Football Industries MBA candidates visit Madrid as part of European study trip
January saw the Football Industries MBA 2023-2024 candidates set off on their study trip to Madrid and Barcelona for a week of engaging and insightful football-focused activities.
The study trip forms a core component of the Football Industries MBA, enabling candidates to work with partners across the football industry spanning many different branches, cultures and technologies.
By immersing candidates with practical challenges that have direct links back to the MBA curriculum they’re able to better put their skills into practice.
Dr. Daniel Parnell, Director of Studies for FIMBA, highlights how the study trip saw “new friendships developed across Madrid and Barcelona that will offer our Football Industries MBA candidates an enhanced network and opportunities in the future to continue to learn and explore the football industry.”
Beginning with a tour of the city, the evening saw a visit to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid, to witness the thrilling match between Real Madrid and Almería which ended in a 3-2 Real Madrid victory.
Taking in the atmosphere of the football stadium helped to complement FIMBA’s Sports Operations module and allowed for candidates to engage more widely on matters covered in the module such as new stadium infrastructure and development, fan engagement, security, and event management.
Other activities as part of the trip included a visit to Atlético de Madrid to meet with Marketing Manager of the club Itzel Regalado, who shared insights into the club’s marketing strategy and the Ciudad del Deporte en Madrid development.
Such insights into new stadium builds, community regeneration and development have been invaluable for FIMBA candidates who will be preparing consultancy reports for clubs in England as part of their programme.
La Liga, the professional football league was the next stop on the trip learning about international development approaches. Candidates also had the opportunity to hear about the league’s digital content strategy and considered how such successful tactics could be adopted for both the Premier League and at a club level.
The final stop-off in Madrid of the trip was a visit to the Global Sport Innovation Centre - to understand how the centre brings together an array of sports organisations as a means of collaborating and enhancing their overall success and performance.
Following on from Madrid, the group made their way to Barcelona where they visited the RCD Espanyol de Barcelona stadium to learn about the club’s journey and future strategies to enhance the club’s accomplishments.
Candidates also had the chance to visit the FC Barcelona Museum and witness the Camp Nou stadium renovation which, when completed in 2026, will be the second largest football stadium in the world. A visit to the RCD Espanyol de Barcelona stadium also allowed for candidates to meet executives and hear their perspectives into the club’s journey and future strategies for success.
Siddique Ahmed, FIMBA candidate and Sky Kick It Out scholar, comments that “I have spent a fantastic week in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona) with my university cohort FIMBA… we met up with many influential figures in the football industry where I have learnt valuable lessons and built great connections.”
Click here to learn more about the Football Industries MBA