Category Archives: NFL

Antonio Gates, Fanduel And Lupus Research Alliance Partner On A Daily Fantasy Contest To Fund Research

In support of the millions of people living with lupus, FanDuel has partnered with the Lupus Research Alliance and Legendary Chargers Tight End, Antonio Gates for a “Super Duel for a Difference” daily fantasy contest on FanDuel to help fund research for a cure for lupus. ​

Duel for a Difference, a signature FanDuel initiative, is a daily fantasy contest where entry fees are donated back to a charity or organization. FanDuel often partners with a celebrity or pro athlete to support these initiatives by playing against customers in the contest, and identify organizations the celebrity is passionate about.

The Super Duel for a Difference contest with Antonio Gates will take place for the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers game on Thursday night, 12/16/21. The contest will cost $5 to enter, and FanDuel will be donating all entry fees from the contest back to the Lupus Research Alliance, a cause that has a close personal connection for Gates. Gates will draft his own team and play alongside everyone, and the winner of the contest will receive two tickets to Super Bowl LVI in February.

For more information about Duel for a Difference, and to sign up, donate and play, please visit https://www.fanduel.com/games/68565/contests/68565-253048613/enter.

Genius Sports, CFL Partner to Grow Fan Engagement and Extend Media Reach Via Sports Data, Global Tech

Genius Sports, the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, today announced a landmark strategic partnership with the Canadian Football League (CFL), the second largest football league globally with over 100 years of history.

Genius Sports will provide a wide range of technology and services that will enable the CFL to accelerate its growth plans and engage new audiences around the world.

As part of the agreement, Genius Sports will have the exclusive rights to commercialize the CFL’s official data worldwide and video content with sportsbooks in international markets, replicating the global distribution and success of its official betting products for the EPL and NFL, among others. In connection with the partnership, in addition to the official data rights agreement, Genius Sports and the CFL have also agreed that Genius Sports will acquire a minority stake in CFL Ventures, the new commercial arm of the League, allowing the Company to benefit strategically and financially from the CFL’s growth.

The CFL will be provided with one of the widest and most innovative data ecosystems in world sport, transforming its relationships with fans, sportsbooks, and media in North America and globally. Bringing together its recent acquisitions of Second Spectrum, Spirable, FanHub and Sportzcast, Genius Sports will power the entire CFL digital infrastructure. This will include live broadcast augmentation, advanced data tracking tools, highly targeted and personalized fan engagement solutions, cross-platform streaming capabilities, play-by-play and scoreboard data collection technology, coaching analytics products, and integrity services to safeguard the league.

“Our partnership with Genius Sports has the potential to launch a new era for the CFL,” said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League. “It provides access to the technology and tools we need to engage our existing fans, and reach new ones, in exciting, innovative and highly customized ways. This goes beyond transforming our marketing. It can redefine our relationship with fans, partners and other key stakeholders, here in Canada and globally.”

“By providing the CFL with an incredible range of sports technology solutions, Genius Sports is setting a new precedent for sports partnerships,” said Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports. “Together, we will revolutionize the entire CFL product, delivering truly immersive experiences for their existing fans and attracting new audiences who crave year-round, top-flight football action.”

This partnership will help facilitate the CFL’s growth ambitions, expanding its audience in the U.S., while extending its reach into new international markets. Genius Sports will help the CFL to capitalize on the growth of the North American sports betting market, maximizing revenue and engagement opportunities.

The transaction is expected to become effective in January 2022. An O’Melveny & Myers LLP team, led by partners Charles Baker and Amy Siegel and counsel Eric Geffner and Rob Catmull together with McCarthy Tetrault LLP, advised Genius Sports on this transformative transaction.

VKTRY Brings NFL Star Jonathan Taylor On Board As Latest Brand Ambassador

VKTRY GEAR, the fast growing, industry leader in Performance Insoles for heightened athletic performance and injury protection, continued to make 2021 a record year, announcing six months in a row of month over month sales increases while bringing fast-rising NFL running back Jonathan Taylor on as the latest brand ambassador. The Indianapolis Colts star has the second highest grade among all NFL running backs per Pro Football Focus and is second in the league in rushing heading into this weekend. Players on all 32 NFL clubs are now using VKTRY insoles for the first time in the history of the company.

“When I first put VKTRY Insoles into my cleats, it was an instant boost of explosion, power & speed. Being able to explode out of my cuts with more power helps me separate from a defender,” stated Jonathan Taylor. “Knowing that VKTRY Insoles are made with the latest and greatest technology makes you feel almost like you’re a superhero or something out of this world. Having this high-tech product inside your cleats makes you feel like no one can stop you on the field.”

“We are honored to have two of the best young running backs in the NFL as VKTRY’s spokespeople – first Nick Chubb – and now Jonathan Taylor,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “JT is one of the most explosive players in the league, highly respected by everyone who knows him. We are honored to have him representing VKTRY.”

During the 2021 NFL season, a record number of over 200 NFL players, from all 32 clubs, are now wearing VKTRY’S carbon fiber insoles, a 75% increase from 2020. The list includes some of the brightest young stars and respected veterans in the NFL: Nick Chubb, Saquan Barkley, Antonio Gibson, Bryan Bulaga, George Kittle, Josh Norman, DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel and many more. VKTRY Insoles are used across multiple sports and the company’s endorsements include NBA legend Tracy McGrady, Captain of the Gold Medal-winning US Women’s Volleyball Team Jordan Larson, MLB slugger Vlad Guerrero, Jr., and 3X PGA major winner Padraig Harrington.

Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, VKTRY Insoles store and return energy to the athlete. They also provide a “spring-like” effect to improve shock absorption and reduce the load and stress on the athlete’s body. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0″, their vert by +1.6″ and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds. Because all athletes are not alike, VKs are customized based on the size of the athlete and the sport or activity. VKTRY’s Gold Insoles are available in five different levels of flexibility to optimize performance, protection and comfort.

“VKTRY’s Gold Insoles have been designed for serious athletes, while our recent launch of Silver Insoles appeals to more casual athletes or weekend warriors”, stated Wasik. “2021 has proven to be our best year ever as sales are trending at close to +40% higher than year ago. More and more athletes are discovering the performance and protection benefits of VKTRY Insoles.”

Taylor added: “If a teammate asked me about VKTRY Insoles, I would tell them that this is the one product that would help them take their game to the next level. Foam insoles don’t respond or give you anything back. Wearing VKTRY’s carbon fiber insoles, the one thing I notice instantly is that extra power & explosion that they give me.”

