51³Ô¹Ï

M.A. in Sport and Athletic Administration 51³Ô¹Ï Chris Navarro gave us an inside look at working the West Coast Conference Tournament. He shared what it was like to take on multiple roles behind the scenes throughout the event.

What was your role at the WCC Tournament, and what did a typical day look like for you?

I held quite a few roles at the WCC Tournament to ensure that I had a well-rounded experience. I was a team escort for three sessions including the first Gonzaga Men’s game on Monday and the Gonzaga Women’s WCC Championship game, I worked at the Team/Official Credential table [check-in] and worked the Back of House. As a team escort, I was tasked with directing the assigned team to their respective locker room, warm-up area, and bench while also assisting with any needs regarding locker room issues. Team/Official Credential check-in was essentially ID’ing officials upon arrival to the arena as well as teams and staff members accompanying the team. Lastly, as Back of House, I assisted with the transitions of the teams entering and exiting the locker room between game sessions in addition to restocking the locker room.

What has this experience taught you about working in sports or large-scale events?

What I learned is that there are a larger amount of moving pieces than I initially anticipated. I also learned that volunteers really make it easier on the conference when it comes to such a large event.

What’s something people might not realize goes into making the WCC Tournament run smoothly?

The amount of preparation regarding staffing and volunteer coordination is important. The WCC Tournament has been at the Orleans Arena since 2009, so I’d like to think they know what they are doing at this point.

How has the MASAA program prepared you for this experience?

One of the first classes I took was in Facilities & Event Management with Rob Kavon. This class was extremely applicable to the WCC tournament regarding all the moving pieces for a large-scale event. Furthermore, I think that the emphasis of networking and putting your best foot forward to make an impression that professors share in class helped me approach the experience with purpose.