Founded by a University of Oregon graduate — training hundreds of students over the past two decades — the James H. Warsaw Sports Marketing Center has become one of the best sports business programs and is celebrating its 20 year anniversary this year.

In 1993 the Warsaw Center, part of the Lundquist College of Business, was the first program of its kind to offer a business degree with a concentration in sports marketing.

James H. Warshaw dedicated his time, money, ideas and efforts to make sure that the new program would be successful. Warsaw was dedicated to donating a lot of energy contacting people to spread the word about what they were doing and to build a good reputation for such a different idea.

During the past three years the Warsaw center, teaching more than 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students, has provided students with frequent guest speakers, international study tours as well as various successful internship opportunities.

“It was meant to bring and encourage students who were seeking a career in sports related fields into the business school,” said Paul Swangard, managing director at the Warsaw Center. “Recognizing the 20 year anniversary mark is a good time to reflect and appreciate all of the success we have had and challenges us to make the 20 years to come even better.”

The reputation of the UO business school has influenced research in various topics from stadium finances and consumer behavior to sponsorship, all of which is published through the sports marketing program and often be referenced for perspectives and insights on important stories in the sports industry.

“When we started it was a radical idea to have a sports marketing center in a business school,” said Lynn Kahle, professor of sports marketing. “It’s exciting that its done so much. It’s good for us and our students and certain doors are open to us because of our reputation.”