For John Armioia ’22, launching a career in the sports industry was a dream he wasn’t sure would become reality. Today, he’s living it every day at one of the most iconic venues in the world—Madison Square Garden—serving as a Membership Experience Executive for the New York Rangers.
In his current role, John manages a portfolio of roughly 400 Season Ticket Members, focusing on enhancing the client experience, driving renewals, and generating new business through memberships, premium hospitality, group sales, and referrals. “A big part of the job is building meaningful relationships and creating exceptional experiences for our fans,” he explained.
John stepped into this position in June 2023 after beginning his full-time career as a Membership Service Representative for both the Knicks and Rangers, where he handled nearly 800 accounts. That first role sharpened his communication, problem-solving, and customer-service skills in a fast-paced sports environment.
Early Experience That Inspired a Career Path
Before joining MSG full-time, John completed two internships with the organization while he was a student at Molloy. Those experiences helped him understand the operations of a major sports and entertainment company.
His first internship was with MSG’s Service and Retention department during his junior year, where he learned the day-to-day responsibilities of supporting Season Ticket Members. Despite the pandemic, he embraced hands-on learning opportunities, including assisting at several limited-capacity Knicks and Rangers games toward the end of the season.
The following summer, he returned to MSG as an Account Management Student Associate with Marketing Partnerships, supporting teams that worked with major brands like Chase, DraftKings, and Kia.
John points out that he only discovered these opportunities because of the Molloy Career Center, which he credits for opening the first door on his career path.
“The Molloy Career Center was a huge resource,” he said. “If I hadn’t found the internship posting through them, I’m not sure where I’d be today.”
How Molloy Prepared Him for a Fast-Paced Sports Career
John majored in Business Management with minors in Finance and Economics, a combination that gave him a diverse understanding of business operations and strategy.
“A large part of what I do is relationship-building, and the classes that helped me develop confidence and interpersonal skills were essential,” he shared. He notes that his Organizational Behavior class helped him understand how to adapt communication styles to different personalities, a skill he uses daily while working with a diverse client base.
Two other classes stood out for shaping his real-world readiness:
- Capstone, taught by Dr. Dawn DiStefano, where students collaborated with nonprofit organizations to develop strategic recommendations.
- Principles of Marketing, taught by Professor Diane Vitale, which included a project promoting the 10th anniversary of Molloy’s Madison Theatre.
Faculty Mentorship That Made a Difference
While many courses shaped John's academic experience, it was the mentorship from Molloy’s business faculty that left the deepest impression.
He credits Dr. Dawn DiStefano with helping him develop a stronger professional perspective and continuing to support him beyond graduation. “Dawn and I are still very close,” he said. “I even had the opportunity to speak to one of her classes about my career so far at MSG.”
Professor Bruce Haller’s Sports Marketing class also gave John early insight into the sports business industry, helping him connect classroom concepts with his internships at MSG.
Leadership Beyond the Classroom
John’s Molloy experience extended beyond academics. Through Student Government, serving as a Student Ambassador, and working as an Orientation Leader, he built leadership, communication skills, and confidence.
“Stepping out of my comfort zone opened doors,” he said. “Those roles helped me grow personally and professionally.”
Today, John is thriving at Madison Square Garden—creating memorable experiences for Rangers fans and continuing to grow within the industry he loves.
Looking back, he reflects with gratitude.
“My best advice? Get involved, take chances, and network as much as you can. That’s what set me up for success.”
