Panini America has taken a stride into the world of college sports by launching an innovative platform called Panini College. This groundbreaking initiative is set to revolutionize the way college athletes engage with fans and build their personal brand by having their very own trading cards under the Panini NIL brand.
The primary objective of Panini College is to provide athletes from partner universities, such as Ohio State University, University of Nebraska, and University of Texas, with the opportunity to have their individual trading cards available for purchase by fans. These cards will not only serve as a special memento but also as a source of income for the athletes, as they will earn compensation based on the sales of their cards. Moreover, select athletes will have the chance to offer exclusive autographed versions of their cards, adding extra appeal for collectors.
The official launch date for Panini College is set for Tuesday, September 3rd, with the platform being accessible at college.paniniamerica.net. Fans can expect a continuous stream of new products and athlete cards to be released throughout the 2024-25 academic year, providing ample opportunities for enthusiasts to expand their collections.
Jason Howarth, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations for Panini America, expressed the company’s belief that every collegiate athlete, regardless of their school, sport, or position, deserves the chance to have their own trading card. Howarth highlighted that Panini College is reshaping the trading card market for athletes across all sports, creating a platform through which they can leverage their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for personal gain. As Panini plans to extend the program to additional schools and sports in the near future, more athletes will have the chance to gain recognition, while fans will have access to an exciting array of collectibles.
Panini College adds to Panini’s extensive involvement in the collegiate NIL landscape, having already partnered with prominent athletes like Lexi Rodriguez, an All-American volleyball player from the University of Nebraska and Panini’s first female NIL athlete. The platform has also collaborated with athletes such as Quinn Ewers, Tre Johnson, Arch Manning, Dylan Raiola, Julian Sayin, and Zachariah Branch, further solidifying Panini’s influence in the collegiate sports trading card market.
In a previous venture, Panini introduced the highly successful Caitlin Clark Collection earlier in 2023, celebrating the remarkable career of the University of Iowa basketball star. Through initiatives like Panini College, Panini America continues to lead the way in collegiate sports trading cards, providing athletes with a novel avenue for recognition and offering fans an exciting new means of engagement in the world of sports collectibles.