Hancock Stadium | Illinois State University Athletics
Hancock Stadium | Illinois State University Athletics
BloNo Pizza Co. has announced a partnership with the Illinois State University (ISU) women's basketball team, marking the first full-team Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal by a local Bloomington-Normal business with an ISU athletics team. The agreement involves all fourteen student-athletes on the team for the 2024-25 academic year.
The pizza company is located near CEFCU Arena, where the ISU women's basketball team plays its home games. Recently, BloNo Pizza Co. opened Westside Smoke restaurant at the same location. "We could not be more excited to invest in women's sports and the Illinois State Women's Basketball program," said Brett Matthews, owner of BloNo Pizza Co.
Under the State of Illinois Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act, NIL deals require quid-pro-quo arrangements. As part of this agreement, the student-athletes will participate in a commercial shoot at CEFCU Arena promoting BloNo Pizza Co., which will be shown during games. Additionally, there will be a special event at BloNo Pizza Co. for fans to meet the team and promote Westside Smoke. Each athlete will also post about BloNo Pizza Co. on their Instagram accounts.
"We're thrilled to see BloNo Pizza Co. step up and support our entire Women's Basketball team with this NIL partnership," said Kristen Gillespie, ISU Head Women's Basketball Coach. "This is a game-changer, not just for our student-athletes but for Illinois State Athletics as a whole."
Empower The Nest, the official NIL collective for ISU student-athletes, has experienced significant growth since 2023-24. The women's basketball program has launched its own initiative under Empower The Nest called Fly With Us.
"As the Director of NIL, I'm thrilled to see the entire Women's Basketball team partnering with BloNo Pizza Co.," stated Brennan White, ISU Director of NIL.
Fans interested in supporting ISU Athletics or donating to Empower The Nest can contact Brennan White via email.
For more information on tickets and merchandise related to Illinois State Athletics, visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.
Alerts Sign-up