For immediate release
LAWRENCE, KS – Local retailer, Rally House, has signed an exclusive deal with the KU men’s basketball team to sell licensed player product for the 2021-2022 season. Player product is set to arrive at select Rally House stores in Kansas City, Lawrence and Wichita by Nov. 3. With the passing of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation this past year, current student athletes are now allowed to earn a share of the profits from products that include their likeness just like Chiefs and Royals players.
Matt Baty, owner of 6th Man Strategies, is representing the KU men’s basketball team and helped broker the deal with KU’s largest retailer. “There is no retailer that sells more KU product than Rally House,” said Baty. “They were the perfect fit and helped shape the retail model that our players were really excited about. We can’t wait to show our fans what we have created.”
In total Rally House will be bringing in over 4,000 products that will include product for every member of the KU Men’s Basketball team. Rally House is also developing product for KU’s women’s basketball team in hopes to have their product in by the end of the calendar year.
As it currently stands, Rally House is the only retailer allowed to include KU’s official trademarks with a players’ likeness, so fans looking for unique apparel with a players’ name and KU’s logos.
“We are super excited to be on the forefront of NIL,” said Aaron Liebert, Rally House CEO. “We thrive on our one-stop shop mentality, and this adds more credibility to that statement for those looking for player gear.”
Liebert was quick to point out how Rally House’s support of NIL product could be the difference in whether a lottery recruit attends KU. “If a potential recruit visits our store and sees the amount of product we’ve committed to the team, we hope that this just further cements the reason they should attend KU,” said Liebert.
Liebert also hopes to expand this model for K-State, Missouri and other schools that are also carried by Rally House.
