Georgia

Georgia Star Signs Huge NIL Deal with Private Jet Company

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2024

Georgia Star Signs Huge NIL Deal with Private Jet Company

University of Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck has been the talk of the offseason thus far, and for good reason, following his on-field play. According to most accounts, Beck is a probable first-round NFL Draft pick and, in all likelihood, one of the top Heisman Trophy contenders. Most recently, he signed a major NIL deal with Airstar Charter, a private jet company. It’s the latest in a shifting college athletics landscape, as athletes at the top level—like Beck—cash in on their fame and marketability with seven-figure endorsement deals.

The deal with Airstar Charter, worth seven figures, came as a result of a marketing agent for Beck, Dan Everett, and ESM. It is one of those where, although the terms are not disclosed, both parties win the deal. In exchange for using Airstar’s private jets, Beck appeared in a one-minute commercial published Friday with his mother, Tracy, and sister, Kylie. Taped at Athens-Ben Epps Airport, the ad showed Beck’s off-field demeanor as he offered, “Remember, it’s not about the destination; it’s the journey that counts,” promoting the luxury service and reflecting his rapid ascension to the highest level of college athletics.

This deal puts Beck in elite company, as only a few college athletes have landed deals that include endorsements that involve private jets. Of those few, Quinn Ewers of Texas and Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss share this distinction, most with the already high exposure of being a high-profile athlete.

Field performance alone has made Beck quite a magnet for NIL opportunities. He holds a $1.4 million On3 NIL Valuation, good enough to place him in the top 10 of college football and to rank No. 9 on the On3 NIL 100.

As Beck continues to excel on the field, his off-field ventures, such as the Airstar Charter deal, are reshaping the landscape of college athletics. These ventures add a new dimension to Beck’s career and hint at the potential for star athletes like Beck to become significant influencers and entrepreneurs, influencing the evolution of the college star.

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Georgia

Created in a small Georgia town, a cup has become 1 of the World Cup’s biggest souvenirs

Published

10 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

Created in a small Georgia town, a cup has become 1 of the World Cup’s biggest souvenirs

They were designed to hold a drink, but cups produced in Rome, Georgia, have become one of the FIFA Men’s World Cup’s most unexpected souvenirs.

Inside the Top Cup plant in Rome, millions of cups were created to celebrate the world’s biggest sporting event.

“We made 10 million over 70 different graphics for the World Cup,” said Rome native and Top Cup General Manager Zach Dixon.

The plant in north Georgia produces up to 750,000 cups a day.

“We’ve always been really proud of the cup … but the World Cup has obviously taken it to another level,” said Top Cup CEO David Cuthbert.

Fans have been taking them home from matches. Some have even been listed for sale online.

“We’ve always been really proud of the cup… but the World Cup has obviously taken it to another level,” said Cuthbert.

Dixon said they begin the process with massive coils of aluminum, each weighing about 30,000 pounds. The metal is stamped, stretched, washed, and moved down the line.

The plant produces about 1,100 cups every minute.

Ricardo Marques, the senior vice president of marketing for Michelob ULTRA, said that there have been venue-specific, match-specific, and Finals-specific stadium cups for the World Cup. There are also three separate red, white, and blue designs available for fans at bars and restaurants around the U.S.

“We’ve seen an incredible response to the collection. Together, these commemorative cups give fans a unique keepsake and a lasting reminder of an unforgettable FIFA World Cup experience and the moments that brought millions of people together through the world’s game,” Marques said.

Cuthbert said his company has seen how the World Cup has done wonders for metro Atlanta businesses.

“Our team in Rome, Georgia takes tremendous pride in helping bring this fan experience to life for one of the world’s biggest sporting events,” he said.

So when soccer fans celebrate the surprise victory or mourn their last-minute loss, they’re doing so with a little piece of Georgia.

In:

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Georgia

Mayor Kelly Girtz Inducted Into Georgia Municipal Hall of Fame

Published

22 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

Mayor Kelly Girtz Inducted Into Georgia Municipal Hall of Fame

Kelly Girtz (second from left) recently became the first Athens mayor in 40 years to be inducted into the Georgia Municipal Government Hall of Fame in Savannah. The Georgia Municipal cited Girtz’s work on housing affordability, economic development, transportation, environmental sustainability, literacy and preserving local Black history. Under his leadership, Athens-Clarke County has made significant progress in housing affordability, economic development, transportation, and environmental sustainability. In 2022, the community adopted an inclusionary zoning policy designed to expand affordable housing options and encourage thoughtful, equitable growth. He has also championed redevelopment initiatives that have created new mixed-income housing opportunities and strengthened neighborhoods throughout the community. “Mayor Kelly Girtz has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to building a community where every resident has […]

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Georgia

Athlon Sports tabs Florida-Georgia among SEC’s best games in 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

Athlon Sports tabs Florida-Georgia among SEC’s best games in 2026

Athlon Sports projected the best SEC games for each week of the 2026 regular season.

The conference features some of the most compelling matchups in all of college football, from opening weekend through rivalry week. The selections emphasize games anticipated to have the biggest impact on the SEC championship race and College Football Playoff picture.

Florida’s annual clash with Georgia was tabbed as one of the SEC’s premier fixtures. The game has grown in national significance since it began in 1904, continuing as a battle of blue-blood programs that routinely produces iconic results. The game temporarily moves to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta during the Jacksonville stadium renovations.

The Jon Sumrall era carries with it an increasing sense of belief — many experts see the Gators as a dark-horse CFB playoff contender. Regardless of its final win-loss record, UF will play a part in shaping the season’s narrative as they face several post-season favorites in Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma.

Noted in the article is the SEC’s depth and newly implemented nine-game conference schedule. Georgia, Texas, Alabama and LSU appear multiple times on this list, with Georgia facing Alabama in Week 6 and Ole Miss in Week 10 while LSU hosts Clemson in Week 1 and will see Texas in Week 11 take on Alabama.

Many contenders from the SEC face multiple nationally relevant foes over the course of the season.

Athlon Sports’ Best game for every week of the 2026 season

Week 1: Clemson at LSU (Sept. 5)
Week 2: Ohio State at Texas (Sept. 12)
Week 3: LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 19)
Week 4: Oklahoma at Georgia (Sept. 26)
Week 5: Auburn at Tennessee (Oct. 3)
Week 6: Georgia at Alabama (Oct. 10)
Week 7: Alabama at Tennessee (Oct. 17)
Week 8: Ole Miss at Texas (Oct. 24)
Week 9: Florida vs. Georgia (Atlanta) (Oct. 31)
Week 10: Georgia at Ole Miss (Nov. 7)
Week 11: Texas at LSU (Nov. 14)
Week 12: Texas A&M at Oklahoma (Nov. 21)
Week 13: Texas at Texas A&M (Friday) (Nov. 27)

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

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