URGENT UPDATE: The Players Era Festival is set to make college basketball history on November 15, 2023, as the championship game will award the winner an unprecedented $1 million in name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. The runner-up will still take home a remarkable $500,000, marking college basketball’s first-ever $1.5 million game.
Seth Berger, CEO of the Players Era Festival, announced this groundbreaking prize structure just hours before the highly anticipated matches in Las Vegas. In addition to the championship game, the third-place matchup will feature a $300,000 payout for the winner and $200,000 for the loser, providing significant financial incentives for all teams involved.
Berger emphasized that all 18 participants in this year’s event will average over $1 million in NIL compensation, thanks to their engagement in legitimate marketing and promotional activities throughout the festival. “We ensure that each athlete is meeting fair-market value for their work,” he stated. This approach aims to provide real-world experience for the players while navigating the evolving landscape of NIL opportunities.
“With the NIL opportunities, the kids actually have to perform activations, marketing services, social media postings,” Berger explained, reinforcing the event’s commitment to genuine athlete engagement.
The Players Era Festival is already profitable in its second year, with plans to expand to 32 teams in 2026. This expansion will include a new $50 million equity partnership with the Big 12, further emphasizing the festival’s growing influence in collegiate athletics.
Fans have expressed confusion over the unique format of the Players Era, which relies on margin of victory, records, point totals, and head-to-head results to determine the championship matchup. Berger compared the event to an AAU tournament, stating, “Every shot matters, every basket matters, every minute matters.” He is optimistic that as fans become more familiar with the format, they will embrace the excitement it brings to November basketball.
While the men’s event is thriving, the women’s competition featuring South Carolina, Texas, UCLA, and Duke is expected to operate at a loss this year. However, Berger remains confident in the future growth of the women’s segment of the Players Era.
As the championship games approach, all eyes will be on the court in Las Vegas. The stakes are high, not only for the players but for the evolution of college basketball itself. Viewers and fans are encouraged to tune in and witness history in the making.
Stay tuned for updates as the Players Era Festival unfolds, with the championship game set to begin shortly. This is a pivotal moment for collegiate athletics, and the excitement is palpable.
