NFL training camps are an all-hands-on-deck event for teams and their employees. They require staffing beyond football operations for logistics, marketing, security, sales and fan engagement. Teams will hire extra staff at off-site locations such as colleges and bring on interns to help work camp.
“We hired 13 interns to manage and oversee all the fan activations and interactions,” said Brad Downs, vice president of marketing for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens hold their camp at the team’s headquarters in suburban Baltimore.
Packers camp attendees are greeted by staff at the Ray Nitschke Field gate.getty images
Other teams also hire summer interns to help them with camp in area such as marketing, ticket sales and manning kids and fan zone attractions. Those internships can turn into permanent jobs.
Roger VanDerSnick, chief sales and marketing officer for the Indianapolis Colts, said his team hires more than 50 interns overall and has dozens of them working directly at camp. The Colts also have another 200 volunteers working this year’s camp at the Grand Park Sports Campus, 20 miles north of Indianapolis.
“It’s all hands on deck for us,” VanDerSnick said.
Ronalee Zarate-Bayani, chief marketing officer for the Los Angeles Rams, said the team takes over approximately 20 buildings at the University of California, Irvine campus for its camp in Orange County and hires students for various front-line jobs.
“We actually hire 75 to 100 of their students to help us,” she said.
