Collaboration will provide STHM students with coveted internships and job opportunities; will also launch new scholarship program for Spectra employees
Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) today announced a new agreement with international sports and live entertainment company Spectra that will provide comprehensive student fellowship and internship opportunities, create a pipeline of full-time positions with the company and offer scholarship opportunities to Spectra employees for the Executive Master of Science in Sport Business (EMSSB) program.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Spectra is an industry leader in venue management, food services & hospitality and partnerships with about 360 clients worldwide—including Temple’s Liacouras Center.
As part of the agreement, Spectra will expand its company-wide internship and job recruitment program for current STHM undergraduate and graduate students to gain real-life experience and prepare for a career in the sports and entertainment industry. A variety of training and experiential opportunities in venue operations, hospitality management, event management, marketing, sponsorship sales, ticket office management, finance and other key departments will be accessible for students to apply textbook lessons to real-life situations.
Spectra will also have an increased presence at on-campus events and program related networking functions. Students of STHM will have first-hand access to some of the business strategies and leadership personnel within the Spectra organization through various “lunch and learns” and other interactive programs.
“This partnership with STHM and Spectra is groundbreaking for both of us and the industry,” said John Allgood, assistant professor and academic director of the EMSSB program. “This type of partnership is the best type of partnership as it brings value to our students, Spectra and the future development of both organizations.”
John Page, Spectra’s president of Venue Management, added: “We have a strong history of supporting and hiring Temple graduates at Spectra and now we’ll have a more formalized opportunity to meet and help train the next generation of industry leaders coming out of the elite STHM program. What’s more, Spectra’s newest collaboration with long-time partner Temple University is going to be an incredible value-add for our employees looking to further their education and professional development.”
Beginning in the fall 2020 semester, full-time Spectra employees could receive considerable financial assistance upon acceptance into Temple’s Executive Master of Science in Sport Business Program (EMSSB). Qualified full-time Spectra employees are eligible for a scholarship of up to $10,000 jointly from Spectra and STHM once admitted and enrolled into the EMSSB program.
Participants in the graduate program typically have 10 to 12 years of experience in the industry. Once in the program, they will broaden their general business acumen, professional network and knowledge of sports and hospitality management strategy to position themselves for career advancement.
Locally, Spectra manages a combination of venue operations, food services and partnerships at Subaru Park in Chester, the Atlantic City Convention Center and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, PPL Center in Allentown, CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton and Citizens Bank Park. Spectra also books and programs content at the Wells Fargo Center and manages Partnerships for the Philadelphia Fusion, Nerd Street Gamers, Xfinity Live!, Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the Atlantic City Marathon.
For more information on the new partnership, visit the STHM-Spectra website, or contact John Allgood at john.allgood@temple.edu.
About the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management
Established in 1998, the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) at Temple University has a distinguished tradition preparing leaders in the sport, recreation, tourism and hospitality industries.
Thoroughly committed to providing student-centered education and professional development relevant to today’s thriving sport, tourism and hospitality industry — STHM integrates applicable, real-world experience into the curriculum and classroom through its global network of industry partners and well-connected alumni network. Our award-winning faculty and cutting-edge research institutes engage in pioneering research, informing business practices and providing students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in these fast-growing industries.
The School offers undergraduate degree programs in sport and recreation management and tourism and hospitality management; traditional graduate degree programs in sport business and hospitality management; and two online graduate degree programs in executive sport business and travel and tourism. STHM also offers a PhD program in business administration with a concentration in tourism and sport.
About Spectra
Spectra is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, partnering with clients to create memorable experiences for tens of millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality and Partnerships. Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com. Follow Spectra on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.