UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Athletics announced agreements to bring additional Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) resources to its student-athletes. Athletics has partnered with INFLCR to bring the Nittany Lion Exchange to student-athletes to aid in their NIL opportunities. In addition, the department has been working with Accelerate Sports Ventures to produce NIL education and opportunities to student-athletes and all stakeholders.
These partnerships further the resources already in place for Penn State student-athletes, including Campus Ink, Fanatics and The Wally Triplett Brand Academy in conjunction with Invent Penn State.
Nittany Lion Exchange via INFLCR
Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics teamed with INFLCR to create the Nittany Lion Exchange, which will allow student-athletes to pursue NIL business opportunities.
Companies can register for Nittany Lion Exchange now via GoPSUsports.com/exchange. After a company registers on the exchange, they will have access to a searchable database of Penn State student-athletes who have opted in to join the Nittany Lion Exchange. There is the ability to message student-athletes directly in the application or request contact information to begin discussions about any potential NIL opportunity.
Once an NIL agreement is reached, a customized reporting form, which is in compliance with state, NCAA and Penn State's Name, Image and Likeness guidelines, is generated. The Exchange also includes a payment processing tool to securely pay student-athletes and will provide a 1099 form for student-athletes for more efficient tax reporting.
Accelerate Sports Ventures
Accelerate Sports Ventures, headed by Doug Fillis, is an NIL consulting firm to support the NIL vision for the Penn State athletics departments by providing a one-of-a-kind, customer service-first approach, which has led to compelling results for student-athletes. Accelerate Sports Ventures has played an active role in creating and implementing Penn State's NIL strategic plans since July and will continue to create alignment across all stakeholders, including student-athletes, coaches, staff, parents, donors, business, collectives and University stakeholders. Accelerate educates all stakeholders and works closely with student-athlete to protect their interests and ensure they understand their responsibilities as they enter NIL agreements.
Campus Ink
The NIL Store powered by Campus Ink has been announced Penn State as an official NIL licensee, providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) merchandising opportunities for all Nittany Lion student-athletes.
The NIL Store powered by Campus Ink, which will launch in early February, will include a complete NIL merchandise store for Penn State student-athletes, featuring jerseys and officially licensed apparel. Every student-athlete signed up will possess a personalized digital locker room which will house their merchandise.
The Campus Ink team handles all the creative, product creation, design, marketing, fulfillment and customer service for its student-athletes. Additionally, Campus Ink works directly with student-athletes to educate them on merchandising, marketing and sales trends to develop strategies for optimal success.
Fanatics
Penn State Athletics has partnered with Fanatics in the sale of player jerseys and player sweatshirts/t-shirts for select sports on the official Penn State Fanatics website.
Fans can purchase replica jerseys with their favorite player's name on the back for football, men's basketball and women's basketball. There is also an option for fans to purchase sweatshirts or t-shirts with their favorite player's name and number on the back for football, women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball with baseball and softball coming this spring, and additional sports coming in the future.
Fanatics, the global leader in sports licensed merchandise, has built a revolutionary commerce business over the past decade that includes a comprehensive on-demand jersey customization platform.
On-Campus Financial and Tax Service Resources
New this semester, the development and enrichment office has partnered with VITA tax services to host open hours where students can file tax returns with professionals at no cost to them. Sessions will run from February 1-April 12.
In addition to free tax returns, each student-athlete completes financial literacy programming through the Sokolov-Miller Financial and Life Skills Center. Lessons include budgeting, debt management, investing, credit cards, and after graduation education.
