The Boston Celtics today announced their official partnership with Socios.com, allowing the 17-time World Champions to join forces with the leading blockchain provider for the global sports and entertainment industry.
Socios.com will have a digital presence on Celtics.com and serve as the presenting partner of the team’s website, placing it at the forefront of the Celtics’ primary hub for relevant news, updates, video highlights, and information pertaining to the franchise. They will also have the ability to leverage the Celtics marks and logos in connection with various Socios.com international marketing activities.
“A large part of the Celtics brand is made up of the great fans that support the organization across local, national, and global levels, and we’re excited to find a partner that values fan engagement as much as we do,” said Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships & Business Development Ted Dalton. “We’re always looking for innovative ways to reach Celtics fans and look forward to our partnership with Socios.com.”
“The Boston Celtics are an iconic, world-renowned brand and I’m delighted they have become the latest major US-based sporting organization to join our rapidly expanding network,” said Socios.com CEO Alexandre Dreyfus. “Socios.com is fast developing into a global fan engagement powerhouse, where passive fans are being transitioned into active participants. This is the start of an exciting partnership that we believe can eventually lead to greatly enhanced fan engagement for fans of the Celtics around the world.”


Partnership reflects Socios.com’s expansion efforts throughout international, United States sports industriesThe Celtics now join Socios.com’s 40+ roster that includes major sporting organizations across soccer, F1, MMA, esports, and cricket. The partnership also represents Socios.com’s growing expansion into the US sports industry, with the Celtics becoming the latest NBA franchise to partner with Socios.com.
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The T1 Agency announced today that it has become a partner distributor of the Bundeling app in the North American market. Founded in 2017 in the Netherlands, Bundeling is a community engagement platform that allows companies to effectively communicate with their members and stakeholders. The platform works with organizations to develop a customizable mobile-based app that is also available on web to bundle the organization’s information and communications within its own unique community.

“I am looking forward to introducing Bundeling to the North American market,” says Mark Harrison, Founder of The T1 Agency. “The innovative app has already seen success in Europe, and I think organizations in Canada and the U.S. can benefit from using this tool to engage their members, in a world where the role of digital is becoming increasingly important for brands and their stakeholders.”

Bundeling provides a unique solution to organizations with multiple members and stakeholders by offering seamless communication in one place through unique profiles, chat capabilities, flexible customization features to cater to each organization’s functions and branding. It also offers cost-friendly solutions by allowing a more consolidated, efficient way to communicate, plan and organize, as well as sales opportunities for organizations’ sponsors to provide access to exclusive communities and members.

Bundeling currently has 450 clients across the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Germany and the UK. They have also partnered with iSportconnect and SPORTFIVE in the UK and work with well-known soccer clubs Ajax Amsterdam, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Royal Antwerp. The T1 Agency has just signed their first North American client through the Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA). An already customized and packaged, go-to-market app with Bundeling’s capabilities does not currently exist within the community member landscape across North America.

​“As a Dutch SaaS technology company, we are grateful for our collaboration with The T1 Agency to bring Bundeling to the Canadian and US market,” says Elroy Jansen, CEO, Bundeling. “This partnership brings us significantly closer to our goal of becoming the world’s number one community communications platform. As digitalization and userfriendliness of products become increasingly important engagement measures for associations, foundations, companies, business clubs and sport organizations, we are proud to offer Bundeling as a smart, one-stop solution for streamlining business communications around the world”.