NFLPA, RealResponse Extend Agreement On Reporting Platform

RealResponse (@RealResponseHQ), the leading safe and secure feedback, monitoring and anonymous reporting platform for athletic teams, organizations, and over 50,000 athletes, today announced an expansion of their agreement with the NFL Players Association. Last season, players used RealResponse to communicate COVID-19 health and safety questions and violations to the NFLPA; now, all players and clubs will have the ability to anonymously and securely report any and all issues with regard to player health and safety to the NFLPA in real time for everything from training camp issues, drug policy infractions, social injustice concerns, medical issues, COVID-19 policy violations, misconduct, hazing, harassment, and more as well as using the system to highlight successes and best practices which might go otherwise unnoticed. The NFLPA is the first professional organization to fully implement the RealResponse system, which was significantly enhanced and upgraded in 2020. The NFLPA joins USA Gymnastics and over 100 colleges and Universities as RealResponse partners.

“Health and safety remain the priority for all organizations, and our system will now give thousands of NFL players a safe and secure opportunity to voice concerns beyond only COVID-19 for any issues on and off the field,” said 31 year old David Chadwick, former Division I basketball player at Rice University and Valparaiso University and the founder of RealResponse. “We were proud to support the NFLPA last season amidst COVID-19, and today’s announcement is ample proof of last season’s success and that our system, working with the first movers who lead the NFLPA, will be a model not just for football, but for all athletic organizations as we expand, enhance, refine and customize our offering to meet the needs of athletes, organizations and colleges around the world.”

“The NFLPA is committed to providing players a confidential way to bring forward any issues or concerns that may require the Unions assistance, therefore we are excited to announce that we are expanding our use of RealResponse,” said Don Davis, Senior Director Player Affairs & Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at NFL Players Association. “The successful utilization of this platform in 2020, allowed players to bring forward any COVID-19 questions or violations. We believe this system will go a long way in addressing problems and letting all focus on the task at hand, which is being successful athletes, teammates and family members for decades to come.”

The program will begin with the start of training camp and will continue throughout the season.

Last season, the NFLPA partnered with RealResponse to provide its members with a safe platform to anonymously text potential violations of NFL/NFLPA health and safety protocol related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hall Of Fantasy League Unveils Inaugural Front Office Staff Of Former NFL Standouts

Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment Company (“HOFV” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW), the only resort, entertainment and media company centered around the power of professional football, today announced the Front Office staffs for the 10 franchises competing in the inaugural season of the Hall Of Fantasy League (“HOFL”), the first national league that allows sports fans to experience a fantasy football team with a community of shared Stakeholders. As a result of HOFV’s partnership with StakeKings, fans who purchase a stake in any of the HOFL’s teams are eligible to receive their pro rata share of winnings based on the success of their respective franchise during the 2021-22 season. Fans can purchase stakes today by clicking here.

Each franchise will consist of a dedicated Front Office comprised of prominent fantasy experts and former NFL players, who will serve as General Managers and Team Captains. The Front Office staffs will be responsible for the configuration and daily management of rosters as well as regular engagement with their respective franchise’s Stakeholders. The Front Office personnel for the 2021-22 season include:

TeamTeam CaptainsGeneral Managers
AtlantaHot WingsHarry Douglas·      10-year NFL career·      7 seasons with Atlanta Falcons·      Career totals of 310 receptions, 3,759 receiving yards, 10 receiving TDs Joe Dolan·      Co-Owner and Managing Editor of Fantasy Points·      FantasyPros #1 Cumulative Ranker 2014-2018·      Co-Host of SiriusXM Fantasy Football Gameday & the Fantasy Feast Podcast Graham Barfield·      Co-Owner and Director of Analytics at Fantasy Points·      Formerly worked for Fantasy Guru and NFL Network·      Originator of charting process Yards Created
BostonBarfliesPatrick Chung·      11-year NFL career – 10 with New England Patriots·      3x Super Bowl Champion·      Career totals of 11 INTs and 778 combined tackles  John Paulsen·      Director of Forecasting at 4for4 Fantasy Football·      FantasyPros Most Accurate 2010 & 2014·      FantasyPros top 6 accuracy in 9 of last 11 years Jennifer Eakins·      Senior Editor and Writer at 4for4 Football·      Co-Host of The Most Accurate Podcast (TMAP)·      Contributor for Yahoo Fantasy Sports
ChicagoHogmolliesEddie Royal·      9-year NFL career – 2 with Chicago Bears·      Career totals of 408 receptions, 4,357 receiving yards, 28 receiving TDs·      4 600+ receiving yard seasonsJeff Ratcliffe·         Fantasy Sports Analyst at FTN Fantasy·         Host for SiriusXM Fantasy Radio·         CBS Sports Network TV Analyst 
Los AngelesSidekicksRicky Proehl·      17-year NFL career – 5 with St. Louis Rams·      2x Super Bowl Champion·      Career totals of 669 receptions, 8,878 receiving yards, 54 receiving TDsChristopher Harris·         Host of the Harris Football Podcast·         FSWA “Best Fantasy Podcast” winner·         Renowned for evaluating fantasy via game film on YouTube.com/harrisfootball  
New YorkBodega CatsRashad Jennings·      8-year NFL career – 3 with New York Giants·      Career totals of 3,772 rushing yards, 1,469 receiving yards, 23 rushing TDs·      Contestant on Season 24 of Dancing with the Stars  Scott Engel·         Writer at RotoBaller·         Host of RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio·         FSWA Hall of Famer known in the industry as “The King” Raphael Rabe·         Co-Founder of RotoBaller·         Host of RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio·         Outspoken fantasy sports talking head known as “Real Talk Raph”
OhioGOATSJoe Thomas·      11-year NFL career with Cleveland Browns·      10x Pro Bowler; 6x First Team All Pro Offensive Lineman·      NFL 2010s All-Decade TeamMichael Fabiano·         Senior Fantasy Analyst for Sports Illustrated·         FSWA Hall of Famer·         Formerly of NFL Network and “The NFL Today” on CBS Bob Harris·         Senior Editor for FootballDiehards.com·         FSWA Hall of Famer & first-ever Fantasy Football Writer of the Year 2005·         Host for SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio
PhiladelphiaPowderkegsJason Avant·      10-year NFL career – 8 with Philadelphia Eagles·      Career totals of 346 receptions, 4,118 receiving yards, 13 receiving TDs·      14th on Eagles all-time receptions list (297)Adam Caplan·         NFL Reporter, now in his 20th season·         Host on SiriusXM NFL Radio & SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio·         Host of “Inside the Birds” Eagles podcast 
SeattleHazeJustin Forsett·      9-year NFL career – 4 with Seattle Seahawks·      1x Pro Bowler·      Career totals of 3,890 rushing yards, 210 receptions, 19 rushing TDs Melissa Jacobs·         Founder and Managing Editor of The Football Girl (TFG)·         NFL Columnist at The Guardian·         Former Fantasy Analyst at espnW and NFL Editor at Sports Illustrated Pat Fitzmaurice·         Winner of FantasyPros’ 2020 Ranking Accuracy Contest·         Contributor to The Football Girl and Footballguys.com·         Host of the Fitz on Fantasy Podcast
TexasY’allersDarren Woodson12-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys3x Super Bowl Champ; 5x Pro Bowler: 4x First Team All-Pro SafetyCareer totals of 23 INTs, 12 forced fumbles, 967 combined tacklesSigmund Bloom·         Co-Owner of Footballguys.com·         Current all-time #1 in the FFPC Pros vs. Joes Competition·         Co-Host of The Audible & On The Couch podcasts Joe Bryant·         CEO & Co-Founder of Footballguys.com·         FSWA Hall of Famer·         Mr. Rogers > Aaron Rodgers… and he likes Aaron Rodgers
VegasPocket KingsMarquette King7-year NFL career – 6 with Oakland Raiders1x Second Team All-Pro Punter46.7 yards per punt – tied for 4th all timeJeff Mans·         Part-Owner and President of Elite Sports Network·         Host for SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio·         Has earned over one million dollars in fantasy sports winnings

