Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
Rocky Hill High School Athletic Leadership Class returns to UConn
Bringing students from Rocky Hill High School’s Athletic Leadership course to visit UConn’s campus is becoming a regular tradition for UConn alumnus David Dubos (’92). Visiting this week for a taste of UConn’s famed athletic program and a first-hand look inside the university’s Sport Management Program, students participated in one of Dr. Joseph Cooper’s sport marketing courses and toured many of the athletic facilities on campus, highlighted by a visit to the brand new Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center.
UConn always enjoys getting a first-hand look at future sport management students. Thanks to David Dubos for bringing them to campus!
As a part of a new series, we turn the spotlight on members of the UConn Sport Management Program (SMP) Alumni Community, focusing on the diversity of experience and breadth of knowledge they have gained within the industry. Designed to help current and future SMP students learn to navigate and understand the real-world intricacies of sport management, we thank SMP alumni for their valuable contributions and insight. Today, Tim Moriarty (M.A. in Sport Management, UConn 1993), shares a “SportStory” about managing a crisis and improving operational plans from the experience.
Tim Moriarty (M.A. 1993)
While doing my pre-game walk around prior to the start of a men’s basketball game at Gampel Pavilion, a fan flagged me down with a medical emergency. When I arrived at the person’s seat, I discovered that he was in serious distress, turning blue and appearing to have a hard time breathing. I radioed down the floor to another colleague who was next to the team doctor, who came up along with the paramedics to provide aid. Before it was over, I had to run to the doctor’s office in the building to retrieve the defibrillator kit while they performed CPR.
Thankfully, the man survived, and after this incident we decided to change the locations of where EMT/firefighters were stationed during games, in order to improve the potential medical response time for spectators. The experience taught me that during an event you have to be prepared for anything and be able to adjust on the fly; afterwards, it’s important to learn from your experiences and take corrective action.
The UConn Center for Career Development, UConn Alumni Association and the Sport Management Program are proud to host “A Career in Sports Night” on Thursday, February 26th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will include professionals in the sports industry, alumni, staff, faculty and students.
With a strong Sport Management program here in the “Basketball Capitol of the World,” our goal is to offer students valuable insights into the opportunities available in the sports industry. Students will self-select into various discussion groups led by staff, alumni and sports industry professionals. Topics will include:
Finding a Career in Sports
Transitioning from Athlete to Sport Professional
Broadcasting & Journalism
Women in Sports and more!
Networking opportunities will be available for students interested in connecting with industry professionals.
This event is free, but you must pre-register. For more information, please contact Nellie Schafer via e-mail or 860.486.9227.
Alumni “SportPath”: Greg Ferrara – from UConn to Team Epic
Every UConn Sport Management (SMP) alumni has followed a unique path into the sport industry. As a part of a new series, we turn the spotlight on members of the UConn SMP Alumni Community, focusing on the diversity of experience and breadth of knowledge they have gained within the industry. Designed to help current and future SMP students learn to navigate and understand the real-world intricacies of sport management, we thank SMP alumni for their valuable contributions and insight. Today, Greg Ferrara (B.S. Sport Management, UConn 2010) shares a snapshot of his “SportPath” to working at Team Epic with the UConn student community:
Greg Ferrara (’10)
When I got into the Coaching & Administration program at UConn, my advisor was legendary UConn Men’s Soccer Coach Joseph Morrone. While he was certainly an “old school” personality, he taught valuable lessons on how to be a professional and respectable member of a team. And most importantly, he was able to set me up with volunteer hours within the Athletic Department. So that’s how I first ended up with a job in Athletic Development, just as volunteer student worker in the office.
After working there a semester, I really enjoyed it and did well enough that they hired me as a student worker so I could get paid a little bit through my work-study stipend. I continued to gain more responsibility within the department and ended up working there for about four years (until June 2012). After my contract ended, an opening came up at UConn IMG Sports Marketing and I already knew the General Manager from my previous work at UConn, so I was able to get an interview and ended up with the job.
After 18 months there, I started to think of what I wanted my career to be and I finally realized I wanted to work within Sports Marketing and at sporting events as an “event/hospitality planner”. A co-worker put me in touch with another former UConn Husky at Team Epic and after a couple interviews, that’s how I ended up where I am currently. As much of my job centers around golf events, I have the chance to travel around the country and work at some of the most iconic golfing facilities in the country – and indeed some of the most spectacular sporting settings you can find, such as the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge, pictured above.
Company:Team Epic – Sports Marketing Agency in Norwalk, CT
Position: Associate in Team Epic’s Events and Hospitality department – responsible for the planning and execution of hospitality events at sporting events for various Team Epic clients.
Event experience: Intercollegiate basketball, soccer and football games at UConn; Various golf tournaments (U.S. Open in Pinehurst, NC, TOUR Championship in Atlanta, Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, Byron Nelson Classic in Dallas, Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston); MLB games (Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees); NFL games (NY Jets, Dallas Cowboys).
