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Meet Ben Baumeister, Senior Director of Event Strategy at the Cincinnati Open, Forbes 30 under 30 local list member, and XU Sport Management Alum

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Another successful tournament in the books. The 2024 Cincinnati Open (formerly the Western & Southern Open) took place from August 11- August 19, 2024. In just nine days, the annual tournament set a record, with more than 200,000 fans attending the world-class tennis competition. Ben Baumeister, XU Sport Management alum and member of the FORBES 30 under 30 local list, shares details of his role as senior director of event strategy and advice for current students below.

Can you tell us about your current role with the Cincy Open?

"I am the Senior Director of Event Strategy at the Cincy Open. My role at the Cincinnati Open centers around making the tournament the best experience for our fans while making sure it is always positioned in the best way possible. To do this I spend a lot of time in the sales, strategy, and marketing worlds. Because of this, every day for me is different. Given all that we are doing for 2024 and then also for 2025, no day is the same. There are weeks that I have had days where I have been in 2 hour+ meeting with our Marketing team working on how tourism trends that can be used to form strategies. After that, I would work with our Capital Design team on the new premium seats we are installing. A big goal is to enhance the fan experience, so a lot of my time is spent on seeing this process from start to finish. Later that day, I met with a local restaurateur. They have some of the best restaurants in the city and we want to be able to give our players from all over the world the experience of eating at their restaurants. Also, with over 70% of fans coming from outside of Cincinnati, this is a perfect opportunity for us to show off the vibrant restaurant scene in Cincinnati. It really is a job that has me involved in a multiple different area."


What made you decide to attend XU and study sport management?

"I went to a big high school, where the majority of my classmates went to Indiana, or Purdue, or Ball State. I wanted a different experience. One day I randomly got a letter from Xavier and was very intrigued. I went for a visit and immediately knew "this is the place for me". The smaller classes sizes where professors would actually care if you came to class coupled with how everything felt intentional just drew me in. I also loved how you got a city environment in your college experience.


I had no idea that you could even major in sport management until I visited Xavier. I have always loved sports, but when I found out I could go to school and learn all the intricacies of what goes into sports, it was a no brainer."


Can you describe a class or professor at Xavier that positively influenced you?

"Without question Dr. Olberding and Dr S (Schoenstedt). Dr. S was my advisor and honestly, I don't know if I would be where I am today without her. The first year of college, I could have definitely been doing better and she absolutely pushed me to get the most out of me. The work ethic that she instilled in me is something that I always think back to and am grateful for. Dr. Olberding, was someone who was always so kind with his time. For someone who had as much going on as him, he was always open to meeting for coffee or to go and grab lunch and talk about anything and everything. When I was a senior, I had the opportunity to start working full time at the tournament at the start of my second semester. I talked with both of them, and we were able to come up with a plan that I could still make my SPMG classes while also working at the tournament. That was something they didn't need to do, but they really cared about the fact that I had a full time job at a place that I was passionate about. For that I am forever grateful."


What career aspirations do you have for the future?

"This is a great question. Right now, I am really focusing on trying to be a better leader. I have had the best bosses and mentors in my career, and I am quickly learning this is a skill that is developed over lots of time and learnings. My dad always told me that the most important thing was to find a job that you love. He would tell me, "If you wake up and genuinely look forward to going to work, that will be one of the best things that can happen to you". I am really lucky to have thought this every step of the way."


Do you have any advice for current sport management students?

"I have three pieces of advice that people have given me that I always come back to:

  1. Always ask "what else can I help with". In sports, we sometimes get into the routine of doing what is the job inside your apartment. Seeing the whole business (facilities, marketing, ticketing, player services, finance, etc), and asking to help will give you so much valuable learnings and will go a long way at how people see you. Always be curious.

  2. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. The most impactful moments of my career have been when I am uncomfortable. These moments have always led to growth and successes.

  3. 3. If you go to a networking event that you don't know anyone, go introduce yourself to others. Have a big presentation for leadership? Take a deep breath, write something down on a piece of paper that means a lot to you, and enjoy the moment and opportunity. Make a mistake and need to tell your boss? Go in, take responsibility and learn from your mistake. 

Finally, succeeding at work is based off three main things:

  • Who you are

  • How you show up (this is so important)

  • How much you care


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Final Thoughts

"One more thing that I want to say is that I am so thankful to Xavier for the role it has played in my life. I went to X and didn't know anyone. I found friends who have become family to me. I learned so much and was put in the position to succeed in college and post college. I always talk with people about how lucky I am to have gone to X and it will always be my happy place."





 
 
 

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