Designing and Validating a Scalable Marketing and Operations System for Upfront Sports

This project will help Upfront Sports, a Fredericton-based youth hockey development organization, build a more structured and scalable operating model for its training programs, leagues, and mentorship offerings. As demand has grown, we’ve reached a point where informal marketing and founder-led operations are no longer enough to support sustainable growth.

The project focuses on two areas that can become a real competitive advantage for Upfront Sports: a more performance-measured digital marketing system and more consistent operational systems behind program delivery. Interns will help test and strengthen how we attract athletes and families, while also refining workflows related to registration, parent communication, onboarding, and logistics. Together, these improvements will allow us to grow more intentionally, respond faster, and deliver a more reliable experience than groups still relying mainly on informal processes.

The goal is to create a repeatable system that supports growth without sacrificing coaching quality or overloading founder capacity. In doing so, Upfront Sports will strengthen its position in the market by pairing high-quality coaching with stronger systems, better communication, and more informed decision-making. That combination will help us stand out, scale more effectively, and deliver a better overall experience for athletes and families in the Fredericton community.

Faculty Supervisor:

Stephen Grant

Student:

Partner:

Upfront Sports

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Education

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program: