Exploring the NFT world can be tricky, with many projects lacking authenticity. At NFT Droppers, we offer reliable ratings by examining over 70 detailed factors. We dive into NFT features, structure, roadmaps, technical details, and token utility. We also look at media presence, website traffic, and community engagement. Our team checks the whitepaper, investment timeline, market potential, and existing user base to gauge the project's vision. We thoroughly verify team members to ensure authenticity and provide all essential information for investors. Our ratings are frequently updated, and we continuously improve our methods. Trust NFT Droppers for insightful and current NFT evaluations..
NFTs offer Fan Engagement Opportunities for Sports Leagues, Franchises

EPL side Manchester City is partnering with Quidd to release digital collectible cards.
On the surface, the continuing move by professional sports leagues and franchises into the world of NFTs appears to be misplaced logic. It seems to make about as much sense as reading through a BetNow review and then making a speculative longshot play in a futures market. The chances of the move paying dividends are slim to none.
All indications are that the NFT market has peaked and entered into a decline in terms of investment value. The Forkast 500 NFT Index, which gauges NFT market performance, suggests that the peak time for NFTs came and went in January of 2022. Further data from the same index indicates that the NFT market has declined to just 23% of the value it held in January of 2022.
However, the fact of the matter is that it’s not about the dollars why these NFT decisions are being made by sports entities as much as it is about common sense.
In the sporting realm, NFTs continue to offer an outstanding method for delivering fan engagement with players, franchises and leagues. And that’s the outcome that sports teams and leagues are looking to draw into when they are entering, or even renewing deals to create and distribute NFTs.
The concept is old-school, really. By turning NFTs into digital collectibles, rather than focusing on their value in the crypto market, they are in turn becoming digital versions of physical trading cards.
On a global scale, this makes perfect sense. If you’re in the USA, you can’t physically trade collectible cards with your friend in Dubai. But you can do it digitally, and that’s what these sports-related NFTs are first and foremost seeking to become.
Let’s look at some of the recent NFT releases in the realm of pro sports.
Unseen City Shirts
In April, English Premier League powerhouse side Manchester City was launching a NFT promotion entitled Unseen City Shirts. Partnering with OKX, a leading global crypto exchange and Web3 technology company, these commemorative football shirts can be minted as digital collectibles (NFTs). Fans around the world can mint the digital collectibles via the OKX app and redeem exclusive prizes.
The NFT digital shirts are only available for a brief time, so it truly is a limited edition collectible. The first effort, ‘Roses And Bees’, featured both of those items cascading around a Manchester City shirt. Designed by artist Christian Jeffery, the digital shirts were only available for four days in April of 2025.
The second release is called ‘Blue Moon.’ It is designed by artist Charli Cohen, and is a nod to Manchester City fans.
Each collectible minted will randomly be assigned a rarity level – Classic, Rare or Ultra Rare – providing fans with a chance to win exclusive prizes. Depending on the rarity of the digital collectible, fans have a chance to win exclusive prizes. These will include a limited-edition physical version of the specially-designed football shirt and tickets to Manchester City matches.
At the same time, City was announcing a new multi-year partnership with Quidd, one of the world’s leading digital collectible platforms, to produce digital trading cards. The first series will feature over 200 bespoke player cards and will be available on the state-of-the-art Quidd marketplace.
The partnership will give fans the opportunity to unlock a number of real-world rewards. They will include official Manchester City merchandise, hospitality tickets and money-can’t-buy experiences, such as an exclusive opportunity to watch a first team training session at the City Football Academy.
Rugby Champions Cup Digital Trading Cards
EPCR and LegendaryPlays are producing digital rugby trading cards EPCR and LegendaryPlays announced a collaboration to showcase the rich 30-year history of the Champions Cup, the world’s top international club rugby tournament.
The partnership is offering the tournament’s global fanbases the opportunity to build and trade officially-licensed digital video moments and to access real-life money-can’t-buy experiences.
A Play is a digital collectible in limited editions, that fans can collect, play and trade. Due to the intended scarcity, each digital souvenir is available in different supply and includes digital art, and a unique rugby moment, whose ownership is certified by blockchain technology. Plays owners are invited to build their own legendary XV to unlock exclusive memorabilia and exceptional experiences.
NHL Releases Digital Collectibles
The 2023-24 NHL season saw the launch of the league’s first officially-licensed NFTs, released in the form of digital collectibles. Partnering with Sweet.io, the NHL this season released NHL Breakaway digital collectibles. These NFTs include highlights of crucial goals, key saves and major plays from the Stanley Cup playoffs and feature such NHL stars as Jack Hughes, Matty Beniers, Connor McDavid, Linus Ullmark, Dylan Larkin and Mark Stone.
Each highlight is carefully curated to capture the intensity of the NHL, as well as the significance of player and team milestones throughout a season or career. On the NHL Breakaway website, collectors can buy and sell these NHL NFTs via the marketplace, or seek to make deals with other collectors inside the NHL Breakaway virtual trade lounge.
Jason Runnion, vice-president of marketing at Sweet, believes this is the way NFT collectibles were meant to be received.
“Things won’t necessarily go back to the way they were,” Runnion told sportcal.com of the state of the NFT market.
“The goal wasn’t to come out of the gate and say ‘here’s another speculative project like any other projects that you might have already participated in.’ The goal was to say we’re working in close partnership with the NHL, the partners, and the players’ association to develop a product on our platform that fans will actually enjoy.”
Laith Murad, chief marketing officer at Sweet, shares this vision for their project.
“Crypto blockchain technology, that’s just the underlying technology,” Murad said. “That underlying technology was never the focus.
“It’s about the players, content, and teams. That’s what fans are interested in
“I have friends who were in the hockey space, but they no longer live near me. So, I can’t just hand over the cards and trade. But now I can do it [digitally].
“So it’s this whole idea that I can start trading with people in London who are hockey fans and they can be a part of the community.
“That’s something really important, the community element of these fans coming together. That when you become a part of this – you’re not just an individual, you’re a part of a community of hockey-loving fans who are looking to collect and talk about the game, and you have a place to go. That’s unique.”

Disclaimer: The information presented here may express the authors personal views and is based on prevailing market conditions. Please perform your own due diligence before investing in cryptocurrencies. Neither the author nor the publication holds responsibility for any financial losses sustained.
BEST CRYPTO PRE SALE




BEST CRYPTO NEWS WEBSITE

TOP EXCHANGES

BEST CRYPTO CASINO
BEST HARDWARE WALLET

Table of Contents