On Saturday afternoon at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Frisco, Texas, thousands of passionate collectible and trading card fans and aficionados converged at the renowned Collect-A-Con event for the chance to buy, sell, and trade their own card collections.
The more than 400 dealers and vendors on-hand showcasing collectible Pokemon cards, sports cards, comics, video games, vintage toys, and more, we're also introduced to two new companies set on revolutionizing the way cards and collectibles are both obtained and valued with the launch of the Collector Coin and AGS Grading.
The Collector Coin is a cryptocurrency that was created for collectors and is setting the standard for how collectors buy, sell and trade collectibles and cards. In the collectible market, the most important thing for collectors is proving authenticity and verifying ownership. With its launch, the Collector Coin will help scale and bring transparency to the collectibles market with the estimated size of the global collectibles market soaring at $370 billion. Built on the best blockchain technology thanks to the Binance Smart Chain, Collector Coin provides access to the largest and fastest-growing crypto ecosystem.
Along with establishing a Pokemon database and expanding a collectible database to include sports cards, trading card games, and NFT's, Collector Coin is setting their sights on becoming a transparent representation of the whole collectibles market within the next 10 years.
Thanks to AGS Grading, the future of re-imagining the way cards and collectibles are graded is here.
Founded by the Wooter Holdings Corporation (the parent company of customized sportswear brand Wooter Apparel and PPE leader CovCare) and co-founded by Gary "King Pokemon" Haase and backed by investments of over $1 million, AGS Grading utilizes advanced software technology and an inexpensive approach to change the way collectors can easily grade their own cards. Compared to other grading companies like PSA, Beckett Grading, and CGC Trading Cards where cards and collectibles can be inaccurately graded by people, are very slowly processed, and expensive to grade, AGS Grading offers a faster, inexpensive, and more accurate way to grade cards and collectibles with AI technology and the opportunity to set a whole new standard for collectors.
In the end, the company believes "to err is human" and grading cards can be executed more accurately as an exact science. The team at AGS Grading created a scanning system that can provide valuable data about the card being graded and have developed software to analyze the data from scanners that will give each card a 99.99% accurate grade. AGS Grading is also bringing collectors closer to their hobby by creating the AGS Grading mobile app that allows users to use AGS's machine learning technology to instantly add and grade any Pokemon card. For any serious Pokemon card collector, the objective is to collect every single card, in every single set. Now with the AGS Grading app, achieving that goal makes it easy to see which cards collectors are missing from each set. AGS Grading app users are also rewarded for completing sets and can compete against each other to see who can "Catch 'Em All".
With the reveal of Collector Coin and AGS Grading at Collect-A-Con's two-day event in Frisco, Texas, card collecting and valuing collectible cards provided a glimpse to how these two advanced companies are already changing the landscape in the hobby industry as one card collector soon found out by having one of his Pokemon cards graded with AGS.
Equipped with a laser, microscope, and camera to capture the card data, the first-edition Pokemon Charizard card was instantly valued at $20,000.00 after being graded with AGS Grading.

Formula 1 has announced Crypto.com, the fastest-growing crypto platform with over 10 million users worldwide, as the inaugural global partner of the new Sprint series for 2021, with the first event at Silverstone on Saturday July 17th, at the Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix.
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The new Sprint format will see the drivers battle it out over 100km on Saturday afternoons of the selected Grand Prix weekends, with the result from the Sprint then deciding the starting grid for Sunday’s full distance Grand Prix.
Crypto.com, will also have a trackside presence at every race for the remainder of the season as part of a leading global partnership deal with Formula 1.
A statement from F1 said: "In addition to building the world’s fastest growing crypto platform and the leading app in both the App Store and Google Play, the Crypto.com Visa Card is the world’s most popular crypto card available in 30+ countries world-wide. Partnering with Formula 1 will ensure Crypto.com continue to grow their brand awareness on an international stage.
"As F1 continues to explore new ways for fans to engage and become more immersed in the sport, Crypto.com will also become the Official Cryptocurrency Sponsor and NFT Partner of F1. Mirroring the fan-first approach F1 has adopted to engage with new audiences, Crypto.com aim to democratize the world of cryptocurrency for fans, through education and experiences in the new partnership. Crypto.com will also present a brand new award, which will be announced ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
"Aligning with the sustainability plans for F1 to be Net Zero Carbon as a sport by 2030 Crypto.com announced an ambitious pledge in May 2021 to become carbon negative within 18 months, offering the industry a path and a model for 'clean crypto'.
"This plan will initially focus on an assessment of the carbon generated through cryptocurrency trading, deposit and withdrawal activities across all of its own platforms, before reevaluating the ways it operates throughout the business outside of trading."

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1, said: “We are pleased to welcome Crypto.com to the Formula 1 family, as we continue to attract progressive global brands anchored in performance and innovation.”

Ben Pincus, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Formula 1, said: “We are thrilled to announce Crypto.com as a Global Partner and lead partner of the Sprint event as we bring this exciting new format to fans for the first time this year. We will rely heavily on their expertise as we explore the world of cryptocurrency, an area we are very interested in, and this will be the first time as a sport we are able to offer fans the opportunity to explore this exciting world as we further increase our digital presence.
"Crypto.com are revered in the industry and their experience was key in the decision to partner with them, as well as the company’s commitment to becoming carbon negative, as we continue to move towards sustainability goals of our own.”

Kris Marszalek, co-Founder and CEO of Crypto.com, added: “We are extremely proud to be the first cryptocurrency sponsor of Formula 1, joining a prestigious collection of brands supporting a sport with technology and innovation at its core.
"We look forward to many years of innovating together, and will begin at the Belgian Grand Prix where we will present a brand new award. We’re also excited to partner with F1 in the development of exclusive NFTs, connecting fans to the sport in new and innovative ways.”

NASCAR and BettorView, a leading in-venue sports betting marketing and technology platform, are partnering to deliver NASCAR content at venues located within legal online betting sales across the nation. This partnership marks BettorView’s first with a professional sports league and is designed to help drive engagement and strengthen NASCAR’s foothold in the growing sports betting landscape.
“This collaboration will allow us to deliver NASCAR-specific content to a massive number of people actively engaged with sports betting,” said Joe Solosky, Managing Director, Sports Betting. “NASCAR’s handle is increasing at a healthy rate and this partnership will deepen our connection with this growing audience on a national scale.”