Terrell Davis, Commissioner of the HOFL and Pro Football Hall of Famer, said, “The HOFL is rolling into its inaugural season with serious momentum as the pre-season ramps up and Stakeholders lay claim to their teams. There is a high level of anticipation for the League within the NFL, fantasy and sports fan communities. I am thrilled to be part of this transformational League season and look forward to the franchise battles and trash talking ahead!”

Michael Crawford, President and Chief Executive Officer of HOFV, stated, “It’s the beginning of fantasy football season and we could not be more excited to unveil the Front Offices for the 2021-22 season of the HOFL! The HOFL offers a unique value proposition for fantasy sports fans unlike any other national league. It is the only place where fans can be part of a fantasy franchise that is managed by some of the top fantasy experts and beloved former players, and be eligible for a pro rata share of season winnings. Let the games begin!”

Each franchises’ Front Office will take input from their Stakeholders and crowdsource decisions regarding their teams, but will ultimately have sole discretion on all decision-making. General Managers will interact directly with their respective Stakeholders on the HOFL app via their team’s feeds, and can take part in exclusive team chats and a direct message feature called “DM the GM.” General Managers will also contribute weekly content on the HOFL app by providing commentary and analysis regarding roster decisions, trades, waiver wire pickups and previewing and recapping key matchups, while Team Captains will provide distinct fantasy insights, analysis and perspective that reflects their experience in the League. Team Captains will also periodically engage with Stakeholders on the HOFL app. The HOFL app will be available on the App Store and Google Play in the coming weeks.

The HOFL will leverage its access to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL alumni and fantasy football personalities to create original video, audio and written league-focused content that will be hosted on its platform, helping to entertain, educate and engage team Stakeholders throughout each week of the season. To keep up to date on the latest news surrounding the HOFL – including the date of the first draft in League history – fans can visit www.thehofl.com or listen to The HOFL Podcast on Apple PodcastsSoundcloud or Spotify. Fans of the HOFL can also purchase team apparel of their favorite franchises via the League website.

SGPN’s Ryan Kramer To Launch Fantasy Football 2021 With 24-Hour Draft Day Stream

Fantasy football expert Ryan Kramer will host a 24-hour, live “Best Ball Draft” event on multiple video platforms from the Sports Gambling Podcast Network 4K studio in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 13, in a first-of-its-kind offering of input, advice and entertainment for hobbyists and fanatics around the country. The live stream will begin at 1 p.m. PT and will be available on YouTube at http://sg.pn/YouTube.

The co-founder of Sports Gambling Podcast Network (www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com) has been preparing for weeks for this marathon test of knowledge and stamina. Kramer is among America’s top experts in the fantasy football space as the 10-time Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) Main Event league winner. He will focus primarily on the prominent “Best Ball” format, an innovative form of season-long fantasy that requires no week-to-week management after the draft. Participants simply select their 18-player team before the season and each week they receive the points of their roster’s top-performing player at each position. He will use the popular Underdog Fantasy App and viewers will be able to jump into the stream and interact with Kramer during the historic proceedings.

“Fans are returning to the stadiums, training camps open July 27 and the first pre-season game is August 5,” offered Kramer, who is a two-time Draft Kings Best Ball League winner in daily fantasy competition. “There is a perfect storm of peaking interest now as we emerge from the global pandemic with the NFL ready for a new season.

Fantasy football is bigger than ever, so we’re prepared to launch the 2021 edition of the Best Ball phenomenon in a special way.” Throughout the stream, Kramer will be giving away 15 free entries to Underdog Fantasy’s Best Ball Mania tournament in which participants have a chance to win $1,000,000 in prize money.

Kramer will be drafting full teams, consecutively, for the full 24 hours with each cycle expected to take slightly less than one hour. He will intersperse the player selections with traditional wagering commentary on the upcoming NFL season plus analytics drawn from his background as a computer engineer and the myriad skills that have enabled his elite fantasy football accomplishments.

With Kramer committing to the 24-hour effort, the Sports Gambling Podcast Network (SGPN) App will conduct a $500 props contest for Draft Day viewers who attend the livestream. In the hours preceding, viewers will be able to answer various prop bet questions regarding Kramer’s physical well-being and how many different teams he’ll put together during the timespan. The contest, available only on the SGPN App, will include questions like:

• How many times will Ryan Kramer fall asleep – over/under 5.
• Total number of fantasy teams drafted – over/under 20.5.
• Total number of bathroom breaks – over/under 9.5.
The SGPN App is available on all devices and is downloadable at Apple’s App Store, the Google Play Store, and from www.SportsGamblingPodcast.com.

