On campus and online students, as well as alumni, will be able to attend GIS’s Global Sports Summit in New York, primarily based at the Red Bull Arena, in April 2023. The summit is based around A week of specially tailored talks, exclusive networking opportunities and visits specific to the North American sports industry.
Home to popular MLS team New York Red Bulls, this global hub provides access to one of the great sports cities that hosts other world-renowned teams including MLB sides the Yankees and Mets, NBA teams Nets and Knicks, the NFL's Giants and Jets, and fellow MLS club New York City FC.
Red Bull Arena provides a unique opportunity to network with and learn from the revolutionary multinational Red Bull football brand, pioneers in 21st century sport.
GIS can announce that it is in discussion with several of the Major League sports franchises in the city of New York with the aim of incorporating as many of them as possible into the week of activities.
Please note: Booking is now open to UCFB and GIS students and alumni on the UCFB Online Store. We are expecting very high demand for spaces to attend this Summit, and we are working with limited capacities, so places are allocated on a first-paid basis. All students and alumni will have the opportunity to book to attend the Summit.
The dates of the 2023 GIS NY Global Sports Summit will be April 7th-14th.

What will the Summit include?
- Enhance your knowledge of the North American sports industry from professionals working at some of the biggest organisations in the US;
- Understand and see first-hand how sport operates in one of the biggest and most successful markets in the world;
- Network with industry decision-makers and enhance your employment opportunities in the North American sports industry;
- Experience incredible live sport at some of the world's best stadiums and arenas.
Experiencing live sport forms a key part of the Summit. Our 2023 NY Global Sports Summit will included:
- Major League Baseball @ Yankee Stadium: NY Yankees v Minnesota Twins
- NBA @ Barclays Center: Brooklyn Nets v TBC
- Major League Soccer @ Red Bull Arena: NY Red Bulls v San Jose Earthquakes
- NHL @ Prudential Center: NJ Devils v Buffalo Sabres
Tickets for all of these live sport experiences will be included in the cost of the trip.
- Elite sports teams and franchises;
- Stadium and venue staff;
- Sports club owners and management groups;
- Sports agencies;
- Sports media and broadcasters;
- Former and current players, managers and coaches.
Speakers from recent NY Global Sports Summit included senior leaders from:
- New York Red Bulls (MLS)
- New York Yankees (mob)
- New York Jets (NFL)
- US Soccer Foundation
- RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
- and many more!
Details of the guest speakers for the 2023 Summit will be communicated closer to the time of the event.
Getting behind the scenes of key sporting organisations will form a key part of the Summit. This will include tours of stadiums and training facilities and meeting key staff.
Free time will be built into the schedule of the week and there will be ample opportunity for students to explore what New York has to offer.
Networking with key players in the sports industry will form a central part of the NY Global Sports Summit. There will be opportunities to meet with senior leaders and decision makers from major sports organisations, providing an excellent chance for attendees to build connections and build their personal brand whilst learning about the local sports market.
Travel & accommodation
Accommodation for this opportunity will be booked by UCFB/GIS, and students will be required to pay the full amount to confirm their place at the summit. Travel is to be booked independently by students.
- Accommodation
- Access to live sport experiences
- Internal coach journeys to summit activities, where appropriate
- Flights
- Visa
- Food and drink
- General spending money
Please visit the UCFB Online Store for details of the cost of attending the Summit.
All 2023 GIS NY Global Sports Summit attendees will be staying at the Element Harrison – Newark, which is part of the Marriott Hotel Group. The hotel is superbly located just a 9-minute walk away from Red Bull Arena, where the Summit will be based each day – minimising time and money spent on internal travel. It’s also very conveniently placed for travelling into New York City for some of the Summit activities, as well as being close to amenities in Newark. To make the trip as affordable as possible, all Summit attendees will be staying in twin rooms at the hotel – each room will have two Queen beds as well as kitchen facilities. Attendees will have the choice of nominating their chosen roommate. Attendees who don’t nominate anyone else from the travelling group to room with will have their roommate nominated for them - genders will be kept separate in this instance. There will be pre-trip get-togethers on campus for attendees to get to know their fellow Summit attendees ahead of this occurring.
Attendees are to book their own travel to and from the GIS NY Global Sports Summit. This allows students and alumni maximum flexibility with their travel plans. UCFB/GIS will hold no responsibility over the travel plans of any of the Summit attendees. After booking your accommodation through UCFB/GIS and having your space confirmed by email, UCFB/GIS will request the details of your flights. Spaces at the Summit are not guaranteed and so it is imperative that students/alumni do not book their travel plans until their place at the Summit has been confirmed by a member of the GIS International Events Team in writing.
