According to a Deloitte report, in 2022, NFTs for sports media will generate more than US$2 billion in transactions.
The report estimates that, by the end of 2022, 4–5 million sports fans worldwide will have purchased or received an NFT sports collectible. Sports NFTs are likely to be influenced by activity in the broader NFT market.
Throughout 2022, limited-edition videos of sporting moments or player cards will most likely be the most popular and lucrative application of NFTs in the sports industry.
As stated in the report, “NFTs can bring additional revenue to sports leagues, teams, and individual athletes whose income has declined during lockdown.”
Other than being an additional source of income, NFTs can enhance the fan experience by enabling them to acquire and display NFTs of their team.
The report, published at the end of 2021, already reflects reality, as more and more sports organizations, companies and athletes are exploring NFTs, and more and more fans are showing their enthusiasm and support for such initiatives.
A sign that this trend is gaining traction is the amount of sports-related NFT news coming in every day.
Recently, Los Angeles Times, launched its first NFT collection to mark the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory.
In January, Australian Open released six NFT collections honoring iconic moments in tennis history from the 1970s to the 2020s. At the end of December, Michael Jordan and his son Jeffrey Jordan created HEIR, an NFT platform that connects athletes and fans.
