Sporting Kansas City continues to enhance the Sporting U NIL platform as the team welcomed the following five Sporting U NIL Athletes to the club’s new front office last week for a special three-hour event.
- MU kicker Blake Craig (Liberty North High School alum)
- KU forward Hallie Klanke (Lee’s Summit West High School alum)
- Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (Park Hill High Schoool alum)
- Kansas State defender Jericho Frigon (Liberty High School alum)
- MU midfielder Keegan Good (Park Hill South High School alum)
The student-athletes enjoyed a premium experience that included a professional photo shoot with personalized SportingStyle apparel in addition to a meet-and-greet with Sporting Kansas City staff and an all-access tour of the 30,000 square foot office space. Located in the River Market neighborhood at 300 Wyandotte Street, the dual-level front office opened last month and features floor-to-ceiling glass and a roof-top patio with expansive views of downtown Kansas City and the Missouri River.
The educational event was organized to provide professional development resources, mentorship and networking opportunities for the inaugural class of Sporting U NIL Athletes with Sporting KC associates leading a panel discussion on career counseling as well as providing community impact and personal brand building presentations.
Sporting Kansas City launched the Sporting U NIL Program nine months ago at the start of the 2023-24 school year and the club currently has Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) agreements with six local products representing the region at the NCAA Division I level.
The Sporting U NIL initiative is designed to provide a platform for Sporting Kansas City to celebrate and interact with homegrown athletes on college campuses across the Midwest who have excelled in their sports. The Sporting U NIL Athletes receive a financial stipend for social media engagement as well as tickets for Sporting KC home matches and merchandise from SportingStyle. The club’s investment in the Sporting U NIL program also includes further value for student-athletes through assistance with strategic marketing and content creation campaigns in addition to authentic opportunities to support their pursuit of professional careers both on and off the field.
