08/04/26 10:03:00
Printable Page
08/04 10:01 CDT Kansas men's hoops signs a five-year contract to play in the
Players Era Festival through 2030-31
Kansas men's hoops signs a five-year contract to play in the Players Era
Festival through 2030-31
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) --- Kansas has signed a five-year contract for the Jayhawks
to participate in the Players Era Festival, tying one of college basketball's
storied programs to one of the more innovative, forward-thinking tournaments in
the sport.
The Players Era began in Las Vegas in 2024 with the idea of funneling at least
$1 million toward each participating school's name, image and likeness fund.
Oregon wound up beating Alabama in the finale of the eight-team competition.
The tournament expanded last year to 18 teams, when it went from an
elimination-style tournament to a pool-based system where margin of victory
mattered, and a four-team women's event began. The Jayhawks beat Tennessee in
the third-place game of the men's event, while eventual national champion
Michigan routed Gonzaga to win the championship.
Along with at least $1 million in guaranteed payouts, an additional $12 million
was allocated to teams based on performance.
Now, the Jayhawks are locked into the tournament through the 2030-31 season,
giving coach Bill Self's team a marquee early-season showcase while ensuring
the program has a lucrative NIL stream in an era where finances matter more
than ever.
"The Players Era commitment to college basketball has been very impressive,"
Self said. "They have brought in high level teams which creates great matchups
during the pre-conference season. The Players Era has also produced great NIL
opportunities for our players.
"Being locked in through the 2030-31 season is a reinforcement of the direction
the Players Era is moving. Not only is it great for our players but it allows
our fans to plan vacations to come cheer on the Jayhawks."
The Players Era is expanding again this year to 24 teams, but it is splitting
into an eight-team tournament and a 16-team event. Both will be played in Las
Vegas over two weeks in November; the Jayhawks are part of the eight-team
bracket along with Florida, Rutgers, Notre Dame, UNLV and Big 12 rivals Houston
and West Virginia.
Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, St. John's and Gonzaga are among the high-profile
teams in the 16-team competition.
Last year, the Players Era and the Big 12 announced a five-year deal in which
the league would assume a 15% stake and guaranteed minimum annual revenues in
exchange for sending at least eight teams to the tournament. The Jayhawks,
Cougars and Mountaineers will be joined by Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State,
TCU and Texas Tech at the tournaments this November.
"We're grateful to have Kansas, one of the preeminent collegiate basketball
programs, return for the next several years," Players Era CEO Seth Berger said.
"It's an extraordinary testament to what we're building here with Player's Era
--- a competition that delivers an exceptional experience for both fans and
student-athletes alike in an atmosphere that feels like March in November."
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
|
