Exclusive: How WAGMI United is changing the football and NFT markets with the Internet team, Crawley Town

A company that stands at the intersection of sports and crypto bought a football club with a plan to grow the team and the brand, as well as let the owners of an NFT share their input in the team’s future.

About WAGMI United: Co-founded by Preston Johnson and Eben Smith, WAGMI United is dedicated to bringing Web3 to the world of sports. The company bought the English Football League Two club Crawley Town. The company has a goal of taking Crawley Town to the English Premier League, a move that can be made thanks to the promotion system in English football (football) that promotes the top teams every year.

WAGMI United has recruited talented co-owners who are some of the most well-known names in the Web3 site, including GFunk, Gmoney, Gary Vee, Justin Taylor, Snowfro and Hunter Orrell.

Benzinga recently chatted with co-owner Orrell to gain more insight into what WAGMI United has for the future.

Orrell said he started playing football at the age of four and up to college when he focused on school and put the sport aside.

“This venture is one that is completely emotional and passionate for myself and many others,” Orrell said. “This sport is part of the core of me.”

Orrell told Benzinga he burst into tears as he entered Crawley Town on a recent trip.

“I really hope football fans and NFT fans understand how this is not just for fun or just some wealthy people playing with something that the locals appreciate, we are dedicated to doing the best for the team and doing it in a way. which makes the whole world know who Crawley Town and WAGMI United are. “

Orrell said that the team behind WAGMI United is special because they have the ability to dream big.

“Whether this is technical, marketing or branding, I do not see anything that is really out of reach for this group. My comment to the fans (football or NFT) is that this is a special group, not only on the WAGMI United side, but also on the Crawley Town FC side, and I hope you at least tune in to see what we do. ”

NFT strategy: A WAGMI United NFT, which comes with a coin price of 0.35 Ethereum ETH / USD, is designed in collaboration with Adidas. The NFT coin went live on Friday with early access at 12.00 ET, waiting list access at. 15.00 ET and a public coin (if NFTs are left) at. 18.00 ET.

Having an NFT comes with access to special exclusives and is part of the core of WAGMI United which is the “Internet team.”

“The NFTs will play a key role in making that idea a reality,” Orrell said. “Our NFT decline is the first step in giving fans a voice and building a global community around the brand.”

WAGMI United partnered with several existing NFT collections, including 555 Collective, Admit One, Pixel Vault, Art Blocks, Chromie Squiggles and adidas Originals to provide early access to the NFT coin.

Holds an NFT will give access for merchandise, voting on club items, digital items, real-life events, a team scarf and a team hat.

Related link: Exclusive: Art Blocks founder sells CryptoPnks to raise funds, leading to success with Squiggle NFT project

Squiggle Jersey: WAGMI United revealed a partnership with Adidas AG – ADR ADDYY who will see the clothing company equip the team with a special NFT-themed jersey for the season 2022-2023. This marked the first sponsorship Adidas has ever done with a League Two team.

“By purchasing NFT, you can claim one of the limited edition adidas [Originals] x WAGMI United jerseys, “said Orrell.

The adidas Originals jersey for Crawley Town marks the first sports team to have significant NFT art on the jersey.

The jersey features the well-known Chromie Squiggle designed by ArtBlock’s founder Erick Calderon, also known as Snowfro. TThe Squiggle jersey will be the team’s jersey for the season 2022-2023 and will be available as a physical redemption for NFT holders.

Gary Vee recently rost Snowfro when we talk about WAGMI United and the jersey.

“I actually think Snowfro can be the most important artist, he’s at a level I do not think people understand how important he is,” said Vee. “I’m looking forward to buying one [jersey]. “

GFunk also praised the Squiggle jersey.

“The WAGMI United Crawley Town Squiggle jersey hits differently. Shoutout to the legend (and one of the nicest, most humble people in space) @artonblockchain, “GFunk twitret.

Watch interviews by GFunk and Snowfro with Benzinga on VeeCon here.

Crawley Town: WAGMI United bought Crawley Town, a League Two team that finished in 12th place out of 24 teams in the league last season. The team can advance to the English Premier League through a promotion system that rewards top teams in League Two, League One and the English League Championship.

Crawley competes at the fourth level in the hierarchy and Orrell is confident that the team can reach the English Premier League over time.

“Without a doubt,” Orrell said of the team that reached the English Premier League. – This is not something we take lightly. We use the best strategies and the people to ensure that we win matches. “

The team has been busy since it was acquired by WAGMI United. Crawley Town signed last year’s League Two scorer Dom Telfordsigned one of the highest ranked defenders in League Two in Dion Conroy, added to Liverpools James Balagizi on loans and signed Tottenham’s defender Tobi Omolewho turned down offers elsewhere to join Crawley in believing in the team’s future.

The team also announced that it has sold more season tickets during a two-week period than it did last season.