Quick take:
- The collection features NFTs depicting each player of the football club.
- Limited edition NFTs created by a generative art algorithm will be sold at $75.
- A portion of the proceeds will go to LFC Foundation, the football club’s official charity.
Liverpool FC is kicking off its debut NFT collection in partnership with Sotheby’s Metaverse, the NFT arm of the art auction house, Sotheby’s.
The auction house generated more than $100 million in NFT sales last year and is looking to increase its revenue through expansion into partnerships with new organisations this year.
Starting from Mar 30, Sotheby’s Metaverse will auction off 24 ‘Legendary’ NFTs depicting each player of Liverpool FC to the highest bidder. Each of the 1/1 NFT will feature details personalised to the player, including a signature gesture, a reference to their personality traits or hobbies.
Besides the ‘Legendary’ NFTs, there will also be limited edition ‘Hero’ NFTs created by a generative art algorithm that will mix and match a variety of illustrated traits with the team’s players and managers.
The ‘Hero’ NFTs will be available for immediate purchase starting from $75, a relatively accessible price point compared to NFTs that have been auctioned off for millions.
However, there’s a catch: buyers will not find out which player, manager or traits they have bought until April 2, when the sale ends and the NFTs are delivered to their wallets. Sotheby’s compared this process to “opening a pack of football stickers.”
Buyers of the Liverpool FC NFT can join the LFC Heroes Club, a fan community with access to a forum, experiences, virtual hang-outs, competitions, guest appearances, and discounts on LFC merchandise.
50% of its ‘Legendary’ 1/1 proceeds, 10% of its limited edition ‘Hero’ proceeds, plus 10% of the resale royalties will go to the LFC Foundation, the official charity of Liverpool FC. The LFC Foundation works in areas of high need and deprivation within the Liverpool City Region.
Liverpool FC is the latest Premier League Squad to leap into the NFT space. The Premier League was in talks with four blockchain firms for an NFT licensing deal worth up to $589 million.
The football league has recently approved blockchain software company ConsenSys to develop still image NFTs while it’s still in talks with another firm to develop video NFTs.
Major European football clubs have previously issued NFTs. These include Manchester City, Rangers and Juventus. Earlier this month, FC Barcelona announced that it will be launching its own cryptocurrency and NFTs.
Recently, French football club Paris Saint-German filed trademark applications for the metaverse, indicating an intent to release NFTs, crypto, and virtual products.
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