Manchester United has introduced “Fantasy United,” the Premier League’s first Web3 fantasy football game, built on the Tezos blockchain. This innovative project combines digital collectibles with an interactive fantasy football experience, enabling fans to collect “Player Trading Cards” and form fantasy squads to enhance fan engagement and modernize football fandom. The club’s goal is to deepen fan interaction and bring football fandom into the digital age. Fans can collect Player Trading Cards for all first-team players from the men’s squad for the 2024/25 season, including new signings Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, in Classic, Rare, and Ultra-Rare editions. These cards are hand-drawn and updated with real-time stats.
Fans can use these Player Trading Cards to create five-man squads for the Fantasy United game, where they compete in mini-leagues and earn points based on the real-life performances of Manchester United players, such as goals, assists, tackles, and saves. Throughout the season, fans will receive updates on the most selected players and the strategies employed by former United players and fantasy football experts. Additionally, fans can compete against former United players in the Legends leagues, adding an extra layer of excitement. Early access to Player Trading Cards was given to Devil-holders, owners of the club’s original digital collection, before all other fans could start collecting.
Manchester United’s collaboration with the Tezos Blockchain has significantly enhanced fan interaction and engagement, setting a new standard in modern football fandom. The initiative started with ‘The Devils,’ the club’s original digital collection in 2022, featuring 7,777 unique characters inspired by United’s history. These collectibles were quickly sold out due to high demand from fans. This collaboration enables supporters to have a deeper connection with their favorite club through dynamically updating collectibles. The club’s venture into the Web3 space with Fantasy United is part of a broader trend among football clubs embracing blockchain technology to engage with fans. Other clubs, such as Manchester City, have also entered the NFT and Web3 space with partnerships to offer unique digital memorabilia and engage with fans.
As part of Manchester United’s digital initiatives, the club has cultivated a growing community of nearly 100,000 members in their Discord channel, where fans can interact, learn about new drops, and access live town halls and Q&As with the club. The Tezos Blockchain collaboration has been fruitful, with the aim of bringing fans closer to the club and enhancing their fan experience. The game is set to kick off with Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16, offering an exciting and interactive way for fans to engage with their favorite team. The digital collectibles and Fantasy United game provide fans with a unique opportunity to collect, trade, and compete in a virtual world that blends the traditional fantasy football experience with blockchain technology and real-time player stats.
The collaboration between Manchester United, Tezos Blockchain, and the Fantasy United game has made a significant impact on the club’s fan engagement and community involvement. By offering fans the opportunity to collect Player Trading Cards and participate in the fantasy football game, the club has modernized football fandom and deepened fan interaction. Through partnerships and initiatives in the Web3 space, Manchester United aims to stay at the forefront of fan engagement and technology integration in the sports industry. The success of the Fantasy United game and the Player Trading Cards initiative demonstrate the club’s commitment to innovation and providing fans with new and exciting ways to connect with the team. This collaboration sets a new standard for modern football fandom and shows the potential of blockchain technology in revolutionizing fan engagement.
