Connor Cox has always been a big sports fan.
The Omaha native loves basketball and baseball, especially the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kansas City Royals.
“I’m just really passionate about sports,” he said. “Any time I get a chance to catch a Royals game on TV, I’ll watch it.”
Of course, being at the ballpark is even better. Connor started attending Omaha Royals games in elementary school, back when the team played at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Now the Triple-A affiliate is known as the Omaha Storm Chasers and Connor is part of every home game at Werner Park.
He started an internship with the Minor League Baseball team in March, taking the first step toward a career in professional sports.
“Right now I’m trying to get my foot in the door and gain some experience,” he said.
Connor does “just about anything” during Storm Chasers games, from parking and ticketing to in-game promotions and giveaways. He also assists during Union Omaha soccer matches and other events hosted at Werner Park.
Among the most memorable experiences so far:
- The July 3 game when the Storm Chasers set the Werner Park attendance record with 9,313 fans.
- Diversity Night, which included a Bob Gibson bobblehead giveaway. Gibson is an Omaha native and Baseball Hall of Famer. Connor got to meet some of his family members that night.
Connor graduates Friday with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a minor in advertising and public relations. He’ll continue working with the Storm Chasers for the remainder of the season and hopes to land a full-time position with the team.
“Being able to make those connections and get that experience within the sports industry is extremely valuable,” he said of the internship.
