Indianapolis Indians Give Ivy Tech Business Students Behind-the-Scenes Look

For Ivy Tech Indianapolis business students, learning about marketing strategies, risk management and business operations doesn't always happen inside a classroom.

Sometimes, it happens from the concourse of Victory Field.

As part of Ivy Tech Indianapolis' partnership with the Indianapolis Indians, students in several School of Business, Logistics and Supply Chain (SBLSC) programs are stepping beyond the classroom for behind-the-scenes experiences that combine career exploration with real-world learning.

This summer, students enrolled in BUSN 160: Introduction to Insurance and MKTG 101: Principles of Marketing toured Victory Field, met with organizational leaders, and learned how concepts they're studying in class translate into day-to-day business decisions. After the educational experience concluded, students stayed to enjoy an Indians game.

For Chris Ridener, assistant dean and department chair for SBLSC, the visits demonstrate what makes an Ivy Tech education different.

“When you combine an Indianapolis 124-year-old, over 12-decade business model that has continued to innovate and evolve, along with a 63-year-old educational institution that supports the community and those they serve, you get the opportunity to introduce students to a real-world educational experience that helps them develop and learn about business at the strategic and operational level,” Ridener said.

During a visit in June, Ridener's Introduction to Insurance students toured nearly every part of Victory Field, gaining access to areas that most fans never see. Along the way, they learned how the organization coordinates daily operations, plans for the season, manages partnerships and sponsorships, oversees retail and food service, supports employees through human resources and benefits, and develops marketing and sales strategies.

Students also participated in a panel discussion with leaders from business operations, sales and activation management, giving them the opportunity to ask questions about budgeting, scheduling, customer engagement, partnership development and career pathways in the sports and entertainment industry.

For students studying insurance, the discussion also highlighted the critical role of commercial insurance, employee benefits and risk management in keeping a large entertainment organization running smoothly.

"The students were given a wonderful opportunity to visit a historic sports entertainment business in Indianapolis and walk away with seeing many practices that they have been learning in the classroom, being practiced and utilized within a genuine business," Ridener said. "They also learned of another potential career path in their business career."

The experience extends beyond a single course. 

Darin Sills, director of digital marketing and an adjunct faculty member, MKTG 101: Principles of Marketing class has also visited Victory Field to examine how branding, sponsorship activation, promotions, and fan engagement support one of Indianapolis' most recognizable organizations. 

"Marketing is more than what people see on television or social media," Sills said. "When students can sit down with the professionals creating those campaigns every day, they gain a much better understanding of how the principles we teach in class come to life."

Together, the visits demonstrate how Ivy Tech intentionally connects classroom instruction with local employers, giving students opportunities to build professional relationships, ask questions of industry leaders, and see firsthand how the concepts they study are applied in the workplace.

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From behind-the-scenes industry tours to networking with local employers, Ivy Tech connects students with hands-on experiences that prepare them for the workforce.

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