Fairfield finally has a NIL community! Today launches the start of "Fairfield NIL Club" which offers Stags fans a platform to receive exclusive content with their Fairfield Basketball teams for a personally designated monthly donation. The exclusive offers include an online message boards with players, virtual events with players and more! Sign up today for your chance to help out these student athletes by showing them some love with a monthly subscription!! Link below:
Fairfield University and YOKE Partner to Support and Empower Student Athletes
Fairfield University Athletics announces a unique partnership with YOKE, a cutting-edge fan engagement platform for intercollegiate athletics programs. Through this department-wide partnership, Fairfield Athletics will empower the Stags' 20 varsity programs and more than 500 student-athletes to maximize their name, image, and likeness (NIL) potential through building community. Stags' fans will gain access to FairfieldNILClub.com, an online community that will allow fans to support and engage with their favorite teams. Fairfield University is the first Division I institution to launch an official department-wide partnership with YOKE.www.fairfieldnilclub.com/
"We are thrilled to partner with YOKE as we continue to enhance the necessary infrastructure to provide NIL opportunities for our student-athletes," shared Fairfield Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "After an extensive review of different platforms in the NIL space, it became clear that YOKE provides a unique and versatile platform that will be a valuable resource for our student-athletes. The YOKE platform and process is of great appeal in the young but ever evolving NIL landscape because it aligns with our University and departmental values while also adhering to the original intent and spirit of NIL legislation."
Through the Fairfield NIL Club, a web and mobile app-enabled community, Stags' enthusiasts can subscribe to and join the ultimate fan experience.Members will gain access to student-athlete-generated content, an online message board, and digital events with student-athletes. The minimum commitment amount is $5 per month. There is no maximum commitment.
In 2021, the NCAA approved legislation that allows student-athletes to monetize their NIL through fan and brand engagement. This new opportunity for college athletes is exciting but uncharted, and determining the best ways to connect with a fanbase presents challenges. That's where YOKE comes in. The software, free for student-athletes, provides a suite of turnkey tools that enables teams to work together and maximize their NIL earnings in a sustainable and compliant manner.
"We're excited to partner with Fairfield Athletics to enable all of their student-athletes to build a community with fans using modern technology," said Mick Assaf, CEO of YOKE. "Making cutting-edge creator software accessible to every student-athlete reinforces the Stags' commitment to the success of their 20 varsity programs in the NIL era."
About YOKE YOKE provides next-generation fan engagement technology. YOKE's turnkey software enables athletic departments to empower their student-athletes to engage with fans and maximize their name, image, and likeness (NIL) alongside their teammates. For student-athletes, YOKE simplifies the process of launching and maintaining an online community while also handling automated payments and reporting for tax purposes.
Post by dannynoonan on Jan 19, 2023 15:01:16 GMT -5
Welcome to the Wild West of NIL!
To a certain extent, I'm happy for the kids, but this could (already is at Power 5 schools) completely change the dynamics of college athletics.
It is going to be extremely interesting to now watch this all play out in the mid-majors, and not necessarily in a good way.
To what extent will players, and ultimately championships, be bought going forward? If 2 similar MAAC schools are chasing a kid and one can essentially offer (or "promise") him $10k/year through NIL and the other can only offer him $1k, the kid will almost always choose the $10k/year, right? And who could blame them?
Last Edit: Jan 19, 2023 15:01:53 GMT -5 by dannynoonan
Yoke is run by a bunch of 25 year olds - 3 or so years out of college. Scary stuff IMO.
These are young entrepreneurs trying to capitalize in an area that is growing so fast they need anyone who is able to build a platform and help out our student athletes. This is a positive as we are the first MAAC school to have a NIL and maybe one of the first mid-majors in the northeast. These boards always find a way to spin a perceived negative...
Post by ctghostman on Jan 19, 2023 15:35:39 GMT -5
When it comes to anything, I’m a believer in “adults in the room”. This group maybe great but I’d prefer to see a named board of advisors, financial backer, major law firm etc. Those type of folks might already be involved but a quick review of their website doesn’t tell me much. It’s a good thing to be skeptical with financial matters. Recent news of FTX/SBF amplifies the need for the right people and right diligence/vetting.
