Manchester United usually acts cautiously in such a way that they wait for someone else to set trends, so after they start to engage in some digital innovations, they make sure they will yield a perfect result without taking risks.
While NFTs are undoubtedly a very hot subject, United's cautious strategy has paid off with its partnership with Tezos—a player seemingly stable in the Web 3.0 space—and their early digital collectible efforts, such as free token giveaways, have remained fan-friendly.
Now, United is wading into the world of Web 3.0 with a new fantasy game that propels it into space occupied by companies like Sorare: hoping their loyal fans will fall in love with this idea. What exactly this "deeper connection" will look like—whether it's worth the time and money that fans are going to need to build a strong virtual team or whether the player cards are simply items for trading—remains to be seen.
"Player Trading Cards allow our fans to collect the entire men's first-team squad. Throughout the season, these cards will change as games are played and goals are scored. The cards can also be used to create an exciting fantasy football game." Ronan Joyce, Manchester United's Director of Digital Innovation.
"This is a first for our club. It means fans can compete with their friends all year round, adding more excitement to watching the Reds at Old Trafford and on the road this season."
Sunil Singhvi, Head of Culture at Trilitech, Tezos' R&D Hub, said:
"Player Trading Cards and Fantasy United get fans closer to their favourite club by leveraging blockchain technology. With real-time updates to collectibles, supporters can cheer on their heroes and follow the progress of the season.".
"They can also get their bragging rights by choosing their squad in Fantasy United. It's an in-house development, and it's going to be an interactive and entertaining way for fans to get closer to the game and Manchester United players."
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