The Australian Football League (AFL) and Animoca Brands are excited to announce a 5-year partnership that will bring the power of the NFT and Open Metaverse to the AFL and AFL Women (AFLW) and launch the AFL Mint initiative.
The agreement will bring to life the first major Australian Sporting League project in the Web3 space, building on the AFL’s strong heritage and proud audience.
The AFL joins other world sporting codes that have launched NFT events including NBA Top Shots, ICC Fancrase, MotoGP Ignition and UFC Strikeforce.
By partnering with Animoca Brands and its Australian operations engine B Media, AFL puts on a strong local team to provide strategy, product roadmap and access to Animoca Brands’ broader Web3 ecosystem. It will provide fans with a comprehensive Metaverse experience in areas such as virtual worlds, digital art and gaming.
The AFL, through its AFL Mint brand, will issue its first officially licensed NFT ‘Drop’ in the coming weeks.
Register now at AFLMint.com.au for special first notice of the inaugural AFL Mint product drop.
Through exclusive events including ticket upgrades, hospitality, experimental zones and exclusive merchandise, AFL Mint products will expand to deliver rewards and real-world experiences.
AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said the partnership marks an exciting new chapter for Australian football, AFL players and most importantly, fans.
“We aim to continue to bring fans new ways to be involved in Australian football. By partnering with Animoca Brands, we will be playing in a digital space that only keeps getting bigger,” said Mr. McLachlan.
“We are officially entering the Web3 space and are excited to immortalize the moments in time in our AFL and AFLW competitions.”
Kylie Rogers, AFL’s Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial, said that the partnership with Animoca Brands ensures that fans are given the best and most innovative offering possible.
“The AFL is excited to partner with Animoca Brands to take our game to the metaverse,” said Ms. Rogers.
“Animoca Brands is at the forefront of the Web3 space and has partnered with a large number of sports organizations and international brands.
“We know we have the most passionate fans in the world, and we want to make sure our audiences can continue to experience the game in different ways. We look forward to partnering with Animoca Brands as our next evolution in digital fan engagement. See it as a key.
“Through our AFL Mint brand, we will launch exciting new moments in our current men’s and women’s sports, as well as past greats and other product releases that will bring a unique fan experience we haven’t seen before.
“The AFL Mint will be a place to gather, trade, win and earn.”
Animoca Brand. Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairmans Said: “I am extremely pleased to partner with the AFL, Australia’s premier sport, to deliver the AFL Mint. Australian Rules football is a unique sport, and the AFL Mint is expected to introduce existing fans to digital collectibles and showcase it to the wider world. This is a special project for us given our roots as an Australian company and we are honored to bring AFL and AFLW to the fore openly.
Jordan Fogarty, Founder and CEO of Bee Media by Animoca Brands, said: “I am thrilled to announce that our first partnership of 2022 is with the AFL. I have been a fan since childhood. I have a longstanding love for the sport. , so to bring this to life is really exciting on so many levels.”