Chris Sotiropulos is the ticket operations and game-day services manager for the Oakland Raiders. He oversees the customer service staff on game days, acts as an NFL liaison for the Fan Code of Conduct and works closely with AEG, which operates the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in regard to game-day security and operations.
His path to the Oakland Raiders started as freshman at Syracuse University and getting his foot in the door during a summer internship in 2007. After three years of working as a summer intern, he was hired full-time as a member of the Raiders’ ticketing staff managing digital marketing. Through a series of changes within the organization, his role has adjusted in many ways and he has been in his current position for about a year.
Sotiropulos credits his success of landing a job with the Raiders to many of the lessons he learned while studying at Syracuse University. “After being involved with the Sport Management Charity Auctions for four years, I knew that working events was always something I was passionate about. Being able to work so closely on the auctions really gave me the necessary skills to learn more about event management,” he said.
Sotiropulos took that passion to a new level during his Senior Capstone with the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional Tournament in Syracuse, where he worked closely with the Syracuse University Athletics Department to assist with all aspects of the Sweet 16 and Elite 8.
“To have had the opportunity as a student to work a major sporting event will be something I cherish for a long time,” he said. “It was an unbelievable experience that helped me grow significantly as a professional.”
Sotiropulos mentors current SPM students about what it takes to get involved in the sports industry. He encourages sport management majors to begin networking early and reaching out to as many industry professionals as possible.
