Meeting of minds to promote sports business

Developing new opportunities to make the Gold Coast a hub for sport business is the aim of a meeting between the Gold Coast Sports Business Taskforce and Southern Cross University this week.

Nick Pye, industry chair for the Gold Coast Sports Business Taskforce, said he was looking forward to exploring new opportunities through links with the University.

“Sport business is a rapidly growing industry and the Gold Coast - because of its superb climate, geographic location, and expanding infrastructure and facilities - is well placed to excel in this area,” said Mr Pye.

“Good connections between the industry and the higher education sector are essential, and Southern Cross University has obvious strengths in professional development and training in the area of sports business.

“This a key link for us and we are looking forward to working with the University to build our city’s reputation as a premier sports destination and world-class supplier of sport goods and services.”

Southern Cross University offers a Master of International Sport Management and an MBA (Sport Management) through its Graduate College of Management.

Gold Coast Sports Business Taskforce members visiting Southern Cross University this Thursday will hear presentations on the education, research and consultancy opportunities on offer before touring the University’s facilities at SCU Riverside and Lakeside in Tweed Heads, and the new Beachside campus currently under construction at the Gold Coast Airport Development Park in Bilinga.

Dr Dave Arthur, who is a regular sports business analyst and commentator, is Acting Director of Southern Cross Universiy's MBA and Masters Programs as well as Course Coordinator of the Master of International Sport Management.

Dr Arthur said he was looking forward to supporting the growth of sport business on the Gold Coast.

“The University has a range of capabilities in this area – from the sports business education courses we run, to our tailor-made corporate programs on offer - such as leadership and sports sponsorship courses - to our research and consultancy capabilities,” said Dr Arthur.

“Our courses are undertaken by students around the world with many graduates making a significant impact on the sport business industry both while they are studying and after graduation – and we are also looking at developing further partnerships with other universities internationally. For these reasons, we expect to dramatically increase the exposure of sports business in the region.

“We want to look at how we can pool our resources with the Gold Coast Sports Business Taskforce now and in the future and work on specific projects to improve and strengthen sports business activities on the Gold Coast.”

Photo: Dr Dave Arthur (high resolution image available on request)