UNE business students gain ‘surreal’ experience working for NFL during Super Bowl LX

Eight University of New England College of Business students spent Super Bowl weekend not in the stands, but behind the scenes working as paid interns for the National Football League during one of the world’s largest and most complex sporting events.

UNE was one of just 32 colleges and universities nationwide — and one of only two in New England — selected for the NFL’s invitation-only experiential learning opportunity, which places students directly into the operational core of Super Bowl week. The experience came during Super Bowl LX, adding an extra layer of regional pride with the New England Patriots competing on football’s biggest stage.

Throughout the week in Santa Clara, California, the students supported a range of NFL business and marketing operations, including managing fan experience activations and helping facilitate large-scale events tied to the league’s Super Bowl Experience — a multi-day festival drawing tens of thousands of fans from across the country.

(Left): UNE student Aidan Buggee ’26 poses in front of Levi's Stadium (right), host location of Super Bowl LX, held Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.

Abby Anthony (Sport Leadership and Management, ’27) said the experience was nothing short of “surreal.”

“This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that helped us build communication skills while seeing firsthand how live events are run,” Anthony said. “The trip was even more special because I got to experience it with seven other UNE students. Building those connections with my classmates made the experience even better.”

The Super Bowl internship is part of UNE’s broader approach to workforce development, which intentionally embeds career readiness into academic programs and connects students with employers, alumni, and industry partners early in their college experience. By bridging academics and industry, UNE creates pathways to internships, job placements, and professional opportunities that extend well beyond graduation.

In addition to their NFL work duties, students met with executives from some of California’s top professional teams. (Left): Students sit in the stands at a San Jose Sharks game. (Right): The group poses in front of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.

Aimee Vlachos, Ed.D., said experiences like the Super Bowl internship exemplify how UNE prepares students to enter competitive fields with confidence, practical skills, and professional connections while positioning graduates to contribute immediately and meaningfully in today’s workforce.

“Taking students to work at the Super Bowl transforms learning from something they study into something they live,” Vlachos said. “They don’t just observe the industry — experiential opportunities like this place students inside the complexity, pace, and professionalism of a world-class event, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge in real time.”

Vlachos, director of UNE’s one-of-a-kind Outdoor Business and Innovation degree program, noted that such first-hand experiences allow students to practice communication, problem-solving, and networking under authentic pressure. 

“That kind of learning stays with them far longer than any lecture, shaping both their confidence and their career readiness,” she said.