By Alexa Linchuck | August 28, 2024
The recent partnership between OneTeam Partners and ONIT athletes marks a significant shift in the college trading card industry. This collaboration will produce trading cards featuring athletes from various sports across over 40 universities, including Alabama, Ohio State, and Texas. Unlike traditional approaches, the initiative will focus on creating team-based sets, with three autographed cards, rather than individual athletes, aiming to enhance fan engagement and ensure fair compensation for the athletes involved. Just last year “in the Fall of 2023 ONIT Athlete issued over $1.6 million in royalty payments to college athletes” (OneTeam Partners). This non-exclusive agreement will also allow athletes to pursue additional NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, making it a comprehensive and flexible opportunity for collegiate athletes.
Trading cards have long been a staple of sports culture, but this partnership introduces a fresh approach by emphasizing team-based sets rather than those of individual athletes. This shift will not only enhance the sense of community among college sports fans but will also ensure that a broader range of athletes can benefit from NIL earnings. By including entire teams, the initiative fosters a sense of shared success and equal opportunity, aligning with the broader goals of NIL to provide fair compensation to student-athletes.
One of the standout aspects of this partnership is its non-exclusive nature. Unlike some NIL deals that may restrict athletes from pursuing additional opportunities, this collaboration with ONIT and OneTeam Partners allows athletes to engage in other NIL activities at the same time. This flexibility is crucial in a rapidly evolving NIL landscape, where athletes seek multiple avenues to maximize their earnings and personal brand. By not having athletes in these exclusive agreements, this initiative empowers them to explore a diverse range of NIL opportunities.
Fan engagement is another key element that stands to benefit from this partnership. By focusing on team sets, the trading cards are likely to resonate more deeply with college sports fans who have a strong allegiance to their favorite teams. The nature of college sports fandom means that fans often support the entire team rather than just individual players. This initiative taps into the collective spirit that offers fans a way to celebrate their favorite teams while supporting the athletes who make the team successful.
The ONIT and OneTeam Partners collaboration represents a significant evolution in how NIL opportunities are structured and offered to college athletes. By creating team-based trading cards, this initiative ensures broader athlete participation, fairer compensation, and greater fan engagement. As the NIL landscape continues to develop, partnerships like this will play a crucial role in shaping the future of college sports and the financial opportunities available to student-athletes.
