Expansion & Real Estate Strategy UWEP Internship
USL League Office
Internship
Remote
United States
Development
USL Work Experience Program
Job Title: Expansion & Real Estate Strategy Intern UWEP
Position Type: Internship - For College Credit Hours Only
Semester: Summer 2025
Location: Remote
Overview of the United Soccer League (USL)
The United Soccer League (USL) is the heartbeat of American soccer. Impacting more than 200 communities across the United States, the USL is the first and only soccer organization in the United States to build a youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women within one ecosystem. That structure includes three professional leagues: USL Super League (women), USL Championship (men), and USL League One (men); two pre-professional leagues: USL League Two (men) and the USL W League (women); and two youth platforms: USL Academy and USL Youth.
Authentic, vital, and exciting, the USL is dedicated to providing an inclusive and memorable soccer experience for players, fans, and communities across our growing "soccer nation."
Program Purpose
Under the direction and guidance of USL Executives and Leaders (mentors), the USL Work Experience Program (UWEP) provides students with the unique opportunity to gain practical sport management experience in a professional sports league setting. By working on various strategic projects and initiatives, UWEP participants will gain hands on experience with league staff as well as member teams.
Participants are tasked with and responsible for partnering within a specialized department but will interact with all league departments across the organization including business development, digital, club services, analytics, and more; with the ultimate goal of providing students with well-rounded practical work experience in sports.
Position Purpose
The United Soccer League (USL) is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Intern to join its Expansion & Real Estate team. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the strategic growth of professional soccer across the United States. The selected candidate will support the team’s efforts through research and analysis related to market viability, economic impact, stadium and real estate feasibility, and high level project costing and proformas. Responsibilities include gathering and synthesizing demographic, economic, and real estate data to evaluate potential expansion markets and development opportunities. The intern will assist in building internal databases, developing market profiles, and supporting business case development for new clubs and stadium projects. Additionally, the role will involve benchmarking comparable developments, identifying key trends in sports and entertainment real estate, and contributing to special projects as needed. Ideal candidates will have strong analytical and communication skills, a passion for the sports industry, and an interest in urban development and public-private partnerships. This position provides a unique lens into the intersection of sports, business, and real estate development. The internship is a valuable steppingstone for students or recent graduates pursuing careers in sports business, real estate, urban planning, or economic development.
Duties and Responsibilities
Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
- Conduct market research and analyze demographic, economic, and real estate data to assess potential expansion markets.
- Assist in developing internal reports, presentations, and market profiles for prospective expansion opportunities.
- Compile and maintain databases related to market indicators, stadium projects, and economic impact metrics.
- Contribute to the analysis of public-private partnership models and funding strategies for stadium developments.
- Support the evaluation of stadium and mixed-use development feasibility through benchmarking, case studies, and financial analysis.
- Assist other departments and operational areas as requested to provide a well-rounded overview of working in sports.
Qualifications
- Participants must be working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field and/or training and must certify that they are able to receive college course credit from an accredited college or university for their participation.
- Solid computer skills and proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook are a must.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
- Positive attitude and strong work ethic are a must. Must have a “team-first” mentality with an eagerness to learn.
- Should be extremely organized and detail oriented, with a focus on quality and consistency.
- While completing the USL Work Experience Program remotely, participants must have access to a computer or laptop with reliable internet connection.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.