Sure, I had a meeting with their team about this yesterday.
Smoky Mountain Club is the UT chapter of the Players’ Lounge. I believe it’s $20 per month, but you get access to VIP in-person events, and the main part is the online platform.
It’s basically a new Vols message board, but current and past players show up for live content each week. For instance, Dobbs and Hooker do a show together every Tuesday called Dual Threat. They talk about the game, and I think paying users can log on and ask them questions, like a Q and A format.
Of the revenue they get from subscribers, most of it goes back to the college athletes that are a part of the content. So like I know Tillman and Small have done interviews on there. They will be paid for that. It’s a different approach to NIL.
But this tailgate will be a VIP thing. Jamal Lewis will be there, as well as Dobbs and several other VFLs. It’ll be in the Circle Park Vol Village area, if you want to swing by. You may not get “in” without an invitation, but they can’t stop folks from walking by to say hello.