Australian Open Art Ball NFT Serves New Season of AO23 Tickets, Updates, Rewards
As the market navigates through the crypto winter, the Grand Slam NFT project, Australian Open ‘ArtBall’ brings new heat in the middle of the ‘crypto winter’, sticking to the strategy of committing to investments and announcing plans, set to significantly renew holder optimism.
Demonstrating the most comprehensive rewards program on the blockchain, AO ArtBall serves holders an unprecedented tier of tickets to major tennis and live sporting events for a year with member benefits that include the AO23 Ground Pass, exclusive behind-the-scenes streams and an enhanced fan experience.
Designed by Tennis Australia and Web3 studio Run it Wild, AO ArtBall announces an unprecedented tier of AO23 tickets for all NFT holders. In addition, holders will also gain access to live sporting and entertainment events covering both virtual and real worlds, Australian and international events. This new frontier of token-gated experiences breaks new ground in rewarding holders with experiences at scale that they may not normally have access to.
Every ArtBall holder will be able to claim a pair of free seven-day Ground Passes to the finals week of AO23 as part of the ArtBall Ground Pass for live events. Given the crowd size of 6,776, this will be the largest release of tickets for an AO membership program in the event’s history. Holders of multiple ArtBalls will be able to claim multiple pairs of Ground Passes based on the number they own. For example, if someone owns three ArtBalls, they can claim six tickets, allowing them to treat family and friends to an unforgettable finals week (January 23-29) at AO23.
Serving up a new way to experience sports, AO ArtBall exists at the intersection of sport and innovation, unlocking ways to keep fans in the game – on and off the field. By changing the way AO’s avid fan base is invested beyond the 14 day tournament, ArtBalls already brings a plot to the field. If the winning shot from any of the ~400 AO matches lands on that plot, the ArtBall updates in near real-time to highlight the match information and attach a holographic sticker to the ball casing showing that it is a Match Point ArtBall.
“Last year we set a new precedent at the intersection of technology, art, tennis and live data. This year we are breaking new ground by offering all holders a deeper fan experience. We have shifted gears to build out a sustainable membership platform for the future that adds token-gated experiences as a given, based on proof of ownership and holder claim, says Adam De Cata, Run it Wild founder and NFT Tech CEO.
AO ArtBall raises the bar once again as he became the world’s first Web3 project to include live match data and win an Entertainment Cannes Lions award for sports. “We believe we are one of the most comprehensive rewards programs on the blockchain, the experiences offered to ArtBall holders are truly memorable, unique and accessible,” De Cata added. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come for AO ArtBall in 2023.
What’s new for AO ArtBall 2023
ArtBall Ground Pass
As well as being paired with the AO23 Ground Pass, ArtBall holders will gain access to selected United Cup matches in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The United Cup is the first mixed team event for equal points and equal pay, which takes place from 29 December to 8 January.
“AO ArtBall keeps on delivering. Ground Pass to AO23 would be an unforgettable experience for my friends and family. I never expected to be rewarded with so many benefits. Thanks to ArtBall, I already own a rare autographed t-shirt signed by tennis legends , a variety of POAPs[6] and wearables in addition to recently attending the Moto GP for the first time with my family,” said Discord member Justice Albatraoz, holder of four ArtBalls.
ArtBall SuperSight
Artball SuperSight is an exclusive curated experience for AO Art Ball members. Aiming to deepen the fan experience, SuperSight will bring members behind the scenes of AO23. Supersight also offers an exclusive suite of streams and viewing tools for members anywhere in the world to communicate with AO remotely. This includes player cameras, 3D Stats Explorer and AI-adapted match highlights.
ONEll improved Match Point experience
Using Chainlink VRF (Verifiable Random Function) technology, all AO22 & AO23 ArtBalls will be randomly assigned a new court position. This unique advantage ensures that existing holders, in less attractive locations, e.g. under the grid, get another opportunity to secure Match Points from their new plot. The ’23 Match Point experience is set to include 3D match point visualization and digitized match recording.
Expansion of international rewards
In 2022, dedicated holders battled it out in quick trivia to secure exclusive tickets to other Grand Slams, including Wimbledon and Roland Garros. A testament to Tennis Australia’s vast partner network, ArtBall members can also access international experiences beyond tennis, including club tickets, stadium tours and signed merchandise from Arsenal and the New York Mets. To ensure that international ArtBall holders are kept in the game, the ’23 collection will see an expansion of international rewards for holders via collaborations with iconic Web3 projects and brands.
