Panini America is revolutionizing the world of collegiate sports trading cards with the launch of their innovative NIL platform, Panini College. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to provide college athletes with the unique opportunity to have their own trading cards under the Panini NIL brand.
The Panini College platform not only allows athletes from partner universities to have their personalized cards available for sale to fans but also serves as a cherished keepsake. Athletes participating in this program will earn compensation based on the sales of their cards, with select athletes even offering exclusive autographed versions to their fans.
Initially featuring football and volleyball players from major institutions such as Ohio State University, University of Nebraska, and University of Texas, Panini College plans to expand its reach to additional schools and sports across the country in the near future. This expansion will provide more athletes with the platform to showcase their name, image, and likeness on trading cards.
The official launch of the platform is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3rd, with fans gaining access to the Panini College website at college.paniniamerica.net. Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, enthusiasts can anticipate a continuous rollout of new products and athlete cards to keep the excitement alive.
Jason Howarth, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations for Panini America, expressed the company’s belief in providing every collegiate athlete, irrespective of their school, sport, or position, with the opportunity to have their own trading card. He stated that Panini College is reshaping the trading card market for athletes in all sports by offering them a platform to benefit from their name, image, and likeness. As the program expands to encompass more schools and sports, Panini is thrilled to provide fresh opportunities for athletes to gain recognition and for fans to access thrilling new collectibles.
Panini College joins a portfolio of innovative initiatives that Panini America has undertaken in the collegiate NIL landscape. The company has formed partnerships with notable athletes, such as Lexi Rodriguez, a volleyball All-American from the University of Nebraska and Panini’s first female NIL athlete. Additionally, athletes like Quinn Ewers, Tre Johnson, Arch Manning, Dylan Raiola, Julian Sayin, and Zachariah Branch have also teamed up with Panini to showcase their trading cards.
Furthermore, in a previous venture in 2023, Panini launched the widely popular Caitlin Clark Collection to celebrate the remarkable career of the University of Iowa basketball star.
Panini America’s introduction of Panini College solidifies the company’s position as a leader in collegiate sports trading cards, offering athletes a fresh channel for recognition and fans an exciting new way to engage with their favorite sports stars. The platform underscores Panini’s dedication to innovation and its commitment to supporting the flourishing collegiate NIL market.
