Jayhawks take FLIGHT

kuathletics.com/news/2024/12/18/general-...ntroduce-flight.aspx

From Vernon's newsletter today 2024-12-19
(Read Online at Mike Vernon's KU Hearings - NIL changes 2024-12-19 )

HEARING: KU's $20M NIL Plan??
Mass St Collective ending as KU plans for ~$20M annual NIL investment. Here's what it means
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EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.
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Hearing: KU’s Big NIL Move ?
Kansas rolled out a new NIL partnership called "Flight" on Wednesday signaling significant changes ahead for the KU Athletics.

Let’s break what it really means.

The Big Picture:
Starting July 1, schools can pay players directly (pending House Settlement)

Each school gets ~$20M cap (give or take) for NIL payments

This means KU needs to find ~$20M annually to stay competitive

I’m Hearing the school is committed to making it happen

What’s Changing:
NIL is moving in-house at Kansas.

Credit to KU Athletics for being an early mover on this.

Mass Street collective model being phased out

I believe the partnership has ended — or will end in the immediate future.

All existing Mass St. donations transfer to the new system — or will still get to players.

Note: Mass St. and KU should get credit for being early movers that got NIL off to a good start. But we’re entering a new era now…

KU is streamlining the donation process.

You no longer have to ask, “Should I donate to Mass St. or KU?”

You can donate to KU and support NIL right here.

Want some better football players in the portal? Now is the time to donate.

The New Partnership:
The new partnership, called ‘FLIGHT,’ is with KC company Walz Tetrick Advertising.

Walz Tetrick will help source corporate endorsements beyond KU’s $20M cap.

They’ll focus on local and regional opportunities.

Will also work with KU’s existing national partners (like adidas).

The ideas is to build sustainable brand partnerships and repeatable revenue opportunities.

Why This Matters:
KU is getting out in front of major changes in college athletics

~$20M every year is a massive expense to account for

KU sits at the top of mid-tier/lower end of top-tier schools

Grassroots and smaller donations are crucial for success. Your $100-$1,000 donation truly adds up to help with NIL (compared to stadium fundraising, for example).

Looking Ahead:
The message is clear: KU plans to be a player in this new era. But it needs fan support.

This probably feels different or uncomfortable — and that’s totally valid. But this is the new reality for college athletics, and I’m OK with KU taking a proactive approach toward the future.

Get Involved Today
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