[News] Burke, NHL agent launch hockey-centric MBA

[MissTeeks]

MissTeeks is going back to school!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/b...y-centric-mba/

As of Wednesday, there will be a new kid on the block. In Calgary, Athabasca University will unveil its executive MBA, “The Business of Hockey.”
The idea began with player agent Ritch Winter, who took his brainchild to Brian Burke when Burke was GM in Toronto. Burke loved it, and, a few years ago, made a presentation at an NHL Board of Governors meeting to help along the process. But it takes time.

“It was all about finding the right university,” Winter said. “What I did learn was there are a lot of rules and restrictions. You don’t just walk in and start. It took two full years to get through all of the provincial hoops and regulations.

Athabasca University became the match because of its strong success with online instruction, meaning there will be opportunity for anyone with interest to take the MBA, even if not based near the school. Enrolment, initially limited to 32 but with plans to expand, begins in the next few months, with the inaugural class starting in May. The online nature of the program allows for some flexibility in completion, but we’re looking at two to two-and-a-half years. Looks like the networking opportunities will be a benefit, too.
MBAs are not inexpensive. Tuition will be approximately $75,000. (Do what my cousin did: get his company to pay for it.)
“This is going to be a rigorous MBA, a serious program,” Winter said. I am curious to see who develops from it.

[keratosis]

And here I thought it would be spring break type pics of Miss Teeks.
Good story though.

[Ozy_Flame]

$75k for an online MBA program? From Athabasca? This better guarantee a top-level job in the industry. That's more than even some of the best MBA programs in the country, living on campus and getting the full classroom experience.

Also, what company is going to pay for a hockey MBA? Sport Chek?

My suspicion is that you're paying for the industry contacts and very specific hockey industry information.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

(Do what my cousin did: get his company to pay for it.)

Good luck with that, I can't imagine a lot of us work for companies that will pay for an industry-specific MBA program. In a different industry.

This is kind of cool though! I'm looking forward to hearing from people after they've been through it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Also, what company is going to pay for a hockey MBA? Sport Chek?

The Oilers.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The Oilers.

Like Mike Comrie, if you refuse to work for them, will they ask you for their money back afterwards?

[topfiverecords]

No way am I paying $75,000 to work for the Oilers.

[burn_this_city]

Even with the MBA most folks would be hard pressed to break into a business built mainly on connections.

[troutman]

Burke was often a guest speaker at our Sports Law seminar at UBC. It was a commitment he took seriously and enjoyed. Goodenow and Tiger Williams came out too.

Maybe back then getting into the Hockey Business meant being a lawyer.

[tvp2003]

Should be interesting -- Burke used to teach a Sports Law course at UBC. I could see former players signing up, in hopes of getting a foot in the door after their playing career is over...

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Should be interesting -- Burke used to teach a Sports Law course at UBC. I could see former players signing up, in hopes of getting a foot in the door after their playing career is over...

I'm probably wrong on this, but my gut feeling is that the 32 "spots" open for people to apply are mostly reserved as favours to hockey parents who want to put their hockey-playing adult kid through an MBA program and use connections to jump the queue. I feel like you almost have to have network connections in the hockey business to even get a spot to begin with.

There's going to be thousands of Canadians applying for this program just by the sheer nature of it - how do you pick the ones best suited for the spots?

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The Oilers.

No, you need to go to the University of Phoenix to get a job in the Oilers management.

[calumniate]

I thought my six red dots meant I had an honourary Calgary Puck MBA

[Northendzone]

how many of the resident geniuses on this board will just go and challenge the whole course?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

$75k for an online MBA program? From Athabasca? This better guarantee a top-level job in the industry. That's more than even some of the best MBA programs in the country, living on campus and getting the full classroom experience.

Also, what company is going to pay for a hockey MBA? Sport Chek?

My suspicion is that you're paying for the industry contacts and very specific hockey industry information.

Well lets see. Full tuition for Rotmans MBA program (arguably the best in the country) is ~$91,000 just for tuition.

Where is your data from?

http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/Degree...dExpenses.aspx

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Well lets see. Full tuition for Rotmans MBA program (arguably the best in the country) is ~$91,000 just for tuition.

Where is your data from?

http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/Degree...dExpenses.aspx

Nice selective sampling. Pick the most expensive one and use that as the standard.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/mba-...2013-mba-list/

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by weitz

well lets see. Full tuition for rotmans mba program (arguably the best in the country) is ~$91,000 just for tuition.

Where is your data from?

http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/degree...dexpenses.aspx

2005.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Nice selective sampling. Pick the most expensive one and use that as the standard.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/mba-...2013-mba-list/

Hey all I asked was for your data, I have looked up Rotmans before so I knew that cost off the top of my head roughly. Thanks for the table!

(I didn't search which I could have easily I suppose)

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Even with the MBA most folks would be hard pressed to break into a business built mainly on connections.

I could be wrong, but isn't a MBA program all about building connections?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I could be wrong, but isn't a MBA program all about building connections?

It is, but the sports industry is notoriously bad. Very difficult to break into that old boys' club.