Cincinnati Bearcats basketball playing for NIL package at College Basketball Crown

If the University of Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team can extend its stay at the College Basketball Crown tournament until April 6, they could be in line for a $300,000 Name, Image, Likeness package (NIL).

The College Basketball Crown announced a first-of-its-kind NIL endorsement opportunity for a postseason college basketball tournament with the launch of the Vivid Seats Ambassador Program. Presented by Vivid Seats, the tournament’s official ticketing provider, the groundbreaking NIL initiative will award student-athletes from the tournament’s top four finishing teams with brand ambassador endorsement deals.

The Cincinnati Bearcats open in the Crown tournament Tuesday, April 1 at 3 p.m. (Eastern) against DePaul. A win would move them to the next round April 3 vs. the UCF/Oregon State winner. Two wins would put them “in the money” in the semifinals on Saturday, April 5 vs. the winner of Colorado vs. Villanova or the winner of Tulane vs. USC.

How much can College Basketball Crown teams make in Las Vegas?

The Vivid Seats Ambassador Program offers $500,000 in NIL brand ambassador deals, rewarding the top four teams:• Champion (Primary Ambassador Team): $300,000 NIL package• Runner-up (Secondary Ambassador Team): $100,000 NIL package• Semifinalists (Third and fourth Ambassador Team who do not advance to finals): $50,000 NIL package each.

Participating student-athletes will engage as brand ambassadors on behalf of Vivid Seats. Athletes from qualifying teams will have opportunities to leverage their name, image, and likeness through various marketing campaigns, including social media activations and more.

“This initiative represents an innovative shift in college basketball’s postseason landscape,” Jordan Bazant, Executive Vice President, FOX Sports, and board member of the College Basketball Crown said. “It not only enhances competition, but also underscores our commitment to supporting student-athletes by unlocking new commercial opportunities.”

Geoff Lester, Vivid Seats Chief Commercial Officer added, “We’re thrilled to pioneer this new chapter in collegiate athletics. At Vivid Seats, our business revolves around seamlessly connecting fans to the live events they love. This unique NIL ambassador program is a natural extension of that mission.”

What to know about College Basketball Crown

Launched by FOX Sports and AEG, the College Basketball Crown is a postseason college basketball tournament debuting March 3 in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena (where the semifinals/finals take place). It features 16 teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and additional at-large participants. The inaugural College Basketball Crown will take place from March 31 to April 6 with all games airing on FOX and FS1.

Cincinnati Bearcats participants

As of Tuesday, the Cincinnati Bearcats who competed in the Big 12 Championships in Kansas City are expected to return for this tournament. The team last played March 12, losing a second-round Big 12 tournament game to Iowa State.

Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball portal news

Tuesday, On3sports.com reported 5-foot-9 junior A’riel Jackson entered the transfer portal. She averaged 6.9 points per game and 2.9 rebounds for Coach Katrina Merriweather and the UC Bearcats who finished 15-14 (7-11 Big 12). She started 25 of the 29 games.

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