Cutting Edge Courses For Ice Hockey Stars
23 May 2008
Like the Nottingham Panthers’ players, many of our current students are busy professionals looking to study part time to keep up to date with the skills they need at work.
”Peter Allen, Marketing Director at the University of Derby
Ice hockey stars are to be given a warm welcome by University experts looking to help train the next generation of team managers.
Nottingham Panthers pro ice hockey team and the University of Derby have struck a deal to give players an opportunity to invest in their own future and that of the sport.
Players will be given the chance to take up masters degree courses, to be taught at the University.
Course options will include Masters in Strategic Management or Strategic Sports Management.
In return the University of Derby will receive a package of marketing and promotion opportunities including stadium advertising, involvement in the Panthers’ website and magazine, and the chance to raise its profile among fans.
Its badge will also appear on players’, and fans’ replica, shirts as a team sponsor.
The deal, worth over £30,000 – which was due to be formally announced at a Nottingham Panthers’ press conference at 10.30am, today (Friday 23 May) – is seen as a real boost for the sport, helping develop current players into tomorrow’s team and business managers.
Peter Allen, Marketing Director at the University of Derby, said: “The University is very happy to back sport in the region. We’re already sponsors of Derby County and the Derbyshire Talented Athlete scheme, so it’s great to add the Nottingham Panthers to our list of partners.
“We’re keen to support education and sport, and we know all about helping adults prepare themselves for changes in the job market – whatever they do for a living. Like the Nottingham Panthers’ players, many of our current students are busy professionals looking to study part-time to keep up to date with the skills they need at work.
“We’re very excited about this new partnership and feel it will really raise our profile with the Panthers’ home crowd.”
GMB Panthers General Manager Gary Moran added: "The ability to offer a chance to extend or add to their education will be a big carrot for our coach when he is trying to recruit players for the upcoming bmibaby Elite League campaign.
“We have already had some interest and we are hoping to make an announcement sooner rather than later on the signing front.
"It is a great credit to the Marketing team at the University of Derby that they have come onboard. Their progressive thinking will be rewarded with exposure to our fans at home and away, and by way of weekly national and local television coverage, and other sections of the media.
“We enjoy a huge profile and the sport is ever growing. Its fanbase is getting bigger and bigger and we are pleased to share that experience with the University of Derby. The Panthers are the East Midlands’ ‘franchise holder’ and we already have many fans from Derby and the surrounding areas.”
Nottingham Panthers is now talking to players to see who might be interested in taking up the masters courses offer.
The first players could begin their course at the University of Derby as early as this September.
For further media information please contact the author of this press release, Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 593004 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
