Baseball / Brett Davies Enjoying Success at MSG

Brett Davies Enjoying Success at MSG

Date:  Source: NECBL: Valley Blue Sox
By: Connor McQuade
 
Brett Davies, currently working as an Account Executive for the Madison Square Garden Company, wasn’t always employed by one of sports’ most historic arenas.  Previous to his time in New York, Davies worked in the sales department for the Boston Celtics. Before the Celtics? He interned in Holyoke with the Valley Blue Sox during the 2016 New England Collegiate Baseball League season.
 
Looking for the right internship can be difficult, but Davies knew what he wanted to get out of a summer experience.  Being a sport management major at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Davies had a lease in Amherst for the summer, prompting him to look into internships around Western Massachusetts.  After inquiring about opportunities with the Blue Sox, Brett met with the organization and realized he had found his landing spot.
 
“We had a long conversation and it was just a good fit,” said Davies, who signed on for a summer internship shortly after his introductory meeting.  “We meshed well, so I knew it’d be a good internship for the summer.”
 
The versatility of the experience with the Blue Sox is what appealed most to Davies.  “The fact that I could do a lot of different things with the Blue Sox; wear a lot of different hats, try a lot of different roles out … really attracted me to that.”  
 
Davies instantaneously formed a close bond with the Blue Sox organization, carving out a major role with the team.  It was far from what one might expect going into an internship, but Davies accepted the challenge and worked on many different tasks for the team.
 
“I was kind of involved with everything,” said Davies of his responsibilities.  “I started the summer with a lot of administrative work; working in the office when shipments come in, merchandise and things like that; helping to get in contact with different vendors for different theme nights.”
 
After excelling out of the gate, Davies assumed greater amounts of responsibility.  The Blue Sox front office entrusted him to organize preseason meetings with local businesses and community groups.  Thanks to a positive attitude and strong work ethic, Davies quickly became known as a reliable member of the Blue Sox organization.
 
When the season rolled around, Davies took on even more responsibility.  “During the season, I was an on-field coordinator, so all the in between inning [promotions] I did,” said Davies.
 
Despite his responsibilities on the field, Brett knew he had to pitch in wherever he could around the ballpark. “Other times, I was in the concession stands.  I kind of did a little bit of everything.” Davies’ willingness to be flexible and work wherever needed not only helped build his resume, but also enhanced his overall knowledge of the sport industry.
 
Through his work with the Blue Sox, Davies gained invaluable knowledge.  Every internship has its benefits, but when asked if the Blue Sox helped him further his career in the sport industry, Davies said, “Enormously. The biggest thing was just getting a lot more hands on experience in the sport industry and help network with a lot of different people.”
 
Thanks to the trust he built with the Blue Sox, Davies was able to discover his passion for sales.  “I really liked [sales],” he said. “That helped a lot in finding the direction or path where I knew I’d be going. Once we were getting closer to graduation, I knew which opportunities I’d be interested in.”
 
Brett’s experience with the Blue Sox played a crucial role in the advancement of his post-collegiate career.  The exposure to the operations of a legitimate sport organization was key in helping Davies land with the Celtics right out of college.  “It helped me stand out at interviews, having as much hands on experience as I did,” said Davies of his summer with the Blue Sox.
 
“[The experience] helped me get those positions… It really was applicable and helped with a bunch of different things in regards to my current position [at Madison Square Garden].”

 

Thanks to his wide array of experience with the Blue Sox and two National Basketball Association franchises, Davies is in a prime position to enjoy continued professional success.