NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB)- Anticipation is building for Super Bowl 50. The Panthers and Broncos will battle it out for the Vince Lombardi Trophy this Sunday.
More than 70,000 fans will pack Levi’s Stadium to watch the game. Meanwhile, thousands of others will be behind the scenes making it all happen
“I just can’t wait to be out there,” said Shaun O’Lay, a senior at Niagara University. “Football’s been a part of my life for a real long time.”
O’Lay is one of 10 sports management undergraduate students selected to work on-site at the Super Bowl. A graduate student will also accompany the group.
“At first I didn’t think it was real,” said O’Lay.
He started playing football when he was eight years old and played on a state championship winning team at North Tonawanda High School.
O’Lay said working at the Super Bowl this is a dream come true.
“Three years ago students from Niagara were on the field helping out either security or promotions on field events,” he explained. “The last two years I know they were outside the stadium directing traffic and making sure the fans were getting to the right gates.”
Niagara University has sent students to the game for the last seven years.
“The Super Bowl is arguably the greatest sporting event in the world actually, it has all the components across the industry,”said Dr. Youngsoo Choi, the sports management program director.
Choi told News 4 the group will learn how hotels and restaurants handle the influx of tourists. They will also take notes on operations and on-site marketing of the week-long event that millions will watch on TV.
Niagara University is one of only three or four programs nationwide to send students.
“It’ll be a heck of an experience for the students and myself too,” said Choi. “We are there for work so I think work comes first but hopefully we’ll have some time to peak into the game and watch Peyton Manning and Cam Newton play each other.”
The students return on Monday.
