Brazil’s São Paulo FC is breaking new ground by introducing NFT tickets for their upcoming match against Flamengo on December 6th. Using their Smart Ticket system, the club’s innovation hub is leveraging blockchain technology to address challenges inherent in traditional ticketing methods.
Pioneering NFT Tickets for Football Fans
In an EXAME exclusive, the brains behind the Smart Ticket revealed that starting this Tuesday, 28, they’ll release a total of 40 tokenized tickets via São Paulo’s app. These tickets come in three price tiers, ranging from R$ 200 ($41) to R$ 400 ($82).
These NFT tickets aren’t solely entry passes to Morumbi Stadium. Purchasers gain access to an array of physical and digital experiences, including witnessing a trophy crafted with a 3D printer, contributing to a Virtual Reality mural, receiving physical collectibles and NFTs, and even a chance to win a signed club shirt.
Smart Ticket Innovation
A joint effort among Sportheca, TresPontoZero.io, and goBlockchain, the Smart Ticket is an initiative born from the Inova.São Open Innovation Center.
Paulo Martinez, a partner at TresPontoZero.io, highlighted the advantages of blockchain in ticket distribution, emphasizing its security and transparency benefits. While not a standalone solution to ticket resale and scalping issues, blockchain significantly aids in these aspects due to its secure and transparent nature.
Martinez emphasized Smart Ticket’s goal of elevating the fan experience beyond mere entry passes. He envisions tickets as mementos that extend experiences through blockchain and NFTs, forging deeper connections and enriching the football fan experience.
Marcelo Nicolau, partner and head of venture building at Sportheca, sees NFT tickets as a gateway to exclusive physical and digital experiences solely available to ticket holders. He also mentioned the potential for secure resale, creating secondary revenue streams for the club, facilitated by the tokenized nature of the tickets.
Pioneering ‘Loyalty 3.0’
This groundbreaking initiative marks a move towards ‘Loyalty 3.0,’ utilizing Web3 resources to enhance customer loyalty and offer novel experiences. Martinez noted that tokenized tickets enable sustained engagement, granting loyal fans privileges and rewards.
The plan involves a limited test for premium audiences to deliver an enriched experience. They aim to integrate emerging tech into football, attracting diverse fan segments such as gamers, potentially expanding this innovation to all ticket types in the future.
