Graduate Intern – Commercial Partnerships

About KC2026:

Kansas City is one of 16 Host Cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™—the largest sporting event in the world. As the only Host City in the central U.S., Kansas City is preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans from around the globe and showcase the region on a historic global stage. KC2026 is focused on delivering an unforgettable tournament experience while driving long-term economic, cultural, and community impact.

About the Role:

This paid graduate summer internship offers the opportunity to work directly with leaders across commercial strategy, commercial partnerships, and data analytics. Interns will lead and contribute to high-impact projects that shape Kansas City’s planning, brand positioning, and revenue growth as a World Cup Host City.

To apply, please submit the following to btenbrink@sportkc.org

• Read the Roles and Responsibilities below
• Resume (PDF)
• Short written response (300 words max): Pick one prompt from the following list and tell us why you want to be part of the KC2026 journey.

1."Why Kansas City?"

• What makes Kansas City special to you, and why are you excited to represent it on the world stage through KC2026?

2."Creating Impact Through Sport"

• How do you believe global events like the FIFA World Cup can make a lasting impact in local communities — and why do you want to be part of that work in Kansas City?

3."Your KC2026 Why"

• What excites you most about contributing to Kansas City's journey as a FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City, and what unique perspective or passion would you bring to the team?

4."Kansas City. Global Stage."

• How would you use this opportunity to help Kansas City shine on a global stage, and what does that responsibility mean to you personally or professionally?

5."Legacy in Action"

• What does the word “legacy” mean to you in the context of a global sporting event like the World Cup — and how would you help KC2026 deliver one?

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development of sponsorship proposals, pitch materials, and activation concepts
• Help manage partner relationships, including tracking contractual obligations, deliverables, and activation plans
• Assist with on-site partner activations and hospitality programs leading up to and during World Cup-related events
• Coordinate with internal departments (marketing, operations, events) to ensure seamless execution of sponsorship activations
• Monitor and report on sponsorship performance, including audience engagement, brand exposure, and partner feedback
• Provide administrative support to the commercial team, including meeting coordination, presentation development, and data tracking
• Develop and support financial models and forecasting tools for sponsorship, ticketing, and operational revenue streams
• Analyze key financial and operational data to provide insights on revenue generation, cost efficiencies, and economic impact
• Prepare reports and presentations for internal stakeholders, sponsors, and external partners
• Track sponsorship revenue, invoicing, and financial obligations in coordination with the partnerships team

Ideal Candidate:

• Applicants should be currently enrolled in a graduate program (e.g., MBA, MS in Sports Management, MSBA or a related field).
• Experience supporting brand, sponsorship, or event partnerships — including research, presentation building, or execution of marketing activations, ideally within sports, entertainment, or large-scale events.
• Comfortable working in an entrepreneurial, cross-functional environment with real-world ambiguity
• Passionate about the power of sports to drive regional impact and global storytelling
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends and holidays as needed.

Application Deadline: Applications will be received on a rolling basis, anticipated closing date Thursday, April 10th, 2025