Christina Pagonis is a senior Communication major with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Event and Tourism Management. She is a summer 2026 intern with Fanatics at the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival in Philadelphia. Fanatics is a global leader in licensed sports merchandise and fan experiences, partnering with major sports leagues and international events to provide apparel, collectibles, and retail services to fans worldwide. Through this internship, Christina will gain hands-on experience working at a large-scale international sporting event while developing skills in customer service, event operations, teamwork, and fan engagement. Some of her internship tasks include:
• Assisting with fan experiences and customer engagement activities.
• Operating the point-of-sale system and processing merchandise purchases.
• Monitoring and organizing inventory levels throughout the event.
• Stocking merchandise displays and maintaining retail areas.
• Supporting line control and crowd management during peak attendance periods.
This internship allows Christina to apply the communication and organizational skills she has developed in her coursework while gaining valuable experience in the sports and event management industry. She looks forward to learning how large-scale events operate behind the scenes and using this opportunity to prepare for a future career in hospitality, tourism, and event planning.