The Cavinder Twins and Their NIL Transformation, Twitter Blue Controversy for Athletes, and Another Oakland Exodus

I’m back again with a new edition of Beyond the Game: Next Gen Brand Insights, where I talk trending topics in sports, business, NIL, and so much more. This week, I’m focusing on some of the top NIL stars who are no longer #NIL athletes - the Haley and Hannah Cavinder, and their ability to transform from the NIL to the WWE . I’ll also be talking about the latest Twitter controversy with the removal of verification check marks and how its affecting athletes and celebrities, and more info about how the Athletics ’s are following in the footsteps of the newly minted Las Vegas Raiders . Let’s get into it!

Cavender Twins Demonstrate New Ways Athletes can Utilize NIL Deals for Post Playing Career??

Former Miami Hurricanes basketball players and NIL stars, Haley and Hannah Cavinder will be taking their talents to the WWE. Last week, the twins informed the Today Show that they intend to become professional wrestlers instead of continuing their collegiate careers for a fifth and final season. The decision by the twins is predicated on their previous partnership with the WWE’s pipeline NIL program, “Next in Line”, which compensates athletes who promote the league, plus the Cavinder’s own admittance that professional basketball careers are not in their future.?

The twins followed their original announcement on the Today Show with another announcement that they have signed a deal with Betr Media to air their ongoing podcast, “Twin Talk”, which first launched in late December of 2022. This new venture will focus on promoting the growth of the Twin’s brand in an organic and authentic manner across multiple media platforms. Both deals are significant because the Cavinder twins are harbingers of a new way for former college athletes to use NIL to their advantage once their playing careers are ultimately finished, and pivot their star power into new forms of revenue. Recent NIL athletes that are similarly recognizing their NIL potential in new ventures include players like Gonzaga University basketball standout, Drew Timme, as well as recent WNBA draftee Haley Jones ( formerly of 美国斯坦福大学 ), through the launch of their own podcasts while also exploring options in broadcasting to help bolster their own careers.?

The prevailing view is that NIL can be used as a springboard for these athletes to set up their post career endeavors.

Twitter Blue Controversy and the Significance for Athletes and Celebrities

Twitter, and its controversial CEO Elon Musk, recently executed their plan to officially remove all forms of the authoritative blue check mark that had historically awarded an air of authenticity to the accounts that were able to secure it. Even users who had previously secured a legacy check mark from former CEO’s and company staff were removed from the list of updated accounts with access to the mark. The move comes as Musk continues to flounder in his helming of the media company and attempts to push users to invest in the new and wildly unpopular “Twitter Blue”; which is an $8 monthly subscription to an ‘upgraded’ #Twitter experience for users, including access to the previously coveted blue check mark.?

What once was a badge of honor and symbol of curation?has quickly become just the opposite, as it was revealed that Musk had secretly created a list of influential celebrities, close friends, and supporters to pay for their Twitter Blue subscriptions and solidify their standings on the platform. However, his efforts seemed to have backfired, as prominent figures such as Lebron James, Patrick Mahomes, Darius Slay, and even acclaimed author Steven King have firmly stated that they will not be paying for the service, and have even requested Musk to take away his gesture of paying for their subscriptions. The blue check has now become an almost comedic addition to user accounts, as the majority of the database will be checkless, except for those who have agreed to pay the monthly subscription fee, and users like Lebron do not want to be included in that group, even by default. King has suggested that Musk instead use his $8 subscription fee as a donation to charity, as he couldn’t be less interested in maintaining his verification, especially if it means the public might think he’s paying to keep it which is no doubt Musk’s intention.?

Oakland A’s Following in the Raider’s Footsteps

The historic Oakland A’s baseball organization, owned by billionaire Josh Fisher, signed a binding lease to purchase land near the Las Vegas Strip, and plan full move to Vegas by 2027. This move marks the third time the MLB team has relocated, following their initial move from Philadelphia to Kansas City in 1954, and from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968. The latest venture is projected to cost $1.5 Billion in total, and follows in the footsteps of the previous Oakland Raiders, who relocated to Las Vegas in 2020.?

Teams relocating to different cities is not new, but is most always newsworthy, as it means a disconnect from the original city, while also bringing a fresh revenue stream to the new location and the establishment if? a brand new fanbase in an otherwise lacking sports location. For instance, California is host to 4 additional MLB teams already throughout the state, while Las Vegas is home to none, making it a great target market for a low revenue generating club like the A’s to focus on and cultivate new fans and profits from. They have a great case study in the recently relocated Las Vegas Raiders, who spent about $2.4 billion on their own move in 2020, after facing similar challenges to the A’s in attempting to generate the capital to rebuild modern stadiums in the Oakland area and falling short every year. However, the risk for Oakland is the loss of yet another, and this time the city’s final, professional sports team, which will officially label Oakland as a ‘minor league’ city. Fans are already devastated by the thought and are still sore over the loss of the NFL team from 2020, so it will be interesting to see if they are able to bounce back from these consistent exoduses, and start to seriously reconsider their investment capabilities to try and bring more sports revenue back to the city, or to release those hopes altogether and focus their efforts in other ventures. Since their move, the Raiders have seen a 10% increase in revenue annually, and Vegas locals who were desperate for professional sports teams continue to be thrilled with their new access to an NFL team and its fandom, so it’s likely that the A’s will see similar results following their relocation.?

Final Thoughts

That’s all for this week’s trending topics in sports, brands, NIL, and web3. Were you surprised to hear that the Oakland A’s will be relocating to Las Vegas? Do you think Twitter Blue will help or hurt the Twitter platform? You can stay updated on all the latest trending topics by subscribing to my weekly newsletter, and letting me know your own thoughts on every subject I cover in the comments. Come back next week for a new edition of Beyond the Game: Next Gen Brand? Insights!