Nicholas Smith

Nicholas P. Smith teaches sports management undergraduate courses in sport law, risk management, programming, internships and human resources. As an added leadership role, Dr. Smith was asked to coordinate the internship program as he has done for over fourteen semesters. Smith has successfully introduced new classes to the curriculum here at FIU.   Smith’s research interests focused primarily on the legal aspects of the business of sport and sport security. This includes considerations on the impact of sport terrorism on the field of sport management. His efforts in research also include volunteer motivations and risk perceptions in sport mega events.

Smith’s research has been published in the International Journal of Sport Management, Journal of Sport Safety and Security, and Leisure Sciences. He serves as an abstract reviewer for the Sport and Recreation Law Association Conference.

During the Spring of 2020, Smith collected research on site at the 2020 Miami Super Bowl. During the Spring of 2022, Smith conducted research on site at the 2022 New Orleans Final Four. In 2023, Smith then conducted research at the 2023 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. His current research focuses on sport volunteers, their collective risk perceptions, alongside the context of motivations for volunteers.

Smith comes to FIU with over a decade of experience in various
management positions with ASM Global / Caesars Superdome / Smoothie King Center /
Champions Square formerly SMG / Mercedes Benz Superdome. He worked in the operations department helping host events with patrons and in the command post. As an added role, Smith lent his voice to the Public Address announcements welcoming people to the Superdome. Smith has been a part of five Super Bowls. Along with teaching at FIU, Smith volunteered with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee, Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Sunbelt Conference, and Orange Bowl Committee. Over the years in the field of sport management, Smith has also managed events for New Orleans Baby Cakes (AAA Miami Marlins), Louisiana State University Athletics, Tulane University Athletics, University of New Orleans Athletics, and Landmark Event Staffing Services. Smith also completed his internship with St. John's University Athletics in New York City.

Smith is a marathoner who has competed in the 2016 New York City Marathon and 2015 Louisiana Marathon.

Research Areas

• Sport Terrorism
• Sport Security
• Sport Volunteerism in Mega Events
• Marketing and Endorsements
• Ethical Considerations

Honors & Awards

• 2023 Sport and Recreation Law Association Presidents Award
• 2019 Florida International University Award for service

Classes Taught

• LEI 3800: Liability in Law in Leisure, Recreation and Sports
  • LEI 3402 : Program Development in Recreation and Sports
  • LEI 3524: Human Resource Management in Parks and Management
  • LEI 4940: Internship I
  • LEI 4941: Internship II
  • LEI 4438: Recreational Sports
  • LEI 3001: Introduction to Recreation and Sport Management
  • SPM 3001: Introduction to Sport Management
  • SPM 4940: Internships
  • LEI 4590: Senior Seminar
  • LEI 4438: Recreational Sports

Research Publications

Smith, N. P., & Carroll, M. S. (2023, June) Reciprocity of good will: Deontological and Existential Tenets in Sport Management History. International Journal of Sport Management, 24(2), 141-150.

Bang, H., Smith, N., Park. S. E., & Lee, C. (2022). Perceived quality and organizational support
for enhancing volunteers’ leisure satisfaction and civic engagement: A case of the 2020 Super
Bowl. Leisure Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2022.2060883

Smith, N., Bowers, A., Naquin, M., Gillian, W. (2017). An analysis of the influence of the
Boston Marathon bombing on sport venue management in the Gulf Coast states. Journal of
Sport Safety and Security: 2 (1), 1-13. (online).

Book Chapter:

Smith, N. (2020) “Persistency Pays Off”- In G. Fried & M. Kastel (Eds.), Managing Sport Facilities, 4th edition, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. 

Book Review:

Smith, N. P. (2023). [Review of the book Same Players, Different Game: An Examination of the Commercial
College Athletics Industry by John Barnes]. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics (in Press).

Conference Presentations

Smith, N.P., & Carroll, M. S. “Motivations and Risk Perceptions of Sport Volunteers at 2023 NCAA College World Series: Implications for Practitioners”. Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) Conference, Baltimore, MD, February 21, 2024. 

