For the third straight year, the Kansas City Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl — an impressive feat. 

But the team was not the only regular from Missouri at the big game.  

The students of Missouri State University’s Entertainment Management Association once again secured a coveted spot working behind the scenes at one of the biggest sporting events in the U.S. 

A select group of 16 students traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, for an immersive learning experience at Super Bowl LIX from Feb. 5-11.  

“It’s a selective process,” senior Grace Schad said. “We use a point system in the program and leaders get to go.”  

Jumping into work 

Once on-site, the students didn’t just watch the action — they helped make it happen.  

“We work the Super Bowl Gameday Experience and the Super Bowl Gameday itself, engaging with fans and working directly with the NFL,” senior Chandler Harris said.  

On game day, they took on roles at the exclusive On Location Touchdown Club private party, where they interacted with fans, managed games and assisted in VIP lounges. 

The students also worked at the Super Bowl Fan Experience, an interactive NFL event leading up to the game. This involved helping with interactive zones, registration, waivers and overall operations. 

Learning through experience 

They were paid hourly by the NFL and the opportunity offered the students invaluable hands-on experience and helped them better understand what kind of industry they want to work in. 

“This trip gave me insight into running large-scale events, working with a team to reach a common goal and helping everyone involved get the most out of their experience — from fans to supervisors and other stakeholders,” Schad said. 

Explore the entertainment management program