NextName News

Illinois Basketball: NFTs are the next step in Illini NIL growth

by Zain Bando Illinois basketball is taking the next step in NIL endorsements with the NextName NFT partnership. The Illini are off to a fast start at 6-2, as it remained at No. 16 in the fourth week of the AP Top 25. Coupled with the on-court success also comes future marketing opportunities for the program. Illinois’ athletic department has been […]

Chicago Tribune: Father and son create platform for University of Illinois athletes to receive compensation by selling NFTs of themselves

Steve Thayer (right) and his son Ryan Thayer founded NextName to sell digital collectible images of college athletes and teams, which provide a financial support to players.

By Myrna Petlicki, Pioneer Press, Dec 04, 2022 Steve Thayer and his son Ryan Thayer wanted to offer financial help to athletes from their alma mater, the University of Illinois. They found the answer when a Supreme Court ruling last year allowed college athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name, image, or […]

University of Illinois Men’s Basketball Team Signs with NextName

Illinois Mens basketball

-Platform allows fans to support individual players or the entire team- Chicago, IL, November 20, 2022 – Being a fan of Illini men’s basketball just got a lot more interesting. The entire Illini basketball team has signed up with NextName to sell their digital collectibles. Fighting Illini fans can now purchase digital collectibles, also known […]