Alumni “SportStory”: Ashley Combs & the Spur’s Learn & Play Center
As a part of a new series, we turn the spotlight on members of the UConn Sport Management Program (SMP) Alumni Community, focusing on the diversity of experience and breadth of knowledge they have gained within the industry. Designed to help current and future SMP students learn to navigate and understand the real-world intricacies of sport management, we thank SMP alumni for their valuable contributions and insight. Today, Ashley Combs (Master of Education – Sport Management, UConn 2014), shares a “SportStory” about helping to deliver a remarkable community legacy project with the San Antonio Spurs:
Ashley Combs (’14)
Growing up, I always imagined that I would work for an NBA team, but I had never considered what it might feel like to be a part of a team that was competing to win an NBA championship. Further, I never imagined that I would work on a project that would serve as an integral part of my organization’s NBA Finals experience. The San Antonio Spurs’ run in 2013 was memorable, but my 2014 NBA Finals experience included working on a project that would teach me a great deal about how to be a successful leader.
During the NBA Finals, participating teams are asked to create a new Learn & Play Center that will serve the community. Work on the project begins in April and if your team makes it, will culminate in a nationally televised event where current and former players help to dedicate the new space. The 2014 project had both challenges and highlights. Some of the challenges faced included getting enough funding to create the type of lasting impact that we were hoping to create. Deadlines also served as a major challenge, as the opportunity to complete and display all the hard work that my group put in depended solely on the work that our team did on the basketball court.
I also had to manage not only multiple elements of the project, but also colleagues from our team and the NBA, vendors, etc. to execute the project. The project was all worth it when we finally unveiled our newest Learn & Play Center. The school that we worked with, its students, our players, executives and local dignitaries were blown away by the work we had done and acknowledged that the contributions that we made would be impacting the quality of education that students in our community would experience for years to come.
Check out a great video snapshot of the Spur’s Learn & Play Center by clicking here.
Rocky Hill High School Athletic Leadership Class visit to UConn
UConn alumnus David Dubos brought students from Rocky Hill High School’s Athletic Leadership course to Storrs this week for a taste of UConn’s famed athletic program and a first-hand look inside the university’s Sport Management Program. Not only did the students participate in Dr. Joseph Cooper’s EDLR 3300W Sports in Society course, they also toured many of the athletic facilities on campus, including the brand new Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center.
Perhaps this was also UConn’s first-hand look at future sport management students? Only time will tell!
Current/Future Sport Management Alumni Event @ UConn-Army football game in Yankee Stadium, Nov. 8
On Saturday, November 8, UConn Football and thousands of Husky fans will make their way to the Bronx as we take on the Army Black Knights at 3:30pm at Yankee Stadium. But BEFORE the game, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to bring members of the UConn Sporty Management Program (SMP) Alumni Community together with the future members of that community – thecurrent UConn SMP students!
Please join us for a current/future UConn Sport Management Alumni pre-game meet & greet social – just a 2 minute walk away from Yankee Stadium at Billy’s Sports Bar, located at 856 River Ave from 12:30-2:30. Billy’s Sport’s Bar is the official pre-game location for all UConn Alumni, so look for the signs and reserved seats that say “UConn Sport Management Program”. It will certainly be an exciting event, and we really look forward to the opportunity for current SMP students to meet with SMP alumni and chat about what “real life” in the sport management industry is like. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sport-management-alumni@uconn.edu.
Responding to suggestions from a small group of Sport Management Program (SMP) alumni who gathered in New York City in July of 2013, the UConn Sport Management faculty team worked with the UConn Alumni Association to launch a series of alumni events in the spring and summer of 2014.
Washington, DC – March 8, 2014: SMP Alumni & faculty gathered to watch the storied UConn men’s basketball team in action!
Boston, MA – July 11, 2014: SMP Alumni & faculty share experiences and raise a glass together at our first Happy Hour event of the season.
New York, NY – July 17, 2014: The Big Apple hosts SMP Alumni & faculty as they enjoy an evening speaking about developing the SMP Alumni Community.
Hartford, CT – August 21, 2014: SMP Alumni & faculty meet the latest crop of SMP graduate students as the Sport Management team prepares for the start of the new academic year at UConn.
ESPN HQ, Bristol, CT – September 15, 2014: SMP faculty & staff get an impressive & informative behind-the-scenes tour of ESPN’s HQ offices following a productive lunch discussion connecting SMP Alumni and and other graduates from UConn who all work together at ESPN.
Not only did the events serve as a fantastic networking opportunity for alumni of the sport management program and other UConn alumni working in the sport industry, the conversations provided very valuable feedback to the faculty and Alumni Association on future steps to build a stronger Sport Management Program Alumni Community.
Thanks to everyone who attended and stay tuned for the mobilization of the ideas generated! Click here to visit the UConn Sport Management Alumni Events page to see other photos and learn how you can organize a SMP Alumni event in your local community!
athered to watch the storied UConn men’s basketball team in action!