Last Friday, September 27th, my classmates and I went with Dr. Woo to the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. To watch the Washington Capitals pre-season game versus the Philadelphia Flyers. We arrived at the media entrance a half-hour until game time and were greeted by the Capitals Communications team. They presented us with our media credentials and escorted us to our seats at the press box. We were given a thick packet full of information about both teams that included game notes, rosters, and standings. Finally we got to watch the game from our excellent seats while enjoying each others’ company.
During the first intermission, we got the chance to speak with Megan Eichenburg, the Communications Coordinator for the Caps. She told us her story about how she got the position and was helpful by answering all our questions. Megan spoke about how she helps build a strong relationship between the organization and the community, which is an important task for any PR professional. She also shared with us how the Capitals are taking advantage of new technology and social media in order to promote more involvement between fans and players.
We also had the chance to talk to Brian Keifer, an intern for the Capitals. Brian told us about his job and how it can be rewarding and time consuming. He said that if you want to work in the sports business, you have to really love sports and dedicate yourself to it. Brian stressed that it was all about relationships and networking in today’s job market, so making a good impression on people is key.
After the game, we were allowed to sit it on the press conference with Capitals coach Adam Oates. We got to observe the interaction between reporters and coaches during a post-game interview. It was interesting to see what kinds of questions were asked to possibly create a story and to see how Coach Oates responded to them. The whole conference flowed well and was very professional. As a fan, it was exciting just to be in close proximity with the coach and hear his thoughts on the game.
The Capitals won the game against the Flyers by a final score of 6-4. Alexander Ovechkin scored two power play goals, while Eric Fehr added two goals of his own. It was a violent and aggressive game that featured five fights between the two teams. Pre-season hockey at its finest.
I had a great time on this trip and would like to thank Dr. Woo and the Capitals Communications team for allowing me to enjoy this experience. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn more about sports PR and bond with my other classmates.