Seattle Sounders, Texas El Paso Win PRISM Award for Excellence in Sport Management from Spectator Sport Center at UMass
June 20, 2009
| Contact: | Ed Blaguszewski 413/545-0444 |
AMHERST, Mass. — The Center for Spectator Sport Research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in partnership with Turnkey Sports, has named the Seattle Sounders Football Club and the University of Texas-El Paso as winners of the 2009 PRISM Award.
The PRISM Award (Professionalism Results and Innovation in Sport Management) is given annually to two leaders in the sport marketing and management field—one professional and one at the collegiate level. It honors organizations for their proven excellence and innovation across five important categories: strategic planning, innovative marketing, community relations, customer service and employee relations. Tracy Schoenadel is the director of the Center for Spectator Sport Management, which is based at the university’s Isenberg School of Management.
The winners were selected among a panel of industry experts including Jeff Price, former president, SI Digital; Chuck Steedman, general manager and vice president, Northland AEG; Thorr Bjorn, athletic director, University of Rhode Island; Lindsey Burket, corporate sales, New England Patriots/Revolution; Rachel Spates, public relations director, Major League Lacrosse; Dave Stys, director of product development, Turnkey Sports, and Terry Lefton of the Sport Business Journal.
Emily Hobel, director of marketing and promotions for UTEP Athletics, said she is glad her team was feted. “We have a great staff, and everyone works extremely hard all year long,” she said. “It’s an honor to know that our hard work pays off, and that we can get recognized for our efforts and our creativity.”
Tod Leiweke, CEO of Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Sounders, was honored as well. “The response we’ve received from soccer fans throughout the Northwest has exceeded our expectations,” he said.
The Center for Spectator Sport Research is part of the sport management department at UMass Amherst. The center’s goal is to produce knowledge in the sports industry through educational programs, training and research.
Turnkey Sports & Entertainment is the holding company that owns and operates Turnkey Search, the industry’s leading executive search firm, and Turnkey Intelligence, the industry’s leading consumer intelligence firm. For more information about Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, visit www.TurnkeySE.com.
Contact: Tracy Schoenadel 413/545-5590, tracys@sportmgt.umass.edu
E-mail story to a friend 
Printer-friendly version
