7x Sports Platforms That Need PFPs 👺
Our favorite platforms need their own Profile Pictures. So lets tell em what to do.
Profile Pictures (PFPs) have come to define the NFT space.
Which is still quite surreal to me.
I spent almost an entire year in NFTs, thinking that the future was all about sports collectibles, generative art, and digital land.
Then Bored Apes came along, and the space changed.
Flash forward almost two years, and PFPs still absolutely dominate the industry, and every major brand entering the non fungible arena is launching them.
And yet, in the licensed sports corner of NFTs, we have yet to see a single project or platform adopt the trend.
Which is crazy, because there are so many reasons to make PFPs:
Its free advertising in other communities and social networks.
Its added revenue via royalty fees (on top of primary!)
Its not as expensive as a sports license.
It lets superfans and maxis really show off.
Its trendy, and signals the platform is “with it”.
Top Shot, Sorare, ALL DAY, Draft Kings - not a single one has released a PFP collection. They have not given their community a chance to flex their identity.
And its not like it would even be that hard!
Here’s how I would make a PFP collection for a Dapper or Sorare:
Don’t use the league IP, since that would create legal issues (and something fresh and new would be best anyway).
Generate the image with the users’ portfolio, so everyone’s is unique.
Hire a top tier web3 artist, of which there is no shortage.
Offer it only to KYC’d users, to ensure fairness across the platform.
Give it own roadmap and partnerships, so it can grow and thrive on its own.
To give them an even bigger head start, I’ve listed EACH of the platforms below 🔽 and CHOSEN what type or PFPs they should make.
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PFPs For Each Sports Platform🐯
These combinations are based on the demographic and vibe of each project. I’m choosing what type of PFP each community would be most receptive to.
We’ll cover Sorare, Candy, Top Shot, All Day, Panini, and Draft Kings.
SORARE // Top Tier Generative 3D Art
I’m thinking something like Clone X for the Sorare PFPs.
Sleek. Sexy. 3D. New Age.
And created by an incredibly famous artist.
We’ll call this “the french connection” seeing as both the founder of Sorare and RTFKT are from France. They both clearly appreciate a very high level of design, ad both brands have impeccable polish and presentation.
CANDY DIGITAL // Generative Baseball Card Style
Similar to the Martian Premier League, with the vintage look to it.
The cards would hold true to the ethos of baseball, and although they couldn’t actually feature any real players, Candy could still tap an A.I. to create fake ones.
Each PFP could come with it’s own stats and personal info, and use SOME branding elements of the candy platform (their pack opening videos are really solid).
NBA TOP SHOT // Extremely Stylish People
NBA Players are known for their style.
And both Hoodlums or Gutter Cat Gang-style art would be perfect to represent the diehard fanbase at TS.
Tattoos. Strange Wardrobes. Unique feature. Tons of steez.
Plus, the Top Shot community is in dire need of some swagger. It needs something hot to show itself off.
Also, special shoutout to MomentNerd for giving the TS faithful a tool to create a free PFP using one of their moments.
NFL ALL DAY // The 8-Bit Punk Treatment
A style similar to Cryptopunks and Ballerz.
The NFL has a rich history in video games, notably pieces like Tecmo Bowl, so an old school feel is just right.
And again - the PFPs would not be actual players.
But they COULD feature items like helmets, jerseys, balls, hairstyles, and emblems.
UFC Strike // Badass Anime Characters
Something like Azuki or Renga.
I absolutely LOVE the look of anime-style PFPs.
I grew up playing Street Fighter and reading Dragonball Z, and this type of art has come to define martial arts for me.
Although the UFC itself doesn’t play on traditional MA motifs (its an Octagon, not a dojo, for example), I do think this would be a hit.
PANINI // Badass Cartoon Characters
I’m thinking Pirates Of The Metaverse style.
I only just recently started hanging out in the Panini community. And its been quite the warm welcome! However, most of their NFTs are just the exact image as the actual sports cards (kinda boring imo).
To spice things up, they could take a far more playful approach and make PFPs that look like a cross between a toy and a comic book character.
DRAFT KINGS - High Polish 3D PFPs
Similar to Hape Prime or Humanoids.
Draft Kings is a traditional brand in web3, so I’m going to assign them something we would see on Instagram.
Good quality. A bit basic. Really well done.
Oh, and I need to point out - Draft Kings already has PFPs.
I only found that out when writing this newsletter (see below). And could not bring myself to mention them as a viable option. Sorry DK!
That’s it for the list. And again:
Not making a native PFP is a massive lost opportunity for these brands.
And the further we fade into the bear market, the smaller that window becomes as new trends are sure to emerge in the new year.
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**This is not financial advice. Nothing in this newsletter, podcast, or publication should be considered financial or trading advice of any kind. Please do your own thorough research and make your own trading decisions. This is not advice.”
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