MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez will be at UF next week.
The former MLB player will be interviewed by Ted Spiker, the chair of UF’s Department of Journalism, Nov. 15 in the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Afterward, the audience will have a chance to participate in a Q&A session with the athlete. Rodriguez is being paid $85,000 to come, said Accent Speakers Bureau chairman Mike Greenberg.
The event is free and open to the public. Student tickets will be available at the Phillips Center’s box office at noon Nov. 14. Remaining tickets will be available to the public at the box office Nov. 15, Greenberg said.
Rodriguez, who has played for the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, will talk about his personal and athletic story, Greenberg said. He will talk about redemption and perseverance.
“We think he’s got a very, very valuable story to tell,” Greenberg said. “(He’s) a very influential person in sports.”
Greenberg said he expects about 1,700 people to come.
“I hope they’re able to gain some insight into someone who has fallen down and gotten back up,” Greenberg said. “It’s just a fun night for students.”
Accent Speakers Bureau staff members, Alyssa Kobernick, 21, a UF political science senior, Samantha Winder, a 21-year-old UF psychology senior and Anne Redmond, a 22-year-old UF marketing senior, table at Turlington Plaza in celebration of Accent's 50-year anniversary and upcoming speaker Alex Rodriguez.
