{"id":9269,"date":"2023-07-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-01T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=9269"},"modified":"2023-07-01T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-01T16:00:00","slug":"big-red-business-jordy-bahl-inc-is-all-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/big-red-business-jordy-bahl-inc-is-all-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Red Business: Jordy Bahl Inc. is all business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jordy Bahl<\/a><\/strong> can do it all on the softball field \u2013 pitch, hit,\u00a0 run, and field her position.\u00a0 Off the field, she has the potential to be just as much of a juggernaut but with blue-chip value.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s been called a \u201cgenerational force\u201d for Husker softball. Fans are already talking about the \u201cBahl Effect\u201d on the Cornhuskers\u2019\u00a0 good but not great softball program.<\/p>\n

RELATED \u2013 Pitcher Jordy Bahl a \u201cgenerational force\u201d for state of Nebraska and the Huskers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Others refer to her as the Caitlan Clark<\/a><\/strong> of women\u2019s softball, a reference to the Iowa Hawkeye basketball player who captured the attention of basketball fans nationwide with her shooting touch during Iowa\u2019s recent NCAA title run.<\/p>\n

How about this new tag:\u00a0 Jordy Bahl Inc.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Papilian native and 2023 Most Outstanding Player in the Women\u2019s College World Series, is among the top five college softball players regarding her $62,000 in earnings power, according to\u00a0On3\u2019s Name Image and Likeness valuation. Among all women college athletes, she\u2019s ranked 44th in NIL.<\/p>\n

\u00a0She has about 85,000 social media followers and partnerships and completed deals with regional and national brands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0In the days since Bahl officially transferred her multiple softball skills to the Cornhuskers from Oklahoma \u2013 where she played a leading role in helping the Sooners win two national championships in her two years there \u2013 inquiries for Nebraska softball season tickets have soared to over 3,000. So much interest that athletic director Trev Alberts has talked about expanding the capacity at\u00a0Bowlin Stadium, which seats about 2,500 fans<\/a><\/strong> but has ample space for expansion. There are only 750 reserved chairback seats, with the rest being general admission burm seating. <\/p>\n

In addition, retailers that sell Husker gear are designing and ordering new lines of softball apparel and just about anything else that you can slap a softball sticker on.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Nebraska native has started making the rounds at meet-and-greet appearances. She signed autographs at the College World Series, and is scheduled to mingle with Omaha Storm Chasers fans on Monday in a holiday fireworks event sponsored by Hy-Vee.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

NIL Potential <\/h2>\n

The real opportunity for Bahl to cash in her talent should come once she transfers her name, image, and likeness status from the Sooners Crimson and Cream collective<\/a><\/strong> to presumably Nebraska\u2019s 1890 collective<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0 That\u2019s partly because retailers can\u2019t slap her name on a jersey, for example, until she is qualified under Nebraska\u2019s licensing collective.<\/p>\n

To say the least, \u201cwe think she might turn out to be a popular NIL person,\u201d said Mike Osborne, owner of Best of Big Red<\/a><\/strong>, the Lincoln-based Husker merchandise store.<\/p>\n

Osborne said that the retailer\u2019s two most popular NIL jersey sales for all sports are basketball player Keisei Tominaga <\/a><\/strong>and women\u2019s volleyball star Lexi Rodriguez.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cNo one else is even close to those two,\u201d Osborne said.<\/p>\n

But that could quickly change \u201conce we know (Bahl\u2019s) status with NIL,\u201d\u00a0 added Joey Rupp, general manager of Best of Big Red. Matt Davison of the 1890 Initiative could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n

For perspective, at Oklahoma, Bahl and two of her teammates reported NIL valuations ranging from\u00a0 $46,000 to $62,000<\/p>\n

Bahl had partnerships with about a dozen companies, including Nebraska Furniture Mart, Scooters Coffee, H&R Block, Academy Sports, and Love\u2019s Travel Stops. Some of these companies, especially those with Nebraska ties, would presumably move their partnerships with Bahl from Oklahoma to Nebraska.<\/p>\n

While Bahl stands to be a money generator for her own bank account, she\u2019ll also add visibility to Nebraska\u2019s women\u2019s softball program and to the sport in general throughout the state.<\/p>\n

Bahl has said one of her reasons for returning to her home state was to be a role model for encouraging young girls to play softball and other sports. A dollar value can\u2019t be placed on what that means.<\/p>\n

\n\n

You did that Husker Nation.<\/p>\n

Current season ticket holders + New interest in supporting the Red Team<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t wait to see the Bowlin crowds pic.twitter.com\/HdLqC9p2JE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) June 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Red hot revenue <\/h2>\n

Some would say Nebraska football used to be the hottest ticket in town. Now it\u2019s women\u2019s volleyball. Can softball rise to the top?<\/p>\n

Consider that since Bahl\u2019s announcement that she\u2019ll spend the next two years in Lincoln, the athletic department has received requests for over 3,000 season tickets.<\/p>\n

Last season, there were 365 seats sold as season tickets, said athletic department spokesman Keith Mann. (Those 365 tickets are not included in the wait list number.)<\/p>\n

