COLUMBUS, OH - The 1870 Society is proud to announce its launch as the first for-profit Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) collective supporting Ohio State University athletics.
The goal of The 1870 Society is to unlock the power of NIL to help young men and women athletes at Ohio State realize their full potential and create meaningful opportunities for their future.
With the rise of NIL rights, OSU is facing a critical challenge on which Buckeye Nation has not yet fully capitalized. The 1870 Society’s aim is not to displace or diminish the hard work of the established nonprofit NIL collectives but rather to complement and supplement it. The current non-profit initiatives have limitations in terms of their scale and scope, not due to the intentions or efforts of those running them, but rather because of their legal, tax, and operational structures. Therefore, a for-profit presence is needed to accelerate our community's pursuit of opportunity and excellence, benefiting fans, businesses, and student-athletes alike.
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The 1870 Society is the premier Name, Image, and Likeness entity of Ohio State athletics and we're building a community of Buckeye supporters everywhere.
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Buckeye fans and businesses are now being asked to support our student-athletes through The 1870 Society membership tiers.
Fans enrolled in a membership tier will receive exclusive access and content including, but not limited to, helmet stickers, the Ryan Day podcast, autographs, exclusive event tickets, and more. Membership tiers start at $10/month up to $5,000/month.
Businesses interested in contributing to The 1870 Society can unlock exclusive perks and promotional opportunities. This includes social media promotion from a student-athlete, logo placement, radio spots, exclusive event access, and more. Corporate tiers start at $2,500/year.
"NIL is the new frontier of college sports and we are thrilled to see The 1870 Society launching in this space. At Ohio State, we understand the crucial role that fan support plays in the success of our student-athletes, and we are excited for another opportunity,” said OSU Athletic Director Gene Smith. “We need the edge of a for-profit NIL collective to keep us competitive across the nation, and we are committed to supporting our current student-athletes while building strong, competitive programs. Buckeye Nation, we hope that you share our enthusiasm and recognize the significance of supporting our athletes. Your unwavering support is greatly appreciated by the Ohio State Department of Athletics."
The 1870 Society was launched by a group of passionate and experienced operators including Mark Stetson, Aidin Aghamiri, and Jason Priestas.
Stetson is an Ohio State alum, receiving his B.A. in 2009 and MBA in 2014. He has spent his career in Healthcare Technology, founding a Health-Tech startup created to help employers, health plans and their members save on prescription costs.
Aghamiri earned his degree in finance from the Ohio State University’s Fisher School of Business and his MBA from Duke. He built a groundbreaking, tech-enabled global IT and datacenter services company.
Priestas founded Eleven Warriors in 2006 with the goal of creating the go-to destination for in-depth coverage and analysis of Ohio State football, basketball, and other sports. Under Priestas' leadership, Eleven Warriors has grown into the largest team site on the internet, with visits from 3.5 million fans each month.
The 1870 Society will operate with integrity, transparency, and a high moral compass. We're committed to creating a culture that values these principles above all else, and we believe that by doing so, we can help build a brighter future for student-athletes and the communities they serve.
To sign up for access to exclusive perks and content, click here.
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