My Game Ops Experience
Robert
Experience Information
Employer: Grand Valley Game Operations
Job Title: Game Operations Intern
Major: Sport Management
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Working game operations at Grand Valley there are roughly around 15 of us actively. We have our interns, we have graduate assistants, and we have facilities operations coordinators. The interns help set up the games and with tasks that need to be done beforehand during and after games. Our graduate assistants are assigned to a sport by their supervisor and manage that sport, but they also help in other sports if needed. The facilities operations coordinators is the head of our department, we report back to them if there are any problems, and they oversee all the events.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
The tasks/projects I have completed are different in each sport. In all sports we set up and prepare the event beforehand. Iýve managed traffic for parking during the events and helped with post game tear down. Iýve also been a ball boy for soccer games. While not working games, I am in our departmentýs office completing other tasks such as doing inventory, making sure the golf carts are filled with gas, and helping with delivered packages.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
The specific knowledge I gained through my experience is how to handle all different types of situations throughout different sports. Iýve learned more about each individual sport and how each of them run differently. There are a lot of small things that go on behind the sense that the average fan would not know about. Now I know more about setting up for the stadiums and the protocols during a game.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of my internship experience was working the football games and getting to know the people I worked with. Getting to experience the behind the scenes of how they run the football games was interesting. I did enjoy seeing the stadium being filled with fans and overall I like when the game runs smoothly. Knowing that I contributed to help with the football games makes me feel accomplished.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
After working my internship, it influenced me to open my opportunity to work in game operations for other organizations in the future. Initially, I only wanted to work in marketing, but ever since I experienced working in game operations I would consider working in that department. At least I have experience in that field, so I have an idea on what to expect.
Internship Format
In Person