When a college baseball player is on pace to break the school record for home runs during the Men’s College World Series, with fans tracking every single at-bat, how can you capitalize on this frenzied hype? Take a moment and make it last infinitely. The University of Florida and The NIL Store turned Jac Caglianone’s historical record into a mega moment. For the University of Florida’s NIL Director, Ben Chase, this is what NIL is all about: Being clutch in big moments.
“When you’re in the College World Series, you never know if it’s going to happen or not,” Ben shared. But ahead of the magic moment, Ben and The Florida NIL Store had everything in place ahead of time. ‘He was two away, and we said, ‘Let’s get the graphic ready.’ As soon as it happened, we went live.”
“By the end of the game, we had it live on social and online for sale. That was a special moment for our fans.”
Ben Chase, University of Florida’s NIL Director
Swinging for the Fences: The University of Florida x The NIL Store
From Ben’s perspective, the NIL Store partnership has been nothing short of transformative for his student-athletes’ NIL opportunities. As a brand of Campus Ink, The NIL Store prioritizes athletes’ success by providing a platform to amplify their brand and connect with fans through officially licensed NIL merchandise. Ben highlights the agility of The NIL Store’s team and their commitment to working in real-time. “Their team is so collaborative. They’re always ready to capture those hot-button moments,” Ben explains.
The Florida NIL Store captured pivotal moments for the Florida Gators during the Women’s College World Series and Men’s College World Series, such as Kendra Falby’s standout catch and Jac Caglianone’s record-breaking home run, and transformed these moments into merchandise within just 24 hours.
“We wanted to leverage the hype around the College World Series to make an impact for both our athletes and fans,” Ben recalls. “The speed and precision with which The NIL Store operated were essential in tapping into fan excitement.”
What Ben appreciates most about this partnership is the constant communication between the University of Florida and The NIL Store. Whether it’s a design tweak or a launch strategy, the two teams maintain an open line of communication to ensure every detail is perfect. “I’m picky when it comes to design, probably more than our licensing director,” he jokes, but this attention to detail is exactly what makes the partnership work.
Influencer App: Empowering Athletes and Streamlining NIL Opportunities
At the core of this Florida Gators x The NIL Store partnership is the Influencer app.
Adam Cook, the VP of Sports at Campus Ink, explains how Influencer plays a crucial role in making the moments more than just a moment: “One of the great things about Influencer is it makes it really easy for the athletes to understand what content is available to them, whether it be from a great game or practices.”
This ease of access ensures that athletes can quickly turn memorable snapshots into NIL opportunities, whether through merchandise or other activations.
Moreover, the app’s ability to handle back-end logistics is a game-changer for athletes. “We use Influencer to pay our athletes really quickly, once every two weeks. It also keeps all the tax documentation and financial information in one place,” Adam shares. This eliminates much of the administrative burden and ensures compliance, making life easier for both athletes and administrators.
The Athlete Experience: Gaby’s Perspective
For athletes like Gaby Cornier, a student-athlete at the University of Florida on the Volleyball team, Influencer provides a platform to elevate her personal brand. “I think Influencer does a great job providing us with opportunities in a user-friendly environment,” she says. Gaby appreciates how accessible everything is, from NIL opportunities to resources that help her grow her brand. “Influencer supports various ways for me to build my NIL value.”
The partnership between The NIL Store and Influencer opens the door for athletes like Gaby to not only build their NIL portfolio but also gain credibility in the space, leading to potential future deals with brands and businesses that create an impact well beyond her four years of college.
The NIL Store x Influencer: Revolutionizing NIL
The NIL Store and Influencer’s partnership offers universities and student-athletes a comprehensive NIL solution that simplifies the entire process—from content creation to payments and compliance reporting. Influencer’s AI-powered Content Hub allows institutions to organize and share assets with athletes in real-time, while the NIL marketplace lets athletes easily engage with brands and businesses.
By streamlining paperwork and eliminating unnecessary fees, the partnership ensures that athletes keep more of their hard-earned revenue. As Ben and Adam have seen firsthand, this collaboration allows athletes to focus on what matters most—building their brand and seizing opportunities. It’s a partnership built on trust, communication, and the shared goal of maximizing opportunities for student-athletes. Check out The Florida Gators NIL Store here.
