Panini America has shaken up the world of sports memorabilia by launching their innovative NIL platform, Panini College. This groundbreaking platform is specially designed to give college athletes a chance to create their very own trading cards under the Panini NIL brand, allowing them to share in the excitement of having personalized memorabilia for their fans to cherish.
The concept behind Panini College is simple but revolutionary – athletes from partner universities will now have the opportunity to have their personal trading cards available for sale to fans. This not only allows the athletes to earn compensation based on the sales of their cards but also serves as a remarkable keepsake for both the athletes and their supporters. Additionally, select athletes will offer exclusive autographed versions of their cards, adding a touch of uniqueness to the collection.
Initially, Panini College will feature talented football and volleyball players from three prestigious universities: Ohio State University, University of Nebraska, and University of Texas. However, the ambition does not stop here. Panini has exciting plans to expand the program to encompass more schools and sports across the country in the near future, offering a wide array of athletes the chance to display their name, image, and likeness on their own trading cards.
The official launch date for the Panini College platform is set for Tuesday, September 3rd, and will be accessible at college.paniniamerica.net. Fans can look forward to an array of new products and athlete cards being continuously introduced throughout the academic year of 2024-25, making the collection ever-evolving and appealing to avid collectors and fans alike.
Jason Howarth, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations for Panini America, expressed the company’s vision for the platform saying, “We believe every collegiate athlete, regardless of their school, sport, or position, deserves the opportunity to have their own trading card. Panini College is revolutionizing the trading card landscape for athletes in all sports, giving them a platform to benefit from their NIL. With the addition of more schools and sports, we are thrilled to provide new avenues for athletes to gain recognition and for fans to access exciting new collectibles.”
Panini College is not the first stride Panini America has taken in the collegiate NIL domain. The company has previously partnered with distinguished athletes, including the likes of Lexi Rodriguez – a volleyball All-American from the University of Nebraska, who became Panini’s first female NIL athlete. Other notable partnerships include Quinn Ewers, Tre Johnson, Arch Manning, Dylan Raiola, Julian Sayin, and Zachariah Branch, all contributing to Panini’s diverse and burgeoning roster of talent.
In an earlier venture in 2023, Panini also garnered attention with the successful launch of the Caitlin Clark Collection, which celebrated the remarkable career of the University of Iowa basketball star, Caitlin Clark.
Panini America’s commitment to innovation and its deep involvement in the collegiate NIL market are further solidified with the introduction of Panini College. This new platform promises to give athletes a fresh channel for visibility and offers fans an exciting new way to engage with their favorite college sports stars.