After getting out of school how long does it usually take to get into the field of sports and entertainment?

It really varies by the individual - which is probably not the answer you wanted to hear. But it is true. Factors that come into play come down to: how hard you are willing to work, who you know, and what kind of experience you might have been able to accumulate while you were in school. At ESPN, there are some jobs where we are specifically looking for someone to come in with some previous experience, either in college or at a local station.

The field is a large one and there are countless jobs that would fall into the sports and entertainment field. So narrowing your focus would be the best place to start. For example, if you wanted to get into broadcasting, your path could be very different than if you wanted to get into game promotion for your hometown favorite. You will find that it is typically easier to get involved with a smaller outfit than trying to get a gig with a pro-team right from the get go. Although some of those jobs might be seasonal.

Kobe,

The answer varies depending on what you want to do (ticketing, sponsorships, PR, etc). The most broad answer I can give, is to look at marketing agencies. Some of the larger agencies have a rotational program for recent grads where you will have experience in working in a variety of fields that are an essential part of the sports industry (promotions, media planning, media buying, activations, etc).

Best of luck.