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Sports and cryptocurrencies are starting to become highly interdependent. The sports sector is looking into crypto and other blockchain technologies to boost fan engagement and generate additional revenues.
One of the leading soccer clubs in Spain, FC Barcelona, has announced plans of venturing into non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The club has partnered with Ownix, an NFT Platform based on Ethereum, for this initiative.
The NFT collection to be launched by FC Barcelona will feature some of the most memorable moments in the history of the soccer club. FC Barcelona is one of the most iconic soccer teams in England, with a 122-year history.
NFTs make it possible for fans to own a unique piece of the club, and given the nature of the relationship between FC Barcelona and its fans, these NFTs are expected to see high demand and boost the nature of the relationship between the two.
The motto of FC Barcelona translates to "more than a club." Therefore, seeking to offer special and memorable moments in the team's history in the form of NFTs is per the team's motto.
The press release states that "The agreement between FC Barcelona and Ownix is part of the Club's global expansion strategy and a further commitment to seek out new channels and formats to connect with new generations while providing a different form of interaction with their fans around the world."
The press release further adds that through these NFTs, the soccer team will also offer a chance to fans to be part of its family. Fans who want to be part of the NFT auction can participate in the initiative throughout the football season.
As mentioned earlier, the NFTs will feature a digital collection of some of the club's best moments. It will be like a recreation of the iconic events that have happened in the entire club's history. These moments include the 75 trophies it has won through its participation in Spain's soccer events and the 5 titles won in the UEFA championships.
While the team's main operations are in Spain, it also has a large global fan base. On its social media platform, FC Barcelona has more than 400 million followers. The President of the club, Joan Laporta, has stated that these NFT will present a "unique opportunity to continue growing and consolidating the Barca brand."
This is not the first mention of NFTs in the soccer sector. Recently, Bonhams, an auction house based in London, announced that it would auction a one-of-a-kind Cristiano Ronaldo trading card. The NFT will be minted by Sorare, and it is estimated to cost between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
Boca Juniors, one of the leading soccer teams in Argentina, is also venturing into NFTs. These NFTs will be available to the club's supporters, and they will be issued through Socios.Com, a leading blockchain service provider in the sports and entertainment sector.
This NFT collection is expected to generate around $10 million for Boca Juniors. The team is also enjoying support from blockchain projects such as Decentraland, which has promised to create a virtual depiction of "La Bombonera," which is the name of the club's stadium. Through this virtual platform, fans and players will have a means of interacting with each other.