Manchester United has taken a pioneering step in the world of football by launching player trading cards and the Fantasy United game for the 2024/25 season on the Tezos Blockchain. This groundbreaking move allows fans to collect cards featuring first-team players, build squads, and engage in a Web3 fantasy football experience. The ‘Fantasy United’ game offers cards of all first-team players from the men’s squad, with options available in Classic, Rare, and Ultra-Rare editions. Each card is intricately hand-drawn and updates in real-time with the players’ statistics throughout the season. These cards are available for purchase in packs of seven for £3 each, providing fans with the opportunity to collect all members of Erik ten Hag’s senior squad, including recent signings like Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro.
Apart from collecting these cards, fans can utilize the Player Trading Cards to assemble a five-man squad within the Fantasy United game. This marks the inception of the first-ever web3 fantasy football game developed for a Premier League club using Tezos Blockchain technology. In Fantasy United, fans can compete with friends via mini-leagues and earn points based on the real-life performances of Manchester United players, such as goals, assists, tackles, and saves. The game’s launch coincides with Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Fulham on 16th August, setting the stage for an engaging and immersive experience for fans throughout the season.
The Fantasy United game will not only provide fans with the thrill of competitive gaming but also offer insights into player selection strategies and real-time updates on player performance. Fans can expect tips from United legends and fantasy football experts, presenting a unique opportunity to enhance their gaming experience. Additionally, fans may have the chance to compete directly against former Manchester United players in the Legends leagues, adding an element of nostalgia and excitement to the gameplay. Devil-holders, who are owners of the club’s original digital collection, have exclusive access to Player Trading Cards, with general fans being able to collect the cards starting from 31st July.
Community Building and Digital Collectibles
Over the years, Manchester United has collaborated with the Tezos Ecosystem to offer unique digital collectibles, with ‘The Devils’ collection in 2022 selling out rapidly. The club has been providing free, specially designed digital collectibles to fans attending both men’s and women’s home matches since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, garnering over 750,000 claims. These activations have led to the formation of a sizeable community of nearly 100,000 members within the club’s Discord channel, facilitating interactions among fans, notifications of new drops, and live town halls and Q&As with the club.
Impact and Insights from Ronan Joyce
Ronan Joyce, the director of digital innovation at Manchester United, highlighted the significance of Player Trading Cards in enhancing the fan experience. According to Joyce, these cards allow United fans to collect the entire men’s first-team squad, witness the evolution of these collectibles throughout the season, and participate in an exciting fantasy football game. He emphasized that this initiative is a club-first, injecting drama and excitement into watching the Reds both at Old Trafford and away games. The announcement also clarified that Manchester United’s officially licensed Digital Collectibles are intended as collectible items within the realm of cryptoassets, rather than financial investments.
Manchester United’s foray into player trading cards and fantasy football on the Tezos Blockchain signifies a remarkable shift in fan engagement and digital innovation within the football landscape. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and creative gameplay elements, the club is not only enriching the fan experience but also setting new standards for interactive sports entertainment.