A new men’s college basketball tournament named Players Era is set to launch this fall, promising a total of $2 million in name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals for participating teams.
The eight-team tournament, set to take place at MGM Arena in Las Vegas, is poised to expand to 16 teams by 2025.
Players Era is the brainchild of EverWonder Studio, founded by former Time president Ian Orefice and backed by RedBird IMI and Jeff Zucker, along with Seth Berger, AND1 CEO of Basketball.
While EverWonder Studio is currently in talks with potential broadcasters, the tournament’s unique approach to NIL deals has already captured significant attention.
The tournament organizers are guaranteeing that sponsors and other partners will contribute $1 million in NIL money for each participating school.
BREAKING: A first-of-its-kind tournament featuring NIL deals as payouts is coming to college basketball next season.
The 8-team invitational in Vegas will guarantee $1M be split among players on each team—with another $1M to the winning team.
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This money will then be channeled through collectives, boosters, or other NIL entities, allowing coaches and teams the flexibility to distribute the earnings among current players in a manner they deem fit.
In addition to the $1 million guarantee, the winning team will have the opportunity to earn another $1 million, following the same distribution model.
The organizers are reportedly in discussions with powerhouse basketball programs such as Alabama, Duke, FAU, Houston, Kansas, Oregon, San Diego State, St. John’s, Syracuse, and Virginia to participate in the inaugural tournament.
Each participating team will also enjoy complimentary travel, lodging, and meals during the event, further enhancing the appeal of Players Era.
With NIL deals becoming an integral part of the college sports landscape, the Players Era tournament is poised to become a trailblazer, offering a unique platform for athletes to capitalize on their image and likeness while elevating the excitement of in-season college basketball.
