Panini America has rolled out a game-changing new platform called Panini College, aimed at revolutionizing the world of trading cards for college athletes. With the launch of Panini College, athletes from partner universities will now have the opportunity to showcase their name, image, and likeness through their own personalized trading cards under the Panini NIL brand. This innovative platform not only offers athletes a chance to have their cards available for sale to fans but also provides them with a memorable keepsake from their collegiate journey.
As part of the initial phase, Panini College will feature football and volleyball players from three major schools: Ohio State University, University of Nebraska, and University of Texas. The program is expected to expand to include more schools and sports nationwide in the near future, offering a broader range of athletes the opportunity to participate in this unique initiative.
The official launch of Panini College is set for Tuesday, September 3rd, with the platform accessible at college.paniniamerica.net. Fans can look forward to a continuous rollout of new products and athlete cards throughout the 2024-25 academic year, keeping the excitement and engagement levels high.
Jason Howarth, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations for Panini America, expressed the company’s belief in providing every collegiate athlete, regardless of their school, sport, or position, the chance to have their own trading card. He emphasized that Panini College is reshaping the trading card market for athletes across various sports, offering them a platform to benefit from their name, image, and likeness. With plans to include more schools and sports in the future, Panini College aims to provide athletes with increased recognition and fans with access to thrilling new collectibles.
Panini College builds upon Panini’s existing involvement in the collegiate NIL scene, where the company has partnered with notable athletes such as Lexi Rodriguez, a volleyball All-American from the University of Nebraska and Panini’s first female NIL athlete. Additionally, Panini has collaborations with Quinn Ewers, Tre Johnson, Arch Manning, Dylan Raiola, Julian Sayin, and Zachariah Branch, showcasing a diverse range of talent in the trading card market. Earlier in 2023, Panini launched the Caitlin Clark Collection, dedicated to celebrating the outstanding career of the University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark.
Panini America, known for its excellence in sports trading cards, strengthens its position in the collegiate sports niche with the introduction of Panini College. The platform not only provides athletes with a new avenue for recognition and compensation but also offers fans a fresh way to engage with their favorite sports stars. Panini College underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and its proactive stance in the dynamic collegiate NIL landscape.
