Founded on October 3, 2002, in Columbia, SC.

The Sport Marketing Association (SMA), a new professional association for sport marketing practitioners and academics, was founded recently at the International Conference on Sport & Entertainment Business in Columbia, South Carolina.  The mission of the SMA, which will house business operations at the University of Memphis Bureau of Sport & Leisure Commerce, is to develop beneficial relationships between sport marketing professionals and academicians through expansion of the field's body of knowledge and multiple forums for professional interaction.

At its inaugural meeting, SMA's Founding Board appointed Dr. Richard L. Irwin of The University of Memphis as President.  Mr. Jim Kahler, Executive Director of Arizona State University's MBA Sport Business Program, and former Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing with the Cleveland Cavaliers/Gund Arena Corporation, will serve as Vice President for Industry Affairs.  Dr. Brenda Pitts, Director of the Sport Management Program and the Sport Business Research Center at Georgia State Universitym will serve as the Association's Vice President for Academic Affairs.  Dr. Larry McCarthy, from the Center for Sport Management in the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, will serve as the Association's Treasurer.

While several additional leadership opportunities were not assigned to members of the Founding Board, many opportunities exist for Association service involvement.  Interested parties are encouraged to contact Dr. Richard Irwin for leadership team needs.

Sport Marketing Quarterly (SMQ) serves as the Association's publication.

Learn More about the Sport Marketing Association's Mission & Vision Statements.