re: Yea Alabama- the official UA NIL entity

quote:

---

I don't see how this would be tax deductible.

---

As long as none of the revenue is directed towards shareholders, private interests, or managing partners/controlling individuals, it qualifies for 501c3 status. There are some other stipulations, but I don’t think YA will be lobbying for any congressional support in DC.

Basically, they’re saying that all of the money received will go to the benefit of the organization and its goals, rather than the pockets of an executive or owner. The benefits and goals of the organization are to help fund and direct student athlete’s NIL access and funds in a controlled environment, not to turn a profit.

A lot of folks hear hear 501c3 and think “nonprofit” or “charitable contributions”, but it really just signifies that the organization won’t be distributing dividends or revenue payments to any person or group with a controlling interest in the organization. It’s pretty shady in certain aspects and it definitely gets manipulated, but I don’t see any real hang ups here.

Smack talk?

quote:

---

Yea Alabama@yea_ala·1h

And here’s where you can support our efforts…

https://yea-alabama.com/fans

quote:

---

Pregame Empire@PregameEmpire·2h

Not sure how this is a burn since it’s legal now

---

---

That didn’t take long

quote:

---

---

Buy one here

New column from A Suttles:
Nice column by Suttles.

Coming soon to a store near you…

quote:

---

---

quote:

---

Coming soon to a store near you…

---

Hope that is better than the Saban BBQ Sauce….

Alabama Athletics and LEARFIELD open The Advantage Center

Unique NIL Facility to Provide Resources, Education and Support to Crimson Tide Student-Athletes

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama's Athletic Department and LEARFIELD, the media and technology company powering college sports, joined forces to open The Advantage Center on Thursday, Sept. 21 in an innovative display of leadership in the collegiate name, image and likeness (NIL) space.

The two organizations collaborated on the development and build-out of the center to deliver a physical home and team of dedicated staff to provide education, content creation, and personal brand building resources for student-athletes with respect to NIL opportunities, as well as a location to showcase successful local and national NIL brand/sponsor relationships.

"We've been looking forward to opening the doors of The Advantage Center from the day we started discussing this concept," said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. "Having a dedicated, multifunctional space for our student-athletes to do things like record podcasts, film videos in a green room, engage with brand partners and participate in educational workshops was very important to us, and we're appreciative of Learfield for taking this idea and making it come to life. The University of Alabama offers a great academic, athletic and social experience and provides a stage and, now with the addition of The Advantage Center, a structure around it to support our student-athletes at the highest level when it comes to NIL."

The specially designed dedicated NIL hub – located in Bryant-Denny Stadium – will set the blueprint for supporting all Alabama student-athletes as they look to maximize their NIL opportunities. The more than 650 student-athletes across the Crimson Tide's 21 sports programs will have access to education modules and workshops, one-on-one strategy meetings, individual profile development and the NIL Accelerator program which includes collaboration with the UA School of Law, the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute, and the Culverhouse School of Accountancy.

"The University of Alabama is a long-time LEARFIELD partner, and it's been an honor to collaborate with Greg and his team to deliver one of the most innovative NIL resources in college athletics," said LEARFIELD President and CEO Cole Gahagan. "NIL is evolving by the day, and the launch of the Advantage Center is just one more example of how the LEARFIELD team is leading on practically every front – creating more opportunities for student-athletes, school partners, and brand sponsors."

The center will feature a LEARFIELD Always On content team dedicated to helping student-athletes create original content for their NIL activities as well as access to social media content specialists, a production studio and meeting spaces for brand engagement and planning, along with other amenities to enhance the NIL experience for the Crimson Tide.

The Center was designed and built by Alabama-based firms Davis Architects and Harrison Construction, which was recently recognized by the Alabama State Chapter of the Association of Builders and Contractors with the 2023 Excellence in Construction Award for its work on the Advantage Center. Populous provided interior graphics services.

