Slippery Rock students gain real-world experience at Super Bowl LX
Eight Slippery Rock University students majoring in sport management helped bring Super Bowl LX to life, gaining hands-on experience while assisting with operations for more than 90,000 fans in Santa Clara.
The students staffed premium tailgate areas, directed pedestrian flow and helped enhance the overall attendee experience.
Among the students was Jonathan Wess, a senior sport management major from Portage, who worked with classmates on game-day fan experiences outside Levi’s Stadium.
“It’s definitely something you can’t see inside a classroom,” Wess said via an article on the university’s website. “Coming out to the Super Bowl, it’s so different from what it looks like on TV.”
The group also spent several days touring Bay Area sports facilities, networking with alumni, such as Brett Rubash, and partnering with On Location, which supports major events, including the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The trip was led by SRU faculty members Brian Crow and Robertha Abney. It served as a capstone experience for sport management majors, whose coursework focuses on large-scale events, marketing, logistics and security.
Time Magazine reported that a study by the Bay Area Host Committee estimated the event would generate between $370 million and $630 million in earnings across the area.
Other SRU students who worked Super Bowl LX included Kylee Copley, Carley Dinsmore, Haley Dunlap, Delaney Ruth, Kaylee Smith, Calvin Tate and Josh Tedrick.
