What are the responsibilities and job description for the Game Presentation Entertainment Intern position at Florida Panthers?
Organization Overview:
The Florida Panthers enter their 33rd season in 2026-27 as one of the National Hockey League’s premier franchises. As back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in 2024 and 2025, the Cats have emerged victorious in 11 of their past 12 postseason series and have captured four Eastern Conference championships. The Panthers are led by President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito entering his seventh season, and President of Business Operations Michael White who begins his first full season.
As the NHL’s southernmost team, the Panthers operate four facilities in Broward County, Florida: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise; the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs; the state-of-the-art Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale; and the renovated War Memorial Auditorium, which hosts concerts and events for the South Florida faithful year-round.
An organization with deep roots in the community, the Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a veteran of the U.S. Army. Emphasizing a culture of selfless service both on and off the ice, the Panthers pillar program, “Heroes Among Us,” honors a United States military veteran at every game. The Florida Panthers Foundation focuses on four core pillars: veterans’ affairs; children’s health and education; raising awareness for the endangered Florida Panther; and growing youth hockey throughout the region. The Panthers remain committed to empowering our fans to live sustainably and to strengthen the resiliency of our diverse communities throughout Florida and the tri-county area.
- Organization: Florida Panthers Hockey Club
- Department: Game Presentation
- Reports To: Manager, Game Presentation & Sr. Mascot Coordinator
- FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
- Employment Type: Internship Part-Time Hourly (no more than 32 hours per week)
- Location: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL — On-Site
- Schedule: Flexibility required for evenings, weekends, and holidays
The Florida Panthers Game Presentation Entertainment Intern is an enthusiastic, creative, and highly organized member of the Game Presentation Department with a primary focus on supporting the Florida Panthers Mascot Program. This intern will serve as a key resource for the Sr. Mascot Coordinator, assisting with equipment upkeep, mascot social channels, ideation and creation of skits and/or in-game activations, and public appearances of the Panthers' mascot(s), while also lending support to broader Game Presentation operations including inventory management, in-arena entertainment, and gameday execution.
This position provides hands-on, logistical, and creative support to department leadership in delivering a dynamic and memorable in-arena experience for Florida Panthers fans and visitors year-round.
Job FunctionsSpecific duties include but are not limited to:
- Serve as a primary support resource for the Florida Panthers Mascot Program, working closely with the Sr. Mascot Coordinator on costume care, character identity and brand, and day-to-day operations of the mascot's in-arena and community presence
- Support pregame operations including the National Anthem program, Color Guards, and mascot pregame sequences, and fulfilling game-by-game entertainment needs
- Game Day duties include mascot handling, in-suit performance, social media content capture, coordinating logistics with the Game Presentation team, and supporting stage management needs as directed
- Assist in the maintenance, upkeep, and inventory of mascot costume components, mascot van, game presentation uniforms, props, and storage areas, ensuring all items are kept in show-ready condition and properly organized
- Assist in gameday preparation including mascot content ideation, prop development and deployment, social media content capture, and in-game prize distribution
- Support the development and execution of pregame segments, in-arena activations, theme nights, and sponsorship activations
- Assist the Florida Panthers Dance Team and Ice Crew with ideation, execution, and content development as needed
- Coordinate and accompany the mascot for external appearances, serving as on-site mascot handler and liaison for the Game Presentation department
- Contribute to brainstorming sessions and pitch new mascot activations, in-arena entertainment concepts, and fan engagement ideas that elevate the overall gameday experience
- Other mascot program and entertainment-related duties as assigned
- Bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited college or university preferred
- Prior experience in Mascoting, Mascot Handling, or Character Performance strongly preferred; experience in Live Sports Entertainment, Game Presentation, Stage Managing, and Social Media Development also valued
- Must be highly organized with the ability to multi-task
- Self-starter with a high degree of enthusiasm, creative vision, and ability to lead in a high-stress environment
- Proficient in social media platforms and identifying trends on social media
- Able to make decisions in a fast-paced atmosphere
- Must have strong interpersonal communication skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; Adobe Suite experience preferred
- Ability to work various shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays
This is a part-time exempt position. Must be able to work flexible hours, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
At the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, Arena Operating Company, Panthers IceDen, Sanza Food Service, War Memorial Benefit Corporation, and FLA Team Shop, we strive to make every employee feel valued and respected for who they are and the unique contributions they make. We believe that a diverse and inclusive company is a more innovative and successful company, which is why we aim to infuse diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) into all aspects of our culture and our business.
We welcome all to apply and join our team.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.