SV grad Altimus worked at Super Bowl
Most venture to Las Vegas thinking of slot machines, decks of cards, and hitting it big.
In Cort Altimus’ case, heading to Sin City was a gamble in itself.
The Seneca Valley graduate was days removed from working at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas last month when he recalled remotely taking math and science college courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was just having so much trouble,” he admitted of online schooling. “I was like, ‘I know what I want to do. I can get these jobs already.’ I had family out here in Vegas, I saw these sports teams coming, and I wanted to make sure I got the jump before it took me however long it (would take me) to finish math, science, whatever.”
Instead of continuing to struggle with numbers and inch toward his degree at Clarion University, Altimus chose to play the odds. He’d completed a good deal of his core classes — such as those that got him up to speed on camera and news work — for his studies during his first few years and felt he just needed to meet the right people to pin down a gig.
After five and half years of school, he told his parents he wouldn’t be finishing, but relocating instead.
In terms of his professional career, he wound up hitting the jackpot.
“My dad was pretty geeked,” Altimus remembered with a laugh. “My dad was definitely the one paying for it, so I totally understand. He read me the riot act. Ultimately, I couldn’t thank my parents enough.”
Altimus’ father, Scott, knew what it was like to pack up and move out west. He’d done so at an earlier age, heading to Los Angeles to start a real estate sign post installation company with college roommates. He also played semi-pro football for half a decade and was even recruited to play overseas.
“Initially, I was upset,” the elder Altimus said of his reaction to his son’s choice. “Just to the point where I was like, ‘You’re so close. Just finish and then do whatever you want to do.’ I did support living your dreams because, when I was growing up, it was always, ‘You’ve got to get that 9-to-5 job and be there for the rest of your career.’
“I kind of rebelled against that myself, going out to L.A. and working out there for 12 years and doing my thing. Part of me was like, ‘Go for it.’”
Since moving three years ago, Cort has pinned down a job as a consistent cameraman with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. He’s also done work with the Las Vegas Raiders, the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, and the UFC, among other jobs.
”To not only get a job, but to be the preferred option at a lot of these places, it’s really been awesome these past few years to be able to do what I do,“ Cort said.
Cort and Allegiant Stadium’s in-house crew were called upon by Van Wagner, the Super Bowl’s main production company, for the big game. In front of record-setting viewership, the Kansas City Chiefs outlasted the San Francisco 49ers. Cort worked as an on-location clips operator, assigning videos to the venue’s big screen.
“I played videos during different hits, just pertaining to whatever the commercial break was about or what it may be,” he explained.
Cort also worked during Super Bowl Opening Night, where players from both teams spoke to the media for the first time that week.
“In between teams coming out for their sessions, there would be a couple different hosts that came out and talked about different story lines of the game,” he said. “Whatever that story line was, I would play a video along to it.”
The behind-the-scenes work was something Cort had been introduced to by his mother, Cassie, who’s also worked in the sports production field. He remembers being 12 years old and tagging along to the Steelers KidZone Show, which she was a writer and producer for.
“It was just like a small kids segment that would air early mornings on Sundays,” Cort said. “I was on that set all the time, meeting all those camera people, meeting all the directors. ... It really just was something I’ve been wanting to do since when they ask you what you wanted to do in fifth grade.”
While first a self-described hockey player, Cort played football from elementary school through his senior year at Seneca Valley, with Scott coaching him some during that time. He was thrilled to be a small part of history.
“I was stuck up in the control room almost the entire week,” Cort said. “To just progressively see the field getting worked on through the week, the painting happening. ... Usher had the performers that are a secret all up until the performance all out there rehearsing.
“It was just surreal to be there the entire time with all these moving parts and how big the stage was for everything.”
Scott considered the difference in production as compared to the Super Bowls he’d watched the Pittsburgh Steelers play in when he was a kid.
“Knowing that he was out there with probably the biggest production of the Super Bowl in the history of Super Bowls — and him being part of it — being able to view it was just amazing,” Scott said.
Maybe — just maybe — parents don’t always know best, after all.
“He proved me wrong and I’m so glad he did,” Scott said. “I tell him that. It made sense. He is that kid that he goes to the beat of his own drum. I think he sensed something and it was something that he really loved and really wanted to pursue.”