VKTRY Insoles Worn By Record 74 Selections In 2021 NFL Draft

VKTRY GEAR, the fast growing, industry leader in Performance Insoles, today announced that a record number of 74 NFL Draftees, 33 in the first three rounds, wore their carbon fiber insoles as a key part of their prep for the Draft. Included on that list are players from almost every position, including first rounders: Florida TE Kyle Pitts (fourth by the Atlanta Falcons), Northwestern OL Rashawn Slater (13th by the LA Chargers), Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins (16th by the Arizona Cardinals), Miami DE Jaelen Phillips (18th by the Miami Dolphins), and Alabama Running Back Najee Harris (24th by the Pittsburgh Steelers). Only Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets (third in 2019) was a higher draft pick to use VKTRY Gear in the history of the company.

“The world’s best athletes are discovering the increased performance benefits and the injury protection that our carbon fiber insoles provide, and that was very clear in this year’s NFL Draft,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “Every day we get more requests from athletes for our insoles, none more than in the NFL, be it in this next generation of stars or in the growing number of veterans who are making VKs ‘Must Haves’ when they take the field.”

“We’re always told by our coaches that you’re only as strong as your foundation… it all starts with your feet and VKs give me the ability to explode forward and absorb force,” said Rashawn Slater. ”The energy return is the biggest thing… you can feel it. VKs feel way different than a normal insole and they help me reduce the risk of injury and that means everything.”

“Once you become accustomed to the feeling of VKTRY Insoles, it helps to elevate your game. From a lower body standpoint, the explosiveness with VKs is crazy,” added Zaven Collins. “The only time I wasn’t wearing them was when I was sleeping. That subconscious thought helps you play at least 1% faster or 1% better, which is a giant gain in the league.”

“VKTRY Insoles made me a lot more explosive,” said running back Javonte Williams, who the Denver Broncos traded up to take with the 35th pick from the University of North Carolina. “In the past when I didn’t have them I would have to stop or slow down because my feet started hurting. With the VKTRY Insoles I can keep going all day.”

During the 2020 NFL season, a record number of over 200 NFL players, from 29 of 32 clubs, wore VKTRY’S carbon fiber insoles, a 300% increase from 2019. Some of the brightest young stars and respected veterans in the NFL, including Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb, LV Raiders RB Josh Jacobs, Washington RB Antonio Gibson, Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary, SF 49ers WR “Deebo” Samuel, Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, NY Jets Williams, Buffalo Bills CB Josh Norman, Chicago Bears WR Anthony Miller, LA Chargers OT Brian Bulaga, Denver Broncos TE Noah Fant, New York Giants TE Evan Engram, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Devin Bush and many more are now part of the VKTRY using team. Players from every Power Five Conference used VKs for the first time during their Pro Days.

Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, VKTRY Insoles store and return energy to the athlete. They also provide a “spring-like” effect to improve shock absorption and reduce the load and stress on the athlete’s body. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0”, their vert by +1.6” and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds.

VKTRY Insoles are available in five different levels of flexibility to optimize performance, protection and comfort. Athletes at more than 300 professional and college teams wear VKTRY Insoles for training and competition. A recent study of 263 NCAA athletes showed 41% less foot injuries and 22% less lower leg injuries when athletes use VKs.

VKTRY Insoles were originally invented for the US Olympic Bobsled Team to improve athletic explosiveness. In 2010, these carbon fiber insoles helped Team USA win gold in the 4-man bobsled – first time in 62 years. Now, more and more people are discovering the benefits of energy return, improved stability and the shock absorption that VKs provide.

Topps, Lawrence Release NFTs Created By Brother, Sister-In-Law Today On Mintable

Following the overwhelming success of the recent sold-out issue of an exclusive box set of cards depicting this week’s likely No. 1 pro draft selection Trevor Lawrence, Topps has teamed with the winningest starting quarterback in Clemson history on the release of its first football-related NFTs (non-fungible tokens). The six-piece collection was created in collaboration with Trevor’s brother and sister-in-law, professional artist duo Chase and Brooke Lawrence. The NFTs, which include five open-edition cards, with the opportunity to receive an exclusive Chrome card, and a one 1/1 auction of a signed Superfractor card and signed Artist Proof card from Chase and Trevor. The store will launch on Tuesday, April 27, at 11 a.m. ET via Mintable and will be available for 24 hours only. The Lawrence NFTs are stored on the Mintable blockchain.

Each of the five open-edition Lawrence NFTs are priced at $200, with the goal of making these collectibles available to as wide an audience as possible. Any collector purchasing all five open-edition Lawrence NFTs will receive a special exclusive limited edition physical Chrome card. This will be Trevor’s first and only Chrome card and it is only available with the purchase of the Open Edition NFT’s.

“The amazing response to the Trevor Lawrence card set and his status as a transcendent figure in football makes the issue of these NFTs a natural for us,” said Jeff Heckman, Global Director, New Business Ventures. “As was the case with the sold-out cards, Chase and Brooke bring their unique talents and connection with Trevor to their creations, and we are pleased that the lower price point will make their work accessible to many more fans and all level of collectors.”

Any collector or fan can acquire, trade, and resell NFTs through the platform using a debit or credit card. NFTs are a type of digital asset in which ownership is recorded on a digital ledger blockchain, in this case Mintable. Each NFT is unique and can be viewed as a collectible that cannot be duplicated, making them singular and potentially valuable. NFTs can represent a variety of digital files, such as art, videos, music and other forms of creative work, several of which are incorporated into the Lawrence pieces.

“I couldn’t be happier with how the card set came out, and I am even more excited to get into the world of NFTs with this series,” said Trevor Lawrence. “Everyone saw how amazing Chase and Brooke’s designs turned out, and I think they’ll love the pieces we worked on together for the NFTs.”

Chase and Brooke Lawrence (https://bclawrence.art), whose 50-card set issued via Topps this month was a huge hit with collectors, took inspiration from psychedelic period pieces from the 1960’s-70’s as well as classic comic book and graphic novel illustrations for both the physical cards and the NFTs.

“We are honored by the response to the physical cards we created and are excited to collaborate with Trevor and Topps on our first NFT collection,” said Chase and Brooke. “This collection is meant to showcase Trevor’s natural energy and charisma paired with colorful nostalgia, and retro-psychedelic works of art.” 

