Manchester United has introduced its unique take on fantasy football with the combined launch of Fantasy United and Player Trading Cards, in collaboration with their partner and blockchain network, Tezos.
The new fantasy football game works by users purchasing packs that cost £3 (AUD $6) with seven Playing Trading Cards. This allows Fantasy United players to own the Manchester United squad as digital collectibles, where they can build a five-man squad to earn points.
The Player Trading Cards will collect points across all competitions and will be based on the real-life performances of the selected players such as goals, assists, tackles and saves.
Some of the rewards for winning United’s newest fantasy football game include:
- A once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience
- Physical 24/25 Player Trading Cards
- Merchandise signed by Manchester United players
Director of Digital Innovation at Manchester United, Ronan Joyce, said about the launch of the club’s new fantasy football game:
“Player Trading Cards allows United fans to collect the whole men’s first team squad, to see those collectibles evolve throughout the season as games are played and goals are scored and have the ability to play those cards in an exciting fantasy football game,” Joyce said in a media release on the club’s website.
“It’s a club-first, it means you can compete against your mates all year long, and it adds even more drama and excitement to watching the Reds at Old Trafford and on the road this season.”
Head of Culture at Trilitech, Tezos R&D Hub, Sunil Singhvi added about the new Web3 fantasy football game:
“Player Trading Cards and Fantasy United is an innovative use of blockchain technology to enable United fans to have a deeper connection with their favourite club. Through dynamically updating collectibles, supporters will be able to cheer on their heroes and watch how the season develops,” Singhvi said in a media release on the club’s website.
“Meanwhile, they will be able to showcase their managerial prowess by selecting their squad in Fantasy United. Developed by our in-house team, it’s a fun and interactive way for fans to get closer to the game and the players of Manchester United.”
The Tezos Ecosystem and Manchester United have launched previously launched campaigns such as ‘The Devils’, the club’s original digital collection released in 2022 featuring a magnitude of unique characters inspired by the club’s history.
With Web 3.0 technology making some waves around Australia despite its controversies, a new fantasy football game involving this type of technology could potentially prove to be an interesting way to entice Australian Football fans as it’s never been done before.
However, it remains to be seen whether United fans are genuinely interested in spending money to build a competitive virtual squad. But by the season’s end, it will show whether other teams and sporting organisations, like the A-Leagues, will venture into something like Fantasy United and utilise Web 3.0 technology.
