NKU Beats Xavier in Reds Ticket Sales Competition

May 17, 2023 - Students in the Northern Kentucky University Haile College of Business hit the field at Great American Ballpark as a reward after beating Xavier University students in a friendly ticket sales contest. 

The contest aimed to see which university’s students could sell the most “group sale” tickets for the Cincinnati Reds’ April series against the Philadelphia Phillies. NKU students participated in the contest as an experiential learning opportunity in two courses: “Revenue Generation in Sports and Events,” led by Professor Jennifer Gardner, and “Professional Selling,” led by Dr. Jose Saavedra Torres. By selling 445 tickets ($8,000 in sales), the Norse nearly doubled Xavier’s 224 tickets ($4,200 in sales.)

As a result of the NKU win, students and faculty were invited to view batting practice at Great American Ball Park on May 9th before the Reds took on the New York Mets. 

“Our students really rose to the challenge of competing and uncovering every stone to sell tickets,” said Jenny Gardner, director of the NKU Sports Business and Event Management program. “It’s yet another reason our business students are setting themselves up for success in the real world.” 

This Reds ticket sales competition is the latest example of the Haile College of Business’ commitment to real-world experience and student success. In Fall 2022, Gardner’s students received hands-on experience with two of the hottest attractions in the region, BLINK and Cincinnati Bengals games. 

To learn more about the programs, centers and initiatives of the Haile College of Business, click here.