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New initiative creates career pathways for aspiring sports business professionals through hands-on experience with the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire
PORTLAND, OR – March 19, 2026 – RAJ Sports today announced the launch of the first Sales Development Program in professional sports dedicated exclusively to women’s professional sports franchises. The initiative is designed to create meaningful pathways for aspiring sports business professionals to launch their careers while contributing to the continued growth and investment of women’s sports.
The program will support the business operations of both the Portland Thorns (NWSL) and the Portland Fire (WNBA). The inaugural class of Sales Development Representatives will begin in June 2026 and will focus on training and development within ticket sales and service for both organizations.
Team members accepted into the program will receive hands-on experience as full-menu sales professionals, working across season memberships, premium seating & suites, groups & hospitality, and corporate business development. Sales Development Representatives in the program will receive structured sales training, daily coaching, and mentorship from experienced sales leaders within the organizations. The program is designed to equip participants with the tools and experience needed to build long-term careers in the sports industry, with a clear pathway to long-term roles within the Thorns and Fire front offices.
“Our expectation is for this program, and our teams, to be the number one destination for professionals looking to launch their career in professional sports,” said John Torris, EVP of Commercial Strategy for RAJ Sports. With this commitment from ownership and our two teams, our goal is to attract, train, and develop the future business leaders of our industry, right here in Portland - the global epicenter of women’s sports.”
Participants in the Sales Development Program will work in-person at the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center in Portland, Oregon, the shared training and business operations headquarters for the Thorns and Fire. Team members accepted into the program will receive full-time pay, benefits, and commission while participating in the structured development program.
RAJ Sports is also establishing partnerships with local and national colleges and universities to build a talent pipeline for the program. Through these partnerships, select graduates will have the opportunity to interview for positions in the Sales Development Program ahead of graduation, creating direct entry points into the professional sports industry.
The initiative reflects the continued momentum of women’s professional sports in Portland. The Thorns consistently lead the National Women’s Soccer League in total attendance, while the Fire lead the WNBA in new season ticket sales ahead of the team’s debut season in 2026.
While the program’s initial focus is on ticket sales and service, RAJ Sports plans to expand the initiative to develop talent pipelines for other areas of the organization in the future, including corporate partnerships and business intelligence.
Applications for the inaugural Sales Development class beginning in June 2026 are now open. Interested candidates can view the job posting and apply through TeamWork Online here: https://www.teamworkonline.com/multiple-properties/raj-sports-jobs/raj-sports-jobs/sales-development-representative-2162379
Colleges and universities interested in establishing a partnership with RAJ Sports to support the program can contact careers@rajsports.com for additional information.
About Portland Thorns
Founded in 2012, the Portland Thorns are a global leader in women’s soccer, defined by unmatched fan support, championship success, and a longstanding commitment to excellence since their inaugural 2013 season. The Thorns have created one of the premier environments in women’s sports at Providence Park, leading the NWSL in average attendance for a league-record ninth time in 2025 and hosting four of the five largest-attended matches during the 2025 season. Portland is the winningest club in NWSL history, capturing a league-record three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), and the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, while qualifying for the postseason a league-high 11 times. Looking ahead, the club’s investment in the world’s first dual-sport women’s Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, set to open in 2026, will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance
About the Portland Fire
Portland Fire is one of the Women’s National Basketball League’s newest franchises, making its official on court debut in 2026. Owned by RAJ Sports – led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage – the team is more than a franchise; it’s the revival of a movement, honoring the legacy of the original Portland Fire while blazing a bold new path forward. Based in Portland, Oregon, the global epicenter of women’s sports, Portland Fire is rooted in the Rose City’s enduring resilience, spirit, and passion for sport.
Looking ahead, RAJ Sports will open the world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center in 2026. The 100,000 square-foot Kaiser Permanente Performance Center will house both the Fire and the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, and will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
About RAJ Sports
RAJ Sports, led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, focuses on investment opportunities in sports and sports-related properties, drawing on the Bhathal family’s multi-generational experience and relationships in the industry. The firm seeks to leverage the power of sports to affect broader social and economic change through a variety of business and philanthropic strategies. Its deep experience in professional sports operations and large-scale real estate developments that create thriving community centers, positions the firm to deliver valuable assets that will support further growth for the players, staff, and fans. In 2013, the Bhathal family became investors in the Sacramento Kings (NBA); subsequently building the platform to include the Sacramento RiverCats (MiLB), Stockton Kings (NBA G-League) and several sports anchored real estate developments. The 2024 acquisitions of Portland Thorns (NWSL) and the WNBA Portland expansion team represents a milestone for the city of Portland and places it at the epicenter of growth for women’s sports.
