Oregon Accelerator

Last week Oregon Accelerator had the incredible opportunity to learn from McKenzie Fox Magne, a Duck alum and senior manager of player marketing and social activations at the National Football League (NFL) ??? McKenzie shared invaluable insights on athlete marketing, social media strategy, and content creation, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at how storytelling and digital engagement shape the sports world. Some key takeaways:?? Take risks—even a lower-level role can lead to unexpected opportunities.?? Humanize athletes—fans connect with authenticity.?? Start creating now—strong organic content attracts partnerships.?? Expand beyond traditional content—social extensions bring in new audiences.?? Refine your pitch—be clear, concise, and value-driven. Through the Oregon Accelerator, students can put their skills to the test in real-world settings, gaining insights from industry leaders like McKenzie while exploring the intersection of storytelling, branding, and sports marketing. ?? This experience is especially valuable for those involved in our public relations and creative departments, as well as other students from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication studying PR, advertising, and journalism. They have been developing skills in digital storytelling, personal branding, and audience engagement—and get to put them into practice here at the Oregon Accelerator. A huge thank you to McKenzie for sharing her expertise and inspiring us to push the boundaries of digital storytelling in the sports industry! #OregonAccelerator #SportsMarketing #NFL #GoDucks

When the NCAA approved NIL rights, it opened new doors for college athletes—but not for everyone. International student-athletes, who make up about 12% of the NCAA, are still locked out of most NIL opportunities due to strict visa regulations. Our latest blog, written by Ashley Heeren, breaks down why these athletes are missing out, the challenges they face, and potential solutions for change. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gq7V_dNT

Navigating the ever-evolving world of NIL can be overwhelming—but student-athletes at the University of Oregon don’t have to do it alone???? At Oregon Accelerator, we’re committed to helping athletes make the most of these changes, providing guidance, creative collaboration, and hands-on support to turn NIL opportunities into long-term success. With new developments shaping the landscape, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and proactive. Check out this article to learn more about the latest shifts in NIL at UO and how athletes can adapt and thrive? ??: https://lnkd.in/gC56uQbR

Sad to see our seniors go, but we know they'll do great things! ??

Oregon Accelerator x Merch photoshoot ?? As a member of Oregon Accelerator we've received some amazing merch, and what better way to showcase it than through a photoshoot! - props to Gabriel Taylor for the sleek t-shirt design! ?? ?? Thank you to Eli Bogatin for assisting in photography and editing, as well giving me the the creative lead for this project to come up with ideas on the look and feel for the photoshoot! s/o to Chloe LaMonica for assisting with studio/light setup and being my co-director throughout the shoot! Lastly, big thank you to the OA team members who modeled for us!! Dior Edwards, Michaela Taylor, Tony Rodriguez, Jake Johns and Jaeden Gordon From concept to creation! https://lnkd.in/gYsYZBUw ?? ?? ?? ?? #ArtDirector #SOJC #OregonAccelerator

Look at that merch ?? & the creative team killing it of course. ??

Spotlight on our OA Blog! ?? Have you had a chance to explore our Oregon Accelerator Blog yet? It’s packed with insights and resources for anyone navigating the exciting world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Our blogs are where we share real stories and advice about NIL. From in-depth case studies, effective social media strategies that help you stand out, and easy-to-understand breakdowns of NIL basics — there's something for everyone. A huge shoutout to the writers of our public relations team who bring the Oregon Accelerator Blog to life! Their hard work and creativity ensure that each post is not only informative and engaging but also reflective of the world of NIL. Caroline Romero, Rachel Soley, Elizabeth Dunning, Sammie Baker, Shaelyn Ross, Sidney Wu, Ashley Heeren, Michaela Taylor, you are all awesome! Don’t miss out on learning from the successes of others and enhancing your own strategies. Check out our blog today and see how others are turning potential into success! Visit our blog landing page by clicking the link below. https://lnkd.in/dSW22gjv #OregonAccelerator #NILSuccess #StudentAthletes #NameImageLikeness

We were thrilled to have Ryan Shepard from Lockerverse join us last night at our meeting to dive into the transformative world of sports and fan engagement. Lockerverse is changing how fans interact with sports by merging culture, technology and passion into one dynamic platform. Here's an overview of what we learned: Lockerverse at a Glance? ?? A platform that maximizes fan engagement and monetization. Lockerverse empowers sports organizations and athletes to connect more meaningfully with their fans through storytelling, exclusive content, live streams, and unique merchandise. Engagement & Monetization? ?? With its innovative approach, Lockerverse offers tools for real-time interaction, premium content feeds and an exclusive merchandise store. It’s bringing the excitement of the game directly to the fans in new and interactive ways. Challenges & Solutions? ?? Despite the sports industry's enthusiasm and loyalty, fragmentation and lack of effective engagement tools have been major hurdles. Lockerverse addresses these with its community-building model inspired by platforms like Twitch, focusing on direct connections and inclusive opportunities for all athletes. The Future of Fan Engagement? ?? As the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) markets continue to grow, tapping into this opportunity is crucial. Lockerverse sets the stage for a revolution in how sports organizations and athletes monetize their interactions and enhance fan experiences. Ryan inspired us to think differently about fan engagement and the potential for platforms like Lockerverse to change the game. A huge thank you to Ryan for sharing his insights and sparking a lively discussion among our members! #sportstech #fanengagement #NIL #lockerverse #athletemarketing

We spent a little time at this week's OA meeting talking about different ways to make posting brand deals on social media less stressful. Posting sponsored content can sound scary but it doesn’t have to be! Here’s some tips: ??Post regularly! The more you post, the less out of the blue it will feel when you post a brand deal or sponsored content. ??Create a content calendar Knowing what you have to post next will make the process feel less stressful. Try to create a schedule for yourself at the beginning of each month until posting regularly feels natural. ??Schedule posts ahead of time Instagram and other platforms give you the ability to schedule a post without having to send the content right at that moment. Schedule content ahead of time so you don’t have to think about when and what to post! ??Find inspiration in others Look at all of the people you follow who post content regularly. If their posts are doing well, take inspiration from them! ??Collaboration posts Collaborative posts do really well on Instagram as a way to boost both profiles. Collaborate with your friends, teammates and the brands you’re working with to elevate your sponsored posts and make you feel more confident in your feed. There are so many other ways to make posting feel normal and easy. We hope these tips help you feel more confident in your social media platforms!