Trine students partner with Pistons to sell tickets for Dec. 1 game

For the third year, Trine University sport management students are partnering with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons to learn the ticket sales process and sharpen their sales skills.

Students in the SM 423 Capstone in Sport Management class are selling tickets to the Dec. 1 contest between the Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks at Detroit’s Little Caesar’s Arena.

The game begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets, which start at $35, include a co-branded Pistons/Trine crewneck sweatshirt, a seat in the North End Club with all-you-can-eat food and a post-game free throw experience on the court. Five dollars from every ticket purchase will be donated back to Trine University.

To purchase tickets, visit gofevo.com/event/Collegenight464.

“Students earn no revenue from these sales, but rather gain experience in promoting and selling tickets, which they can showcase on their resumes,” said Zander Atwood, assistant professor of sport management.

Ongoing partnership

Trine has partnered with professional basketball teams on ticket sales experiences for eight years. The university worked with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants until that team moved to Indianapolis.

Trine faculty then contacted Andy Myers, a 2020 Trine University sport management graduate who works for the Pistons as a group sales executive, and were able to form a partnership with the team.

In a past interview, Myers said the partnership helps promote the Pistons brand in new markets, generates ticket sales and provides a funnel into the team’s hiring pipeline.