THE OCTAGON CAPSTONE INTERNSHIP / 2026 Capstone Project

A common misconception is that you need to be an athlete, musician, or celebrity to build a successful career in sports and entertainment.

Octagon’s Capstone Internship Program seeks to prove that notion wrong and show that working in sports and entertainment takes on many different styles of play.

This hands-on, immersive program is designed for aspiring professionals to explore the spectrum of functions, skillsets, and specialties that exist in developing and executing world-class campaigns and experiences for global brands, properties and leagues.

In this multi-phased program, you will learn from and collaborate with various Octagon specialty groups and employees, learning more about the traits, skills and expertise needed for each and how they integrate to create award-winning thinking and outputs.

• Phase 1: Capstone Activation Experience
  
  • Dependent on timing and business needs, participants will have the opportunity to work one of Octagon’s experiential activations as a kickoff to the program. (Details and dates are subject to change)
    
    • Phase 1 Job Responsibilities
  • Responsible for daily set-up, breakdown, and maintenance of all event equipment, rotating between activation components
  • Troubleshoot on-site challenges and collaborate with stakeholders to define solutions
  • Ensure that event attendees have a positive and engaging experience
  • Keep organized records of all travel expenses and tracking time
  • Other related duties as reasonably assigned

• Phase 2: Octagon Specialties and Thought Leadership Research Project
  
  • Participants split into teams and tasked with leading a thought leadership project surrounding a trending category or brand with existing or potential opportunities to engage in sports and entertainment partnerships.
• Participants will engage in introductory 101 and integrated case study sessions with Octagon employees across various specialty areas, participate in skill-building workshops, and work closely with cross-functional teams to build their final presentations.
• Phase 2 Octagon Teams You’ll Work With

• New Business
• Client Services
• Strategy (Sponsorship, Digital, Creative)
• Production (Creative, Experience)
• And more!
  • Each team will pitch their project to Octagon’s executive board, providing participants with real-world experience in client presentations and strategic storytelling.

• Post-Capstone: Professional Networking
  
  • At the completion of both phases, you will be added to the Capstone Legacy LinkedIn Page – a place for former Capstone participants to continue developing their professional networks and to stay connected to Octagon throughout their careers in a personal way.

We aspire for participants to walk away from the Capstone Program with a deep understanding of Octagon’s structure and specialties, quality exposure to industry best practices and trends, a portfolio of work showcasing skills and creativity, and an acknowledgement that working in sports and entertainment has numerous lanes.

Dates: Tuesday, May 26-June 12

Hours: 9am - 5pm ET (varies during events)

Requirements

• Availability: Must be available for the internship dates and times
• Team Player: Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-Oriented: Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Professionalism: Comfortable interacting with high-profile guests and maintaining a professional demeanor.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Desire to learn and develop a career in event marketing
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Personality traits: confident, engaging, enthusiastic and articulate
• Capacity to become knowledgeable on our client’s industry, brand and product offerings
• Ability and comfort level to communicate with consumers, potential consumers or fans in an event setting
• Strong ability to work as part of a team, demonstrate initiative and solve problems effectively and independently

THE BIGGER TEAM YOU’LL JOIN

Where others see complexity, we see possibility.

Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Sports”, Octagon is the global sports, entertainment, and experiential marketing arm of the Omnicom Group.

We take pride in being Playmakers – finding insightful, bold ways to create play in our work, our lives, and in the world. We believe in the power of play to create big ideas and unlock potential for our clients and talent.

We can put ourselves in the shoes of fans because we ARE fans – of sports, entertainment, and culture at large. This expertise allows us to continually evolve the fan experience across sports and entertainment alongside some of the biggest brands and talent in the world.

The world needs play more than ever. Are you a Playmaker?