The NFTs marketplace will see a new addition as DraftKings and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) plans the launch of a gamified NFT collection of the NFL’s players in the upcoming season.
The National Football League Players Association, or NFLPA, has announced the start of a gamified nonfungible token, or NFT, collection on DraftKings Marketplace during the 2022–2023 NFL season. Fans will be able to play NFT-based games featuring their favorite NFL players starting next year, according to the business.
OneTeam, the NFLPA’s official media business partner, assisted in the contract with DraftKings, providing them with the appropriate license rights to utilize active NFL players’ names, images, and likeness.
“The future of fandom is unfolding in front of us,” Beth Beiriger, senior vice president of product operations for DraftKings Marketplace, said in a statement on the company’s website.
“Few organizations outside of DraftKings are as equipped to capitalize on the increasing intersection between sports and NFTs that will be cornerstones of engagement and entertainment within Web 3.0.”
About DraftKings Marketplace
The DraftKings Marketplace launched its debut Tom Brady NFT collection in August, in collaboration with Autograph, the NFT platform co-founded by Brady. Aside from NFTs, Brady showed his support for cryptocurrency by awarding a fan 1 BTC for his 600th touchdown pass.
Customers will be able to buy and sell items over the Polygon network, and utilize them in games against other players, according to the statement.
According to Sean C. Sansiveri, general attorney and head of commercial affairs at NFL Players Inc., the NFLPA’s marketing and licensing arm, the purpose of the DraftKings NFT experience is to “establish true connections for devoted fans.”
The NFL also partnered with Ticketmaster last month to tie NFT artifacts to specific game tickets when purchased, highlighting the pro sports league’s broad usage of blockchain technology.