Southern California is the most sports-saturated region in North America.

The Rams. The Chargers. The Lakers. The Clippers. The Dodgers. The Angels. The Kings. The Ducks. Two MLS clubs. Two NWSL clubs. Two of the most powerful university athletic programs in the country. The agencies that represent the biggest names in professional sports. And in two years, the center of the entire global sports world — the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For someone serious about building a career in sports, there is no better city to be in right now. And for qualified SMWW students who are ready to make the move, there is now a direct path to being in the middle of all of it.

Sports Management Worldwide has partnered with Concordia University Irvine to offer qualified SMWW students access to an on-campus MBA in Sports Business — one of the most strategically positioned graduate programs in the country.

The Program

The Concordia University Irvine MBA in Sports Business is an 18-month, on-campus program located in Irvine, California — with classes held in the evenings, leaving days open for students to work, intern, or volunteer in sports organizations throughout the region.

Program Details:

• On-campus MBA in Sports Business at Concordia University Irvine
• Location: Irvine, California (Anaheim offers more affordable apartment options nearby)
• Start dates: August 24, 2026 or mid-October 2026
• Length: Approximately 18 months
• Tuition: Approximately $40,000 before books, fees, and living expenses
• Evening classes — freeing up days for work, internships, or volunteering in sports
• No GMAT required
• GI Bill benefits and student loans/financial aid may be available

Five spots are currently being held specifically for qualified SMWW students. This is not a general application pool — it is a reserved pathway for the SMWW community.

Students must relocate to Southern California and attend classes on campus.

Where Students Could Work or Intern

The evening class structure is not a small detail. It is the entire strategic advantage of this program.

While enrolled, students have their days free to pursue real work experience inside the Southern California sports market — one of the deepest concentrations of professional teams, agencies, venues, and sports organizations anywhere in the world.

Professional teams and organizations within reach include:

Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Sparks, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Angel City FC, Orange County Soccer Club, San Diego Padres, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave FC, Ontario Reign, Coachella Valley Firebirds, UCLA Athletics, USC Athletics, UC Irvine Athletics, Long Beach State Athletics, Concordia University Irvine Athletics, Honda Center, OCVIBE, and organizations connected to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sports agencies and management firms in Southern California include:

Athletes First, Wasserman, Creative Artists Agency, Excel Sports Management, Octagon, WME Sports, Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, boutique athlete-representation firms, NIL agencies, and sports marketing companies throughout the region.

Selected students may also gain direct experience working with Dr. Lynn Lashbrook and SMWW on agency recruiting, athlete research, conferences, scouting, and sports industry networking.

That is not a typical graduate school opportunity. That is a two-year immersion inside the most active sports market in the country, while earning an MBA at the same time.

Why Southern California. Why Now.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are not just a sporting event. They are an economic and organizational phenomenon that is already reshaping the Southern California sports industry — creating new roles, new organizations, new partnerships, and new career opportunities that will not exist anywhere else in the world for the next several years.

The sports professionals who will be positioned to benefit from that wave are the ones who are already in the region, already building relationships, and already established inside the LA sports ecosystem before the Games arrive.

This program puts qualified SMWW students exactly there.

Is This the Right Move for You?

This is an in-person program. It requires a real commitment — relocating to Southern California, attending evening classes on campus, and investing approximately $40,000 in tuition before living expenses and fees. It is not the right fit for everyone.

But for the right person — someone who is serious about a career in sports, ready to make a geographic commitment, and looking for a graduate credential that is backed by real-world industry access in the best possible market — this is a rare opportunity.

Five spots are reserved for qualified SMWW students. Those conversations are happening now.

If you want to find out whether this is the right path for you, the best first step is a direct conversation.

Talk to Dr. Lynn Lashbrook at SMWW.com

Southern California is where the sports world is heading. The question is whether you will be there when it arrives.