Students interested in sport management narrow their professional options if they focus only on the popular American games. To better explore the wide world of sports, 14 Saints took off for Europe.
Formula One racing is a $2.6 billion industry and growing, quickly. Handball is played in 180 countries by an estimated 30 million people. Sport management isn't all baseball, basketball, and (American) football, and to broaden 14 Saints' perspective, Adam Pfleegor, Ph.D., associate professor of management, took them inside the arena in Europe. Earlier this month, the Siena crew spent 12 days between Italy, France, Spain, and Monaco. The objective was to explore sport culture and managerial trends in Europe.
"My goal was for students to immerse themselves as much as possible in the cultural of the communities we visited," said Pfleegor. "This included city life, music, food, drink, art, and of course, lots of sports!"
To immerse themselves in sports, they had to be in the stadium. The Saints attended an Inter Milan soccer match at the famed San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy; they met with the Barcelona International Sailing Club and sailed the Mediterranean Sea; they attending a MotoGP motorcycle race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya; they toured the F1 track in Monaco with the circuit's race director; and they played handball with the Nîmes Handball club. And those are only a few examples from the trip.
"In Barcelona, we had the wonderful opportunity to go and visit the home of the 1992 Summer Olympics and visit its museum," said Steve Jones '27. "On top of that, we were able to venture on a bike tour throughout the city of Barcelona. In Milan, one of the many cool opportunities we had was to go on a walking tour and really explore the culture that lies within the incredible city. Overall my study abroad experience was so cool and so much fun. It was great to see how much we all as a group could immerse ourselves within the history of each city as well as their current culture. I cannot thank Dr. Pfleegor enough for this wonderful opportunity."
Sports is a massive worldwide industry, but sometimes the fun of it is getting away from the crowds, and the business, and just enjoying a game of pickup volleyball on the beach. They did that, too, on the most pristine beach in Barcelona.
Formula 1 driver, and global sports superstar, Charles LeClerc won the Monaco Grand Prix on May 26 and was promptly showered with champagne . But, six days before winning his hometown race (above, right)...
Olivia Witkowski '25 is a massive F1 fan. In fact, it's her dream to one day work in the industry as a photographer (she's been taking pictures for Siena's athletics department for years). Now, a casual fan might spot LeClerc walking down the street. But only an uber fan would recognize his dog. Here's the story of the selfie.
"After getting dinner with a friend in Monaco, we were hanging out just outside the Monte Carlo Casino and Cafe de Paris, which are next to each other. We saw LeClerc's girlfriend with their dog before our meal, so we had the notion that if she was here, he was here too. Not long before we had to leave to catch our train, a group had congregated, and there was LeClerc leaving the restaurant. I couldn’t believe I was seeing him in person. My friend got her photo first, and I asked LeClerc for one and he said, 'sure,' and then I took the selfie! I had met an F1 driver! It was the cherry on top for that day in the principality. Choosing to study abroad on this trip was one of the best decisions I have made, and it has given me so many memories that I will cherish for years to come."
Olivia Witkowski '25
