DraftKings Inc has revealed plans to launch gamified NFT (non-fungible token) collections in partnership with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and OneTeam Partners, the NFLPA’s group licensing partner.
The agreement, facilitated by OneTeam, grants DraftKings licensing rights for active NFL players, including the authentic use of name, image, and likeness, and it will debut on DraftKings Marketplace during the 2022-2023 NFL season.
Beth Beiriger, SVP of Product Operations for DraftKings Marketplace, commented: “The future of fandom is unfolding in front of us, and few organizations beyond DraftKings are as equipped to capitalize on the increasing intersection between sports and NFTs that will be cornerstones of engagement and entertainment within Web3.
“We will continuously adapt, innovate and seek progressive collaborators like the NFLPA and OneTeam to reach early adopters among fanbases and ultimately introduce these next-generation products to the masses.”
Expected features of DraftKings’ gamified NFL player NFTs include the ability for customers to use these collectibles within games against others on the platform as well as separate buying and selling functionality.
It is assumed there will be a variety of NFT editions and tiers that combine different aspects of utility and digital scarcity, all powered by scaling platform Polygon, who announced a blockchain agreement with DraftKings in October.
“The NFLPA strives to be at the forefront of innovative new products, and the emerging landscape of digital entertainment that creates excitement among players and fans. We look forward to integrating NFL players into DraftKings’ NFT experience to create authentic connections for avid fans,” said Sean C Sansiveri, General Counsel and Head of Business Affairs at NFL Players Inc, the marketing and licensing arm of the NFLPA.
