If you’re only searching for team names when looking for internships in sports…
You’re probably missing opportunities.
A lot of them.
Most students search things like “LAFC internships” or “WNBA internships.” That makes sense on the surface, but it leaves out a big part of how hiring actually works in sports.
• Many teams don’t post internships under their team name
• They post under their ownership group or parent company
In today’s sports industry, teams are often part of larger organizations that:
• Own multiple teams
• Share staff and departments
• Hire under one central company name
So instead of seeing “Portland Thorns” in a company title for a job listing, you might see something completely different.
Example:
RAJ Sports owns the Portland Thorns (NWSL) and Portland Fire (WNBA)
Internships connected to those teams may be posted under RAJ Sports, not the team name
This happens across the industry.
• Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Arsenal (Premier League), LA Rams (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Ball Arena
• Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), New Jersey Devils (NHL), Washington Commanders (NFL stake), plus venue operations
• Fenway Sports Group
Liverpool FC (Premier League), Boston Red Sox (MLB), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
• Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)
Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), ScotiaBank Arena
If you’re only searching team names, you’re filtering out a large portion of opportunities without realizing it.
A better way to search:
• Search both the team name and the ownership group
• Pay close attention to company names on LinkedIn
• If something looks unfamiliar but tied to a team you recognize, that’s your signal
• Follow these companies to catch opportunities earlier
The shift to make:
You’re not just applying to a team
You’re applying to the organization behind it
And those organizations often have more roles, more departments, and more ways to get your foot in the door
At The Sports Intern, we track these internships across teams and ownership groups and deliver them directly to the TSI – Sports Internship Job Board so you don’t have to guess where to look.
