Last updated: October 2026
A Columbus Crew summer internship usually starts in winter. The club's communications and partnerships interns are hired for the whole MLS season: the 2026 communications internship began in early 2026 and ends in or around December, and its posting went up on 23 December 2025, with the corporate partnerships matchday role following on 8 January 2026. The Crew, MLS's first club and a three-time MLS Cup winner, is operated by Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards family and plays at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. In plain words: if you want to intern with the Crew during summer 2027, apply for the 2027 season roles around late December 2026 to mid-January 2027. On 3 October 2026 nothing for the current cycle was open on the Crew's TeamWork page. The next listing to watch is the January to April ticket-sales internship, which posted on 1 October last year.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Crew page on TeamWork Online for most internships, plus the Crew's matchday jobs board; both are linked from columbuscrew.com/club/recruitment. Set TeamWork job alerts |
| Application window (2027–28) | Winter 2027 ticket sales (Jan–Apr 2027): expected ~Oct 2026 (2025: posted 1 Oct). 2027 season interns, covering summer 2027: expected ~late Dec 2026 to mid-Jan 2027. Sports science: expected ~Apr 2027 |
| Rolling? | No. Listings usually run about 30 days, and some come down sooner |
| Eligibility | Varies: communications wants juniors, seniors, grad students or recent grads; ticket sales requires college credit; sports science needs a senior or graduate, 21+ with a license |
| Duration | Season-long (early year to ~December) for communications and partnerships; winter ticket sales Jan–Apr; sports science 12 months from 30 June |
| Compensation | Mixed: matchday activation paid hourly and sports science paid (no rates published); ticket sales built on college credit; communications pay not stated |
| Return offers | Not published |
| Locations | Columbus, OH: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and the OhioHealth Performance Center |
| # Programs | No branded program; 6+ recurring tracks (communications, partnerships, matchday marketing, ticket sales, sports science, scoreboard ops) |
No current-cycle internship is open today. The winter ticket-sales intern is due any day based on last year, and the season-long 2027 class, which covers summer 2027, is expected from late December 2026.
Externships are short, remote programs where you finish a real project for a real company, most running 8 weeks at 5–10 hours a week. The TikTok Social Media Content & Brand Strategy Externship builds the writing and content skills the Crew's communications intern uses, and the Khan Academy Strategic Partnerships & Earned Revenue Externship fits the corporate partnerships track.
What Is a Columbus Crew Internship?
A Columbus Crew internship is a role with the Major League Soccer club in Columbus, Ohio, usually lasting a whole season rather than a summer. The Crew calls itself the first club in MLS; it's operated by Haslam Sports Group, which also owns the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and the Edwards family. Its honors include MLS Cup titles in 2008, 2020 and 2023. Interns work in communications at the OhioHealth Performance Center, in corporate partnerships and matchday marketing at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, in ticket sales and client services, in scoreboard operations, and with the high-performance staff in sports science. Each track has its own terms, and the pay model differs: some roles are paid hourly, while the ticket-sales internship is built around college credit.
When Do Columbus Crew Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
The Crew hire in several cohorts tied to the MLS calendar. Season-long interns post around the new year: 20 and 21 December 2024 and 15 January 2025 for the 2025 season, then 23 December 2025 and 8 January 2026 for 2026. That consistency is why we expect applications for the 2027 season, which includes summer 2027, around late December 2026 to mid-January 2027. The winter ticket-sales intern posted on 1 October 2025 for a January to April term, the sports science intern on 2 April 2026 for a 30 June start, and the fall ticket-sales and scoreboard roles in July and August 2026. Most listings came down about 30 days after posting.
No current-cycle Crew internship is open on 3 October 2026. The one intern listing still visible on TeamWork is for the 2025 season, which has ended. The matchday jobs board shows two seasonal staff roles and no internships. Watch for the winter ticket-sales intern this month.
Winter 2027 ticket sales and service internship expected, for January to April 2027. Last year it posted on 1 October and its listing ran 30 days. It's designed for students who need college credit.
Applications for 2027 season internships expected, covering summer 2027: communications, corporate partnerships and matchday activation. The 2026 communications listing ran 23 December to 22 January.
Sports science and strength and conditioning intern expected around April 2027 for a 30 June start; fall ticket sales and scoreboard operations expected in July and August 2027.
Season interns work from early 2027 to around December, up to 20 to 25 hours a week for communications, flexible around classes. The Crew don't publish a return-offer rate.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
This is a short-window program. No Crew posting states a deadline, but most listings came down 30 days after they went up: the 2026 communications internship ran 23 December to 22 January, fall ticket sales 8 July to 7 August, and scoreboard operations 10 August to 9 September. The window for season interns also spans the winter holidays, when many students aren't checking job boards, so a reader who waits until classes restart in January can lose half of it. The corporate partnerships matchday role ran about two months, but that was the exception. Set a TeamWork alert now and apply in the first week of each listing.
