DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG) has teamed up with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) to offer gamified National Football League player NFTs as part of its marketplace. The NFLPA announced the debut of a gamified nonfungible token, or NFT, collection on DraftKings Marketplace during the 2022–2023 NFL season, in conjunction with sports betting operator DraftKings Inc. According to the corporation, fans can play NFT-based games featuring their favorite NFL players beginning next year.
OneTeam, the NFLPA's official media business partner, aided in the agreement with DraftKings, providing them with the essential 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."
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The DraftKings Marketplace launched its debut Tom Brady NFT collection in August, collaborating 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. According to the statement, customers will be able to buy and sell items over the Polygon network and utilize them in games against other players.
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 are to "establish true connections for devoted fans." Recently, The NFL also announced a partnership with Ticketmaster to link NFT items to specific game tickets when they are purchased, highlighting the pro sports league's widespread usage of blockchain technology.