Students’ ideas activated at Auckland FC
Two AUT Bachelor of Sport & Recreation students are getting the chance to bring their sports marketing ideas to life at Auckland FC games as a result of AUT’s exclusive university partnership with the exciting A-League club.
The third-year students, both majoring in Sport Management, say they are relishing the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with an elite sports organisation through their AUT student placements with the club.
AUT Senior Lecturer in Sport Leadership and Management, Dr Sarah Wymer, says the placements highlight how the University’s partnership with Auckland FC creates meaningful industry opportunities for students.
“One of my favourite parts of our degree is supervising students and seeing their confidence grow over the placement. Many begin the semester feeling unsure but quickly move into taking ownership of real projects and contributing their own ideas. Through AUT’s partnership with Auckland FC, our students are able to work within a professional sport environment that genuinely welcomes creativity and fresh thinking. It means they’re not just observing an industry professional, they’re actively contributing to the organisation.”
AUT alumna and Auckland FC Partnerships Activation Manager, Amy Walker, says, “Having Arnold and Jacob complete their placements with us at AFC has been awesome. For me personally, it’s a real full circle moment - just over a year ago I was in the same role they are in now. They’ve been a great addition to the team, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives.
“Their time here really highlights the value of the partnership and having AUT students complete their placements with us; the student gains valuable experience and learning, while AFC benefits from the energy and insight they bring to the organisation.”
AUT student Arnold Nam says, “Working with Auckland FC has been an incredible opportunity; being able to learn and be trusted to help deliver partner activations, including leading a half-time activation in front of thousands of fans, has been a highlight of my co-op placemen as a Commercial Activation Co-ordinator.”
In this role Arnold assists with the delivery of partner activations and helping ensure branding, marketing campaigns, and activations are successfully executed across matchdays, events, and digital platforms to provide fans with engaging experiences.
“One of the most significant projects I've worked on was leading a half-time activation at a game attended by over 13,000 fans which was exciting work on and rewarding to see come to life on matchday. Being part of this experience taught me a lot about event co-ordination, working under pressure in a live stadium setting, and connecting with different stakeholders to ensure everything went smoothly. It also helped me develop professional skills, such as networking and communicating with industry partners.
“It's been amazing to learn from experienced professionals and build relationships within the club, and it has definitely encouraged me to pursue a career in this industry after graduating from AUT," he says.
Similarly, AUT student Jacob Coyle says, “One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most during my placement is the amount of trust and freedom that Auckland FC has given me to bring ideas forward and be involved in real projects. Everyone at the club has been incredibly supportive, making it a lot easier to settle in and learn. It's confirmed to me that the sports and recreation industry is one I can’t wait to build a career in.
“The game against Perth Glory was particularly special as I got to see my first project move from being an idea into something real. What started as a ticketing initiative quickly grew into something bigger. Working with Hato Hone St John and the New Zealand Police, we created a fan zone activation focused on community engagement and lifesaving skills with about 300 fans taking part!” he says.
Wymer says the placements form part of AUT’s work-integrated learning and Cooperative Education programme allowing students to apply their classroom learning in real industry settings.