The closest airport to our accommodation is Newark Liberty International Airport, which is a 17-minute drive away. It may be worth considering the other airports in the area when looking at flights however, as there are several options. JFK International Airport is based in Queens, NY, and is just under an hour’s drive, or roughly 80 minutes by public transport, from the hotel. LaGuardia Airport is also based in Queens and is approximately a 40-minute drive, or 90 minutes by public transport, from the hotel.
Attendees will be required to arrive at the accommodation on Friday April 7th to check-in, ahead of the first Summit activities taking place on the Saturday. Check-in is from 3pm; there may be an opportunity to check-in earlier however it is not guaranteed at this point.
Check-out will be at 12pm FridayApril 14th.
The GIS Events Team will be able to recommend and support with travel plans for attendees of the NY Global Sports Summit once exact event dates have been confirmed.
Discover New York
Despite being the scene for 101 disasters movies, New York is a city famed around the world for sport, education, music, fashion and so much more. It’s the most visited city in the US, and has a university student population of over 600,000 – more than any other US city. NYC was the original capital city of the United States up until 1790, and it was where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the US. The famous New York Stock Exchange opened in 1792, and it remains one of the most important financial landmarks throughout the world. The following century saw the rapid construction of Manhattan and surrounding areas, with the likes of the Brooklyn Bridge open in 1883, and the French gifting the Statue of Liberty to the city three years later. The 20th century saw rapid progress at all levels throughout the city as New York became what it is today – one of the most important cities in the world.
Where do we begin? The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, Times Square, the Empire State Building – NYC has something to see and do on every street corner. Whether it’s the arts, sport or architectural mastery, the city that never sleeps is anything but boring. Catch a show on Broadway, watch the ball game at Yankee Stadium, go shopping on 5th Avenue and take in the view from the Top of the Rock. Then there’s the wonders that are the New York Public Library, the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim. The trouble is when you leave, you’ll realise there’s just so much more to see.
New York City has the highest concentration of professional sports teams of any city or region in the US. With two NBA teams, two NFL teams, two NHL and two MLS teams – including the New York Red Bulls – sports fans in the city are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a sport or a team.
In case you didn’t already know, food is a big thing in the US. And if it’s big in the US then that means it’s massive in NYC. From street food to fine dining, some of the world’s leading chefs and cuisines are squeezed onto Manhattan Island. Grab a slice at Mama’s Too, voted by the New York Times as one of the best pizzas in NYC; a Feltman’s hot dog on Coney Island is a must; and there’s the authentic New York Bagel – Russ & Daughters is an absolute classic. For those who like tables and cutlery, the options are endless. Keens Steakhouse is an institution; Katz Deli is perhaps the most legendary deli in the city, serving pastrami sandwiches the size of a small animal; and the Grand Central Oyster Bar is exactly that – a famed oyster restaurant within the most recognised train station in America.
If you have any queries regarding the summit, please email global@ucfb.com.
GIS's global study hubs will each host one Global Sports Summit at each hub this academic year, providing attendees with a packed schedule of industry insight, professional development and networking opportunities. They will feature guests from renowned sporting organisations, locally tailored to each global study hub, allowing attendees to learn best practice and understand how sport is managed within each country. Each Global Sports Summit will provide guests grouped into three categories: from the boardroom, from the industry and from the pitch, allowing students and alumni the opportunity to truly understand all aspects of sport.
UCFB/GIS believes strongly in the benefits of students and alumni attending GIS Global Sports Summits, however we recognise that this comes at a cost to the individual. As a result, we have developed the GIS Global Insight Series, a portal of content regularly updated, featuring thought leadership, Q&As and career advice from UK campus guest speakers as well as from all of our global study hub partners. This content can be found on the student Online Hub, as well as on Job Teaser for alumni.
GIS’s global hubs will provide current students and alumni the opportunity to attend Global Sports Summits, based at some of the world’s leading stadiums. GIS’s global hubs are based at New York's Red Bull Arena, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Toronto FC's BMO Field, the Inter Miami CF Stadium and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
UCFB and GIS has exclusive partnerships with these stadiums, providing a unique global network for students and alumni.
Visiting a Global Sports Summit at one of GIS’s global hubs will allow you to grasp a true understanding of how different sports are managed around the world by hearing first-hand from leading sports organisations, which will be locally tailored to each global hub location.
In addition to this, you will have the opportunity to further develop professional skills and gain a cultural awareness of another part of the world. International educational experiences have been shown to boost student prospects across a variety of areas, particularly:
- Increased average earnings;
- Increased employment rate;
- Increased overall grades.
In addition to all benefits listed for those visiting a GIS global hub, there is still a host of benefits that will arise from UCFB’s international expansion, including:
- Thought leadership from our global hub partners, accessible through the GIS Global Insight Series and the content hub of the UCFB website;
- Increased work experience and employment opportunities for current students and alumni, through increased international employer engagement;
- A more global alumni network.