Which Columbus Crew Internship Programs Should You Target?
These are the Crew's recurring intern tracks from the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Each posts on its own schedule.
| Track | Focus | Timing | Key skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications | Match-day media relations, press box, credentialing, press releases, game notes, media clips | Early year to ~Dec; posted late Dec | AP Style writing, Microsoft Office, soccer knowledge |
| Corporate Partnerships / Matchday Activation | Partner deliverables, post-match reports in Trak, leading matchday interns, events like the Black & Gold 10K | Season; posted Jan | Communication, Microsoft Office, organization |
| Marketing Matchday Activation | Matchday activations, supporter engagement, halftime contests | Season; paid hourly, max 20 hrs per match week | Customer service, physical event work |
| Ticket Sales & Service (winter, fall) | Client services, ticket operations, grassroots and game-day events | Winter Jan–Apr (posted Oct); fall (posted Jul) | Customer service, communication; credit required |
| Sports Science / Strength & Conditioning | Performance data, gym sessions, strength testing | 12 months from 30 Jun; posted Apr; paid | Exercise science, Excel, R or Python |
| Scoreboard Operations | In-stadium scoreboard for the 2026 and 2027 seasons | Posted Aug | Game-day availability |
The Crew's careers page also links a Haslam Sports Group board, which had no openings on 3 October 2026. Check the TeamWork page first.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Each track sets its own rules, and one of them requires college credit.
• Communications: undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students or recent graduates in journalism, communications or a related field.
• Ticket sales: built for college students who need an internship for credit, and the posting says you must receive college credit.
• Matchday activation: at least 18, an active student or recent graduate, able to attend every home match and lift 50 pounds.
• Sports science: at least 21 with a valid driver's license, a senior or graduate in exercise science or a similar field, and available for every training session.
• GPA: no minimum appears in any Crew posting we read. The sports science posting asks whether you're authorized to work in the US.
Paid or Credit: Which Crew Internships Pay?
It depends on the track. The matchday activation posting says interns are paid hourly, for up to 20 hours per match week, and the sports science internship is structured as a paid role with credit available. The ticket-sales internship is designed around college credit and requires it. The communications posting says credit may be available but doesn't state pay. None of the postings publishes an hourly rate, so ask before you accept.
What Skills Do the Columbus Crew Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Across five Crew intern postings from the 2025 and 2026 seasons, four ask for nights, weekends and holidays, four want strong communication, and four want real interest in soccer, the Crew or the business of sports. Attention to detail, working alone and on a team, and Microsoft Office appear in three. The specialist asks are AP Style writing for communications and performance data in Excel, R or Python for sports science.
What Columbus Crew looks for in interns
Skills across 5 Columbus Crew intern & analyst job descriptions · 2025 and 2026 season postings, projecting the 2027 season
Method: full-text read of five Crew intern postings: 2026 Communications, Winter Ticket Sales & Service (2025), Sports Science / Strength & Conditioning (2026), Corporate Partnerships (2025), all via Wayback copies of the TeamWork pages, and the 2025 Marketing Matchday Activation listing still on TeamWork (read 3 Oct 2026). Small base, so read it as a guide.
How Is Demand for Sports Business Interns Moving Right Now?
Marketing intern postings · Sep vs Aug 2026
vs 1,424 in August
Corporate summer 2027 internships opened in September, months before the Crew post their 2027 season roles. Apply to a couple now, then add the Crew in late December.
Daily US job-posting counts, Sep 1–30 vs Aug 1–31, 2026. Covers under half of US postings; shows direction, not market size.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
Each skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship you can finish before the December window.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Writing and content | Communications: press releases, media advisories, game notes, AP Style | TikTok Social Media Content & Brand Strategy |
| Partnership proposals | Corporate Partnerships: research prospects, help with proposal presentations for new business and renewals | Khan Academy Strategic Partnerships & Earned Revenue |
| Fan and customer insight | Ticket Sales: research customer retention strategies, exceed fan expectations | Consumer Behavior Insights with Generous Brands |
| Data analysis | Sports Science: collect and analyze performance data in Excel, R or Python | Breaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis & Strategy |
A finished project gives your application something concrete to point at in a 30-day window that straddles the holidays.
What Is the Columbus Crew Application and Interview Process Like?
The Crew don't publish interview steps; these come from the postings and careers page.
