Corporate Partnerships and Community Relations InternAt — The Empire Strykers

The Corporate Partnerships & Community Relations Intern is responsible for assisting with the fulfillment of corporate partnerships, community initiatives, and event activations for the Empire Strykers professional indoor soccer team. This role will support the team’s sponsorship and community engagement objectives by helping execute partner activations, grassroots outreach, and community programs while collaborating closely with the Strykers front office staff.

Essential Functions

• Assist with organizing, maintaining, and fulfilling corporate partner agreements and contractual obligations.
• Support the activation of sponsorships through in-game promotions, arena signage, hospitality, and event integration.
• Contribute to the development of recap reports and presentations for partners.
• Assist with planning and coordinating community initiatives such as grassroots events, school programs, and local soccer clinics.
• Participate in game-day operations, ensuring successful execution of partner activations and fan engagement activities.
• Provide on-going support and service for corporate partners through direct communication and team-hosted events.
• Collaborate with multiple departments (marketing, ticketing, operations) to ensure seamless delivery of activations and community events.
• Represent the Empire Strykers professionally at events, promotions, and community appearances.

Tasks:

The following list outlines the key duties and learning-based responsibilities that the intern will complete over the course of the placement. These tasks are designed to progressively build skills in sponsorship activation, community engagement, event coordination, and professional communication within a professional sports organization.

Partnership Fulfillment and Activation Support
* Assist in organizing and maintaining partnership contracts and activation deliverables.
* Support the execution of sponsorship activations such as in-game promotions, arena signage, concourse activations, and hospitality events.
* Help track, document, and photograph activations for use in recap reports and partner presentations.
* Coordinate with vendors and the marketing department to ensure accurate branding and activation setup.

Community Relations and Outreach
* Support the planning and delivery of community programs, including school visits, youth soccer clinics, grassroots events, and local appearances.
* Represent the Empire Strykers professionally at community events and public engagements, interacting with fans, youth participants, and community partners.
* Assist in preparing event materials, such as flyers, giveaways, and partner-branded items.
* Help collect community engagement data (attendance, demographics, feedback) for internal reporting.

Game Day Operations
* Participate in pre-game setup, in-game activation execution, and post-game breakdown at Toyota Arena.
* Assist with fan engagement activities, such as sponsor tables, halftime promotions, and photo opportunities.
* Coordinate with various departments to ensure smooth delivery of sponsor and fan experiences.
* Serve as an on-site liaison for community groups and corporate partners during home games.

Administrative and Reporting Tasks
* Maintain partnership tracking documents and event calendars to ensure timely activation of deliverables.
* Assist in developing recap reports and visual presentations summarizing sponsorship and community impact.
* Conduct research on potential sponsors and community partners to support business development efforts.
* Assist with internal communications and coordination between departments for upcoming events and promotions.
Professional and Skills Development
* Attend weekly one-on-one meetings with a mentor or supervisor to review progress and receive feedback.
* Participate in cross-departmental shadowing (marketing, operations, ticketing) to gain a holistic understanding of sports team operations.
* Learn to use Microsoft Office and Canva for professional communication and presentation development.
* Build a portfolio of completed work, including activation plans, event summaries, and partnership recaps.

Training:

During this internship, students will receive a structured blend of hands-on experience, mentorship, and guided learning designed to support the achievement of the outlined learning outcomes.

This includes the following
* Orientation of the role with guidance on first tasks
* Weekly check-ins will be held to discuss goals, assigned projects, and ongoing progress. These meetings allow for feedback, career guidance, and deeper learning about partnership strategy, activation planning, and relationship management.
* Learning how to organize and fulfill partnership contracts, track deliverables, and assist in creating sponsor recap reports.
* Gaining experience in event setup and execution, such as game-day activations, grassroots outreach, and community clinics.
* Receiving guidance on professional communication and relationship management with sponsors, partners, and fans.
* Training on using Microsoft Office and Canva to design presentations, signage, and reports.
* Each assigned project or event will be contextualized with background information on its purpose, target audience, and desired outcomes, helping students understand how their contributions fit into the Strykers’ broader strategic goals.
* Regular feedback will be provided throughout the placement to reinforce learning and professional growth.

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to:
* Gain hands-on experience in executing sponsorship deliverables, including in-game promotions, arena signage, and hospitality integration. Learn how professional sports teams bring brand partnerships to life through creative activations and measurable outcomes.
* Develop skills in planning and executing community initiatives, such as grassroots events, youth clinics, and school programs. Understand how community relations strategies drive fan growth and brand loyalty within a professional sports organization.
* Enhance professional communication skills through direct interaction with corporate partners, vendors, and community leaders. Learn to maintain positive relationships and deliver high-quality service that strengthens long-term partnerships.
* Build proficiency in creating recap reports and presentations for sponsors, analyzing activation performance, and communicating results effectively using tools like PowerPoint, Excel, and Canva. Strengthen your ability to translate data and experiences into professional deliverables.