Boca Raton, Florida - NFL Star and Entrepreneur Team Up to Launch Private Social and Business Network for Professional Athletes
Boca Raton, Florida - OnlyPlayers.com announced the launch of it's first business and social network targeting professional athletes. OnlyPlayers.com was developed to serve a growing need for active and retired professional athletes to stay in touch and collaborate. The company was founded by NFL great Antonio Freeman and entrepreneur Todd Hirshorn after meeting on a flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Washington, DC. The idea was inspired as the two discussed the need for a private venue where retired and active athletes can communicate, network and share business and charitable information. "Professional Athletes are looking for ways to expand their business interests and promote their foundations and charitable cause both during and after their career." says Antonio Freeman, OnlyPlayers's co-founder.
OnlyPlayers.com, was launched in Early 2009. Dedicated to retired and active professional athletes, the network provides members the ability to connect with past teammates, marketers, business opportunities and promote charitable work and specific events. "OnlyPlayers provides a secure environment away from fans and media so that members can easily engage with colleagues, business associates and friends", says Todd Hirshorn, OnlyPlayers's co-founder. The members also benefit by maintaining a “peer facing” web presence that allows them to enhance their personal, charitable and business endeavors.
OnlyPlayers is by invitation only to preserve the private nature of the network. Once invited, each member can create their own profile, add friends and keep up to date on each other similar to what a user can do on mainstream social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. "What makes OnlyPlayers a compelling business is the future of social networks", says Hirshorn. He goes on to say, "The current trend is larger global networks which have brought an incredible amount of awareness to the space. We see the future of social networking moving towards the niche networks where aggregation and growth will explode in the next few years."
Facebook is challenged to increase it's annual revenue above the current $2.50 per user, per year. A network like OnlyPlayers has a much lower volume of use but provides an environment where advertising is relevant and appreciated. OnlyPlayers will drive revenue from membership fees and a sponsorship model that as of now, has not yet been implemented anywhere on the web. Invited members can join the network free of charge through a basic membership. Members who wish to be introduced to opportunities such as speaking engagements, broadcast spots, interviews, business opportunities and sponsorship requests will pay a small monthly fee and receive ongoing opportunities.
Members will also receive assistance and support for their charitable endeavors through the charitable arm of OnlyPlayers. "We have an opportunity to help our members attract sponsors for everything from a local charity golf tournament to a specific child in need", says Freeman. "Players spend a large part of their retirement helping others through their charitable foundations. A network like OnlyPlayers will give them more resources to do just that."
About OnlyPlayers
OnlyPlayers.com is a leading social and business network dedicated to professional athletes. Co-founded by NFL great Antonio Freeman, OnlyPlayers Serves a rapidly growing base of members from all major sports leagues. OnlyPlayers provides a secure, private environment where athletes can communicate and collaborate to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Members use the OnlyPlayers.com HomePlate® as their ®Internet Start page® and single destination to manage their online activity, including, Blogs, Twitter, event promotion, online reputation management and communication. For more information about OnlyPlayers visit www.onlyplayers.com