What I think is the best way of earning money and gaining fan support.
Handing out flyers or schedules at high school events, especially if it was a group of volunteers, um, 1,000 bucks maybe.
Me setting up tents with food trucks, vendors, and beer. Okay, that might be 10k. If I say, 'Look, The Best Stop, you can sell Boudin and Cracklings at Cajun Field on game day. I want 30% of profit, or charge a flat fee, I gain my money back. If I sell beer, I gain my money back.' The money you receive would hopefully outweigh the cost of setting it up.
A mascot - we have the idea. How much would a mascot cost? 20k? Well, how many fans would you actually bring in? Hopefully, the income that mascot is bringing in outweighs the 20k that it took to have the mascot.
In my mind, all 3 would be a huge success!"
That money could be used for NIL?
Let's say I took a group of football players, and I say, "Hey, go out before the game and take pictures with family or little kids and sign autographs. Charge people 30 bucks for the photo, and the proceeds would go directly to the players." If I were an all-star athlete and say I could make 15 bucks for every photo I took with a kid or a family or parent, I would do it. I am sure that falls under the NIL; he would be earning money off his Name, Image, and Likeness?
Plus, if I were a little kid and I got a photo with some of the UL players, man, as a little kid, I would be all excited, frame it, and hang it in my room.
That's how you create lifelong fans, and the athlete earns a little money as well.
I could even have the kid put on an actual Ragin Cajun football helmet during the photo shoot. That would be great!