🔊 Sorare Is Making It So Easy

Plus: Hurley Drops NFT Collection + Game & LinksDAO Releases New Membership Options

August 06, 2023

Welcome to The Hype Report where we break down the latest news, stories & insights at the intersection of sports, artificial intelligence & web3.

Here's What You Need To Know This Week 📝

  • Sorare Let’s Users Purchase NFTs Using Cash 💲

  • Hurley Drops NFT Digital Collectibles & Super Surfer Game 🏄

  • LinksDAO Releases New Membership Options 💳

  • Quick Hype 🎯

Let's Dive Into It 🤿

Sorare Let’s Users Purchase NFTs Using Cash 💲

This week Sorare, the leading Web3 fantasy-sports company, announced that users no longer have to use ETH to buy digital trading cards.

They now support fiat payments across all of their platforms.

Nonetheless, the trading cards are still considered NFTs and are still transacted on the blockchain.

We’ve talked about Sorare plenty of times in the past, but to reiterate, they operate as a blockchain-based game that allows users, called managers, to buy and trade NFTs representing elite sports players to build teams that they enter into competitions.

The platform is licensed by some of the world's biggest sports leagues, including:

With over 5 million registered managers, the company obviously saw its association with crypto as a hindrance to further its growth.

With support for the U.S. dollar, the euro, and the British pound - this might bring a whole new surge of users to the platform.

The move also follows Dapper Labs and other NFT-related sports game NBA Top Shot, which also accepts U.S. dollars as well.

Outside of trying to spur user growth, these companies might be trying to slowly remove their association with crypto.

Due to lingering negative connotations, such as the crypto market's collapse, pending legislation, and FTX's dramatic implosion, this strategy might be better suited for long-term sustainability.

Any increase in the use of digital assets may still have a positive effect on the broader adoption and blockchain technology.

Why Does This Matter?

Essentially, Sorare is eliminating "one of the main barriers to entry," in the Web3 space.

Most people don’t know and don’t care how crypto works from a technological standpoint.

I’ve always believed the key to the mass adoption of Web3 was centered around two main things:

  1. Ease of understanding and education

  2. Seamless user experiences

Sorare is taking a huge step in tackling that second step with this move.

Taking crypto out of the equation presents an opportunity for people to participate without being overwhelmed.

But we’ll still have to wait and see if this actually drives sustainable growth over time.

Hurley Drops NFT Digital Collectibles & Super Surfer Game 🏄

Hurley is riding the wave into the Web3 world.

The California-based surf brand, announced they’re launching a Hurley Super Surfer Game and the Hurleyverse, merging gaming, blockchain, and surfing.

The Hurley Super Surfer Game and the Hurleyverse, are a state-of-the-art way for the brand to dive into gaming while implementing emerging technology and— all while staying true to their surf DNA.

On August 30th, Hurley gaming fans can officially purchase the Hurley NFT digital collectible players.

They will be available for purchase on Jump.Trade, which is Asia's largest NFT marketplace.

The NFTs are designed as surf-ready sloths inspired by the sport's greatest athletes and can be used in the Hurley Super Surfer Game.

They also come with built-in performance advantages and exclusive Hurley styles.

"Hurley will always be right in the middle of the action, engaging our fans in new ways. We know our athletes and consumers look for immersive and fun experiences, and we wanted them to be able to play across both the physical and digital worlds.”

Ralph Gindi Bluestar Alliance Chief Operating Officer

The Hurley NFTs pre-booking opened on August 1st.

But you also don’t need an NFT avatar to participate in the game apparently.

According to Hurley, “all are welcome to drop in, dodge sea monsters, and collect Hurley Sand Dollars,” when the Hurley Super Surfer game becomes available for download on Google Play and the App Store on August 30th.

The NFT integrated version of the game updates on September 29th.

Why Does This Matter?

Brands need to innovate to stay relevant.

How do they do this?

  1. Be customer-obsessed

  2. Be willing to change

  3. Be innovative and in-the-know

In order to appeal to the next generation of consumers, brands need to realize their products and services have to deliver ongoing value and connect to a larger community.

For Hurley, that means implementing immersive, gaming experiences that can engage their young consumer base.

There have been hundreds of brands that have tested the Web3 waters over the past couple of years and that isn’t a coincidence.

The brands that will last and stand the test of time are the ones that are paying close attention to what their audiences want and executing it in innovative ways.

Ever wanted to join a DAO (decentralized autonomous organization), but didn’t want to mess with an NFT?

Well here’s your chance.

LinksDAO which has been recently renamed to Links Golf Club, a DAO for golf enthusiasts, just released new membership options.

The new tiers of membership offer various levels of access to the group's private Discord, the network of peer-to-peer private courses, and entry to its recently purchased Spey Bay Golf Club in Scotland.

The organization launched its NFT membership collection in January 2022, selling out almost immediately.

This helped raise $10.5 million to fund its founding mission of buying a Top 100 golf course.

The original tokens provide holders with a number of perks, including:

  • Access to its digital community

  • Access to any of Links Golf Club's future golf courses

  • Governance voting rights

In March, the community announced it was purchasing Spey Bay Golf Club, an 18-hole property located on the northern coast of Scotland for roughly $1 million.

The deal officially closed in May of this year.

Renovation of the course is set to begin construction in the fall.

Regarding the new membership options - they vary from “Starter,” “Player,” and “Pro.”

Here’s the breakdown:

  • The lowest tier, Starter, is available for $99 a year and offers access to the group's digital community and discounts on merchandise with partner golf brands.

  • The second tier, Player, grants access to Links' peer-to-peer network of over 800 private courses and is priced at $499 a year.

  • The highest tier, Pro, costs $1,499 a year and offers access to over 1,300 member-hosted and private courses, along with access to Spey Bey when it eventually opens.

By opening the community to non-crypto natives, Links Golf Club is giving new members the option to pay by credit card in fiat which can aid in accelerating growth similar to the Sorare case.

Quick Hype 🎯 

DAZN Takes Boxing Fan Experience to the Next Level with VR.

The Looming Issue of AI Commentary in Sports.

How IndyCar is Using AI to Improve its Broadcast Audio Technology.

Baron Davis is Leveraging Crypto Technology to Bridge the Gap Between Sports & Communities.

LootMogul Launches MogulX.ai: A Community-Driven Sports AI Game Engine for Athletes, Fans & Game Developers.

How STAKS is Monetizing Sports Fan Engagement with Digital Assets & Mobile Payment Solutions.

Thanks for reading today!

Talk to you again next week.

Malcolm

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