欧博The Best Sports NFTs: Your Guide to Top Collecti
Ever since sports NFTs landed on Ethereum in 2018, digital collectibles have carved out a solid spot in the sports industry and proven they're here to stay. These NFTs have transformed how athletes and teams engage with their fanbase, paving the way for direct interactions and new revenue streams. Big brands like Nike are jumping on board too, as seen in its 2023 partnership with Madden and FIFA.
This shift in how fans engage has opened up new ways for people to own something special that goes beyond just remembering a great play. Just like traditional fan clubs and season ticket memberships, digital sports collectibles and sports NFT drops offer access to unique experiences, such as player meet-and-greets and limited-edition card packs. These fresh approaches to fan engagement draw from the nostalgic traditions of the past, connecting with the traditions that have defined fandom for generations. Even in our increasingly digital world, sports fans still cherish the crack of a baseball bat or the roar of a crowd when the basketball swooshes through the net at the buzzer. Digital collectibles celebrate those simple moments while using new technology to make those memories last.
In this article, we'll examine eight sports NFT collections that have shaken up the sports industry and given fans new experiences to cheer about.
NBA Top ShotNBA Top Shot is a platform first started in 2020 that allows fans to collect, own, and sell officially licensed NBA digital collectibles known as "Moments." These Moments are unique, blockchain-based NFTs representing memorable plays and highlights from NBA games. On NBA Top Shot, Moments come with various tiers of scarcity, including Common, Rare, and Legendary. Each has a different level of exclusivity. Users can participate in pack drops, engage in challenges, and buy or sell Moments in a 24/7 marketplace on the NBA Top Shot website. The NBA Top Shot community is a dynamic collective of collectors and basketball enthusiasts.
CRASH THE GLASS.
WIN THE GAME.
Brandon Miller gives the @hornets their 3rd win of the year at the buzzer!
The England-based soccer (football) club Manchester United launched Fantasy United, an NFT-based fantasy soccer game powered by the Tezos blockchain. Released in late Oct. 2024, the game allows fans to collect, buy, and sell player cards, earning points based on players' real-life performances. Card packs are sold for £3 (approximately $3.84), and this initiative seeks to enhance fan engagement through an interactive experience. This approach demonstrates how sports NFT drops can foster an active and participatory environment for fans.
Welcome aboard, @FPL__Raptor! 🫡
Watch as Ross guides you through buying a pack of Player Trading Cards, building your squad & how to join his mini-league!
Plus, catch him opening a pack live on camera! 👀
🎬👇 pic.twitter.com/H2rXR6oUFx
NHL Breakaway launched on Nov. 15, 2023, as the official digital collectibles marketplace of the National Hockey League (NHL). The project resulted from a collaboration between the NHL Players' Association and digital collectibles platform Sweet. On NHL Breakaway, fans can collect unique player highlight NFTs and enjoy exclusive content from their favorite teams. Its community hub, known as the Trade Lounge, allows users to exchange packs with one another and search for specific highlights, while Public Profiles let fans showcase their prized collectibles gathered from the sports NFT drops over time.
Some new names are making a splash in the Trade Lounge! Here are the top requested players on #NHLBreakaway for October. pic.twitter.com/VJegWH2ivT
— NHL Breakaway (@NHLBreakaway) November 6, 2024 MLS QuestMLS Quest launched in Oct. 2024 as a digital collectible platform for soccer fans. Developed by Major League Soccer (MLS) and Sweet, it lets fans collect "Key Play of the Game Medallions" that capture key moments in MLS history. Users can complete challenges, buy and sell collectibles, and earn rewards like sports memorabilia, autographed jerseys, and other sports collectibles. Fans start by collecting their first medallion for free at official Pick Up Zones located online and in-person throughout North America. MLS Quest combines both gamification and social interaction into its experience, which keeps fans from dozing off in the dugout, so to speak.
