New company creates NIL opportunities for Georgia Bulldogs

The Classic City Collective, founded with the goal of positioning Georgia athletes from all 21 sports for sustained success, has announced an NIL facilitation platform. The newly created company hopes to connect Dawg Nation with student athletes though unique engagement opportunities which create a sustainable NIL structure.

CEO Matt Hibbs is joined by Director of Operations John Staton IV, a former Georgia linebacker who played on the 2021 national championship team. Hibbs previously spent time as an athletics administrator and agent with experience at Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee.

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He released a statement on the future of the Classic City Collective in a post on the company’s website.

“We are excited to work alongside Georgia’s loyal supporters, local businesses, alumni and fans to provide a resource that cuts through the complexities of NIL and provides an avenue for Dawg Nation to confidently support and connect with UGA athletes. We see an incredible opportunity to enrich, enhance and empower the lives of Georgia athletes,” said Hibbs. “Classic City Collective will create a sustainable platform to uniquely position UGA athletes for continued success.”

As the nation’s foremost supporter-funded NIL facilitation platform, we aim to position Georgia Athletics and athletes from all 21 sports for sustained success. https://t.co/ynAy7j515M pic.twitter.com/uLzEyByTfB

— Classic City Collective (@ClassicCityCLTV) March 2, 2022

The website also includes a quote from Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, who knows both company executives well from their time with the Bulldogs.

“Matt proved during his time in our program how valuable he can be to our student-athletes and Georgia Athletics,” said Smart. “His background and experience within and around collegiate athletics makes him a uniquely positioned leader in NIL.”

More about Classic City Collective

The Classic City Collective provides further details on the goals of its company, along with how it will connect fans and players online. In addition to providing an NIL marketplace, courtesy of Icon Source, there will be unique opportunities for Dawg Nation.

A variety of NIL opportunities will be made available to UGA athletes, including social media endorsements, traditional media advertisements, in-kind deals for promotional activities, appearances, meet and greets, autographs, and digital content,” a press release confirmed.

The Classic City Collective also makes clear that it is unaffiliated with the University of Georgia but will provide resources to all student athletes in the program. Part of the goal is to provide local businesses the opportunity to reach athletes through the platform, offering more than national chances to players.

The company will also partner with the DGD Fund, a charity started by Staton, along with tight end John FitzPatrick, offensive lineman Owen Condon, quarterback Stetson Bennett and long snapper Payne Walker.