Average attendance at Bowlin Stadium in the just completed 2023 season was 1,000 per game, the second time in school history that attendance has hit that mark. Nebraska ranked 23rd nationally in average softball attendance, Mann said. Only five schools averaged at least 2,000 fans per game in 2023.<\/p>\n

Mann said season ticket prices for 2024 have yet to be determined, but undoubtedly, Bahl\u2019s arrival should generate a substantial boost in revenue for the athletic department.<\/p>\n

Will Bowlin be expanded? \u201cThere\u2019s already been discussions about how we can accommodate as many fans as possible,\u201d with temporary bleachers, or more berm seating among the possibilities, Mann said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the excitement around the program, we are certainly looking at ways to accommodate as many fans as possible next season at Bowlin Stadium,\u201d Mann said.<\/p>\n

On the racks<\/h2>\n

Shortly after Bahl\u2019s transfer to Lincoln became official, Best of Big Red\u2019s Rupp scoured the internet looking for fresh merchandising ideas to boost business in women\u2019s softball apparel.<\/p>\n

Rupp said one new softball design is already in the works \u2013\u00a0 a softball tee shirt featuring a yellow softball. Rupp said she placed an initial order of 72 pieces expected to hit the shelves soon. (Keep in mind, softball is a spring sport.)<\/p>\n

Other apparel lines are planned, including youth shirts, Rupp said. Nebraska softball car decals are expected to be popular too, along with \u201cabout anything else we can put a sticker on,\u201d Rupp said. The same with hats, and softball flags.<\/p>\n

Asked whether she carries any Bahl Oklahoma Sooners apparel, Rupp said jokingly, no, \u201cbut I bet I could sell it if I had any.\u201d<\/p>\n

Football, of course, generates about 70 percent of Best of Big Red\u2019s annual revenue, Rupp said, while softball is not a high revenue line for the company.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a sport in high demand,\u201d for jerseys and other merchandise, Rupp said, \u201cbut we\u2019re about to find out if that\u2019s changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Refresh, refresh<\/h2>\n

Randy Farwell, the co-owner of Cornborn<\/a><\/strong>, said Bahl\u2019s move to Nebraska serves as a \u201ccatalyst to refresh\u201d the online retailer\u2019s softball offerings.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty high on our to-do list,\u201d Farwell said.<\/p>\n

Refreshing means new artwork and designs beyond the two or three softball items in its current line-up, he said. \u201cIt highlights the fact that there\u2019s something going on here\u201d with women\u2019s softball, he added.<\/p>\n

\n\n

Topps is set to release the first Caitlin Clark autograph trading card later this month in the 2022-23 Bowman University Inception set. <\/p>\n

The Iowa star averaged 27.8 points last season. She has a $796K On3 NIL Valuation. <\/p>\n

More from @Pete_Nakos96<\/a>: https:\/\/t.co\/Lxxtq0bGtS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/PnEuZjjMAK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 On3 NIL (@On3NIL) May 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

The analytics count<\/h2>\n

If you want to know how one player can impact the image and interest in a sport, look at Iowa and star basketball player Caitlin Clark<\/a><\/strong>, the National and Big Ten Player of the Year<\/p>\n

Clark led the Hawkeyes to the national championship finals \u2013 quite a run that ended with the loss to LSU. But along the way, television ratings soared, the same with social media followings.<\/p>\n

Iowa\u2019s athletic department released to Husker Online a draft of a report that highlighted the Hawkeye record-breaking analytics measures for social media, the program\u2019s website, and television viewership during the season and the March Madness run.<\/p>\n

Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again.
Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline\u2019s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

*Iowa was one of three women\u2019s basketball programs to host ESPN\u2019s College Basketball Gameday.<\/p>\n

*Iowa\u2019s game against conference rival Indiana in February was the most watched women\u2019s basketball game in Big Ten Network history.<\/p>\n

**Iowa\u2019s national semifinal game against South Carolina attracted 5.5 million viewers \u2013 third-best all-time.\u00a0 The championship attracted 9.9 million, a new record.<\/p>\n

*The national title game was the most-watched women\u2019s basketball game of all time.<\/p>\n

*Iowa was second nationally in total attendance this past season.<\/p>\n

In addition, the report said the social media numbers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for Iowa\u2019s women\u2019s program increased the entire season and set records during the NCAA tourney.\u00a0 The website broke engagement records for time spent on the site.<\/p>\n

Clark\u2019s contribution to those records can\u2019t be overstated, as the numbers show the impact one star player can have on earnings power for the school and the athletes\u2019 coffers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Clark is ranked No. 42 nationally among all college female athletes, with a valuation of $796,000, along with 969,000 social media followers. She\u2019s back for another season, by the way.<\/p>\n

The softball season is a long ways away, and anything can happen to dampen the hype surrounding Bahl. But for now, her earnings impact seems ready to follow the trajectory of a high-tech growth stock.<\/p>\n

Steve Rosen writes about the business of sports for HuskerOnline. Reach him with questions comments, and story ideas at sbrosen1030@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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