NEW ORLEANS – Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Tim Duncan announced the University of New Orleans' new partnership with the Big Blue Collective, LLC, along with additional NIL agreements with INFLCR, Influxer, and Campus Ink Tuesday afternoon.
The Big Blue Collective, LLC, has been established as the university's official NIL collective, dedicated to empowering student-athletes through the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) framework. Operating independently of the university, the collective is focused on providing athletes with the tools, resources, and connections needed to maximize their NIL potential.
"Creating a robust Name, Image, and Likeness program is a critical piece to the recruitment and retention of the student-athletes and the Big Blue Collective at the center of our efforts," said Duncan. "Originally founded just days after we hired Coach Stacy, we are tremendously excited to aid student-athletes in monetizing their individual brands."
The Big Blue Collective also seeks to rekindle the spirit of over 50,000 local alumni who fondly remember the vibrant atmosphere of Privateers sports.
"As a New Orleanian, a fan of all sports, and a former student-athlete, being able to revitalize the University of New Orleans and the surrounding community excites me," said Managing Director Benjamin C. Fields. "I envision this collective as the catalyst that will aid in not only bringing New Orleans back to its former glory. It will also provide the necessary influence and leverage that will, more importantly, benefit the University and the Greater New Orleans Region it is surrounded by in many ways."
Fields, a Loyola University of New Orleans graduate and former member of Head Men's Basketball Coach Stacy Hollowell's team at Loyola, currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of BCFO, LLC, a business management and financial literacy firm. He will act as the liaison between the collective and external stakeholders, fostering vital relationships with local businesses and enhancing opportunities for New Orleans student-athletes.
"Once I met Benjamin Fields, I knew we had to find a way to add him to our staff in some capacity," Duncan stated. "He is smart, talented, driven, and has a perfect background with experience a as former student-athlete, a private banker, managing his brother's Christian rap career and merchandise line," said Duncan. "Ben has already made a mark by expanding the Big Blue Collective to include more than just basketball as it will include support all Privateer student-athletes."
The Big Blue Collective is set to play a vital role in elevating the University of New Orleans' competitiveness in the Division I landscape.
In 2023, New Orleans also partnered with Influxer and INFLCR to further support student-athletes in maximizing their NIL opportunities.
Influxer offers a platform for student-athletes to monetize their names, images, and likenesses. The site features a comprehensive NIL merchandise store for all participating Privateer student-athletes, including officially licensed apparel with their names and jersey numbers.
Through
INFLCR, New Orleans has launched the Privateer Exchange marketplace, providing student-athletes the opportunity to:
- Engage with brands, collectives, donors, fans, and individuals nationwide to partner on endorsements, advertising agreements and more.
- Access The Privateer Exchange through their personalized INFLCR app, while businesses and individuals can engage via INFLCR's web platform.
- Retain 100% of NIL earnings, as New Orleans' investment in the platform ensures no transaction fees are taken by INFLCR.
Campus Ink, supported by Mark Cuban, offers a platform for student-athletes to amplify their brand and connect with fans through officially licensed NIL merchandise.
For further information about these new partnerships and how they benefit Privateers student-athletes, please visit
New Orleans NIL.
WE ARE YOUR KREWE
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play, and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
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