To a certain extent, I'm happy for the kids, but this could (already is at Power 5 schools) completely change the dynamics of college athletics.
It is going to be extremely interesting to now watch this all play out in the mid-majors, and not necessarily in a good way.
To what extent will players, and ultimately championships, be bought going forward? If 2 similar MAAC schools are chasing a kid and one can essentially offer (or "promise") him $10k/year through NIL and the other can only offer him $1k, the kid will almost always choose the $10k/year, right? And who could blame them?
Further to this, if I have a 10k budget, do I give to the program or help buy a player?
To a certain extent, I'm happy for the kids, but this could (already is at Power 5 schools) completely change the dynamics of college athletics.
It is going to be extremely interesting to now watch this all play out in the mid-majors, and not necessarily in a good way.
To what extent will players, and ultimately championships, be bought going forward? If 2 similar MAAC schools are chasing a kid and one can essentially offer (or "promise") him $10k/year through NIL and the other can only offer him $1k, the kid will almost always choose the $10k/year, right? And who could blame them?
Further to this, if I have a 10k budget, do I give to the program or help buy a player?
And will it also negatively impact non-athletic contributions?
When it comes to anything, I’m a believer in “adults in the room”. This group maybe great but I’d prefer to see a named board of advisors, financial backer, major law firm etc. Those type of folks might already be involved but a quick review of their website doesn’t tell me much. It’s a good thing to be skeptical with financial matters. Recent news of FTX/SBF amplifies the need for the right people and right diligence/vetting.
on their main page it says "YOKE" takes a cut if not partnered with the school. Seems like either the school pays for the service or they take a cut of your "donation" Hopefully Fairfield has vetted them.
We don't have a chance getting players that are going to be garnering huge NIL money. Maybe you throw money at a kid trying to transfer up after a good season, but that's the only circumstance i can think of for us. (Has that ever happened?)
"We are thrilled to partner with YOKE as we continue to enhance the necessary infrastructure to provide NIL opportunities for our student-athletes," shared Fairfield Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "After an extensive review of different platforms in the NIL space, it became clear that YOKE provides a unique and versatile platform that will be a valuable resource for our student-athletes. The YOKE platform and process is of great appeal in the young but ever evolving NIL landscape because it aligns with our University and departmental values while also adhering to the original intent and spirit of NIL legislation."
I hope that AD Schlickmann knows what he is doing as no other MAAC school, especially those with more successful programs, have signed on with YOKE?
Through the Fairfield NIL Club, a web and mobile app-enabled community, Stags' enthusiasts can subscribe to and join the ultimate fan experience. Members will gain access to student-athlete-generated content, an online message board, and digital events with student-athletes. The minimum commitment amount is $5 per month. There is no maximum commitment.
Post by ctghostman on Jan 19, 2023 17:06:10 GMT -5
Lots of other aspects to this - if the kids get over 600, there will be tax and self employment tax implications - generally a few hundred extra for their return which wipes out a high percentage of their earnings. We have 28 scholarships between the men’s and women’s hoops team. Baseball and Lax have friends clubs that are pretty active too.
These groups are probably charging 50-100k (at least) to run this for the university. That price is relatively fair/low but I’m not sure if cost benefit wise it’s great. I don’t see many doing this. It’s not tax deductible as presented in the video.
If I’m a local business, I’m going directly to the kids I want and paying them appearance fees - I can clearly deduct those.
NCAA should start a NIL-cap... or maybe they should handicap teams based on total NIL $$$? Every $100k more in NIL you have than your opponent - they get a 1 point headstart. How about NIL divisions? The $1m+ league. The $100k+ league. The $10k+ league.
Let's just call them pro teams (like they do in Europe) and dispense with the idea that they are anything other.
Tonight's matchup - the professional team sponsored by the University of Kentucky vs. the professional team sponsored by the University of North Carolina!
Post by brokenboat on Jan 19, 2023 17:15:56 GMT -5
Personally, I hate everything about NIL and believe it will eventually kill collegiate athletics. However this is the new world we live in and you either adapt or die. I applaud the admin for finding a solution to a problem that won't be going away.
Personally, I hate everything about NIL and believe it will eventually kill collegiate athletics. However this is the new world we live in and you either adapt or die. I applaud the admin for finding a solution to a problem that won't be going away.
