Home of NFL team Atlanta Falcons and 2018 MLS Cup champions Atlanta United, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the most technologically advanced arenas in the world. This 75,000 capacity megadome provides a fantastic opportunity for GIS students to learn and network in a thriving sports city that also hosts the NBA's Hawks and the MLB's Braves.
On campus and online students, as well as alumni, are able to attend the Global Sports Summit event at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium each year. The summit is based around 4-5 days of specially tailored talks, workshops and visits specific to the American sports industry.
The schedule in Atlanta, like the summits at each GIS hub, will be based around four themes:
- From the pitch – hear from those who contribute towards the playing side of sport such as coaches, match analysts and sports scientists;
- From industry – find out more from those who’re responsible for what happens behind the scenes, including marketing managers, agents and media officers;
- From the boardroom – learn about how the big decisions are taken at clubs and organisations from the likes of chief executives and chief finance officers;
- Cultural activities – this will include visits to national landmarks, more of Atlanta's leading stadiums and at least one live sports fixture (subject to fixture lists).
Guest speakers for the summit will be confirmed closer to the event, but attendees will be able to hear from the leaders and key personnel at some of Atlanta’s leading sports and clubs including Atlanta United and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Multiple time zone delivery
From the 2021/22 academic year, our MSc Football Business and MSc International Sport Management online programs will be delivered in three time zones for the Americas, Europe and Africa, and Australasia. Our MSc Soccer Communications & Digital Marketing (Online) program will also be available for both the Americas and Europe and Africa.
Synchronous, live sessions will be delivered for the GMT/BST, AEST/AEDT and EST/EDT time zones to provide the greatest studying flexibility. To further enhance the learning experience around the world, there will be various touchpoints throughout the year for all students, including guest speaker sessions and networking opportunities.
Global Insight Series
The Global Insight Series is an elite on-campus and online networking and thought leadership series. Delivered both online through a variety of digital publications, podcasts, videos and seminars, with lives seminars also held across our various GIS & UCFB campuses and business centres, this key professional development facet of our offering is distributed to the mobile phone and laptop of every member of the GIS & UCFB family, students, alumni and business partners alike.
The Global Insight Series provides unprecedented access and collaboration opportunities between the world’s elite sports network.
Still not made your mind up?
— UCFB (@ucfb) July 17, 2019
Here's @BocaBoca3 to welcome you to @MBStadium, home to @ATLUTD and @AtlantaFalcons! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/D1h3yNMgZs
We’re really excited for the partnership with UCFB and GIS. We feel like it’s a world class organisation specifically for sports, and partnering with Mercedes-Benz Stadium and operating out of that fantastic building that we have down here, we couldn’t see a better partnership.
Atlanta's sporting pedigree
Home to the world’s most forward-thinking and spectacular stadium? Check. Home to the MLS' best supported franchise? Check. Scene to some of the most memorable moments in Olympic history? Check. The sporting pedigree of Atlanta is unquestionable. Away from the bright lights of its coastal cousins, Atlanta is a modern city determined to make its mark on the world’s sporting map.
Discover Atlanta
Home to civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta is the capital of Georgia state and remains a vital interstate for road and rail in the US, not to mention Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, which is one of the busiest in the world. World class sport, authentic American cuisine and Coca Cola make Atlanta a must-visit destination.
Home to civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta is the capital of Georgia state and remains a vital interstate for road and rail in the US, not to mention Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, which is one of the busiest in the world. Despite having a relatively small population of 500,000, Atlanta’s place in modern US life remains as important as it did in the 19th century, when it was captured by Unionists during the American Civil War. Atlanta can also claim to be the home of Coca Cola – in 1886 pharmacist Dr. John S. Pemberton created the soft drink that went on to conquer the world.
The World of Coca Cola allows visitors to find out more about Pemberton’s creation, as well as find out more about the secret recipe and see legendary artefacts from the history of the bestselling drink in the world – don’t forget your souvenir! When you’re finished learning about Coca Cola, walk over the road to the Centennial Olympic Park, built to celebrate the city hosting the 1996 Olympic Games, to relax, explore and splash around in the Fountain of Rings. Finally, for those who get their thrills hanging upside down, Six Flags has two parks in Atlanta to help you relax away from lectures and studying.
Home of the MLS champions Atlanta United and NFL heavyweights the Atlanta Falcons, both sides play out of the spectacular Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Atlanta Braves represent the city in MLB, while the Hawks play in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. Atlanta may be small, but it packs a punch with its sports stars.
You’re in the south now, it’s all about barbecue and fried chicken… and lots of it. If you want barbeque, the smoked wings at Fox Bros and BBQ pork at Heirloom Market are a pretty decent place to start. Fried chicken exists on almost every street corner, but The Busy Bee Café and Mary Mac’s keep the locals happy. A special mention must be given to the overlooked peach. With Atlanta being in Georgia, peaches are a rite of passage here, so if you see peaches on the menu just order them however they come. Trust us.
We’re sure you have questions about UCFB and our global hubs, so we’ve put together some handy FAQs which we think tells you everything you need to know about our events.
Each GIS global hub hosts an annual global sports summit, bringing together UCFB and GIS students, alumni and leading sports industry professionals in some of the most advanced sports and entertainment venues in the world.
Global Summits
See what it's like to be a student on our unique sports degrees and build your network at one of our Global Taster Sessions, at each GIS stadium hub.
Register here