ABOUT LEARFIELD
LEARFIELD is a diversified and influential media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, LEARFIELD owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 15,000 local and national brand partners, LEARFIELD's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, LEARFIELD enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

Crimson Tide Athletics Announces Alabama Always Licensing Program

Former Alabama student-athletes now have the opportunity to join their NIL with the Crimson Tide brand on merchandise for the rest of their lives

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama Always, a first-of-its-kind group licensing initiative for former student-athletes, coaches and other individuals, was introduced by Alabama Athletics on Wednesday.

"The creation of the Alabama Always program is another example of the commitment and care we have for our student-athletes," said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. "We are excited to offer the opportunity for all of our former players across all sports to cobrand their NIL with the Alabama brand for the rest of their lives, while also creating a way for our fans to support them long after they leave campus. So many exceptional student-athletes have become legends over the 130-plus year history of our athletics program, and they will forever be members of the Crimson Tide family."

Former Crimson Tide legends who opt in to the program will have the ability to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) on merchandise in conjunction with the Alabama brand, one of the largest in intercollegiate athletics, for their entire lifetime. This campaign will be available to previous members of all 21 varsity athletic programs. Because Alabama Always is being managed exclusively by the University, 100 percent of each individual's generated royalty amount will go directly back to that former student-athlete.

"As I've said before, our players aren't just my guys for three years, four years or five years," said Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban. "They're my guys forever. Alabama Always is a tangible way to show our former student-athletes how much we care about them and want them to feel part of the legacy they helped create at The University of Alabama."

Former Alabama Director of Athletics and student-athlete himself, Bill Battle, was the first member to join Alabama Always. Battle, who founded the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) in 1981, is no stranger to being a pioneer in the world of trademark licensing. Since signing The University of Alabama as CLC's first university client, he has been instrumental in growing the collegiate licensing industry to the multibillion-dollar enterprise it is today.

"I'm extremely honored to be chosen as the first official member of Alabama Always," said Battle. As someone who was a student-athlete, coach, business executive and athletic director, I've had a front row seat to the transformation of collegiate athletics. The Alabama Always initiative is revolutionary and timely in the new world of NIL, while also honoring those who have achieved so much throughout our history."

Other former Tide greats and Honorary Captains for 2023 such as Dont'a Hightower, Marcell Dareus, Reggie Ragland, Johnny Musso, Sylvester Croom, Dwight Stephenson and Courtney Upshaw have already opted in to Alabama Always, as well as men's basketball's Herb Jones, softball's Haylie McCleney and gymnastics' Ashley Johnston. Additionally, members from the 1973 Football National Championship team who join the program will have jerseys, t-shirts and other merchandise available when the 50th anniversary is celebrated during the weekend of the LSU game. Fans can also expect to find product collections around select award winners, sports/position groups, and other future reunions and initiatives over time.

What Alabama Always Members are Saying:

"Being one of the first members of Alabama Always is truly a great privilege. During my weekend as an honorary captain, I was already able to appreciate the benefits of joining when I saw my jersey being sold in The Authentic at Bryant-Denny Stadium. I'm excited for my old teammates and every former Alabama player who will be able to experience the same thing."

- Dont'a Hightower, football

"I am so excited to join the Alabama Always program and be a part of creating this unprecedented opportunity for former UA student-athletes. The legacy of being a student-athlete at Alabama is one that endures far past graduation, and this unique initiative will allow UA alumni as well as current and future student-athletes to utilize the Alabama brand for the rest of their lives."

- Ashley Johnston, gymnastics

"It's a blessing to represent the Tide Hoops family by being one of the first to participate in Alabama Always. As someone who finished their collegiate career right before the era of NIL, I appreciate that UA is now making it possible for me to capitalize on my NIL being used with their brand on merchandise forever. The fact that they still have my back even after I left shows they always care about their student-athletes in every stage of life."

- Herb Jones, men's basketball

"I cherished my time in Tuscaloosa and will always consider myself a part of the Alabama family. Since I left, I've created my own brand and am thrilled to now have the opportunity to combine it with the largest brand in college athletics. I'm proud to have graduated from an institution that continuously looks for ways to give back to its former student-athletes, and I hope this new program influences future legends to consider coming to the Capstone."

- Haylie McCleney, softball