Lawrence, the 2018 national champion and first quarterback ever to win three ACC Championship Games, finished second in the 2020 Heisman Trophy balloting as he led Clemson to the national championship game. In his storied three-year career, he completed 758-of-1138 career passes (66.6 %) for 10,098 yards with 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for a pass efficiency rating for 164.26 in 2,237 snaps over 40 career games (36 starts).

NFL Announces Official Sports Betting Partners

The National Football League (NFL) today announced their first-ever U.S. sportsbook partnerships naming three exclusive partners. As part of the multi-year agreement, FanDuel becomes an Official Sports Betting Partner of the NFL and will have the ability to leverage NFL marks within the sports betting category and activate around retail and online sports betting. The company will also engage with fans through NFL-themed free-to-play games.

FanDuel, becomes the NFL’s newest partner and will have a series of content integrations including both in-game and post-game highlights directly available within its sportsbook and fantasy sports platforms this coming season. The company will have access to footage rights that bring the NFL’s excitement to FanDuel’s owned and produced content across its various platforms and will work with the League on pre-game integration opportunities on the NFL Network for the seven regular season games the network will air in 2021.

“On Superbowl Sunday we got a glimpse at how powerful the combination of the NFL’s excitement and our platform can be in delivering an enhanced fan experience. We are delighted to make that combination official by pairing America’s #1 sportsbook with America’s #1 sports league,” said Matt King, Chief Executive Officer at FanDuel. “This partnership provides our shared customers with a new level of innovation and unmatched premium content directly within our platform ultimately enhancing every gameday.”

Additionally, FanDuel will have the right to integrate relevant sports betting content directly into NFL Media properties including NFL.com and the NFL App. FanDuel will enhance fan experiences with NFL highlights, footage and Next Gen Stats content.

“As the sports betting landscape has continued to evolve in the United States, we have been thoughtful with our strategy and are excited to announce three partners who share the NFL’s vision and goals,” said Renie Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of NFL Partnerships.

Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company Unveils Cities, Team Names and Logos for the Hall Of Fantasy League

Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (“HOFV” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW), the only resort, entertainment and media company centered around the power of professional football, is excited to unveil the team locations, names and logos for the Hall Of Fantasy League (“HOFL”), the first national fantasy league that allows you to experience a fantasy team with a community of shared stakeholders. The 10 franchises that will comprise the HOFL include:

  1. Atlanta Hot Wings
  2. Boston Barflies
  3. Chicago Hogmollies
  4. Los Angeles Sidekicks
  5. New York Bodega Cats
  6. Ohio GOATS
  7. Philadelphia Powderkegs
  8. Seattle Haze
  9. Texas Y’allers
  10. Vegas Pocket Kings

Unlike traditional fantasy sports leagues where individuals pay an entry fee, manage their own teams and compete against friends over the course of a season, the HOFL reimagines fantasy entirely through a professional sports league structure and community-driven format. Utilizing the concept of staking, the HOFL’s model aggregates fan bases and large communities of fantasy players by unifying them as shared team stakeholders in a season-long national fantasy league. Each franchise will be managed by a dedicated front office consisting of prominent fantasy experts and will include high-profile personalities from the world of professional football as team ambassadors. Staking – making a financial contribution to cover a portion of a participant’s entry fee, and in return taking a percentage of the winnings – is made possible through HOFV’s previously announced partnership with StakeKings.

“Today is another very exciting day for our company and for the millions of fantasy football fans across the country,” said Michael Crawford, President and CEO of HOFV. “The HOFL will transcend the way people have traditionally participated in fantasy sports, allowing them to be part of a community that financially stakes a regional franchise to receive a percentage of any winnings and interacts with a dedicated front office consisting of top fantasy players. No other fantasy sports platform can offer its participants an experience like this over the course of a season. We look forward to the growth of the league and to each of our franchises becoming embedded in the sports cultures of their respective locations.” 

Starting today, sports fans and fantasy football enthusiasts throughout the country can purchase stakes in any of the HOFL’s franchises. Team stakeholders will be entitled to a portion of their teams’ winnings based on their entry amount, and will have access to exclusive content, communications and team governance features. This will provide opportunities for stakeholders to collaborate and engage with each other, as well as provide direct input on key roster moves with their franchises’ front office teams, which will be unveiled at a later date.

The HOFL leverages and replicates key aspects of pro sports leagues with its professional management of its franchises and merchandise/apparel with team branding. Beginning this morning, staking, the purchase of merchandise as well as high-quality content providing contextual coverage and analysis of the HOFL will be live, all of which can be found at www.thehofl.com. Participants can also stay engaged with the HOFL community year-round via the Hall Of Trivia, a live, weekly sports and fantasy-themed trivia show airing exclusively on the HQ Trivia app every Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT. The show is hosted by sports broadcaster Jeff Eisenband, and features appearances by NFL legends as well as prominent sports and fantasy personalities.

“We are so excited to kick off a new era in fantasy sports by unveiling the locations, team names and logos of the HOFL,” said Mat Sposta, Senior Executive Consultant for HOFV. “In addition to transforming the way fantasy sports are played altogether, the HOFL solves one of the biggest pain points fantasy players are subjected to each year: the solitary fandom and lonely experience of managing a team by yourself. By financially backing one of the HOFL’s regional franchises, individuals become part of an immersive community with similar rooting interests and financial incentives.” 

In addition to announcing who will comprise the front office of each franchise over the coming weeks, HOFV will be launching the HOFL mobile app, which will serve as the league’s main platform. What’s more, HOFV plans to leverage its partnership with Dolphin Entertainment to offer fans opportunities to buy and sell NFTs associated with the HOFL’s unique gameplay, content and talent.

To learn more about the HOFL and stay updated on all league announcements (including signing up for its newsletter), visit www.thehofl.com or follow it on FacebookTwitter or Instagram (@TheHOFLeague).

VKTRY Insoles To Be Worn By Over 100 NFL Prospects For Upcoming Pro Days

VKTRY GEAR today announced that a record number of NFL top prospects will be wearing their carbon fiber insoles as they go through their on campus Pro Days in the coming weeks. The NFL Combine has moved from Indianapolis to local workouts due to COVID 19 restrictions. Over 100 prospects from more than 60 schools will be wearing VKTRY Insoles in this critical stage of career preparation.

“Many of our relationships with NFL stars began at the Combine where athletes experience +9.3% added explosiveness from their VKs,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “Most athletes see significant improvements in the broad jump, the vertical jump and their time in the 40. They really feel the difference and understand how VKTRY Insoles can help them get an edge both at the Combine and on the playing field. Athletes also appreciate the improved injury protection with VKs, recently proven by one of the top athletic research facilities in the world, the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut.”

Amongst those athletes using VKTRY Insoles for their Pro days are projected first round picks: Alabama Running Back Najee Harris, Florida TE Kyle Pitts, Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley, Miami DL Gregory Rosseau, Miami DE Jaelen Phillips, and LSU WR Terrace Marshall. Players from every Power Five Conference will be using VKTRY Gear for the first time during their Pro Days.

Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, VKTRY Insoles store and return energy to the athlete. They also provide a “spring-like” effect to improve shock absorption and reduce the load and stress on the athlete’s body. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0”, their vert by +1.6” and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds.

The large number of prospects continue unprecedented growth in football for the company. During the 2020 NFL season, a record number of over 200 NFL players, from 29 of 32 clubs, wore their carbon fiber insoles, a 300% increase from 2019 and included a list of some of the brightest young stars and respected veterans in the NFL, including Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb, LV Raiders RB Josh Jacobs, Washington RB Antonio Gibson, Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary, SF 49ers WR “Deebo” Samuel, Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, NY Jets DE Quinnen Williams, Buffalo Bills CB Josh Norman, Chicago Bears WR Anthony Miller, LA Chargers OT Brian Bulaga, Denver Broncos TE Noah Fant, New York Giants TE Evan Engram, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Devin Bush and many more.

“I have worn VKs since I was a rookie and I love the added burst and explosiveness they give me on the field. I seriously feel 10X faster with VKs,” said Chubb, a two time All Pro selection and the Browns leading rusher each of the past two seasons, helping lead them to their first road playoff win since 1969, over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card game in January. “Most insoles are made from foam and plastic, but VKTRY is full length carbon fiber and that makes a difference – that gives me a competitive edge.”

VKTRY Insoles are available in five different levels of flexibility to optimize performance, protection and comfort. Athletes at more than 300 professional and college teams wear VKTRY Insoles for training and competition. Some of those athletes include Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres, Vlad Guerrero Jr. the Toronto Blue Jays, WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry of the Las Vegas Aces, Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington and US Olympic Volleyball Team Captain Jordan Larson.

VKTRY Insoles were originally invented for the US Olympic Bobsled Team to improve athletic explosiveness. In 2010, VKTRY helped Team USA win gold in the 4-man bobsled – first time in 62 years. Now, more and more people are discovering the benefits of energy return, improved stability and shock absorption that “VKs” provide.

Topps To Create Special Box Set Featuring College Football Superstar Trevor Lawrence In Partnership

Having just completed one of the most decorated careers in college football history and weeks away from the likely No. 1 selection in the pro draft, Trevor Lawrencehas signed on with Topps in a landmark deal that will see the winningest starting quarterback in Clemson history featured in an exclusive box set of cards scheduled for release in April. The set will be created in collaboration with Trevor’s brother and sister-in-law Chase and Brooke Lawrence, professional artists who will create exclusive artwork of the decorated 2018 national champion and first quarterback ever to win three ACC Championship Games.

The series will include 50 cards, including autographs on select pieces and will feature a mix of oil paintings and digital depictions crafted by Chase and Brooke (https://bclawrence.art). To create the exclusive artwork, Chase and Brooke took inspiration from psychedelic period pieces from the 1960’s-70’s as well as classic comic book and graphic novel illustrations.

“Trevor Lawrence is one of the most popular and visible players in college football in years and we can’t wait to capture his talent and personality in this set,” said Jeff Heckman, Global Director of Ecommerce. “We look forward to revealing the unique designs that Chase and Brooke will develop, and we think football fans across the country will love the series.”

“I’m excited to be working with Topps on this really unique set,” said Lawrence. “Chase and Brooke are extremely talented artists and it’s special to collaborate with them on these custom designs.”

Lawrence completed 231 of 234 passes (69.2%) for 3153 yards and 24 touchdowns this past year, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy balloting as he led Clemson to the national championship game. In his storied three-year career, he completed 758-of-1138 career passes (66.6 %) for 10,098 yards with 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for a pass efficiency rating for 164.26 in 2,237 snaps over 40 career games (36 starts).

NBC Sports Boston, Strat-O-Matic Team Up For ‘What-If Wednesdays’ Simulated Content

Greater Boston has been the home of championships in each of the major sports in recent years, and nowhere are the fans of their local teams more fervent. Whether it’s the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins, “what if” scenarios—like, imagining if Tom Brady had remained as New England’s quarterback in 2020—have long been the subject of sports debates.

NBC Sports Boston, through a partnership with Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulation, will try to answer some of those questions by recreating and simulating great moments, games and seasons with a twist, during its “What If Wednesdays” program. The program will air every Wednesday as part of the NBC Sports Boston’s primetime lineup, Early Edition and Boston Sports Tonight. The content will also be available on www.NBCSportsBoston.com and on social platforms @NBCSBoston.

Today, audiences can watch a scenario in which Brady remained as quarterback as the 2020 Patriots played out their schedule. Was the record better? Did they make the playoffs with the all-time great at the helm at age 43? Using data and research provided by Strat-O-Matic, NBC Sports Boston will create content that answers interesting “What If” questions like this one on the past, present and future in Boston sports.

“The possibilities are endless with what we can simulate working with NBC Sports Boston,” said Adam Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “The city’s rich tradition of sports and lively banter discussing their favorite teams and the wide breadth of coverage on the network makes it an ideal partnership.”

“We’re pleased to work with Strat-O-Matic to simulate many of the questions that local sports fans have had about our sports leagues and key players,” said Kevin Miller, VP of Content Creation and Strategy, NBC Sports Boston. “We are excited for our audiences to check out our new content where we’ll discuss how different results, trades and game results could’ve changed sports history as we know it.”

While MLB paused at the beginning of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Strat-O-Matic simulated the season as it would have been played, with results published daily by dozens of media outlets. Strat-O-Matic also posted results of the shortened 60-game schedule and playoff seasons.

WAVE.TV Partners With FanDuel

WAVE.tv has recently announced a sports betting partnership with FanDuel Group. This partnership includes the creation of in-depth sports betting content, WAVE.tv launching a betting-focused media brand, as well as marketing and content integrations between the companies. The partnership officially kicked off in conjunction with Super Bowl LV.

Through the deal, WAVE.tv will create engaging sports betting content across major social platforms, leveraging an audience acquisition strategy inclusive of branded content, personality-driven segments, and much more. The partnership formally launched in conjunction with Super Bowl LV.

“FanDuel is absurdly fan-focused at its core, and with the reemergence of live sports in 2021, we have an opportunity to grow our business like never before,” said Adam Kaplan, General Manager and Vice President, Sports Content at FanDuel. “WAVE.tv has unprecedented reach and engagement across fandoms. For a company like FanDuel, that has something for everyone across its offerings, there couldn’t be a better fit.” 

“FanDuel is a perfect partner for WAVE.tv because so many of our fans are avid sports bettors and have come to admire FanDuel as a leader in the space with a willingness to innovate ahead of trends in digital media consumption,” said Faraz Fatemi, Head of Corporate Development at WAVE.tv. “With state legalization ramping up, the 2021 sports season just getting underway, and audience betting interest at an all-time high, the timing couldn’t be better to get started.” 

With nearly 75 million followers and a global reach of over 400 million sports fans monthly across a portfolio of 24 media brands, WAVE.tv will drive mass engagement and user acquisition for FanDuel’s business via this partnership.

WAVE.tv has leveraged relationships with over 110 sports leagues and rights holders around the world to cover both traditional and non-traditional sports including basketball, soccer, football, baseball, combat, extreme sports, amateur athletics, fitness/weightlifting, and eSports.

In July, WAVE.tv announced its Series A funding round, a $32M investment to, among other efforts, expand its roster of media brands onto new platforms and launch new media brands in categories of fandom. WAVE.tv expects to go out to market for Series B fundraise this spring.

UFC 258 odds: Usman set to battle Burns

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Now that the NFL season is officially finished, the UFC will help to fill the sports betting void on most weekends and there’s a terrific card at UFC 258 on Saturday night from the organization’s APEX facility in Las Vegas headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Kamara Usman and Gilbert Burns. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view, meaning this bout should start around midnight.

The 33-year-old Usman (17-1) was born in Nigeria but his family moved to the United States when he was eight years old and Usman now fights out of Florida. The UFC ranks him as the No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter but there are more than a few MMA fans who think Usman, a former collegiate wrestling All-American, should be No. 1.

“The Nigerian Nightmare” lost his second professional fight to Jose Caceres in May 2013 by first-round submission in the Championship Fighting Alliance but hasn’t lost since. Usman won the welterweight belt at UFC 235 with a unanimous decision over Tyron Woodley, who was around a -215 betting favorite.

American 7s Football League Enlists SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory

Entering its 7th hard-hitting season, The American 7s Football League (A7FL®), pioneering no-helmets, no-pads, full contact tackle football, continues to make significant strides on the national stage with the announcement of its appointment of sports industry experts SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory to explore new opportunities for the league’s media rights.

“The A7FL has built a huge grassroots following of football fans across the country,” remarked A7FL Co-Founder and CEO Sener Korkusuz, “As the league expands in 2021 to Florida and Southern California, we want to build on the cutting edge distribution partnerships we have to showcase our unique brand of football and our star athletes to an even wider audience.” Last season, the A7FL was available on Facebook Watch, Twitch, Eleven Sports (satellite and cable) and via WAVE.tv with widely distributed video clips from ESPN’s SportsCenter, Barstool Sports and many other outlets.

“As the major sports leagues look to reach Millennial and Gen-Z fans, the A7FL has consistently captured 18 to 34 year-olds as its core audience.”, said SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory President Dan Bravato, “We think there is a great deal of potential for this property and are excited to be working with them on distribution.”

The two organizations will work together to search for media distribution partners across the global sports landscape. SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory will see their media division lead the project. The team will bring their network and extensive experience to the A7FL in shaping their media strategy and lead conversations in the marketplace.

The league’s signature 7-on-7 format features players competing without helmets and pads, maintaining the exciting and hard-hitting elements of American football while demonstrating amazing athleticism. “It’s the way many of us learned to play in our backyards,” says David Isaacs, UFC® Co-Founder and A7FL Advisory Board Chair David Isaacs. “Removing the equipment actually makes the game safer but also takes the action to another level with great games and tremendous highlights from players looking to get their shot.”

The upcoming 2021 season will feature 2020 Champion the Patterson U looking to defend its title against a recently expanded league, with 4 divisions and a total of 32 teams across 4 states (California, Florida, Maryland, and New Jersey). Play starts on April 11, 2021, with the regular season and playoffs culminating in the National Championship slated for Sunday July 18.

Super Bowl LV crowns a champ after lopsided game

Super Bowl LV is now in the books and, with it, a number of firsts. The Big Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offered an amazing matchup that had football fans and gamblers pacing with anticipation, but definitely did not go the way most people expected. With the NFL season having survived COVID-19, it’s now time to look ahead and try to get ready for a new era of football that will see much greater sports gambling.

The Chiefs were viewed as the favorites to win, but were only given three points by oddsmakers. That should have indicated a tight competition and a battle between two of the best quarterbacks in the league, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady. However, what looks good on paper doesn’t always work when put into play, and Brady and the Bucs had no problem rolling over Mahomes and the Chiefs, completely controlling the game on both offense and defense. 

The Chiefs only managed to score a field goal in each of the first three quarters as Mahomes was repeatedly forced out of the pocket and made to scramble. However, he showed why he deserved to be in the Super Bowl, handling the pressure like a long-time veteran. Despite continued problems, Mahomes still managed to put up more passing yards than Brady, throwing for 243 yards against his rival’s 201.

It wasn’t good enough, though. The Bucs, the first team to ever play in a Super Bowl in its own stadium, dominated from start to finish. Brady became the first quarterback to pick up seven Super Bowl titles and the first to win a fifth MVP award (the only player with five) as he led his Bucs to their first Super Bowl win since the 2002 season. It was also the first Super Bowl in which the NFL had seen the presence of a female referee, with Sarah Thomas on the field as the down judge. In a couple more firsts for the NFL, Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust became the first female coaches to win a Super Bowl title – Javadifar as the Bucs’ assistant strength and conditioning coach and Locust is the team’s defensive line assistant. 

Super Bowl 55 scoring & defensive props preview

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Weather could be a factor for Super Bowl 55 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday evening from Tampa as some rain is in the forecast. Could that affect the kickers? Raymond James Stadium is an open-air facility.

The over/under for longest field goal in Super Bowl 55 is 47.5 yards, with the under a -130 favorite. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is one of the league’s best as he was 25-for-27 on field goals during the regular season with a long of 58, while in the playoffs he is 4-for-5 with a long of 50. Tampa Bay’s Ryan Succop has a minor advantage kicking in his own stadium and knowing the winds, etc. He was 28-for-31 on field goals during the regular season with a long of 50 and is 8-for-8 in the playoffs (Bucs have played one more game than the Chiefs) with a long of 46.

When Kansas City won in Tampa 27-24 on Nov. 29, weather was no factor. Butker was 2-for-2 with a long field goal of 29 yards and Succop was 1-for-1 with a long of only 26. The over/under for shortest make in the Super Bowl is 27.5 yards, which would mean a team kicking a field goal from around the 10. The total field goals made prop is over/under 3.5, with the under a slight -135 favorite.

Westgate’s top prop picks for Super Bowl LV

The good news is that Super Bowl LV is now just four days away. The bad news is that Super Bowl LV is now just four days away. The NFL season has flown by and, while MLB, the NHL and the NBA are going to help keep professional sports action running, more football fans should try to petition their respective lawmakers to require a year-round NFL league. In the meantime, we will have to settle for what we can get, and the Big Game this weekend has plenty of action ready for fans, as well as gamblers. A look at some of the leading prop bets available at the Westgate SuperBook show what everyone thinks about this contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

To ease into things, the coin toss is leaning slightly toward tails. Many people believe that the results of the coin toss are split evenly at 50/50; however, this isn’t the case, so there is definitely some entertainment value available. Mathematician Persi Diaconis showed that the odds were 51/49, with the advantage given to the side that was facing up when the coin was flipped. This hasn’t been the case with the Super Bowl coin toss, though. The Super Bowl coin, made of silver and gold, features the Super Bowl logo on one side (heads) and the teams’ logos on the other (tails). Out of the past 27 games, tails has won 17 times, even though heads was facing up.

Westgate has a line up for whether either team will score points in the first six and a half minutes of the game. While both the Chiefs and the Bucs have extremely strong offenses, this one might be a “no” based, in part, by another trend found with Brady. The quarterback, before heading to Tampa Bay prior to the current season, was scoreless in all but one of his Super Bowl appearances in the first quarter.

The Bucs could be the first to score a penalty in the game. Tampa Bay’s defense is going to try hard from their first set of plays to stop Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and this could lead to an error, possibly pass interference, early in the game. Hill is also getting an Over/Under of 4.5 yards on his first rushing attempt and averaged 9.5 yards per carry this season, per NFL.com. Both teams are going to be on edge as the Big Game gets underway, and early penalties on both sides are likely.

Super Squares® Attempts New Guinness World Record While Hosting the World’s Biggest Super Bowl Squares Party

 Today, Super Squares®, the live mobile game show that launches Advertising as a Sport™, announces the World’s Biggest Super Bowl Squares Party, happening concurrently with Super Bowl LV on Sunday on February 7th where the Kansas City Chiefs will go head-to-head with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thousands will play the football squares game using the free-to-play app while watching the NFL Championship game on television. Fans seeking a multi-screen experience will be able to join a live Twitch watch party hosted by notable NFL analyst Mike Golic, and NFL Super Bowl XLVII Champion and Commissioner of Sports at React, Matt Birk.

The football squares tournament happening on Super Squares® has been designated as a World Record attempt by Guinness World Records, allowing every participant the opportunity to help set a World Record simply by competing in the app. In addition to the Guinness World Record attempt and fun happenings on Twitch.tv, Super Squares® offers a $2.4 million prize pool, including a $1 million Perfect Game Jackpot that will be doubled to $2 million when shared with a ‘Buddy’ who may have referred the Winner to Super Squares®. The highest score during the tournament-culminating Bigger Game® event will be awarded a $80,000 Rivian Electric Adventure Vehicle, expected to roll into production later this year.

“Playing the football squares game is a tradition that brings everyone together and I’m happy we can still do so virtually this year,” said Mike Golic, notable NFL analyst and former ESPN commentator. “I’ve always been a fan of the squares game and I’m proud to lead the charge for fans to move from paper squares to Super Squares®. Mobile technology has eliminated paper in mail, maps and even Fantasy Football, and Super Squares® takes a game that millions have played on paper to the next level – just in time for a season where social distancing is keeping us apart.”

While in-person paper-based squares games usually found in offices, pubs and parties are less practical, the Super Squares® app still allows friends to play against each other using a proprietary “SkyBox” feature. To demonstrate, Golic has created his own SkyBox and is inviting “…everyone to crash my SkyBox and compare your final score to mine. I’ll award $250 from the Pro Football Hall of Game store to the highest score in my SkyBox, IF you can beat me!” Super Squares® players can enter the SkyBox by using the password “Golic” when joining gameplay on February 7th.

The free-to-play app combines the score matching elements of squares, with prediction and ad gamification, to provide a unique game show element that attracts casual and avid sports fans alike. Since the start of the 2020 season Super Squares® has already awarded over $300,000 to more than 3,000 players, and the Guiness World Record attempt will be the first time the entire nation will converge in a national tournament around the Super Bowl.

“This has been a different NFL season for all fans and I’m thrilled to be part of something that is bringing everyone together to bond over the game, but also be part of the real-time feedback for Super Bowl advertising,” said Matt Birk, Commissioner of Sports at React, the company behind Super Squares® and NFL Super Bowl Champion. “The Super Bowl is, of course, about crowning the NFL Champion, but it has also developed into a showcase for ads and people all over the country talk about advertising. Super Squares® understands this unique relationship and puts brands at the center of the action.”

Super Squares®, which piloted in May 2020, is the first reactive product showcasing the natural relationship between sports and branding. Players compete while watching live sports and are prompted to rate each in-app mobile TV commercial and then answer questions about them and are rewarded for being correct. This provides instant ad sentiment while verifying attention and ad recall, removing all the guesswork brands have about the delivery and effectiveness of their ads. These reactions provide participating brands and agencies with census-level validation of fan engagement and sentiment, measurable over time. This depth of understanding is simply not available to brands delivering traditional TV ads, even when they spend $5.5 million for a single TV spot. The live game show app provides consumers an opportunity to “get in the game” and will ultimately allow sports fans around the world to engage with all sports, no matter the league.