“Our students are going to get practical, real-world experience that will propel them as they start their careers,” the dean of Butler's school of business said.
INDIANAPOLIS — As Indianapolis expands its efforts to try and become the "global capital of sports and entertainment," Butler University is joining in.
The university announced Wednesday, June 25, that it is launching the Butler Institute for Sports & Entertainment (BISE).
BISE will serve as a "catalyst for developing the talent, research and partnerships needed to fuel the region’s growing influence on the sports and entertainment industries," the university said in a release.
Butler’s College of Communication and Lacy School of Business collaborated to create the institute to better connect the university's academia and co-curricular strengths to Indiana's evolving sports and entertainment scene.
When Indiana Sports Corp (ISC) introduced its 2050 Vision, officials said Butler was advancing conversations around how to align what the university is capable of with industry demands — specifically in experiential learning, media production, business analytics and fan engagement.
"Butler leadership identified clear synergies within the 'Sports Academia' pillar of ISC’s 2050 Vision, and BISE was subsequently designed to complement and support that pillar by offering scalable, customizable partnerships that meet both the needs of industry partners and the educational goals of Butler students," the university said. "With a flexible, crossdisciplinary approach, BISE positions Butler as a responsive and collaborative partner— one that comes alongside organizations to co-create solutions and build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future of sports and entertainment."
BISE will provide marketing, video production and streaming, event data analysis, market research, kinesiology-related projects and more to partners.
To make this happen, officials said, BISE is hiring faculty and students from its College of Communication, Lacy School of Business and College of Education.
“Our students are going to get practical, real-world experience that will propel them as they start their careers,” said Craig Caldwell, dean of Butler’s Lacy School of Business. “Additionally, central Indiana sports and entertainment organizations— many of which have limited staff and resources—will benefit from the bench-strength Butler can provide. It’s a win-win for all involved.”
BISE's first partner will be the Hamilton County Sports Authority, officials said, and Butler students and faculty will serve on the communication and marketing team for the LIV Golf Indianapolis 2025 tournament.
"Butler University has a strong foundation in athletics and arts, and building upon that foundation to make our Midtown campus a destination for sports, arts, and entertainment is a strategic priority as we look toward our own future,” said Joseph Valenzano, dean of Butler’s College of Communication. “We have premier facilities like Hinkle Fieldhouse and Clowes Memorial Hall, strong academic programs in Sports Media and Sports Management, dedicated faculty who are mentoring some of the nation’s brightest students, and a well-earned reputation for leading innovation within higher education. Butler University is the ideal academic partner to help ISC achieve its goals.”
For more information about BISE, click here.
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