U of A Student Chosen as Intern for National Meeting of Stadium Managers

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Hunter Thomasson poses with the Golden Boot trophy at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The Arkansas football team took possession of the trophy after its 17-0 win Nov. 15 over LSU.

University of Arkansas student Hunter Thomasson has been selected for an internship with the Stadium Managers Association and will assist with the association’s 41st annual seminar in Los Angeles in February.

Thomasson is a senior from White Hall, Arkansas, majoring in recreation and sport management. He has been doing a practicum with U of A athletics in which he helps manage Razorback athletic facilities. He was one of six students chosen nationwide for the internship with the association that is dedicated to professional, efficient and state-of-the-art management of stadiums around the world. Its members are administrators and operations personnel from teams, colleges and universities; facility managers and public sports authorities; and suppliers to the industry.

“This is a significant accomplishment for Hunter and our program,” said Steve Dittmore, associate professor who coordinates the recreation and sport management program in the College of Education and Health Professions.

In a letter to Thomasson, Mary Mycka, executive director of the Stadium Managers Association, said the internship gives university students the opportunity to show leaders in sports leagues how valuable the students can be to their organizations. Their unique talents and background will add to the success of the seminar, she wrote.

Session topics will include stadium concessions, the fan experience, opening a new stadium and extending the life of an old stadium, security and technology. Participants, including the student interns, will also visit the Rose Bowl and attend a reception at Dodger Stadium, a dinner at Warner Bros. Studios and a Super Bowl party at the conference hotel in Hollywood.

On the U of A campus, Thomasson works at all the home football games and the events before games and also supervised facilities last summer during the Veterans Golden Age Games, a national sports and recreation competition for senior veterans. He works for Scott Sargent, facilities director for the athletic department, and he said Kandice Erwin, director of human resources and camp operations, also assisted him with the practicum. Dittmore suggested he apply for the seminar internship.

“I appreciate the support from Dr. Dittmore and the opportunities I’ve received from him and U of A athletic staff to gain experience in developing me to prepare for what the future holds,” Thomasson said. “I love being able to have that relationship with faculty and staff. I have built multiple connections at the U of A.”