Tech and sports converge: A new era for Philippine football
United City FC, a local club in the Philippines, has partnered with Blocksport, a Swiss-based company to leverage Web3 and blockchain technologies in elevating fan engagement and explore innovative revenue opportunities.
The partnership was announced in March, underscoring United City FC’s commitment to embracing technological advancements in sports entertainment, aiming to deepen connections with its global fan base. At a recent AIBC Asia interview, Samir Ceric, COO of Blocksport AG, and Eric Gottschalk, President and CEO of United City FC, discussed their strategic partnership.
We're thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with @UnitedCityFC_PH ! 🎉
On the back of the successful launch of its Fan App, UCFC is gearing up for an innovative journey with Blocksport.
Read more: https://t.co/hSukzty91f#Blocksport #UCFC #FanEngagement #Web3 pic.twitter.com/ZCXhErSJBW
— Blocksport (@blocksportdotio) March 4, 2024
“Southeast Asia, with its young digital natives and huge aspirations, presents a unique opportunity. United City FC, a well-known club in the Philippines, has the ambition to become an Asian champion again. By mobilising fans and offering them something beyond traditional Web 2.0 platforms, we aim to encourage and incentivise their participation in the Web 3.0 creator’s community,” Ceric said.
Embracing Web3 for fan engagement
Gottschalk highlighted the motivations behind United City FC’s decision to fully embrace Web3 technology, a pioneering move in the Philippine sports landscape. “Football here is not yet mainstream, lagging behind basketball and volleyball. We need to be creative in engaging our fans and making our business model work,” he said. “The traditional revenue streams are limited, so we looked outside the box and found Blocksport. Their experience with professional basketball and football in Europe was particularly attractive.”
Ceric elaborated on the importance of this technological shift, noting the differences between Web2 and Web3. “Over the past decades, major brands have leveraged data acquisition and user bases without fully realising the value of their fan base. The bridge between Web 2 and Web 3 is crucial now, as it emphasises fan engagement and the creator’s economy. Clubs must understand they are running media, entertainment, and data businesses, not just sports entities.”
Learning from global trends
The adoption of Web3 is not just a regional trend but a global movement. “The real difference between Web2 and Web3 lies in the power of data and fan engagement. Traditional football clubs have millions of fans but often fail to capitalise on this valuable asset.”
He continued, “Web3 allows clubs to reward their fans not just with engagement but commercially as well. Content creators for clubs should benefit financially if their content gains traction. This approach aligns with the principles of trust, transparency, and traceability inherent in blockchain technology.”
Rekindling football’s popularity in the Philippines
The state of football in the Philippines, a nation predominantly known for its love of basketball, presents both challenges and opportunities. “In the early 1900s, the Philippines was a football country. The Asian Football Confederation was founded here, and there were massive crowds for football games. However, the sport lost its edge due to a lack of innovation and development,” Gottschalk said.
Gottschalk also emphasised the potential for football’s resurgence. “With over 3 million kids playing football, especially in the provinces, the sport has a significant grassroots base. United City FC aims to innovate and lead by example, hoping other clubs and the federation will follow.”
Gamification and fan tokens in the pipeline
Looking ahead, both Ceric and Gottschalk outlined their visions for the future. Gottschalk detailed United City FC’s plans: “We still need to focus on our core business, competing on the pitch, and using technology for fan engagement. Our goals include owning a stadium, developing our academies, and exploring women’s football. The next steps involve gamification and fan tokens to deepen fan engagement.”
Ceric highlighted Blocksport’s broader ambitions. “We aim to establish ourselves as the go-to company for Web3 in the sports industry. Our partnership with Deutsche Telekom is a significant step, and we plan to expand our footprint in the US and other regions. Ultimately, we want to empower athletes and content creators, providing them with the infrastructure to connect with their loyal fan bases.”
The convergence of tech and sports, exemplified by the partnership between Blocksport AG and United City FC, is poised to transform the sporting landscape in the Philippines and beyond.
