Bottom of the 9th: Game Almost Over

(BBA, Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

Hey Everyone,

I am sad to say that this is my last post of the summer. I obviously do not want my internship to end, but I am also excited because that means I am headed back to Ann Arbor that much sooner.

I have learned so much this summer working for the Washington Nationals. I have made some great friends, with the other co-interns, full time employees, and most importantly with my supervisor. I have learned so much from Heather this summer. She truly is the most hardworking and driven individual I have ever met. She is non-stop working, and always giving it her all. I think the relationships I have made will be one of the best things I take away from my entire internship. I have learned something different everyday and from every person within my department, and within the organization.

I learned so much this summer, more than I ever expected. Of course I learned a lot about the Nationals and the Sports Industry. Most importantly, I learned that jobs are not Monday-Friday and 9-5. During my internship, I put in a lot of hours, and a lot of those hours were on weekends. It taught me a valuable lesson: that jobs are way different from school and do not follow a Monday-Friday (or Thursday) schedule, and that’s the real world.

One thing I really am taking away from this internship is the real-life, unique experience I was given. I was able to work with an organization during one of their most exciting times. This season, while I was here, the Nationals brought in a new Pitcher: Steven Strasburg. This was such an exciting time to be working for the Nationals, because everyone was so excited about Strasburg, and everyone was genuinely happy to be at work.

Throughout my internship, I think I have shown my boss my incredible work ethic. I think I have grown as a person during my internship. I came in about 9 weeks ago, scared, nervous, and anxious. Now, I am confident in myself and my work.

Overall, I have enjoyed my 9 weeks here with the Nationals. It has been a lot of work but also a lot of fun. I hope everyone enjoys their last few weeks of summer!

DMB Hits Nationals Park!

(BBA, Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

Hello everyone! So the last time I posted, I explained a typical day at Nationals Park. However, from my last post until now, it has been anything but typical here at the stadium. Last Friday evening, we had the Dave Matthews Band concert here at the Park. Sounds cool, right? Yeah, it was...but it was also a lot of work for my department. This concert was my department’s biggest event this summer. Luckily for us, the Nationals were on the road for 10 days and we had the All-Star Break, so we didn’t have to worry about games and could just focus on the concert.

We put in long hours and worked extremely hard. There were some minor “catastrophes,” but at the end of the day, the concert was amazing and was a huge success. We even got to watch Dave Matthews Band perform in a suite, which was a lot of fun. It was also nice just to sit and watch after a long day of work. But after the concert ended, we were back to work making sure cleanup was on schedule. Besides the 108 degree weather, one of our biggest problems with the concert was protecting the field. Once the concert ended, we had to get the cleanup started right away so we could remove the covering on the field to allow the grass to finally get some air! Sounds funny, but working with a baseball team, the grass is almost like one of the players.

Looking back on the concert, I would do it again in a second. I loved seeing my hard work and long hours help create an amazing show that was enjoyed by 40,000 fans. Now that the concert is over, our department is exhausted, and it is kind of nice to have the team back home for a 7 game homestand. Home games are like a break for my department, because they follow a very similar structure and routine. After a hectic week with the concert, it is nice to have a “Typical Day @ Nationals Park.”

I cannot believe I am starting my 7^th week here with the Nationals. After this homestand, I only have about a week and half left of my internship. I guess time really does fly by when you’re having fun. I look forward to updating everyone on my final weeks here at Nationals Park.

PS: check out DMB’s concert schedule…maybe he is coming to your town!

A Typical Day @ Nationals Park

(BBA, The Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

I cannot believe I have already been here for over a month! I have fully adjusted and now have a daily routine. I thought I’d share a typical day of my in

ternship. As I mentioned in my last post, non-game days and game days are extremely different work environments. Game days are much more exciting, in my opinion. On a typical game day I work from 2pm-8pm.

2pm-3:30pm: I come in to the office, get settled, and start working on my current project. Last week I finished a Punch List of all the suites. I had to go around to all 79 suites in the stadium and take photos of places that needed touch-up work and fixing. This week, my project is to contact other baseball teams’ Enterprise and Events departments to receive information and brochures on their event plannin

g and price rates. Additionally, this week I have to edit and make the layout diagrams for the party clubs and rooms. This definitely is going to test my powerpoint ability!

3:30pm: I go grab the wristbands for the Diamond and Presidents Clubs that will be used during the game. Only those people with Diamond and President Club tickets are allowed to enter the clubs; therefore, wristbands are the most effective and efficient way to ensure only ticketed guests are in the clubs. Liam, a staff member in my department, and I walk to the Presidents Club, the Diamond Club, Section 126, and Section 119 and distribute the wristbands to the ushers. Those are the on

ly 4 locations that people can redeem their wristbands to enter the clubs. We also make sure there are podiums at these locations, and that everything in the clubs is ready for when the gates open. At every game, there are concierges in the clubs to greet and direct the guest. My department is in charge of ensuring that the concierges are there, on time, and ready. After we distribute the wristbands to the four locations, Liam and I post the concierge work schedule in the concierge check-in location. This whole loop usually takes us about an hour.

4:30-5:30pm: I head back to the office and work on my assigned projects.

5:30pm: Liam and I take another loop to make sure that the concierges and ushers are in places at the designated locations. After doing this final loop with Liam, he heads into the Diamond Club and I go work on my pre-game project.

6-7pm: My co-intern, Jim, and I work on throughput times before every game. Our department is trying to figure a more efficient way for people to get drinks and food, by minimizing their wait and process time. We are trying to prove that the method we currently use is not efficient. Jim and I time, count, and calculate the number of people that are served at s

pecific concession stands.

