Michigan Sport Business Association

What Michigan Sport Business Association does

Michigan Sport Business Association (SBA) is a student-run professional organization affiliated with the University of Michigan's School of Kinesiology, founded in 2003 by Todd Heyden (SM '05). The organization serves University of Michigan students — primarily those in the Sport Management program — by providing career development programming designed to prepare members for sport business careers. SBA self-describes as the nation's largest student-run sport business organization.

SBA's core offerings include internship facilitation, professional development sessions (Pro Days), on-campus speaker events featuring industry professionals, mentorship programs, employer outreach trips to sports organizations in both domestic markets (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Miami) and international markets (London, Paris), and the Sport Business Association Journal (SBAJ), a student-written digital publication launched in 2015. The organization maintains a database of over 500 alumni used for networking and mentorship matching, and runs a Travel Fund that has financially supported more than 60 students on employer treks over the past four years.

SBA does not operate a commercial business model. It is funded through membership activities, university support, and donations routed through the University of Michigan's giving platform. Membership is acquired through a semi-annual application process held each Fall and Winter semester, supported by social media channels (LinkedIn, Instagram), email communications, and in-person information sessions. The organization is governed by an annually elected student executive board with faculty advisor Kelli Donahue and institutional backing from the School of Kinesiology. SBA has no venture capital backing, parent company, or external ownership.

Name

Michigan Sport Business Association

Legal name

University of Michigan Sport Business Association

Website

https://www.sbamichigan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Michigan Sport Business Association is a student-run professional organization at the University of Michigan, founded in 2003, serving Sport Management students with networking events, speaker programming, mentorship, global industry trips, and the SBAJ publication.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Professional Organization Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKACAK

University/College Club Sports Programs

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

SECONDARYMPAKAKAJ

Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Management & Promotion Services

Keywords

• Student professional organization
• Sport business networking
• Sport industry career development
• Alumni mentorship programs
• Sport management education

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SBA operates as a student organization funded through membership activities, school support, and donations. The organization does not publicly disclose its revenue model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Michigan Sport Business Association (SBA) is a student-run sport business organization at the University of Michigan offering networking events, speaker events, mentorship programs, internship opportunities, global trips to sports organizations, and the SBAJ publication. Members gain access to a 500+ alumni database and professional development programs (Pro-Days) designed to prepare students for careers in the sport business industry.

Product overview

Michigan Sport Business Association (SBA) is a student-run sports business organization at the University of Michigan, founded in 2003. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including SBAJ (the Sport Business Association Journal) - a student publication covering sports business topics, an Alumni Database with 500+ alumni for networking and mentorship, a Newsletter for external communications, Mentorship Programs pairing students with industry professionals, Global Trips to sports organizations in major markets, Speaker Events bringing industry leaders to campus, and Pro-Days for professional development. The core offering is membership in SBA, which provides access to all these programs designed to prepare students for careers in sports business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SBAJ (Sport Business Association Journal): The organization's digital publication featuring articles on sports business topics including league news, college sports, media, investment, NIL, soccer, and more. Currently on Volume V with multiple issues.

Products and services

• SBA Membership The core membership offering of the nation's largest student-run sport business organization, providing University of Michigan students with access to networking events, speaker events, mentorship programs, internship opportunities, professional development sessions, and global trips to sports organizations.
• SBAJ (Sport Business Association Journal) A student-written and curated publication covering sports business topics including league news, college sports, media, sponsorship, NIL, and alumni spotlights, distributed as volume-based issues.
• SBA Global Trips Professional outreach trips to domestic and international sports organizations in cities including New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Miami, featuring company visits and networking events. SBA has financially supported over 60 students on off-campus employer treks in the past four years.
• SBA Mentorship Programs Mentorship programs pairing current University of Michigan members with SBA alumni and industry professionals working in sport business for career guidance and professional development.
• SBA Pro-Days Professional development sessions including resume reviews, mock interviews, and skills workshops such as Adobe Photoshop training to prepare students for sport business careers.
• SBA Speaker Events On-campus speaking events featuring industry professionals, alumni, and student speakers covering sports business topics and professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 students financially supported on employer treps in past 4 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Girls on the Run (GOTR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA collaborated with Girls on the Run, a physical activity-based positive youth development program for girls, and raised $1,500 to support their efforts in Southeast Michigan. The partnership focuses on community engagement and philanthropy.
• Michigan Youth Sport Initiative (MYSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA is expanding its partnership efforts to collaborate with Michigan Youth Sport Initiative, a student-led organization in the greater Ann Arbor area working to break the pay-to-play barrier in youth sports.
• Black Undergraduate Kinesiology Association (BUKA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA collaborates with BUKA on the DEI Student Speaker Series to elevate students' voices and enable a call to action around diversity, equity, and inclusion in sport.
• Spectrum CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA collaborates with the Spectrum Center (University of Michigan's LGBTQ+ center) on the DEI Student Speaker Series to educate and grow SBA's relationships with DEI-related organizations across campus.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Indiana University Sport Management Club: Student-run sport management organization at Indiana University, the flagship Big Ten rival to U-M's SBA. Directly comparable in mission (professional development, treks, speaker events), target member (sport management students), and operating model.
• Ohio University Sports Administration Club: Student organization within Ohio University's renowned Sports Administration program. Directly comparable in serving sport-business students, hosting treks/speaker events, and providing networking into the US sport industry.
• NYU Sports Business Society: Student-run sports business organization at NYU. Directly comparable in serving students interested in sport-business careers via speaker events, networking, and NYC-based industry exposure.
• University of Oregon Sports Business Club: Student organization at the University of Oregon focused on sport business. Directly comparable in mission, member profile, and programming model (treks, speakers, alumni network).
• Syracuse University Sport Management Club: Student organization at Syracuse University's Falk College. Comparable in serving sport-management students, hosting employer treks, speaker events, and alumni networking in the sport industry.
• Temple University Sport Management Club: Student-run club within Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management. Directly comparable in mission, member base, and programming around professional development in sport business.
• Marist College Sport Communication Club: Student-run club at Marist College in the sport-business/communication space. Comparable in serving undergraduate students pursuing sport-industry careers via speaker events, treks, and alumni engagement.

Broad incumbents

• University of Michigan School of Kinesiology Sport Management Program: The host academic program that SBA is embedded within. Comparable as the institutional body governing SBA's sport-management curriculum, faculty, and recognition; SBA is essentially the student-run extension of this program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umichsba
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbamichigan
• Xx.com/michigansba

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michigan Sport Business Association