This Could Get Pretty Bad...

March 03, 2023

Good Morning! The Sports Road. If this is your first time, we’re like the Manchester City of newsletters. Consistent. Consistently good. 

Here's what we got for ya today:

  • Apple x Real Madrid

  • Khabib, What Have You Done?

  • Rugby NFT’s?

  • The Future of Fantasy Sport

Most valuable public market sports teams

Let's get into it!

Apple Are Back at it

Apple is upping the output, and level. Weirdly though, not the price… yet 😅

A couple weeks ago, we talked about Apple’s new partnership with the MLS. With this being the first season of their 10 year $2.5 billion deal, it was clear that this wouldn’t be the last of Apple’s Sporting content.  

Their latest announcement, you ask? A docu-series covering Real Madrid, the most successful Football team in European history. 

Taking after the style of Amazon Primes ‘All or Nothing’ series, this is what we know so far:

  • The series will follow the clubs 2021-22 season, which saw them lift the Champions League

  • The series will be split into three parts

  •  It will premiere on March 10th

  • The series will feature multiple Footballing icons, such as David Beckham

Being a global phenomenon, we’re sure this series will do great things for Apple TV+. 

Who knows, this could be what surges them to compete more heavily with other streaming services. 

Unsurprisingly, this announcement comes along with the new season of ‘Ted Lasso’ – perhaps one of Apple’s most successful shows. Bringing more eyes to the upcoming release, we’re sure that it will do serious numbers.

Are you a fan of NBA Top Shot, UFC Strike, and NFL All Day? Are you looking for a platform to connect with your favorite athletes and teams, and collect and trade digital collectibles? Look no further than SportsIcon.com, the first user-generated content platform on the Flow blockchain.

Our platform allows any athlete, team, or creator to set up a profile and mint their own NFTs. Using the Dapper Wallet, it is easy for fans to take part and collect digital collectibles featuring their favorite icons and moments in sports history.

SportsIcon.com is more than just a marketplace, it's a unique way for athletes and teams to connect with their audience and build their brand. Join now and be a part of the future of sports collectibles.

Khabib in Big Trouble?

Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the greatest Martial Artists to ever exist. 

Retiring with a perfectly undefeated record nearly three years ago, the former UFC Champion has turned his interests elsewhere. Namely, crypto.

With that, it’s fair to say that fans are NOT happy with his latest crypto related announcement…

So what happened?

Well, Khabib recently announced that he is launching a crypto project in partnership with GoMining, who he has been an ambassador for since late 2021.

This is what we know so far:

  • Those who buy an NFT will be allowed access into a ‘private club’

  • With this, as is stated on the company’s website, every bought NFT will act as a ticket to events attended by Khabib several times a year

This is where it gets a bit controversial… 

If you haven’t heard of him yet, Coffeezilla acts as a sort of “Internet Detective”, already exposing Logan and Jake Paul for crypto scams recently.

So what do you think, scam or not?

Rugby x NFT

OVAL3 has partnered with Major League Rugby (MLR) to become their exclusive Fantasy NFT Partner for the upcoming season.

Created in 2022, OVAL3 was developed by Bamg Sports - the company which created Fantasy Rugby World, a game with over 40,000 users. 

This partnership will see:   

  • The creation of exclusive NFT and fantasy licences for the MLR

  • These will launch midway through the 2023 MLR season

  • Increased fan engagement 

"We are constantly looking for innovative ways to engage with our fans and invite new people to our exciting game… This partnership with OVAL3 is key to that initiative, and to our efforts to position the MLR among the most forward-thinking sports properties in North America."

Nic Benson, Major League Rugby CEO

With international Rugby being dominated by national sides, this partnership could also increase viewership and engagement with domestic leagues. We sure hope so 🙏 

The Next Big Fantasy Sports Game?

Focused on tending to Gen Z fans, Champions Round is a Fantasy Sports app created in 2018.

Centred around what they believe to be the future of Fantasy Sport, the company uses Daily Fantasy Sport (DFS) games to engage with their fans. This style allows players to compete over shorter-term periods, rather than a whole season.

In fact, DFS style games have reported a participation of over 30 million people! 

So why is this important?

Well, this week the app has managed to raise over $7 million! 

With this money, it’s being said that the company will start a new initiative – ‘Creator Rooms’. This in app feature will allow influencers to create content and host different games starting this Summer. These games could allegedly reap cash prize rewards, as well as digital collectables.

Moreover, the funding will help the company expand further into the Sports world. With leagues such as the Premier League, LaLiga, and Formula One being tipped, it could be time to get excited Sport fans…

 Quick bites

Meme of the day

Serious Preparation 😂😂😂

Quote of the day

“A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.”

Ara Parseghian

Photo of the day

💜💜💜

Ready to rep your favourite newsletter? Refer your friends and colleagues to the Sports Road and you could win big

It’s easy to spread the word. Copy and paste your unique link below and share it in an email or on your timeline

Ps - please respond to this email to help us beat the dreaded spam filters!

Chat to ya on Monday! ☮️