- Paris based Sorare has 1.7m players in 184 countries
- Major League Baseball’s deal follows Sorare’s partnership in March with Major League Soccer
Sorare, a blockchain-based fantasy sports game company has signed up Major League Baseball (MLB) as its first non-soccer partner and will launch a game based on MLB players this summer.
MLB fantasy game players will be able to collect, trade and play with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) representing players in the league, compiling a team roster that competes against other users.
Meanwhile, MLB gains another digital channel with which to reach and engage new fans in the US and beyond, as the Sorare platform boasts a community of 1.7 million registered users in 184 countries.
MLB NFT partnerships with Candy Digital
With the announcement, MLB is continuing it’s move into the cryptocurrency NFT space in 2022. Their MLB ICON series NFT collection featuring 720 players is in release on Candy Digital. MLB is also dropping commemorative game ticket NFTs this season, also on Candy Digital.
Sorare opened its first office in North America at the end of 2021 and already has a partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS). Other soccer partners include Spain’s LaLiga and Germany’s Bundesliga, as well as individual clubs such as Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
The company regards the deal with MLB as a major milestone for its ambitions in the US and also a major endorsement of its product.
“The connection between Americans and baseball is enduring. And baseball has always been on the cutting edge of new technologies and innovations, so we’re proud that MLB and the MLBPA [Major League Baseball Players Association] have chosen Sorare to deliver an NFT MLB game to fans globally,” said Nicolas Julia, co-founder and chief executive at Sorare.
“MLB has been at the forefront of interactive games for decades, while baseball has some of the oldest and most established forms of sports memorabilia. Together they show how much fans want to own and be a part of the game. Today, as digital engagement and technology evolves for a new generation, our partnership will help a new and broader fanbase to connect with America’s pastime.”
MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred’s thoughts on Sorare
“The connections we build with our fans are vital and Sorare understands the importance of that bond,” said MLB commissioner Robert Manfred Jr., “The company’s focus on transforming fandom through an innovative combination of sports, technology and gaming to let fans truly own a piece of the game they love is unique and goes beyond borders – allowing us to bring the love of baseball to more fans across the globe.”
OneTeam, the MLBPA’s group player licensing partner, facilitated the deal. Additional details will be announced closer to launch.
Sorare was valued at US$4.3 billion in September following a US$680 million Series B funding round. The company’s backers include FIFA World Cup winners Gerard Piqué and Antoine Griezmann, as well as former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.
Image: Pixabay
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