March 19 – Blockchain and crypto specialists Chiliz has entered into a strategic partnership with game studio Unagi and the French Professional Football League (LFP) to launch fantasy football Coach Ligue 1, the first time a league has developed their own game.
Coach Ligue 1 will offer fans of Ligue 1 Uber Eats and Ligue 2 BKT the opportunity to assemble their ‘ultimate team’ using digital trading cards – minted on the Chiliz Chain – of their favourite players.
The risk of license expiration and tricky renegotiations are eliminated as the league is developing its own assets itself.
Chiliz said the initiative highlights its focus on improving league business models through digital innovation, encouraging leagues to take control of their product development and rethink partnerships with third-party platforms, emphasising direct product creation.
Although the game is developed by Unagi using licensed property of Ligue 1, partnering with Chiliz helps to ensure the scarcity and value of each player card through blockchain technology.
Chiliz said it aims to empower leagues to lead the way in NFT fantasy sports, providing future opportunities for revenue generation, user engagement, and cross-selling.
Alex Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz, commented: “This is not just a game; it’s the inception of a new vertical that will see many similar collaborations with other leagues globally. By owning the relationship with the fans directly, leagues can now more effectively monetize and leverage their intellectual properties without the constraints of third-party licensing agreements.”
Martin Jaglin, Digital Growth Director, LFP MEDIA, added: “Partnering with Chiliz to launch Coach Ligue 1 represents a significant milestone for us: this initiative sets a new benchmark for how leagues can directly engage with and deliver value to fans through proprietary digital assets. By pioneering our own fantasy football game, we’re ensuring that LFP MEDIA remains at the forefront of the digital transformation in sports entertainment.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1713969587labto1713969587ofdlr1713969587owedi1713969587sni@g1713969587niwe.1713969587yrrah1713969587