Designing for the field

EVA COHEN

The visuals around the stadium at a Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game, including what appears on the big screen, is produced by Efrat Gal-Or, manager of event production for the 37-year-old team.

What started out as a small soccer club is, as of 2011, a fledgling Major League Soccer team, and Gal-Or is excited about the Whitecaps’ future and the momentum of soccer in Vancouver. “The excitement the city brings to the sport is amazing,” she told the Independent. “I think the fan energy is awesome, and the team definitely feeds off this energy. It’s nice to have another sports team in town that has good support.”

In charge of event production since 2008, Gal-Or not only schedules what goes up on the video board at the north end of the pitch, but also manages publication pieces for spectators and off-site fans alike. The diversity of her job requirements suits Gal-Or well.

“My favorite part of the position is that there are always changing elements for each game,” she explained. “I get to work closely with all of the departments within the organization.”

Gal-Or recently returned to the team from maternity leave, after the birth of her son, Asher, who is now 15 months old. When she left, the Whitecaps were still at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby but, when she returned, the team had made the move to the site of the former Empire Stadium on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition. The team is now patiently waiting for the completion of the renovations to B.C. Place, which, when looking at the Vancouver downtown skyline, is visibly nearing the finishing touches of its massive makeover.

Gal-Or’s path to becoming an event manager for the Whitecaps was somewhat unique. She completed her bachelor of arts at the University of British Columbia in human kinetics and psychology, and decided to pursue a livelihood in sports. In order to gain the necessary experience, she searched online for graduate programs, and came upon some life-changing career inspiration.

“I took a chance,” she said of her online search. “I Googled combinations of MBA and sports, and found a new program in Europe.”

She ended up with a master’s degree in management, law and humanities of sport, a program of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), supported by the International Centre for Sport Studies. The program is based in three countries. Gal-Or took courses in humanities in England, law in Switzerland and business in Italy. Students also visit stadiums and hear guest lectures by industry professionals.

“At the time, it wasn’t very well known and, in the beginning, I didn’t know what would come of it at all. It is hard to go overseas for a master’s and not have a job and not know if it will benefit you. Since I completed the program, it has grown in reputation and now has a really strong base for alumni and resources on how to move forward and find work, especially in Europe.”

Born in Basel, Switzerland, and raised until the age nine in Nof Yam, Israel, Gal-Or moved with her family to Vancouver. As a youth, she was a synchronized swimmer, and she continued with sports throughout her schooling, including with the Whistler Adaptive Ski Program while studying at UBC.

Eventually, Gal-Or began working for 2010 Legacies Now, an organization created to build support for Vancouver’s bid for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and to “strengthen sport, recreation, physical activity, arts, literacy, accessibility and volunteerism in B.C. communities leading up to and beyond the 2010 Winter Games,” according to the website. When the job posting for the Whitecaps appeared, Gal-Or knew she would be a perfect fit.

“Life often takes you in different directions. I saw the job opening for the Whitecaps, and I knew the requirements were really matched with my skill set, my strengths, and would be what the Whitecaps would be looking for,” she said. “This is one of the times in my life when I can say I was at the right place at the right time. This is an amazing journey with amazing people to work with.”

Now in the middle of their season, Gal-Or and the Whitecaps are looking forward to the remainder, and the future, as the Vancouver franchise grows.

“My goal is to stay with the Whitecaps,” concluded Gal-Or. “I’m really excited for the move to B.C. Place and to be a part of these first years with an MLS club.”

Eva Cohen is a Canadian freelance writer currently in China working as an English foreign expert.

^TOP