Recently the NCAA decided that student athletes can now receive sponsorship and brand deals. This was a huge deal when it came to the state of the NCAA because previously there was an issue with them violating rules by doing this. 

Not only is this good for the athletes but it is also great for the brands. Having young athletes being able to receive brand deals really opens opportunities for brands. 

Brands have a whole new realm to explore in athletes being able to promote their products. Many brands like Barstool have completely changed their thinking and are now implementing new ways to promote their brand.

Barstool was one of the brands that really took this opportunity and made the most of it. They created their own marketing firm called Barstool Athletics. This marketing firm will specifically deal with NCAA athletes and the marketing that goes on in allowing them to receive brand deals.

Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool, was not sure what they were going to do at first because the NIL news was so overwhelming. He posted a video on social media once this news came out addressing that he didn’t even think much of it, until Adelaide Halverson, a Jacksonville State volleyball player DM’d him and said that she would like to be the first Barstool athlete. 

Portnoy was shocked by this news because he realized that his brand could reach new heights with the new implementations put in place. He immediately agreed to making her the first Barstool athlete even though he wasn’t sure what the next steps were.

Halverson suggested that they send her free merchandise, and she would promote the brand, but they ended up taking it to the next level. Portnoy decided that he would create athlete exclusive merch, that is not available to the public. This meant that the sponsored athletes would have exclusive access to merchandise only made for them.

Portnoy said that after they signed Halverson, another athlete reached out to them, a Stanford football player. Many D1 athletes jumped on this opportunity because Portnoy said that all they must do is blink at him and play D1 sports. 

Barstool really took this opportunity to the next level. They are now having their brand promoted across many different platforms and from many different athletes. Portray gives the credit to Halverson because this was all her idea, and she was the one that started the Barstool Athletes Inc.

Portnoy came up with the name for this during a livestream and he even stated that this could become the most powerful agency in the world. This is very exciting because it presents new opportunities for Barstool and allows them to increase awareness about their brand. 

Barstool is also encouraging athletes to use their name and promote their own name to land deals and earn sponsorships. NCAA athletes are presented with a great, once in a lifetime opportunity in partnering with Barstool. 

Other brands have capitalized on the new NIL law as well. Many brands have now started hiring new people on their teams to reach out to athletes and promote their brand. 

Overall, this is very exciting news because the opportunities are endless! Brands can now expand their audience and allow their niches to be shifted for the better.