Nashville’s growing sports and business communities will come together Saturday, August 29, as Esquire Sports hosts the Nashville NIL Mixer at the historic Woolworth Theatre in downtown Nashville.

 

Produced in collaboration with Hayward Forward, the event will connect collegiate student-athletes with businesses, brands, community organizations, mentors, and sports-industry professionals for an afternoon focused on something bigger than simply landing the next endorsement deal.

 

The philosophy behind the event is straightforward: NIL should be about relationships, not just transactions.

 

The Nashville event builds on two previous NIL Mixers held in Colorado. It brings the concept to a city with a unique combination of collegiate athletics, entrepreneurship, major brands, and a rapidly expanding sports industry.

Student-athletes from across Tennessee have registered to participate, including representatives from Vanderbilt, Belmont, Tennessee State, Lipscomb, Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee State, Fisk, and Trevecca Nazarene.

 

Athletes from track and field, basketball, softball, soccer, football, tennis, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse, gymnastics, bowling, and other sports are expected to attend.

The growth of Name, Image and Likeness has created an entirely new landscape for college athletes. But Esquire Sports and Hayward Forward believe the opportunity extends far beyond traditional sponsorships.

Instead of creating an event where athletes pitch themselves to potential sponsors, the Nashville NIL Mixer is designed to create conversations.

 

Those conversations could lead to endorsements and brand ambassador relationships, but they could just as easily result in internships, mentorships, content collaborations, community appearances, or even careers after college.

“The objective is not simply to put athletes and businesses in the same room—we want to help them actually connect,” said Julian Hayward, founder of Hayward Forward and producer of the NIL Mixer. “NIL may be what brings everyone together, but the relationship could lead to a brand partnership, an internship, a mentor, a career opportunity, or a connection that lasts well beyond athletics.”

Event ambassadors will facilitate introductions, connecting athletes with organizations that align with their interests and helping businesses identify student-athletes who could be a natural fit for their brands.

Student-athletes will also hear from Chris Hudson, the former University of Colorado All-American, 1994 Jim Thorpe Award winner, former NFL defensive back, and member of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class.

 

Hudson will speak about leadership, mentorship, and relationships while sharing his journey from college athletics to the NFL and, eventually, life beyond professional sports.

His story reinforces a central theme of the Mixer: athletic ability can open doors, but character, reputation, and relationships can create opportunities long after an athlete’s playing career ends.

Businesses, nonprofits, brands and sports organizations from across the region will participate, representing industries including hospitality, restaurants, financial services, health and recovery, consumer products, media, sports representation and professional services.

 

Organizers have intentionally kept the event more intimate, prioritizing meaningful conversations over simply filling the room with as many people as possible.

 

Success won’t necessarily be measured by attendance. Instead, Esquire Sports and Hayward Forward are focused on the quality of relationships that begin inside Woolworth Theatre.

 

A video and content team will also be on-site, capturing conversations, connections, and highlights throughout the event.

The Nashville NIL Mixer is part of a larger effort to prepare student-athletes for more than competition.

 

Esquire Sports works with athletes through representation, NIL opportunities, and professional development, helping them maximize opportunities throughout their collegiate careers and beyond.

Hayward Forward works alongside Esquire Sports to develop athlete-focused initiatives in NIL education, mentorship, life skills, brand development, community engagement, and relationship-building.

 

The Mixer brings those ideas together in a practical way. Instead of telling athletes that networking and professional relationships are important, it puts them face-to-face with the people who could become future partners, employers, mentors, and collaborators.

For Nashville’s business community, it also creates an opportunity to meet a diverse group of college athletes who are building their identities and careers both inside and outside their respective sports.

Esquire Sports Nashville NIL Mixer
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Woolworth Theatre
223 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, TN 37219

The event will include facilitated introductions between student-athletes and businesses, networking, food, music, content creation, and dedicated opportunities for one-on-one relationship-building.

Esquire Sports is a sports agency focused on athlete representation, NIL opportunities, professional development, and helping athletes maximize opportunities throughout their collegiate and professional journeys.

Hayward Forward is an athlete development and NIL consulting organization that creates programming that connects student-athletes with businesses, mentors, and communities. Its work includes NIL events, mentorship, life-skills programming, brand development, content initiatives, community engagement, and professional networking.

Hayward Forward collaborates with sports agencies, businesses, universities, and community organizations, including its ongoing work supporting Esquire Sports.

 

Media and Partnership Inquiries:
Julian Hayward
Founder, Hayward Forward | NIL Mixer Event Producer
julian@haywardforward.net
720-630-6646