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Jerry McBurney, who served as the vice president/general manager for the Bloomington Prairie Thunder (International Hockey League), will present "Selling in Professional Sports -- Techniques and Best Practices" from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 on WIU's Macomb campus.
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Selling in Pro Sports -- Techniques, Best Practices Workshop Oct. 29

October 19, 2009

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's kinesiology department and the Visiting Lectures Committee are co-sponsoring a workshop that will cover professional sports ticket and sponsorship sales. Slated from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 in Horrabin Hall, room 1, "Selling in Professional Sports -- Techniques and Best Practices" will be led by Jerry McBurney, who recently served as the executive vice president for the Peoria Pirates (Arena Football 2).

According to Darlene Young, sport management graduate coordinator and internship coordinator in Western's kinesiology department, McBurney's experience working in sports sales and marketing, including holding such positions as the director of premium seating and ticket sales for the National Football League's San Diego Chargers and as a sales manager for the Miami Dolphins (Robbie Stadium Corp.), will provide students with insight into the importance of sales experience in today's sports job market.

McBurney, who earned his master's degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University (Miami, FL) and a bachelor's degree in economics from Illinois State University, currently lives in Bloomington (IL). McBurney has also taught sports management as an adjunct professor at Lincoln College in Bloomington.

Other jobs McBurney has held in sports ticket sales and marketing include: vice president/general manager for the Bloomington Prairie Thunder (International Hockey League) and Bloomington Extreme (United Indoor Football League); director of sales for the Utah Blaze (Arena Football League); and vice president/chief operating officer for the Utah Grizzlies (American Hockey League). He also serves as the chair of the NFL Ticket Sales Committee.

McBurney's workshop is open free to the public. For more information, contact Young at (309) 298-1225 or DS-Young@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing