The Premier League (PL) club, Aston Villa FC (AVFC) have strengthened their partnership in the Web3 space via the launch of a digital sticker album in partnership with Chiliz, the leader in blockchain technology for sports engagement.
In honour of the club’s 150th anniversary, fans can gather digital stickers for every home game at Villa Park owing to the limited edition sticker album. Previously exclusively available in physical form, fans can now obtain these stickers online through the Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) technology.
The digital extension has now seen more than 18,000 collectibles redeemed. Fans can also win items from an “unprecedented” prize list, including signed merchandise, match tickets, and training ground tours.
This is not the first time the PL club has used blockchain technology to connect with fans. In 2021, Villa collaborated with Chiliz’s brand Socios to offer fans unique experiences using $AVL Fan Tokens.
Holders of these tokens were given the opportunity to play on the pitch at Villa Park, join Champions League watch parties with club heroes, and vote on club decisions such as corner flag designs, exit tunnels, and fanzones.
Some of the world’s biggest clubs have recently considered blockchain technology as a promising tool to increase fan engagement. Manchester United and Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and FC Barcelona have all used tokens in some capacity.
While these clubs have previously used collectibles, Serie A expanded its cooperation with Chiliz last year. Fans of Italy’s top football division could acquire a piece of their club’s history by purchasing game-scored balls from Serie A and Copa Italia matches.
The project proved to be an excellent way to communicate with not just various clubs but also nations, with 188 balls gathered by fans from 16 countries.