For the third consecutive year, St. Bonaventure University’s Sports Management program sent students to work the Super Bowl, continuing a growing tradition of immersive, high-level experiential learning within the School of Business.

Nine students were selected to participate in Super Bowl LX in San Francisco, California, following a competitive application process. To be eligible, students were required to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate active involvement in the Sport Management Club, and show consistent professionalism, reliability and work ethic. This experience is now embedded within the academic program, distinct from earlier trips that were club-sponsored initiatives.

Of the nine students selected, five were first-time participants: Riley Faso, Kael Eldred, Jack Fish, Austin Vandewalle and Jared Swift. Three students — Aidan Swayze, Aliyah Giudice and Spencer Ireland — were attending their second Super Bowl, while Hayden Watt became the program’s only three-time Super Bowl participant, having represented SBU at all three academic trips.

In addition to the application requirements, selected students were required to work four Buffalo Bills home games through the department’s partnership with Allied Universal Event Services. That work not only provided valuable hands-on experience at Highmark Stadium but also helped facilitate fundraising efforts to offset the cost of the Super Bowl trip and make the opportunity more accessible to students.

The group spent 10 days in the Bay Area, completing multiple professional trainings and working three days at the Super Bowl Experience (SBX), the NFL’s interactive fan festival held in advance of the big game.

The trip culminated at Super Bowl LX itself, where the students’ professionalism and reliability earned them placement at one of the most sensitive ingress points in the stadium: the suite entrance. This entry point welcomed ownership from all NFL teams, the NFL commissioner, distinguished league officials, celebrities and other high-profile guests.

“Our students’ previous displays of professionalism, reliability and passion for the industry led to this assignment,” said Dr. Tiffany Demiris, assistant professor of Sports Management. “I could not be prouder of the way they handled the pressure and responsibility of that location.”

Throughout the week, several students were recognized by supervisors and NFL personnel through the league’s internal Teammate recognition platform for their performance at SBX. At least six recognition posts highlighted SBU students’ contributions, further reinforcing the impact they made during the event.

In addition to their Super Bowl responsibilities, the group also attended a Golden State Warriors game during one of their off days.