PARIS, September 21, 2023 – Paris Saint-Germain F.C., the renowned French soccer club, has joined forces with its cryptocurrency exchange sponsor, Crypto.com, to introduce a unique series of matchday posters co-created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). These exclusive posters will be made available to fans as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
Renowned artist Benjamin Benichou, who incorporates generative AI into his creative process, is the mastermind behind the captivating poster series designed exclusively for PSG. Out of a total of 1,970 iterations, only seven have been selected for release as part of the NFT collection.
These poster NFTs will be prominently displayed during seven key matches of the upcoming season, commencing with the highly anticipated clash against Olympique de Marseille on September 24, within the confines of France’s Ligue 1 soccer league.
The remarkable aspect of this collaboration is that all seven poster NFTs will be distributed free of charge on Crypto.com’s NFT platform, available for eligible account holders to claim. Each NFT will correspond to a specific matchday, aligning with the respective poster.
For dedicated fans who successfully collect all seven NFTs, an array of enticing rewards awaits. These rewards include the opportunity to win prints of Benichou’s original poster artwork, autographed jerseys from PSG players, and VIP tickets for attendance at the team’s final home match of the season.
“This collaboration with Benjamin Benichou has provided us with invaluable insight into the potential of this innovative tool, which offers boundless creative opportunities,” remarked PSG Chief Brand Officer Fabien Allègre. “As we continue to explore new frontiers, Paris Saint-Germain is dedicated to reshaping the future of sports, thereby unveiling uncharted horizons for the upcoming generations of supporters.”
It’s worth noting that the reference to “Gala Games” in the promotional material pertains to significant matches throughout the soccer season and is not associated with Gala Games, the crypto gaming startup.
Crypto.com solidified its partnership with PSG in 2021, securing the position of the club’s inaugural official cryptocurrency platform sponsor. The sponsorship reportedly entails a substantial sum of approximately $30 million over a three-year period, as reported by Sports Business Journal.
This endeavor marks another stride into the realm of Web3 for Paris Saint-Germain, following their foray into the space in 2020 through a licensing agreement with NFT fantasy sports game Sorare. Additionally, the acquisition of superstar player Lionel Messi in 2021 reportedly involved transactions facilitated through Socios crypto fan tokens.
Benjamin Benichou, also the CEO of social e-commerce startup Drop, has showcased AI-generated Nike concept stores he co-designed with Midjourney on his LinkedIn profile.
“When you delve into the potential intersection of a brand as inspiring as Paris Saint-Germain and a tool as potent as artificial intelligence, the realm of creative possibilities becomes infinite,” noted Benichou. “This initiative paves the way for a new frontier of artistic and creative expression, where the realms of art and technology converge.”
