Five Super Bowl LIV Quick Takes with Alumnus Jeremy Slavens
Jeremy Slavens, ’00, is a Westminster alumnus with an enviable front-and-center seat at virtually all Kansas City Chiefs games. As the Chiefs’ director of events, Slavens witnesses most losses and wins ― and this year’s 31-20 Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers was no exception.
The former business administration major who now lives in Lee’s Summit, MO, with his wife, Tammy, and 7-year-old son, Henry, recently said his Super Bowl LIV experience was phenomenal. Westminster Today followed up with five quick questions about the Super Bowl, Slavens’ role with the Chiefs and what advice he would give to Westminster students seeking similar careers.
What was it like being at the Super Bowl when the Kansas City Chiefs won?
Simply put, it was incredible. My wife and I enjoyed a trip to Miami that we will never forget. The Chiefs’ organization was gracious enough to take all employees to the Super Bowl, and it was first class all the way.
Can you describe what a typical day on the job with the Chiefs is like?
I run the events department, so it varies dramatically from day to day. Some days are pretty typical … sitting in my office, returning emails, going to meetings, planning and strategizing. Then there are other days where I am out of the office on site visits, on the road looking at prospective events for Arrowhead Stadium, meeting with clients, etc. The best days, however, are events days. Whether it’s a Chiefs game day, an international soccer match, a Monster Jam, a college football game or a concert at Arrowhead, these are the most enjoyable for me.
What advice would you give Westminster students who want to work behind the scenes in professional sports?
It’s hard work: Don’t let the glitz and glamour on TV fool you. It’s also fun, rewarding and disappointing as you ride the rollercoaster of emotions that come along with being associated with a sports team. I caution against pigeonholing yourself with a sports management undergraduate degree. It’s not necessary in order to work in sports, and what happens if you find you don’t like working in sports?
Now that the Chiefs have won, are you planning on a vacation anytime soon?
Hopefully sometime in March, maybe over my son’s spring break. Right now I am trying to catch up on everything that I neglected during the playoff run to the Super Bowl.
What is your favorite Westminster memory?
It’s difficult to single out one memory because there are many. Whether it was playing intramural basketball, Ping-Pong at HAC, video games after practice or participating in game day with the football team, a reoccurring theme in many of my favorite memories centers on sports and competition with friends. I am still close with several of my teammates from the football team; many of them reach out when they come to Chiefs games or are in Kansas City.
