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Eli Manning teams with The Grove Collective for 'legendary evening' to raise NIL funds

Jeremy Crabtreeby: Jeremy Crabtree04/24/24jeremycrabtree
eli-manning-teams-with-jaxson-dart-the-grove-collective-for-legendary-evening-to-raise-nil-funds

Ole Miss icon and NFL legend Eli Manning is inviting fans to a “legendary evening” to raise funds for The Grove Collective, the Rebels-focused NIL collective.

Manning returns to his alma mater for the special event at 6 p.m. Monday, May 6 at the Manning Center in Oxford. The event, presented by RiverLand Roofing, features a chat between Manning and current QB1 Jaxson Dart.

Manning – the two-time Super Bowl MVP who had his number retired at Ole Miss in 2021 – will also participate in an intimate dinner, meet and greet and an interactive question and answer session with Dart.

“Tables for 10 are available on a first-come, first-served basis, offering you and your guests the opportunity to interact with the past and future of Ole Miss football,” The Grove said on its website promoting the event. “Your ticket includes access to the full evening – the meet and greet, photo opportunities, drinks and dinner, silent auction, and an autographed football for each table from both Jaxson and Eli.

“Don’t miss this chance to connect with football greats and create memories to last a lifetime. This event is a ticketed event and all proceeds support The Grove Collective and Ole Miss student-athletes.”

Eli Manning event creative way to raise NIL funds

According to The Grove’s website, tables are available for $5,000. That means the collective will generate $50,000 before expenses are taken out from reservations alone.

The event is another example of collectives working to generate funds and support through means outside of the recurring subscription model. NIL leaders and school officials have talked openly about concern about donor fatigue throughout the third year of the NIL Era.

It’s no surprise The Grove is pushing the envelope from a creativity standpoint. Since his arrival in 2022, Executive Director Walker Jones has reshaped the collective and formulated a number of unique ways to generate funding and cement its spot as one of the most ambitious collectives in the NIL ecosystem.