A robust crowd of students, faculty, and various local dignitaries gathered on Thursday morning at The T. Furth Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Trine Unviersity as plans for the new Trine Center for Sports Studies were unveiled.

As the sports industry continues to evolve worldwide, Trine is taking major steps to step into the forefront of the revolution sports as a whole and give its students the tools necessary to succeed in the years following graduation.

The multidisciplinary program focuses on teaching and hands on experience learning methods to focus on the study of sports and the international sports industry. The Center draws from well-respected Trine programs as well as courses in business, health sciences, and communications to provide the tools needed for students to succeed.

Brandon Podgorski, assistant professor of Sports Management at Trine discussed how the Center will benefit current students, as well as how the plans for future programs will attract even more students to Trine for years to come.

Podgorski also discussed that as the industry adapts, so will the curriculum.

Keynote speaker of the new program, Tim Bawmann President of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants spoke that as the landscape of sports has changed, specifically in the aspect that audiences no longer flock to see the sport itself but look more towards the overall live event entertainment experience instead. Bawmann also spoke of his previous life experiences, including his various en devours in Minor League Baseball. Bawmann also stated many times, "Man I wish a program like this would have existed when I was a kid," further emphasizing how vital this new program at Trine will be to sports as a whole.

For more information about The Trine Center for Sports Studies, you can visit trine.edu.