FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – More than 20 students from Boston Public Schools visited Gillette Stadium on February 18, spending a full day meeting staff from across departments at the New England Revolution and exploring the many paths that lead to a career in sports. For most of the students, who are participants in Boston Public Schools’ mentorship program, it was their first time stepping inside the home of the Revolution. Their reactions ranged from amazed to inspired as they discovered just how many opportunities there are to work behind the scenes for a professional team.
The group started their day inside the Gillette Stadium press box, where they heard from members of the Revolution’s communications and digital teams, learning the ins and outs of sports media. Following that, they visited the players’ locker room and spoke with the fan engagement and marketing teams, before ending their tour at the Bud Light Celebration Beer Hall, where they learned about working in customer service and hospitality.
“I loved getting to ask questions and learn about the different things you can do in sports,” said Boston Latin School junior, Dairon Mercedes. “I had no idea how many jobs you can be involved with in the sports industry. You can do so many things.”
The group was led by Jermaine Tulloch, director of equitable student programs, mentorship, and targeted populations for Boston Public Schools. He was inspired to start the program’s career tour with the Revolution after he and his mom catered lunch for the Revolution last season with their Caribbean Food business, Family Affair.
“The students are loving it, really loving it. They’re learning they can be in sports, but not have to be on the field,” Tulloch said. “I think so many times our students think if they aren’t good enough to make it to the field professionally, then that’s it. But there are so many other careers in sports, and they learned that today.”
Tulloch was happy to return to the Revolution, learn more about the industry himself, and now get to share that experience with his students. Under his leadership, students of the program say they feel more secure in the direction of their future.
“It’s provided me a way to know what I want to do in the future. A lot of people go to college not fully knowing what career they’ll want to pursue, but through this mentoring program I have a better understanding of the direction I want to go in after school,” said Samuel Ekweanya, a sophomore at Boston’s New Mission High School. “I wasn’t really thinking about professional sports as a career before coming here, but now I’m giving it some thought. I like the ability to be creative and I like sports, so there is something I might want to do.”
Even for those students who weren’t necessarily drawn to the sports world, the day was more than just a learning opportunity about the inner workings of a team – it was about learning from passionate professionals who go to work loving what they do every day.
“I think the advice that stuck with me the most is just to do something you love,” Ekweanya continued. “It felt like the people who work here have a passion for sports and they just like spreading that. It was nice to see people who were so passionate, so my takeaway was to choose a career you can be passionate about.”
While it was clear that the students gained a great deal from their visit to Gillette Stadium, the Revolution benefited just as much. The experience reminded employees how special it is to work in an environment like the New England Revolution, leaving them with a renewed sense of pride. And the club itself walked away a little fuller, having welcomed a new group of young fans who will always feel a special connection to the team.
