Athlete-Turned-Entrepreneur Keenan Beasley Delivers Reality Check on Sports Infrastructure Amidst NIL Era: “Opportunities Are There”

The NCAA’s tectonic shift with the introduction of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) has been met with both frantic excitement and cautious skepticism. The landscape of collegiate athletics is rapidly evolving, and with it emerges a host of new questions: How will young athletes navigate this complex new world? Are existing structures equipped to handle the influx of brand dollars? And what does this mean for the future of the sports and media industries?

EssentiallySports Think Tank, our new and premium thought leadership initiative, recently delved into exactly that. In the latest edition of the series, our host Trey Holder virtually sat down with Keenan Beasley, an entrepreneur, former athlete, and marketing executive, who provided unique insights into the opportunities and challenges inherent in the NIL revolution.

NIL Reshapes the Game: Keenan Beasley on brands and players alike navigating a new playing field

Keenan Beasley, a seasoned voice in the sports business world, cuts through the noise of NIL with his characteristic clarity. It was our host, who kicked off the conversation by bringing to light the temptation that young athletes can get into with short-term deals. In doing so, he also emphasized the importance of long-term vision. Beasley then echoed this sentiment, reminding us that this is a new world—a new form of entertainment even. And that the dust is far from settled.

“The opportunities are there, everyone’s excited, we love it—the infrastructure is catching up,” Beasley stated. He brings a grounded perspective, assuring viewers that, while this is still early stages, the processes and guidelines will eventually emerge. “Take your time, it’ll smooth itself out.” His experience across both business and sports lends weight to this reassurance.

The focus on evolving structures aligns perfectly with the EssentiallySports Think Tank’s target audience—savvy CMOs and brand innovators. This isn’t just about individual athletes; it’s about the wider sports content business. CMOs are strategists seeking long-term value, and Keenan Beasley highlights a landscape in flux. The implicit question becomes: Can brands navigate this uncertainty and create enduring partnerships, or will short-term chaos undermine their returns?

Beasley isn’t just offering a logical analysis, he’s calling for patience. It’s a subtle yet powerful message for brands looking to jump into the NIL space as haste could lead to wasted investment. There’s value in allowing the right infrastructure to develop, ensuring their deals align with the changing rules and athlete developments.

WATCH: ES Think Tank’s Exclusive Interview with Madisen Skinner

By hosting voices like Keenan Beasley, EssentiallySports demonstrates its unique positioning within the sports content world itself. It’s not just about scores and plays now; it’s about the evolving business landscape. As a brand, we understand that our readers aren’t just interested in athletes but in the entire ecosystem in which they operate.

This is a premium initiative of ES, where we bring together the finest brains who talk about strategy, leadership, change, and opportunities in the world of sports content business. Stay tuned for some more thought leadership from our experts. This is EssentiallySports Think Tank, Where Sports meets Smart Content.

Tune into ES Think Tank to watch the full episode!