Saints Enjoy VIP Tours of NYC Landmarks

Canterbury students recently took their studies to the heart of New York City, getting an up-close look at iconic venues in the world of sports and entertainment. From the legendary Madison Square Garden and stunning Radio City Music Hall to an exclusive view of NFL Headquarters, the field trip put these aspiring business and sports professionals behind the scenes where the magic happens.

The Big Apple visit has become a staple of the Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) class in sports/business management led by History and Social Sciences Teacher Misi Babington, who is also the School’s Director of Athletic Training and Associate Director of Athletics. “Each year, it is a valuable experience for the students because it reinforces everything we discuss in class,” Misi said. “It was nice to see them process what they heard during the tours and make the connection to what they learned back at Canterbury.”

The itinerary started at Radio City Music Hall, the largest indoor theater in the world. Led by Senior Director, Back of House Operations Alexandra Plaskey, students witnessed, among other things, the inner workings of the unique stage design that includes elaborate hydraulic equipment and controls. The stage’s movable parts consist of three 70-foot-wide sections that are actually elevator platforms that can descend 27 feet below stage level and rise 13 feet above it. The orchestra “pit” is a fourth elevator that works in the same manner. These elevators can handle people, animals, props, and scenery at different speeds, allowing for a nearly infinite variety of staging options.

“The experience made me realize the importance of making connections in the industry. Ms. Babington was able to use her connections to get us that backstage pass,” said Albertine Gingrass ’25. “It was amazing to see the hydraulics, the way the stage moves up and down, and all the moving parts behind the production at Radio City Music Hall. What a unique opportunity!”

Next up was the “World’s Most Famous Arena”—Madison Square Garden. Students received the grand tour from Bobby Castronovo, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Arena Operations for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., who discussed the many facets of the business with them. With a Knicks game the night before and the Rangers returning to their home ice the following evening, the class saw firsthand what it takes to transform the Garden from a basketball mecca to a hockey venue in just one day. 

It was all new to Aleksander Swider ’25, who had never been to New York City. “Everything was hectic with so much going on at once,” Aleks shared. “Being in the Garden was the most memorable for me. Just standing in the seating area watching everyone working in the empty arena prepping for the Rangers game was great. We even got to see the locker rooms!”

Finally, the group made its way to Park Avenue for a rare glimpse inside NFL Headquarters, the central hub where key decisions and operations are managed, ensuring the smooth functioning of the league’s extensive activities. Senior Manager of Global Partnerships Matt Simon was joined by other colleagues in giving the Saints (Canterbury, not New Orleans!) an in-depth look at the NFL’s cohesive approach to centralizing operations and advancing its brand. 

That information was of particular interest to Jonas Niedzwiecki ’25, who gained a deeper understanding of the sports and entertainment fields he may want to pursue one day. “The NFL Headquarters tour provided a fascinating look into the important business side of sports,” he said. “It gave me a much better idea of what it takes to manage a global brand like the NFL and get to that level of management in the sports industry.”

The New York City trip was yet another example of the many ways Canterbury keeps it real for students when it comes to learning.