NC State raises over 800K at annual football NIL celebration

NC State’s One Pack NIL Collective hosted its second annual football celebration Wednesday evening. The organization welcomed its donors to the North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh for dinner, an auction and live music. 

In total, the collective raised $867,450 for NC State’s NIL efforts. One Pack general manager Chris Vurnakes tweeted that this total exceeded the previous year’s fundraising total by $170,000. 

Donor fatigue has been an issue around NIL collectives nationwide, but the excitement around NC State’s athletic department helped keep the support strong this year. 

“It’s humbling to see the full support of Wolfpack Nation on display last night,” Vurnakes told TheWolfpacker.com in a statement. “It’s proof that we have the means to compete on a national level and I’m excited to see the impact of this support had on the field this Fall.”

Wolfpack athletic director Boo Corrigan and head football coach Dave Doeren both spoke at the event about the importance of NIL. Former NC State linebacker and national defensive player of the year Payton Wilson even attended the event the night before the NFL Draft. 

Every member of the football coaching staff and most of the support staff attended the event as well.

This was an important event for the Wolfpack’s continued success off the field. Everyone at the event knew it, and the donation total reflected that. 

“What an incredible event for Wolfpack alumni, fans, and family to be able to participate in,” One Pack NIL president Reid Johnson told TheWolfpacker.com in a statement. “I am blown away by the financial commitment made last night in support of our football athletes. Last night was a huge step forward and one that we can all celebrate because it was a team effort.”

Takeaways from NC State’s NIL football celebration event

Jeff Gravley interviewed Wilson near the beginning of the event. The linebacker talked about the impact NC State had on his life and how NIL helped his return for a sixth season possible. 

Wilson also shared that he was invited to Detroit, Michigan to attend the NFL Draft in person. He declined, saying that’s not really his style. Instead, he will watch the draft with his parents and girlfriend. 

Gravely also asked Wilson for his top five Wolfpack memories. He said numbers one, two and three were all “beating the crap out of UNC.”

Wednesday’s live auction started off with two paintings of Wilson, including one that was painted within minutes in front of the crowd of donors. The linebacker signed that portrait.  The collective auctioned off the two paintings for a total of $100,000, starting the night off at an electric pace. 

NC State’s @OnePackNIL collective just sold 2 Payton Wilson paintings for a total of $100,000. pic.twitter.com/dDNqIVN2Yw

— The Wolfpacker (@TheWolfpacker) April 25, 2024

Other auction items included a signed bottle of the Savage Wolves vodka brand with an exclusive cocktail party experience (sold twice for a total of $40,000), an exclusive game day experience for the Wolfpack’s road trip to UNC that included sideline passes (sold for $14,000) and a chance to attend a closed practice and a film session with the coaching staff (sold for $7,000).

The Wolfpack also auctioned off the naming rights for a play, which a donor paid $12,000 for. NC State will call that play in the season opener against Western Carolina. Last year, Doeren said they used a fan-named blitz against UNC, and it worked. 

Overall, the Wolfpack exceeded its fundraising goal for the evening. 

“The collective does not work without the support of a large group of members,” Johnson said. “I want to thank our loyal members for showing up and crushing our goal for the evening. We still have a long way to go to get to our 5,000-member goal. We want to continue to urge fans and alumni to continue to sign up for membership with the collective so we can create lasting sustainability. Together we can all accomplish more, there is strength in the Pack!”