New initiative creates career pathways for aspiring sports business professionals through hands-on experience with the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire
PORTLAND, OR – March 19, 2026 – RAJ Sports today announced the launch of the first Sales Development Program in professional sports dedicated exclusively to women’s professional sports franchises. The initiative is designed to create meaningful pathways for aspiring sports business professionals to launch their careers while contributing to the continued growth and investment of women’s sports.
The program will support the business operations of both the Portland Thorns (NWSL) and the Portland Fire (WNBA). The inaugural class of Sales Development Representatives will begin in June 2026 and will focus on training and development within ticket sales and service for both organizations.
Team members accepted into the program will receive hands-on experience as full-menu sales professionals, working across season memberships, premium seating & suites, groups & hospitality, and corporate business development. Sales Development Representatives in the program will receive structured sales training, daily coaching, and mentorship from experienced sales leaders within the organizations. The program is designed to equip participants with the tools and experience needed to build long-term careers in the sports industry, with a clear pathway to long-term roles within the Thorns and Fire front offices.
“Our expectation is for this program, and our teams, to be the number one destination for professionals looking to launch their career in professional sports,” said John Torris, EVP of Commercial Strategy for RAJ Sports. With this commitment from ownership and our two teams, our goal is to attract, train, and develop the future business leaders of our industry, right here in Portland - the global epicenter of women’s sports.”
Participants in the Sales Development Program will work in-person at the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center in Portland, Oregon, the shared training and business operations headquarters for the Thorns and Fire. Team members accepted into the program will receive full-time pay, benefits, and commission while participating in the structured development program.
RAJ Sports is also establishing partnerships with local and national colleges and universities to build a talent pipeline for the program. Through these partnerships, select graduates will have the opportunity to interview for positions in the Sales Development Program ahead of graduation, creating direct entry points into the professional sports industry.
The initiative reflects the continued momentum of women’s professional sports in Portland. The Thorns consistently lead the National Women’s Soccer League in total attendance, while the Fire lead the WNBA in new season ticket sales ahead of the team’s debut season in 2026.
While the program’s initial focus is on ticket sales and service, RAJ Sports plans to expand the initiative to develop talent pipelines for other areas of the organization in the future, including corporate partnerships and business intelligence.
Applications for the inaugural Sales Development class beginning in June 2026 are now open. Interested candidates can view the job posting and apply through TeamWork Online here: https://www.teamworkonline.com/multiple-properties/raj-sports-jobs/raj-sports-jobs/sales-development-representative-2162379
Colleges and universities interested in establishing a partnership with RAJ Sports to support the program can contact careers@rajsports.com for additional information.
About Portland Thorns
Founded in 2012, the Portland Thorns are a global leader in women’s soccer, defined by unmatched fan support, championship success, and a longstanding commitment to excellence since their inaugural 2013 season. The Thorns have created one of the premier environments in women’s sports at Providence Park, leading the NWSL in average attendance for a league-record ninth time in 2025 and hosting four of the five largest-attended matches during the 2025 season. Portland is the winningest club in NWSL history, capturing a league-record three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), and the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, while qualifying for the postseason a league-high 11 times. Looking ahead, the club’s investment in the world’s first dual-sport women’s Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, set to open in 2026, will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance
About the Portland Fire
Portland Fire is one of the Women’s National Basketball League’s newest franchises, making its official on court debut in 2026. Owned by RAJ Sports – led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage – the team is more than a franchise; it’s the revival of a movement, honoring the legacy of the original Portland Fire while blazing a bold new path forward. Based in Portland, Oregon, the global epicenter of women’s sports, Portland Fire is rooted in the Rose City’s enduring resilience, spirit, and passion for sport.
Looking ahead, RAJ Sports will open the world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center in 2026. The 100,000 square-foot Kaiser Permanente Performance Center will house both the Fire and the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, and will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
About RAJ Sports
RAJ Sports, led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, focuses on investment opportunities in sports and sports-related properties, drawing on the Bhathal family’s multi-generational experience and relationships in the industry. The firm seeks to leverage the power of sports to affect broader social and economic change through a variety of business and philanthropic strategies. Its deep experience in professional sports operations and large-scale real estate developments that create thriving community centers, positions the firm to deliver valuable assets that will support further growth for the players, staff, and fans. In 2013, the Bhathal family became investors in the Sacramento Kings (NBA); subsequently building the platform to include the Sacramento RiverCats (MiLB), Stockton Kings (NBA G-League) and several sports anchored real estate developments. The 2024 acquisitions of Portland Thorns (NWSL) and the WNBA Portland expansion team represents a milestone for the city of Portland and places it at the epicenter of growth for women’s sports.
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