Sports and entertainment giant AEG has partnered with Pepperdine University to open a branded classroom within Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
The classroom will give Pepperdine a strategic educational location in the city’s downtown business community, with students who are enrolled in sports and entertainment-focused programs to be given the chance to the use the facility to gain hands-on experience.
The initiative will include an AEG ‘best-in-class’ speaker series. The classroom has already been used as a location for class sessions, guest lectures and alumni events and is due to begin hosting regular academic programming next year.
“The classroom is a first-of-its-kind initiative for AEG,” company president and chief executive Dan Beckerman said. “As we continue to grow our relationship, we also look forward to cultivating the next generation of sports and entertainment executives through this unique program we’ve created for students in partnership with Pepperdine.”
The classroom has been designed by the university’s Department of Design and Construction and Integrated Marketing Communications, in partnership with global architecture firm HOK. Environmental Contracting Corporation constructed the classroom, which features leading-edge technology by Toshiba. The classroom features seating for up to 30 students in an academic setting, with a capacity of 50 for events.
Staples Center president Lee Zeidman added: “The partnership with Pepperdine University highlights one of the many ways Staples Center is leading in venue innovation. We’re proud to work alongside Pepperdine to create a classroom and offer a unique learning experience to future sports and entertainment executives in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and at the city’s centre of sports and entertainment.”
Pepperdine is the exclusive education partner of Staples Center, L.A. LIVE and NHL ice hockey team the LA Kings.
Staples Center is the home of the Kings, along with NBA basketball teams the Lakers and the Clippers, and women’s WNBA outfit the Sparks.
Image: AEG