To allow students and alumni maximum flexibility, Summit attendees must book all travel arrangements independently. Logistical information will be made available to all students and alumni in ahead of the event, however if further information is required please contact global@ucfb.com and our team will be happy to help you with your travel plans.
Please note that New York City has three main airports (JFK, LaGuardia and Newark International Airport). Newark International Airport, is the closest airport to the Red Bull Arena, however we will communicate detailed logistical information and recommendations to all students and alumni once details of the event have been confirmed.
Accommodation for this opportunity will solely be booked by UCFB/GIS, and to book your place at the Summit you must book accommodation through UCFB/GIS. All attendees will be staying at the same hotel for the duration of the Summit.
Attendees are expected to attend all sessions as part of the Summit. Whilst the Summit is ongoing, the focus of all UCFB/GIS and local staff will be on providing an excellent experience for those in attendance.
We are busy working with sports organisations and individuals in the US to confirm the best possible experiences and speakers for the Summit. We will release details of speakers and experiences as they become confirmed in due course. A full and detailed schedule will be sent to all those travelling before we depart for New York. As communicated, the Summit will contain a mix of guest speakers, learning opportunities, networking opportunities, live sport and behind the scenes access.
Yes. Please contact global@ucfb.com after completing the booking form to discuss this.
GIS will have a team in place on the ground in Newark to assist with inbound Summit attendees. Once you have booked your place at the Summit and booked your travel, UCFB/GIS will request your travel plans so that we can assist you with logistics on Day one when you arrive.
Summit attendees are responsible for ensuring they can travel to the US and to any countries in which they stop at as part of their journey to and from the Summit, along with any visa costs.
British nationals need to get a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to enter or transit the USA as a visitor. It costs 21 dollars to apply.
Please note, if you have travelled to Cuba on or after 12th January 2021, you are no longer eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) and you must apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate to enter the United States. If this applies to you, then please do flag it with the global events team (global@ucfb.com) before purchasing a Summit ticket.
If you do not qualify for entry under the ESTA, you’ll need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.
Further information on US immigration rules is available from the UK Government website https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements and USA Customs and Border Protection website.
Summit attendees have full responsibility for their entry requirements. If you are an international student or alumni, please contact your relevant embassy or government website to check your travel permissions and any steps you need to take to gain access to the US.
UCFB/GIS encourages all attendees to check their travel permissions and make their visa arrangements well in advance of the Summit in case of any visa processing delays.
Yes! All current students and alumni will be able to attend a Global Sports Summit at a GIS global hub.
No. Places are only available for current UCFB and GIS students as well as all alumni.
Yes! Places are limited at every Summit, however there is nothing stopping you applying to attend more than one event
Currently GIS’s global hubs will only be accessible during each Global Sports Summit. In time, UCFB and GIS may look to increase accessibility through more educational events.
Attendees will be free to make their own travel arrangements as they see fit, however are reminded that for the duration of the Summit their accommodation will be fixed as per the Summit schedule.
Yes – we know that attendees will want time to themselves to explore the area at their own leisure and this will be scheduled into the Summit agenda.
Some live sports games will be free of charge – these will be core activities that form a part of the Summit
Yes – students will be required to purchase their own travel insurance for this trip.
The feasibility of hosting our international Summits in-country is under constant review. Where travel is not possible due to COVID-19, the Global Sports Summits will be delivered virtually and made available for all UCFB and GIS students. We are committing to communicating a final decision on whether these events will go ahead in-person or virtually with a minimum of 2 months’ notice.
UCFB/GIS strongly recommends that all Summit attendees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travelling. If a Summit attendee is not fully vaccinated, then they risk not being admitted to the event, or any venues that the group visits as part of the event, depending on local regulations. UCFB/GIS takes no responsibility for the vaccination status of Summit attendees, and Summit attendees need to be aware that if they have chosen to not be fully vaccinated and that this prevents them from participating in any part of the event, that the event will carry on as planned without them. UCFB/GIS reminds Summit attendees that stadium/arena/restaurant/government regulations can change at any time, and that refunds will not be possible once Summit payments have been made. If you would like to discuss further, please contact global@ucfb.com
Yes. Once the final travelling list is confirmed there will be opportunities on-campus to meet the other students and alumni who will be attending the Summit. After this, everyone will have the opportunity to nominate their roommate. It will be up to the attendees to arrange this and to let UCFB/GIS know who they wish to room with. For anyone without a nominated roommate, UCFB/GIS will pair up with others of the same gender.
Terms & Conditions for the 2022 GIS NY Global Sports Summit will be found on the UCFB Online Store once the Summit is open for booking.

New York’s Red Bull Arena, Atlanta’s brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Toronto FC’s BMO Field and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) play host to the Global Institute of Sport hubs, enabling students and graduates to enhance their knowledge and expertise of the international sports industry.
Find out more