School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management

Maya (stadium operations intern, Mercedes-Benz Stadium): My responsibilities at the stadium varied by day since the internship was designed so that we would rotate to a different department, including grounds, projects, engineering, housekeeping and others. For example, when I was working with the “projects” group, I played a key role in tasks like coordinating contractor schedules, scheduling walkthroughs, organizing project timelines and managing team schedules. 

Taylor (community relations intern, Philadelphia Union): I primarily worked in assisting all the planning and execution of the organization’s community outreach efforts and events. Most of my tasks were done through my work in the team’s front office, on the field during games or traveling to local schools and churches.  

Courtney (ticket operations intern, Philadelphia Eagles): My primary role was to answer inbound phone calls and any incoming emails pertaining to ticketing for the Eagles. I also assisted on game days at our guest service booths answering questions, dealing with complaints or handing out “first game” necklaces. Once a week I also helped at the NovaCare Complex front desk answering calls and helping guests get into the facility for meetings. 

Gianna (group sales intern, Philadelphia Flyers): The primary responsibilities as a group sales intern included preparing all the team’s game day assets that were sold beforehand, finding potential schools that might want to bring their students to see a game and, maybe my favorite, directly assisting with ensuring the Flyers’ “Mites on Ice” participants made it on and off the ice during the games’ intermissions. Also worth mentioning, I hosted arena tours and took photos of groups of fans with our beloved mascot, Gritty.  

Maya: I am quite proud of one project that I oversaw and coordinated from start to finish: the expansion of the storage space for The Home Depot Backyard, an onsite community and events gathering space at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. While most projects call for you to work with one vendor, this experience allowed me to work with three at the same time. My involvement included conducting walk-throughs, receiving quotes and getting them approved by our director of stadium operations and scheduling a timeline for the final implementation of the project.  

Taylor: I was able to do some amazing work with the Union’s Kick Childhood Cancer Initiative. Every season the Union hosts the “Fearless 43,” a group of pediatric cancer patients and their families from the greater Philadelphia area, for a very special gameday experience. I was able to help prepare for and coordinate their experience, including their time at halftime to go on the field and meet the team’s players—I am most proud of that. 

Courtney: While not one specific thing, I am most proud of getting to say that I worked for the Eagles organization during their 2024-25 Super Bowl championship year! I made so many memories and learned so much about myself personally and professionally. Interning with the Eagles organization was one of the best opportunities I experienced from my time at Temple.

Gianna: Excitedly, I was able to tie together my internship with the Flyers with my role as sisterhood chair for my sorority on campus, Delta Zeta Temple Chapter, by planning and organizing our chapter’s night at a Flyers game! Being able to see our sisterhood having a memorable night at the game of the team I work for was such a special moment for me.

Maya: I really enjoyed how much opportunity I had to connect with a wide network of professionals across a variety of departments within the stadium. I made it a priority even during my down time to meet people for coffee or lunch, just to learn more about finding success within the industry—those conversations and connections were invaluable to me.  

Taylor: My favorite part was getting to interact with diverse groups of people at the stadium every day! Whether it was the Union’s immensely passionate fan base or the various departments of the team, I felt that I was able to accomplish a professional experience doing what I love: using sports to help and connect with others. 

Courtney: The atmosphere and the people were what I enjoyed the most. Not only did I feel supported professionally, but it’s exciting to work with individuals who also have a deep passion for the Eagles and the organization as a whole. While it always helps when the team is winning, I noticed that everyone working there enjoys being a part of the workplace, which is what made for an amazing experience.

Gianna: Overall, I felt that my internship was the most rewarding experience I’ve had so far while at Temple! What made it so memorable were the people and the environment—while it might seem crazy to some on the outside, you learn to fall in love with the fast-paced speed that is a Flyers gameday!

Maya: This internship offered me valuable knowledge and insights into the broader scope of sports and event management. Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts a massive number of events, including sports, concerts and other entertainment—interning with the stadium operations team allowed me to see how crucial each department is to ensure everything runs as expected. Also, through the people I met and connections I made with those outside of my initial stadium operations team, I strengthened my passion for wanting to work within the sport industry, particularly within community relations.   

Taylor: My internship with the Union taught me so many things about working within the sport industry, but perhaps, most importantly, I really learned how possessing good critical thinking skills helps you to be efficient and successful in the ways you communicate, problem-solve and work with your team. I also learned how important community engagement is for professional sports organizations—I experienced this with the Union through interacting with fans, coordinating fan events and activations and overseeing research projects.  

Courtney: I found that my internship showed me the ropes and taught me some important things about how to grow. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I was happy to experience my first professional role with an NFL team! While my five months with the Eagles specifically taught me the ins and outs of the ticketing department, if I zoom out, the overall internship taught me what it’s like to succeed in an in-office environment within the sport industry and what the high-energy of game days look like when everyone works together to make it a success. 

Gianna: My experience with the Flyers allowed me to gain so much tangible experience not only in just the sport industry, but simply working well with others! The sport industry is incredibly fast-paced and, whether it be helping, leading or assisting, communicating well and being a helping hand for your co-workers is essential for success.

Maya: I think it’s very crucial for you to keep an open mind—when I began my internship, I had no idea what went into running/overseeing a stadium operations department, but now I have gained an understanding and appreciation for the work they do! Internships can be crucial in this aspect as they can offer you exposure to different areas of the industry and help you determine what types of roles align (or don’t align) with your interests and career goals. Beyond the hands-on experience, you also gain access to building a professional network and meet people who can vouch for your abilities in the future—those connections can help pave the way for your successes. 

Taylor: My best piece of advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way! I believe that I would not be where I am today, and would not have had this internship experience, if I hadn’t eagerly jumped at the experiences that have been previously offered to me. For students looking to break into the sport industry, I highly recommend an internship for a lot of reasons, but mainly because it can give you a great chance to try out different sectors of the industry and also make connections with employees at various levels and departments.  

Courtney: I would tell anyone looking to enter an internship in the sport industry to make sure they are passionate about sports! I was passionate about my internship because it’s an experience that could help me build toward a future career with the Eagles organization! Also, if you are thinking about applying, just apply—you truly don’t know what could happen or where the job could lead to. For example, even if you aren’t looking to go into ticketing operations as a career, it’s a place to start, make connections and experience to utilize later when you are looking to grow within the industry.  

Gianna: The advice I would offer to any student looking to pursue an internship like my experience with the Flyers is to truly lean into your network and spend a lot of time growing it—you never truly know where one conversation can lead you! The sport industry is long hours, and being a college student at times can be overwhelming but working hard and putting in that work now will only set yourself up for success and help separate you from the rest of the individuals that want to also accomplish success within the field. Above all, find a balance, but take chances, be passionate and find beauty in being uncomfortable doing tough things—you will be better because of it!