By Isabela Krslovic, Student in the M.S. in Sports Management program, School of Professional Studies
This past spring break, my fellow students in Columbia’s M.S. in Sports Management program and I had the opportunity to visit Spain for an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the country’s most iconic sports properties thanks to LALIGA, Spain’s top soccer league, and the LALIGA Business School.
Day 1: After arriving in Madrid, we began with a guided tour of Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid’s stadium. We learned about the club’s history, walked through exhibits showcasing their trophies, and even went into a box suite to get a great view of the pitch.
Day 2: On our second day, we had the opportunity to watch a LALIGA match between CD Leganés and Real Betis. Leganés has one of the smaller stadiums, so we were able to experience an intimate yet passionate atmosphere. The contrast with what we saw later that evening couldn’t have been greater. We went to Atlético Madrid’s new stadium, the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, to watch a match between Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona. This was a great match to see, as both teams were at the top of the LALIGA table and fighting for first place. Seeing the environment of the Leganés stadium and the Atlético stadium back-to-back exposed us to multiple sides of Spanish soccer. We began our lectures after the first game, in the same stadium conference room where team executives have their meetings.
Program Director Scott Rosner, Deputy Program Director Lj Holmgren, and Sports Management students attend the Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona match at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.
Day 3: The next morning was spent at the LALIGA Business School, where the School’s leaders and LALIGA employees discussed licensing, digital strategy, and strategic marketing. The sessions provided insight into how Spain’s top league builds its global presence and leverages new technologies to engage fans. In the afternoon, we visited Ciudad de la Raqueta, a padel facility, where we had a guided tour and even picked up rackets ourselves for a game of padel, which is one of Spain’s fastest-growing sports.
Day 4: Our fourth day was filled with more lectures focused on brand activation, which offered real-world examples of how clubs bring sponsorships to life. Speakers shared case studies of successful campaigns that blended commercial goals with authentic fan experiences. Outside of the classroom, we visited Madrid’s high-performance center, known as CAR de Madrid, where Olympic hopefuls from around the country and the world train year-round. We were able to observe the daily lives of high-level athletes, as many were practicing sports like judo, swimming, and gymnastics while we were visiting.
Sports Management students and staff visit the Madrid High Performance Center, a comprehensive sports facility where Olympians and Olympic hopefuls train.
Day 5: On day five, we traveled to Barcelona, where we continued to learn from LALIGA professionals.
Day 6: We started the day with a visit to MediaPro, the production company behind LALIGA broadcasts. We toured the studios, saw live production setups, and learned about the technology and cameras powering match coverage. Later, we toured Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s stadium. Although the stadium is currently under renovation, we were able to explore the construction process and see firsthand what goes into such a large-scale project.
Students and staff on an exclusive tour of FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium.
Day 7: We concluded with a tour of RCD Espanyol’s stadium. We had a chance to visit the locker rooms, the press conference room, and were even allowed to walk onto the pitch and sit on the team benches.
The Sports Management program organized an incredible trip with the LALIGA Business School. The combination of academic lectures on strategy, marketing, and property management with live matches and tours provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with real-world operations that helped deepen our understanding of the global sports industry
About the Program
The Columbia University M.S. in Sports Management provides students with a comprehensive curriculum and access to sports industry practitioners and influencers. Students acquire skills in areas such as entrepreneurship and innovation, global sports management, facility and event management, and sports law and ethics.
The spring 2026 application deadline for the M.S. in Sports Management program is November 1. The program is available for part-time or full-time enrollment. Learn more about the program here.