MLS Cup pres. by Audi was a BLAST, and fans brought the heat! 🔥 Who stopped by and grabbed a free Key Play? pic.twitter.com/v6NlQYfZeL
— MLS QUEST (@MLSQuest) December 13, 2024 .SWOOSH by EA Sports and NikeIn June 2023, Nike announced a partnership with EA SPORTS to integrate .SWOOSH virtual items into EA SPORTS titles. This collaboration allows players to access, wear, and use Nike's digital creations within popular sports video games. Nike didn't announce any specific gaming titles where players could show off their virtual wares and unique digital collectibles, but more information is expected after the closed beta release. On Nov. 24, .SWOOSH previewed gear that founding NFT holders could get for their avatars to wear in the EA SPORTS FC soccer game.
Founders Know The Feeling
Head to our EA SPORTS #FC25 experience to learn more about our exclusive Founders apparel preorder https://t.co/j3Qo3F3JN6
Preorder for the Nike x EA SPORTS FC Founders shirt goes live on 11/20 at 4 PM CET / 7 AM PST. pic.twitter.com/QaeM5GQJei
At the beginning of the 2023 football season, the National Football League (NFL) partnered with Mythical Games for NFL Rivals. In this sports industry NFT game, users assume the role of General Managers, collecting digital playing cards (NFTs) of their favorite players and competing against other users. As GMs progress through the game, they can upgrade their collections and engage with a community of diehard fans and others in the sports world, demonstrating how sports NFTs can enhance the gaming experience.
2 weeks left to vote! NFL Rivals was nominated for both Best Sports Game and Best Mobile Game! Please jump in and vote if you haven't already!
— John Linden (@johnwastaken) November 1, 2024 Paris Saint-Germain NFT postersIn the fall of 2023, soccer fans of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football club had the unique opportunity to collect limited-edition matchday NFT posters designed by generative AI artist Benjamin Benichou. Fans had seven chances to mint these free NFTs on match days, with the added incentive of winning autographed jerseys or exclusive artwork by collecting the full set.
Paris Saint-Germain continues to explore exciting new avenues in the fields of art and technology. This season the club is working with the artistic director Benjamin Benichou to create a unique collection of match posters using artificial intelligence.https://t.co/Ay8nza7nLK
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 21, 2023 FC Barcelona Masterpiece CollectionIn March 2024, FC Barcelona launched its second Masterpiece NFT collection, titled “Empowerment" to celebrate the achievements of midfielder Alexia Putellas. Launched in partnership with the inclusive NFT community World of Women, the collection honors Putellas’ incredible performance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-Final during the 2021 to 2022 season. NFT owners had the chance to meet Putellas, receive a physical seat from the stadium, or win signed cleats.
🆕 Unveiling Masterpiece 2: Empowerment!
🏆 A breathtaking tribute to the unstoppable force of Alexia Putellas and her awe-inspiring triumph in the Champions League.
Join us in igniting the fire of women's empowerment in football. Auction begins 26 June on @OpenSea
A number of innovative sports NFT startups are entering the arena with new, disruptive takes on the gaming genre that increase fan engagement and provide competitive opportunities for diehard fans to collect sports memorabilia. Footium, a multiplayer sports management game powered by blockchain technology and NFT ownership, is shaking things up with a social rewards system that lets players buy and sell players and teams throughout their lifespan.
Other noteworthy projects include Rumble Kong League, where players can manage a team of unique, blockchain-based Kongs in a competitive gaming ecosystem, and NFL All Day, the official NFT marketplace for the NFL that allows fans to collect, buy, and sell memorable game moments.
The future of sports NFTsFrom MLS Quest to NBA Top Shot, sports NFTs are reshaping how fans engage with their favorite teams and players, thereby creating fresh pathways for connection and interaction. Sports franchises across the world are turning to this novel technology to experiment with new ways to keep alive one of the oldest traditions in the book: sports fandom.
At the end of the day, sports NFTs are simply a new type of sports collectibles that speak to the digitally native fan. As technology evolves, we can likely expect even more innovative applications of NFTs in the sports arena. From immersive fantasy games that let fans step into the shoes of team managers to collectible art that commemorates those must-capture, game-changing moments, the list of possibilities for sports NFTs is longer than three American football fields put together.