1. Watch the right boards. Most internships post on the Crew's TeamWork page; matchday staff roles post on the Crew's separate jobs board. Turn on TeamWork alerts.
2. Finish the application. TeamWork asks you to complete the process on a follow-up screen after you click Apply Now.
3. Sort out credit first. For the ticket-sales internship, confirm with your school that it will grant credit before you apply.
4. Follow role instructions. The sports science posting asked for a resume and a cover letter addressed to the first-team sports scientist.
5. Interview and start. Steps aren't published. Season roles start early in the year; sports science starts around 30 June.
If you're not ready for a season-long internship, seasonal matchday roles such as the Experience Team are another way into the club.
What Students on Reddit Say
Crew-specific threads are few; one is recent and first-hand, and one is an older MLS thread on breaking in.
A fan moving to Columbus asked how to work for the Crew. The top answer was to get on TeamWork Online, and a former employee suggested starting on the Experience Team or as a stadium operations assistant to get a foot in the door.
A commenter who works with the Crew's communications team described them as nice and professional and said the club seems to have a really good culture.
People working in soccer said the sport is a tightly networked world: intern with a lower-division club, coach or play locally, and expect long hours. One league designer said he started as an intern and turned it into a full-time job.
How Do You Stand Out for a Columbus Crew Internship?
Three moves, all doable before December. First, apply over the holidays. The season-long listings go up around the new year and run about 30 days, so have your resume and writing samples ready by mid-December. Second, show you know the club and the league. The communications posting prefers knowledge of global soccer, the Crew and MLS, so mention a recent match, a player storyline or the club's 2023 MLS Cup run. Third, match the track's real ask: AP Style clips for communications, a sales or service job for ticket sales, or a strength and conditioning project with real data for sports science. The Crew don't publish applicant numbers or a conversion rate.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
If you want to work in pro sports, these sit closest to the Crew.
- NFLleague office summer program; Haslam Sports Group also owns the Cleveland BrownsGuide →
- NBAleague office program with a structured summer classGuide →
- MLBleague office summer program in New YorkGuide →
- Los Angeles Dodgersan MLB club hiring its own interns for the baseball calendarGuide →
- Live Nationconcerts and live events, the other side of a stadium's calendarGuide →
Our sports internships summer 2027 guide maps league, team, media and events programs in one place.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a summer 2026 Columbus Crew internship?
No. The Crew's 2026 season interns were hired around January 2026, and those listings closed months ago. Nothing for the current cycle is open on 3 October 2026. The winter ticket-sales intern is expected in October, and 2027 season roles, which cover summer 2027, are expected from late December 2026.
When should I apply for a summer 2027 Columbus Crew internship?
Around late December 2026 to mid-January 2027. Most Crew internships run the whole MLS season, so summer is part of a role that starts early in the year. In both 2024 and 2025 the season postings went up between 20 December and 15 January, and they usually stayed up for about 30 days.
Is there a Crew internship I can apply for sooner?
Probably soon. The January to April ticket sales and service internship posted on 1 October 2025 and ran 30 days. On 3 October 2026 it hadn't appeared yet, so check TeamWork this month. It's built for students who need college credit, so confirm credit with your school first.
Are Columbus Crew internships paid?
Some are. The matchday activation interns are paid hourly, and the sports science internship is a paid role. The ticket-sales internship is built around college credit, and the communications posting mentions possible credit without stating pay. None of the postings we read publishes an hourly rate.
Is there a GPA requirement for Columbus Crew internships?
No GPA appears in any Crew intern posting we read. Each track sets other rules: class year for communications, required college credit for ticket sales, age 18 and home-match availability for matchday roles, and a senior or graduate standing in exercise science for sports science.
How long do Columbus Crew internship listings stay open?
Usually about 30 days. The 2026 communications internship ran from 23 December 2025 to 22 January 2026, and the fall ticket-sales role from 8 July to 7 August 2026. The corporate partnerships matchday role ran about two months. No posting states a deadline, so apply in the first week.
Where do Columbus Crew interns work?
In Columbus, Ohio. Communications interns are mainly based at the OhioHealth Performance Center, the training base, and work match days at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Matchday and partnership interns work at the stadium, and the sports science intern works with the first team at the training center.
Who owns the Columbus Crew?
The Crew are operated by Haslam Sports Group, the Haslam family's company that also owns the NFL's Cleveland Browns, together with the Edwards family. Crew internships are posted under the club's own name on TeamWork Online, and the careers page also links a Haslam Sports Group board.
The Crew's 2027 season roles open around the new year and close within a month. Use the fall on a remote Externship so your application points at finished work.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
