Most valuable prizes

SU sports management majors help kick off local memorabilia store

By: Andrew Kase

Posted: 10/17/07

Taking home a piece of the game might be a common goal for sports fans, but two Syracuse University students are embracing the role of the sports fanatic.

In August, Christine Cronin and Andrew Park launched a business venture in affiliation with Steiner Sports Marketing to form Syracuse-Steiner Collectibles, a sports memorabilia retailer.

Cronin and Park, both sophomore sports management majors, are now employees of the business.

"I was contacted by the sports management department (SPM) and they called me over the summer talking about how they formed this company," Cronin said. "Basically, the company is student-run and they just talked to me about it, and I was interested."

Syracuse-Steiner Collectibles sells various sports memorabilia from jerseys to footballs and basketballs used during past and present SU games.

The owners and employees are tailoring the items sold to alumni and current students by offering affordable pieces to those within the Syracuse fan base.

"It's running right now, and Homecoming was our big launch," Cronin said. "We had a table set up on the Quad and that was a big push for us. We also have a Web site set up."

"We're just trying to get our name out there," Park said. "Joe Morris even came over Homecoming weekend."

Morris, an '82 graduate and former running back for the New York Giants, was a huge attraction for the company.

Cronin and Park hope they can attract more big names for similar events.

A few of the more popular items on sale are autographed photographs and plaques from 2003 men's basketball national championship season. Jerseys and basketballs from that season are also on sale.

"Right now, we have footballs, basketballs and jerseys," said Cronin. "For football, we have hands and footballs and collage pieces. For basketball, we have a picture, we have a piece of the dome court. We also have autographed collectibles."

The company's roots began with Brandon Steiner, a 1981 SU graduate who wanted to start a sports memorabilia company.

Since his graduation, he wanted the home base of his business to be Syracuse. He is the founder and chair of Steiner Sports Marketing.

Syracuse-Steiner Collectibles currently has 5,000 items on sale, including items featuring than 500 male and female professional athletes from almost every major sport.

"It was started by Steiner Sports and he graduated from Syracuse, so he wanted to launch his company here," Cronin said. "At first, they had a partnership with Notre Dame, but then they came here."

The Syracuse-Steiner Collectibles is mainly a joint venture between SU and Steiner Sports Marketing. Because of the association with the university, the company contributes 50 percent of its profits to the SU Athletics Department.

"It's an easy way for students or alumni to give back to the school," Park said. "We have a lot of items, anything SU athletics, basically. They're all different prices, and the more affordable we can make it, the better it is."

One of the most important parts of the company is that the experience is valuable for the sports management majors. It helps the students learn in a professional and business environment and provides insight for when they graduate and are looking for jobs.

"Professor Michael Veley, the head of the SPM department, really tried to help out the SPM majors and getting them experience," Park said. "Obviously, he's running a business, but he also sees an opportunity to help out students who are SPM majors."

Park said working at Syracuse-Steiner Collectibles has given him experience in a professional environment and will help him with his future career.

The company also has Carmelo Anthony pieces, which are proving to be popular sellers.

Anthony, a freshman star of the 2003 SU basketball team, now plays in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets. He also donated money this year toward a new basketball facility at SU, which will be named after him.

"A lot of people really know him," Cronin said. "They want something with him on it. I think it's kind of a unique piece, and he's doing so much for the school."

"We're rolling out different SU people, and he's definitely one of the most popular players in SU and the NBA," said Park. "He keeps giving back, and he's still out there.

Both Cronin and Park believe that the venture will draw in more interest and support from current SU students and may persuade them to attend more athletic events.

Syracuse-Steiner Collectibles is also launching a campaign called "Save the stub" where fans can create their own personal collage of a memorable game.

People can send in their ticket from a big football, basketball or other SU sporting event and Syracuse-Steiner Collectibles will put together a college along with pictures from the game.

"We're calling it alternative donation," Cronin said. "They're getting what they want, like a collectible piece, and they know the money is coming back to school and that will keep the sports tradition alive and that will make alumni very happy."