean, the Magnificent Mile, the Riverwalk, Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain, the Chicago Sports Museum, and a Cubs or White Sox game. Flights home from Chicago on day 7.
Where teens stay
The historic Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue, overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan — a central base for exploring the city. Roommates are assigned by the staff, and Wi-Fi is included.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner are included every day — breakfast with hot and cold choices, dinner out at restaurants, sometimes all together and sometimes in smaller groups trying different places. Lunch is not included: teens pick cafés and small restaurants nearby in small groups, so plan for it in their spending money. Vegetarian, kosher-style, gluten-free (coeliac) and lactose-free diets and most allergies can be catered for if you tell us in advance.
Frequently asked questions
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: one departure, Jul 11–17. 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.
Does my child play sport on this program?
No — it's about the business behind the game: marketing, sponsorship, media, data, finance and careers in the sports industry. It suits a teen who loves sport and is curious about working in it (or studying business), whether or not they play themselves.
What does a typical day look like?
On weekdays: breakfast at 8:30, class from 9:30, lunch at noon, then from 2:00 a site visit or guest speaker. Around 5:00 the group heads out for a city highlight, dinner is at 7:00, and there's an evening activity at 9:00.
Is there a certificate?
Yes. On completion teens receive a certificate from the operator and the Sports Business Bootcamp, join its alumni network, and can stay in touch for advice on internships, university majors and career paths. Reference letters are available on request — useful for university applications.
How do flights and arrival work?
The program starts and ends in Chicago, so you book a return flight to Chicago. Please check the operator's arrival and departure time windows with us before buying anything non-refundable. Staff meet your child at the airport and bring them to the hotel at no extra cost (or you can drop them at the hotel yourselves), and teens flying in from overseas can arrive the night before the official start with the extra hotel night included. On the last day the leaders help with check-in and stay at the airport until flights in the set window have left.
What exactly is included in the price?
Hotel accommodation, breakfast and dinner every day, all classes, site visits and guest speakers, the city activities listed, local transport (subway, "L" trains and buses), Wi-Fi at the hotel, airport transfers for flights within the set time windows, tips and local taxes. Not included: flights to and from the program, lunches and snacks, spending money, laundry (one week of clothes is enough), the operator's application fee, and travel insurance — optional, but we strongly recommend it.
Is there a discount for enrolling early?
Yes — at the moment the operator takes US$200 off the tuition for early enrolment, so the 7-day program costs US$4,499 instead of US$4,699. 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 need a visa or an ESTA?
Families arrange travel documents themselves. Teens with a passport from most EU countries need an approved ESTA (the online US travel authorisation) before they board — apply well ahead. Teens from other countries need a B-2 visitor visa, not a student visa — ask us. If a teen living outside North America is refused a visa before 1 June, the operator offers a move to another program, a roll-over to the following summer, or a refund minus US$450.
Who else will be in the group?
Mostly American high-school students — on most programs around 85% of participants come from the US, and the operator tries to limit how many teens from any one other country join each group. For an international teen that means a genuinely English-speaking group of motivated students with the same interest, which is a big part of the appeal.
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.
Can my child come on their own?
Yes, and many do. The first days are built around icebreakers and getting-to-know-you activities, roommates are assigned by the staff, and team projects mean everyone works closely with new people from day one.
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.