CourtesyAndrew Stockmann expected his internship in the Omaha Storm Chasers鈥� ticket operations office to teach him the ins and outs of ticketing for the minor league baseball team.
But when he spent a week in April planting 100 pansies outside the stadium, Andrew realized he was getting much more than the niche ticketing experience he was anticipating.
Andrew, a 黑洞社区 senior in sport management, moved to Omaha in March. He started his job on March 9. Three days later, the Storm Chasers announced that their season would be suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In many ways, that changed the focus of Andrew鈥檚 internship.
Nebraska doesn鈥檛 have a stay-at-home order, so Andrew continues to work at the stadium.
鈥淚鈥檝e been very careful obviously, but there are some things that can only be done there. I鈥檝e had to help out other departments. They鈥檝e been really accommodating in helping me get my internship hours,鈥� he said.
Aside from planting flowers, Stockmann also helped fulfill online orders through the team store and put up brackets in right field for the minor league soccer team that shares the stadium with the Storm Chasers.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how much I would be working with the soccer team initially, but I would say my job is about 75% baseball and 25% soccer,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a different experience within the organization 鈥� not just ticketing, but also stadium operations.鈥�
With the team鈥檚 inability to play baseball, Andrew鈥檚 hours have been cut from 40 hours to 20 hours a week, which is something Wichita State faculty has taken into account, given the current circumstances.
鈥淭he Sport Management program has modified the requirements a little bit, which has been really nice. They鈥檝e provided some additional assignments if I鈥檓 not able to get all 640 required hours. I鈥檓 about a third of the way there, so we鈥檒l see how long I鈥檓 able to keep working and go from there,鈥� he said.
Andrew has been grateful to the Storm Chasers鈥� willingness to help him complete his internship
鈥淢y supervisor said that they鈥檝e made a commitment to me as an intern and employee,鈥� he said.
His supervisor has been impressed with Andrew鈥檚 ability to change focus and expand his internship duties beyond the ticket office.
鈥淎ndrew has done a wonderful job adapting to the changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused,鈥� said Anna Corbett, director of ticket operations and business systems for the Omaha Storm Chasers. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been flexible and willing to work where we need help.鈥�
The sport management program at Wichita State has been integral in preparing Andrew for his internship, he said.
鈥淚 think my time at Wichita State was crucial in helping me prepare for this internship. All my classes really focused on the work experience, and it has all tied back to the practical experience you鈥檙e gaining the field,鈥� he said.
Things are still up in the air as to what Andrew will be doing after he graduates in May. He said he prefers to work in baseball, but he鈥檒l widen his job search to include all aspects of the sports industry.
鈥淣ow that I have some experience with ticketing and the systems used, I think that will be something I pursue after graduation,鈥� Andrew said.
