Stoops, Barnhart Officially Back Club Blue NIL Collective

Before Kentucky football spring practice begins next week, which will eventually lead to a new transfer portal recruiting cycle, the University of Kentucky is organizing its NIL efforts.

On Wednesday evening Mark Stoops and Mitch Barnhart teamed up to create a video that encourages the Big Blue Nation to support Kentucky student-athletes by donating to Club Blue.

This new collective operates under the Commonwealth Causes umbrella, a successful early NIL initiative that raised funds through raffles and auctions. The new Club Blue allows fans to select how much they wish to donate monthly and the sport where they want to direct their funds.

What makes this NIL collective different? 100% of all funds donated to Club Blue go directly to student-athletes. Rather than having one NIL collective support one specific sport, Club Blue members can choose any sport that UK offers.

There are various levels for monthly donations, ranging from $25 to $500. Members of Club Blue will also be enrolled in monthly giveaways and receive access to special events, like meet-and-greets and autograph signings.

Visit ClubBlueNIL.com to partner with Kentucky student-athletes today.

We’re excited to help bring #BBN and our @UKAthletics athletes together! As a CLUB BLUE member you’ll enjoy VIP fan experiences, meet & greets with your favorite athletes and coaches, receive entries for free monthly giveaways, access exclusive merchandise, and much more!!… pic.twitter.com/ms1S3rqnMv

— CLUB BLUE (@ClubBlueNIL) March 14, 2024

Navigating the NIL landscape has not been crystal clear for administrators, fans, coaches, and players. Launched a day ahead of the basketball program’s “La Familia” initiative, it’s easy to be confused. There are so many collectives all asking for money, why is one better than the other?

Mitch Barnhart and Mark Stoops are backing Club Blue for a reason. The University of Kentucky is confident that Club Blue will properly distribute the funds where they need to go, directly to the student-athletes.

Hopefully, this new NIL initiative backed by the school will streamline the process, making it simple for fans to contribute while keeping Kentucky competitive in the NIL market.

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