Gray Duck Spirits Sets $1 Million Goal in Partnership with Minnesota NIL Collective

Spirit company supports Gophers' Dinkytown Athletes collective through lucrative partnership

Dinkytown Athletes, the University of Minnesota's official NIL collective, and Gray Duck Spirits, a Minnesota-based spirits company, have been in partnership for a few months now. Already, the partnership has proven to be a success, prompting Gray Duck Spirits to announce that there is a legitimate path for Dinkytown Athletes to receive $1,000,000 annually from the collaboration.

"If we can do 30% of the Minnesota market leader in vodka we will be close to our million-dollar goal. The rest of the goal would come through Duck Duck Beer and Fan Pack seltzer sales," said Gray Duck partner Jerry Schulz. "On average consumers can save 25% versus the market leader for the same quality due to Gray Duck's new premium filtration method. We have created a win-win. Fans get a quality product for less cost that supports our state and what we care about. Every dollar matters to the athletes and the success of our athletic programs. We are asking fans to join us and when buying vodka, beer or seltzers think about the impact you can have."

Through the partnership, Gray Duck gives 25% of vodka proceeds and 20% of beer and Fan Pack seltzer proceeds back to Dinkytown Athletes.

"The potential for our partnership with Gray Duck is now massive," said Dinkytown Athletes Vice President and Co-Founder Rob Gag. "The reception fans have given Duck Duck Beer has been incredible to see. Now if we can help Gray Duck grow their vodka sales the impact will be exponential."

This is only one of the several NIL deals that Dinkytown Athletes have struck with Minnesota-based companies. In a recent partnership with Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed, the company is donating 100% of profits from its bacon that is purchased at participating retailers for the entire month of January to support Dinkytown Athletes while also helping farms, wildlife and pollinators.

Partnerships like these showcase the unique ability of NIL collectives to generate a significant amount of money through strategic collaborations with local businesses.