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Athlete Relocation A No Brainer? Ding, Ding, Ding!

Some athletes don’t ask much out of their agents.  Negotiate their professional contract, take your cut, and go on with your lives.  Others really enjoy the personal attention and expect an agent to negotiate the pro deal, but also look for endorsements, help with the selection of a financial planner, development of a social media strategy, and even providing assistance in relocation.

Think about a high school baseball player who was just selected by a professional baseball organization.  He is at the ripe age of 18-years-old, may not receive his collegiate degree for a long time (or may never go to a university), and just got a fat signing bonus that he does not know what to do with.  A financial planner helps.  But also, what happens once that player moves up the organization and has to start juggling finances with excelling on the field, and now also has the extra burden of finding a place to live?  As an agent, will you be able to help him?

chris dingmanDynasty has created strong relationships with athlete relocation firms that help athletes make the move to new areas without any charge to the athlete or agent.  One of those firms is The Dingman Group, owned by California native, Chris Dingman.  Not only is it important to have a guy like Dingman in your corner for when an athlete first makes the big league team, but it is especially vital if perhaps the athlete is traded mid-season.  He may have to be in a brand new city the next day.  This is a period where one slip-up could force the athlete to switch agents.

Guys like Dingman are there for us agents to help build a stronger platter of services for our clients and potential clients.  Again, the best part of the service, is that it is free.  As the Daily Pilot reports,

In the end, he just wants to provide the best for [his clients]. And he does it for free.

Yes, The Dingman Group makes money from real estate or other company referrals, but there are times when those don’t produce income. He’s still going to work because he knows helping could lead to another client.

Dingman already suggested we start looking into places for Pete Parise for when he makes it to St. Louis.  He suggested a former Cardinal player’s place (name will remain confidential for now).  That’s the type of guy I like…someone planning in advance.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

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