Louisville NIL collective, 502 Circle, launches 'athlete-driven' media network
The University of Louisville's name, image and likeness (NIL) collective has created its own media network.
502 Circle on Wednesday launched Floyd Street Media in partnership with The College Sports Company and NOCAP Sports. It is billed as an "athlete-driven media network" designed to drive new NIL revenue for the collective and, in turn, U of L athletes.
"It's a new way for us to capitalize on what we've got," said Dan Furman, president of 502 Circle. "We've got such a good product; we've got all these unbelievable athletes who come from all over the world. Now, let's amplify that and tell the story of why this place is so special; and I think that our fans will really relate to that."
Floyd Street Media is getting started with a bang. It's going to offer free livestreams of the men's basketball team's two-game exhibition tour of the Bahamas — beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 30 on its YouTube channel.
Rob Dauster and Terrence Oglesby of The Field of 68 will have the call.
Additionally, the media network is planning a show called "Keep it 100" with two members of head coach Pat Kelsey's inaugural roster, Kasean Pryor and Noah Waterman, hosting unfiltered conversations with teammates and former Cardinals players. Luke Hancock, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Final Four, will also host a series called "Court Vision"; and there's going to be a newsletter, "Floyd Street Corner."
Furman cited Penn State's State Media as 502 Circle's biggest influence in launching its own media network. He hopes it will provide fans an inside look at "what it actually means for a kid to come here and put Louisville across their chest" across its athletics programs and donors to the collective a return on their investments.
"It's a new and innovative way for us to continue to grow in the NIL space," Furman said.
Marc Spiegel of Rubicon Technologies spearheaded the creation of 502 Circle in 2022. It became the Cards' official collective last September through a partnership with their exclusive multimedia rights holder, LEARFIELD's Louisville Sports Properties.
The College Sports Company is a production company which produces content in collaboration with athletics departments on revenue-generating platforms. NOCAP Sports specializes in sports marketing initiatives, specifically on the NIL front.
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: University of Louisville NIL collective 502 Circle: Floyd Street Media
