Sporting KC Launches Sporting U NIL Program
August 30, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City announced today the launch of the club's Sporting U NIL Program featuring Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) agreements with the following five local NCAA Division I student-athletes in the Class of 2023:
University of Missouri kicker Blake Craig (Liberty North HS alum)
Kansas State University defender Jericho Frigon (Liberty HS alum)
University of Missouri midfielder Keegan Good (Park Hill South HS alum)
University of Kansas forward Hallie Klanke (Lee's Summit West HS alum)
University of Kansas running back Devin Neal (Lawrence HS alum)
The Sporting U NIL initiative is designed to provide a platform for Sporting Kansas City to celebrate and interact with homegrown athletes on college campuses across the Midwest region who have excelled in their sports. The Sporting U NIL Athletes receive a financial stipend for social media engagement as well as tickets for Sporting KC home matches and merchandise from SportingStyle. The club's investment in the Sporting U NIL program also includes further value for student-athletes through assistance with strategic marketing and brand building campaigns in addition to professional development resources, including mentorship and networking connections.
"Sporting KC is excited to offer student-athletes from multiple sports the opportunity to grow their brand and to support their pursuit of professional careers both on and off the field," said Aaron Borns, Sporting KC Vice President of Marketing. "Sporting is proud to be the first professional team in Kansas City, and one of only a handful of major league sports organizations in the country, to offer NIL deals to student-athletes. We're thrilled to welcome an inaugural class of Sporting U NIL Athletes who are all incredible representatives for the KC region and who are all fans of our club and our sport."
Collegiate athletes interested in receiving more information about Sporting U NIL can visit SportingKC.com to contact the club for future consideration. Men's soccer players are ineligible to sign NIL agreements with Sporting Kansas City to remain in compliance with all conflict of interest protections in place for NCAA sanctioned student-athletes.
The Sporting U NIL Program is the second major initiative introduced by Sporting Kansas City for college students this year. The Sporting U Pass provides students at more than 240 universities across the country the opportunity to purchase $15 tickets in the Supporters' Stand at Children's Mercy Park for Sporting KC home matches.
In addition, Sporting Kansas City's fan development department features four full-time associates and 14 part-time brand ambassadors - including a Collegiate Brand Ambassador - focused on outreach to college campuses. The team partners with universities and their athletic programs to co-host Sporting Kansas City activations at school events, including a pair of collaborations last week at the University of Omaha and University of Missouri as well as upcoming activities with women's soccer teams at the University of Kansas, Drury University, Creighton University, Missouri State University and the University of Nebraska.
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