Skyhawk Tells All: The Journey to Super Bowl LX

By Annie Renz

Lily Newell ‘27 did not have a sport management professor her freshman year at Stonehill. There wasn’t even a chair of the department, and her advisor specialized in marketing. But now, halfway through her junior year, Newell is getting the experience sport management majors dream about: working at the Super Bowl. 

To make the deal even sweeter, it’s also her first NFL game. 

“To actually experience my first ever NFL game at the Super Bowl in San Francisco with the Patriots in it is something I physically cannot wrap my head around, and I probably won’t be able to until I get back,” she said.  

Working in sports is nothing new for Newell. She joined the New England Revolution in January 2024 on the Premium Match Day and Events staff.  

On campus, when she’s not in the classroom or competing on behalf of the Stonehill women’s soccer team, Newell serves as secretary for the Hill Flyover.  

She has quite the resume already, but she said she hopes that having this experience will forge connections rather quickly.  

“It’s such a small world in sports,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like it, but everyone knows everyone. I’ve learned it here and at the Revs. Once you know one person, it’s a domino effect.” 

It took hard work and growth to build the Sports Management program up at Stonehill. The major existed when Newell began her Stonehill journey, but the department made great strides over the past two years. That’s credited to the additions of Chair Annemarie Farrell and Dr. Shea Brgoch. 

Newell herself matched that level of perseverance. After not landing an interview for the trip last year, she took the chance and applied again this year. Not only did she get an interview this time around, but she also received a notification through her inbox that she would be a member of the “Super Bowl Dream Team”. 

Newell said that of the 118 students in the sports management department, 20 applied; she’s one of 12 who got good news. She attributes her minor in communication to preparing her for this moment.  

“The courses I’ve taken the past two semesters have shown me how to use my communication skills to my advantage,” she said. “There’s going to be parts within the next week where I’m going to freak out, so I feel like [the courses] taught me how to deal with those moments and how to provide top customer service.” 

Newell said her mix of excitement and comfort reflects the confidence her professors have instilled in her.  

“There’s a reason why I’m here, why I’m going,” she said. “[Farrell and Brgoch] have shown that to me. They’ve allowed me to be myself, which has been really nice because it shows that I’m capable of doing this.” 

She learned from students who went on the trip last year that she’ll come face-to-face with some of the nation’s top celebrities. On top of that, her work for the NFL House puts her right in the mix of networking with the sports world’s most elite.  

“I bought business cards and a business card holder. I’m excited to see the people who are mentoring me and the people I can look up to,” she said.  

Networking will be the name of the game for these 12 students, and Newell said she’s excited about what could come from the experience.  

“I want to get my name out there,” she said. “I want people to remember who I am. I want them to put my number in their phone.”