Smith, N.P., & Carroll, M. S. “Self-Perceived Risk Perceptions of Sport Volunteers at 2022 New Orleans Final Four : Implications for Event Managers”. Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 26, 2023.

Smith, N., Greer, J., & Bang, H. “Best practices in experiential learning for sport management students: A Super Bowl approach to learning through hands-on experience”. North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) Conference, Atlanta GA, June 1-5, 2022

Bowers, A., Sharp, J., Smith, N. “Self-Efficacy Among Sport Management Faculty: A Mixed-Design Study”. Commission on Sport Management Accreditation Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 8, 2019.

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles:

Bang, H., Smith, N., Park. S. E., & Lee, C. (2022). Perceived quality and organizational support
for enhancing volunteers’ leisure satisfaction and civic engagement: A case of the 2020 Super
Bowl. Leisure Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2022.2060883

Smith, N., Bowers, A., Naquin, M., Gillian, W. (2017). An analysis of the influence of the
Boston Marathon bombing on sport venue management in the Gulf Coast states. Journal of
Sport Safety and Security: 2 (1), 1-13. (online).

Smith, N., Bowers, A., Naquin, M., Gillian, W. (2016). An analysis of the influence of the
Boston Marathon bombing at a Big East conference university. LAPHERD Journal: 79 (2).
(online).

Editor-Reviewed Publications:

Smith, N. P. (2021). T- Mobile Park is not safe yet in ADA sightlines court case. Sport
Litigation Alert, 18(23), (online).

Smith, N. P. , & Carroll, M. S. (2020). Major League Baseball wants ticket lawsuit thrown out of
the game. Professional Sports and the Law, 11 (4), (online).

Smith, N. P., & Carroll, M. S. (2020). Major League Baseball Bwants ticket lawsuit thrown out of
the game. Sport Litigation Alert, 17(19), (online).

Book Chapter:

Smith, N. (2020) “Persistency Pays Off”- In G. Fried & M. Kastel (Eds.), Managing Sport Facilities, 4th edition, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. 

Smith, N. P. (2023). [Review of the book Same Players, Different Game: An Examination of the Commercial
College Athletics Industry by John Barnes]. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics (in Press).

Conference Presentations:

Smith, N.P., & Carroll, M. S. “Self-Perceived Risk Perceptions of Sport Volunteers at 2022 New Orleans Final Four : Implications for Event Managers”. Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 26, 2023.

Smith, N., Greer, J., & Bang, H. “Best practices in experiential learning for sport management students: A Super Bowl approach to learning through hands-on experience”. North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) Conference, Atlanta GA, June 1-5, 2022

Bowers, A., Sharp, J., Smith, N. “Self-Efficacy Among Sport Management Faculty: A Mixed-Design Study”. Commission on Sport Management Accreditation Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 8, 2019.

Conference Poster Presentations:

Silverman, R., & Smith N. P. “ Undergraduate students perceptions of NIL and the impact it has on brand equity.” Sport Marketing Association Conference, Charlotte, NC, October 26, 2022.

Smith, N. “Using a mock trial to boost students’ fourth amendment knowledge.” Sport and Recreation Law Association Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 23, 2022.

Patel, H., Smith, N. “The Legal Implications of Compensating Student Athletes.” National Conference on
Undergraduate Research, Bozeman, MT, March 26, 2020. Moved online due to Covid 19.

INVITED GUEST LECTURES:

Be Nice and Work Hard and Amazing Things Will Happen
KIN 2513- Professional Development on Sport Administration, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
(3/30/23)

Amazing Things Will Happen
Finance in Sport Management, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
(3/10/23)

Amazing Things Will Happen
Finance in Sport Management, Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin
(2/1/23)

Student Interview on Finance
Financial Aspects of Sport Management, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
(10/17/22)

Professional Associations

• Sport and Recreation Law Association
• North American Society for Sport Management
• Commission on Sport Management Accreditation
• Sport Marketing Association

Education

• Ph.D., Troy University
• M.A., Southeastern Louisiana University
• B.A., Louisiana State University