In Fall 2017, I completed my senior Capstone as a sponsorship intern for Intersport, a sport marketing and production agency headquartered in Chicago. Since Intersport’s birth 32 years ago, they have grown from a production company to an agency with seven practices: production, sponsorship, experiential, properties, content marketing, hospitality, and customer engagement.
As a sponsorship intern, I worked on accounts for Heineken USA and Quicken Loans. Heineken USA, which includes Dos Equis, sponsors MLS, the Champions League, College Football Playoff and more. Quicken Loans has the naming rights for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ arena, sponsors PGA pro Rickie Fowler and activates in the college space with Rocket Mortgage Madness.
Throughout my Capstone, I was responsible for managing Heineken’s MLS ticket allocation, creating an unforgettable hospitality experience for Dos Equis’ guests at the College Football Playoff, and assisting in an on-site activation tour during college football season for Rocket Mortgage Madness. I also worked on accounts for Enterprise, creating a Point of View on a soccer opportunity; Nathans, where I helped coordinate their nationwide tour; and the Marines, where I worked on-site at the Semper Fidelis Battles Won Academy. I am shown above with Gunnery Sargent Verice Bennett (left) at the event.
SU’s Sport Management program provided me with knowledge and my Capstone provided me with experience on sponsorship fulfilment, client relationships, and agency life, which both allowed me to secure a job as an account coordinator for The Marketing Arm working on AT&T’s sport sponsorship portfolio.