The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness into college sports has been a breath of fresh air for the players. Once unable to make monetary gain off of their names, athletes can now get paid handsomely before they ever even reach the pros. But not everything about the introduction of NIL into college sports has been peaches and cream. Because now that the athletes are starting to capitalize off of their names, so too are the institutions. The latest culprit of that is the University of Tennessee.
University of Tennesse Adds "Talent Fee" to 2025 Tickets
On September 17, the team announced that it would be introducing a "talent fee" to its 2025 tickets.
"The University of Tennessee will increase football ticket prices and the required donations that accompany them by an average of 14.5% in 2025 with most of the new cost going to a "talent fee" to pay players," Knox News writes.
"On Tuesday, UT informed season-ticket holders of the price hike via email, along with a video of athletics director Danny White explaining the purpose of the move."
In a statement following the move, University of Tennesse Athletic Director Danny White explained that the move is just an effect of the growth of college sports.
"We've come a long way in the last few years. In this new era, it's going to get a lot more expensive," White told Knox News. "But there's also going to be a closer relationship between resources and competition than there ever has been before. And our biggest asset is our fan base."
Fans Slam Tennessee Following Announcement
Following the move, college sports fans shared their disdain about the university's decision to add the fee.
"UT is tripping hard. That's like the Grizzlies tryna charge an extra $20 a ticket for signing Jokic," one fan said.
"Anyone dumb enough to pay this isn't smart enough to be in college," another added.
Media members also chimed in on the decision. Most notably former ESPN analyst Jemele Hill pointed out how unfair the decision was to the fans.
"So let me get this straight: It wasn't fans who refused to pay the players. It wasn't fans that came up with the archaic rules suppressing their right to profit off of their name, image, and likeness. That was an NCAA/college university decision ... and now fans have to pay for their reckless incompetence?" she stated.