7pm: I meet up with the rest of my department’s team in the Diamond Club, where we can work while watching the game. (It’s a great view of the whole field)

8pm: Workday is over. I can either head home or stay and watch the game.

That is what a typical day at Nationals Park is like on a Game Day. Everyone in my department is extremely friendly and helpful. We spend a lot of time together as a team. On Non-Game Days we all spend a lot of time in the office together. Even though we are all doing different things and working on separate projects, there is still a social atmosphere around the office, and always someone to help, answer questions, etc. The people working in my department are young and fun, which definitely enhances my social life as an intern. I’m really enjoying my internship and can’t wait to update everyone again!

Strasburg + Obama = Craziness.

Hey everyone!

So the last time I posted, it was my first day—I was nervous, excited, and clueless. Over the past two weeks I have worked possibly one of the most challenging homestands ever and I have been assigned numerous projects. At the first game I was assigned to work, not only was Strasburg pitching, but we also had a surprise guest appearance by President Obama.

Not only did we have to work around secret service, but the stadium was completely sold out—a packed house. During the game, I was assigned to work in the PNC Diamond Club. I had to check people in, make sure everyone had wristbands, and oversee the club to ensure everything was running smoothly. Overall, my first game experience was successful. Since I have started my internship, I have worked at 6 games. This upcoming week we have a 10 game homestand, and I am extremely excited to work at the games.

While the team is away on the road, the office has a very different atmosphere. On game days, people are coming and going; on office days, it is much more relaxed. On non-game days I usually work on projects and attend department meetings. While the team is away, there are a ton of events at the stadium that my department puts together. For example, this week the Lexus Dealers from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area came out to the field for an organized softball game. Last night, we hosted the 49^th Annual Congressional Baseball Game. It is a 7-inning baseball game, Republicans versus Democrats, with approximately 7,000 people attending, and for charity. Prior to the game, I was responsible for letting in media and sponsors. During the event, I was assigned to manage the Pressbox. It was very calm and low-key in the Pressbox, so I was able to watch most of the game. This was such a cool event to work at.

I have a lot of new projects to work on in the next few weeks. My biggest one coming up is the Dave Matthews Band Concert that is being held at the stadium at the end of July. I look forward to updating everyone on this project! Stay Tuned Everyone, Stay Tuned

Top of the First Inning: Day 1 with the Nationals

(BBA, The Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

Hey Everyone! So today is the first day of my internship with the Washington Nationals.

I had to come into the office at 9:30 AM. I got to experience my first real commute into Washington D.C. via the metro. Due to a little bit of nerves but mostly excitement, my sleep schedule was completely off, and finally at 6:30 AM I thought it was acceptable to get out of bed. I take the metro into D.C. a lot for sports games, concerts, or just to go into the city, so I’m extremely comfortable on the Red Line. However, to get to Nationals Park I have to take the Red Line and then switch to the Green Line in Chinatown. That was quiet an experience. The metro was PACKED and trying to squeeze out at my stop was a challenge in itself. But I did it! After getting on the Green Line and getting off at Navy Yard I walked about 3 steps outside and there was Nationals Stadium. I was surprised how easy it was to get there.

Mission One: getting to the stadium, CHECK.

Once I got to the Media Gate Entrance at the stadium, another intern was there to let me in. After filling out some paperwork and receiving my credentials I was taken to meet my supervisor, Heather. She seems like a fun person to work with for the next two months. She briefly explained to me the role of the division, but then it was straight to work: my first meeting!

Mission Two: meeting my supervisor and already doing work, CHECK.

Working in the Ballpark Enterprise Department, I get to work at all of the game-day and non-game-day events. Just this week (Wednesday-Tuesday, ya I was surprised about their definition of a week too) I’ll be working at 5 baseball games! After receiving my schedule, Heather showed me to my cubical. My cubicle is probably twice the size of those on the fourth floor of Kresge, and is well decorated with Nationals stuff EVERYWHERE. Not bad, not bad at all.

After getting adjusted, Heather thought it would be beneficial for me to take a tour of the stadium. Side Note: the tour of the stadium is one of the best tours in D.C., so if you’re in the area you should definitely check it out! After the tour, I was free to leave for the day.

Mission Three: surviving day one, CHECK.

Overall, I’d say this was a successful first day. I look forward to updating everyone on my experience over the next 8 weeks. Who knows, maybe ill even get to meet Strasburg!

First Post

(BBA, Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

Hey Everyone!
My name is Callie Robins. I am a rising junior BBA student at the Ross School of Business. This summer I will be interning in Washington D.C. with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club. I will be working in the Ballpark Enterprises Department. I expect my work this summer will be challenging, yet extremely fun and rewarding. My major responsibilities include assisting with research projects, performing administrative functions within the department, and assisting with events at the ballpark.
I have a unique opportunity to use my knowledge from my first year at Ross while gaining insight into the sports industry. Over the summer, I hope to have the chance to challenge myself by working on dynamic project, but I also hope that a lot of my time will be spent with other interns working on group assignments. The only expectations I have for this summer are to have real life work experiences while having fun. I live about 30 minutes outside of Washington D.C., so I would have to say I’m pretty nervous about the commute to work everyday.
I’m excited for my first “real” job, and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I don’t know much about baseball, but I am sure by the end of the summer this will change. Wish me luck! I look forward to updating everyone.

-Callie