Online and full-time MBA students got an up-close look at Red Rocks, Meow Wolf, McGregor Square and more
In its 85 years as a formal venue, Denver’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre has welcomed everyone who’s anyone in music: The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead, Diana Ross, the Denver Symphony Orchestra, Andrea Boccelli. None of that is to mention the countless Easter services, yoga classes and film nights.
On a brisk October morning, the acoustic marvel hosted 23 Daniels College of Business students, who got a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the state’s biggest economic drivers.
The visit was the opening act of “Denver City Trek: The Business of After Hours,” a day full of company visits, networking and opportunities to see the Mile High City’s entertainment industry up close.
All students in the Daniels Online MBA program take part in two intensive, in-person immersions of their choosing. Traditionally, the required zero-credit classes have taken on the DU campus, in other U.S. cities or overseas. This year, however, Daniels expanded its offerings even further.
“[Immersions are] so embedded in the curriculum that they become a defining experience in the program,” said Megan Reilly, director of MBA global and experiential learning. So, “why not do this in our backyard where we have a lot of companies that hire Daniels students?”
Plus, Reilly added, a Denver-based program offers more flexibility to those who can’t block off a full week for an international trip. And this one-day immersion for online and full-time MBA students certainly delivered on the promise of a hands-on experience.
Brian Kitts, a Daniels adjunct professor and Red Rocks’ chief marketing and business development officer, gave students a behind-the-scenes tour of the world-famous amphitheater.
From the bleacher seats in Row 70, Brian Kitts—an adjunct professor who doubles as the amphitheater’s chief marketing and business development officer—outlined Red Rocks’ business model and explained the ways he protects the Red Rocks name and brand. Then, he took the group underground, for a walk through the legendary tunnel that connects the venue’s green rooms to center stage—a corridor covered in signatures from the musicians who have performed. Each student was also given a ticket to a concert of their choice for the days surrounding the immersion.
“It’s a really cool way to understand different businesses and different industries that I wouldn’t necessarily reach out to normally,” said Allison Caraveo, an Online MBA student who works in the telecommunications industry. “[Immersions] really contextualize what you learn. They provide you active networking with live businesses.”
The rest of the day’s itinerary featured:
- lunch in McGregor Square, an entertainment district situated on a square block directly across the street from Coors Field,
- a panel discussion at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, featuring the Denver Sports Commission and the city’s new National Women’s Soccer League franchise, Summit FC,
- and an immersive art adventure at Meow Wolf: Convergence Station, which introduced students to the concept of “creative economy,” fostered in a space that welcomes the local community to stay and support one another.
“A lot of online programs are purely online,” Reilly said. “But [at Daniels], you don’t get an MBA without having opportunities like this to network with faculty and other students. You’re still going to get all of the networking opportunities that you would in a traditional MBA, you’re just going to have most of your content online.”
Bailee Gardunio, assistant director of global and experiential learning, meticulously crafted the day’s itinerary. She managed logistics and used her knowledge of the local community to coordinate the day’s visits.
To create these experiences, the experiential learning team frequently leans on a vast network of industry contacts. It also helps to have well-connected faculty, like Kitts, who can pull from their rolodex of business relationships. The adjunct offered himself as a resource to students, encouraging them to stay in touch, even after they graduate.
“It was great,” said Peter McGrath, an OMBA student graduating in June 2026. “Educational, well-rounded, good presenters and good guest speakers. The entertainment space was cool to learn about, how it affects the broader community. Five stars.”
Students experienced an immersive art adventure at Meow Wolf: Convergence Station.
A handful of full-time Denver MBA students tagged along too, eager to cash in on the opportunities that set Daniels programs apart.
“It was a huge part of my decision to do the full-time MBA because I learn a lot better through hands-on activities and experiences,” said Katia Golovchanskaia. “So these immersive experience help me learn a whole lot more than reading from a textbook. [Today] was really valuable.”