LAS VEGAS ([FOX5](http://fox5vegas.com/)) — More than 120 students were in class throughout the NBA Summer League, learning the business of sports from dozens of leaders from the NBA, pro sports and media industries.
The prospect of a career in sports is a growing reality for many in the booming “Sports Capital of the World,” which garnered $51 billion for the Las Vegas economy in 2025, analysts told the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Sports Business Classroom has been held at Summer League since 2016.
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This year, students connected with 30 leaders in the NBA and professional sports, helping them learn what it takes to run a team and a venue, sell tickets, recruit athletes, deliver broadcasts, oversee salary caps, and also help represent athletes.
“We have Tommy Shepard, the former general manager of the Washington Wizards, Ryan McDonough, the former general manager of the Phoenix Suns... we’ve got about 30 instructors on board that have either are currently still working in the NBA or have at one time worked for a team,” said lead instructor Bobby Marks.
“I broke into the NBA in 1995 with the New Jersey Nets. Back then, front offices were 10 people. Nowadays, front offices are 90 deep,” Marks said, also noting the range of jobs for people keeps expanding as revenue and the industry itself grows. “When I came into the NBA, one person was doing 30 different things. Now those 30 things are basically broken up into 12 to 13 people,” he said.
The youngest student was 18 years old, and the oldest was 62, according to SBC staff. The oldest student seeks a pivot from pro golf to athlete representation; other high school or college athletes are looking for their first career outside sports.
“This program was such a big help because I was like, ‘okay, my life is not over.’ It’s not going to end with me playing, but I get to still be around sports just in a different capacity,” said program alum Colleen Finney, who played college volleyball.
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