BettorView is the only multichannel solution of its kind in the gaming space, providing on-screen touch technology, brand ambassador activations and digital content marketing to more than 1,000 in-venue screens nationwide. With the start of the NASCAR Playoffs on the horizon, BettorView will showcase customized NASCAR stats, analytics and odds alongside special sports betting promotions in restaurants, bars, stadiums, and NASCAR tracks located in states where betting is legal, reaching millions of highly engaged sports fans.
“Since its inception, the vision for BettorView has been to enhance and reimagine sports fans’ in-venue experiences with our technology and industry expertise. As a gaming and venue operator, it’s exciting to partner with NASCAR, whose long-term strategy in the gaming space is as innovative, as it is focused on serving its fans and sportsbook partners alike,” said Seth Schorr, CEO of BettorView.
BettorView created the first plug-and-play solution that brings sports betting content to hundreds of venues via its patented technology. The BettorView platform launched nation-wide in 2019, securing partnerships with top hospitality chains, independent bars, and professional sports teams. BettorView is optimized to make sure guests are engaged with the best sports and sports betting information, which increase dwell time and revenue.
“We’re excited to bring our marketing and technology solutions to NASCAR and its partners, as the only multichannel solution of its kind in iGaming,” said Javier Vargas, COO of BettorView. “BettorView is proud to assist NASCAR in its ability deliver measurable ROI to sportsbooks, with an emphasis on new user acquisition and increased betting activity.”
In the past two years, NASCAR entered into a series of partnerships with world-class brands to better position the sport in the sports betting space. Sportradar signed on as NASCAR’s integrity partner, BetGenius as its data provider, Penn National Gaming, BetMGM, and WynnBET as Authorized Gaming Operators, IMG Arena as its international streaming partner, and EquiLottery and LEAP in the lottery and virtual gaming spaces, respectively. To help fans become educated on sports betting, NASCAR recently launched NASCAR.com/betcenter and also works closely with The Action Network and VSiN.

The ARIA Network, an integrated media group bringing billions of physical and digital assets to life through advanced recognition, augmented reality and 360° immersive experiences, launched a new NFT (non-fungible token) exchange today that is fully transparent, secure and carbon-negative.
The network will feature ARIA’s “living NFTs,” a unique opportunity for marketers to forge a relationship with NFT purchasers by expanding value over time with the addition of exclusive and updated content.
In launching the Exchange, ARIA has signed an exclusive 5-year partnership with the National Basketball Retired Players Association to offer highly collectible NFTs for almost 1500 NBA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotters legends.
“We are excited to partner with The ARIA Network and their groundbreaking ARIA Exchange NFT platform,” said NBRPA President & CEO, Scott Rochelle. “Demand for our membership of nearly 1,500 NBA and WNBA Legends has never been higher and their legendary accomplishments and iconic moments are a natural fit to bring exclusive, experiential and artistic value to fans and collectors around the world.”
Committed to reducing impact on the planet, the ARIA Exchange trading platform tracks and calculates the carbon footprint of NFTs from minting to purchase. Powered by SUKU and in partnership with Carbon Analytics and Moss.Earth, the ARIA Exchange not only consumes a fraction of the energy ingested by other platforms, but also provides carbon deposits exceeding CO2 emitted, rendering all transactions carbon-negative.
“When you think about the application of NFTs as technology and virtual environments mature, we are in a really exciting moment in time,” said Co-CEO Darren Mann. “We’ve created the most advanced, sustainable NFT exchange that addresses crypto climate concerns while giving collectors and consumers unparalleled experiences and content.”
Additionally, every NFT on ARIA Exchange is securely stored on Hedera Hashgraph, a well-established distributed ledger, backed by a council consisting of dozens of reputable large enterprises. This decentralized network ensures the unconditional authenticity, and immutability of every piece of information that is stored on it.
“I am proud to be part of a company endeavoring to build a more sustainable, more efficient, safe and transparent exchange. In building with our partners, we look to the future of NFTs and what, in the minds of collectors and consumers, will stand the test of time. To that end, we will be delivering dynamic, exclusive, never before seen content that we believe will set the ARIA Exchange apart from the competition,” Rebecca Jonah, Co-CEO of The ARIA Network.
The ARIA Exchange will soon be announcing a number of new partnerships across additional leagues, musicians, artists, creators and celebrities. The ARIA exchange will host the first wave of these NFTs beginning in July. Fans can sign up now for early access to forthcoming collections by creating a profile at www.ariaexchange.com.
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Spectra, one of the industry's leading venue management and hospitality providers, has partnered with Venuetize, leaders in mobile-first and advanced payment technology, to offer a universal mobile application across its 330+ properties that provides guests a contactless experience while attending live events.
Depending upon the custom needs of each Spectra-managed venue, onsite field teams will have the ability to choose from a full native application, an integration into an existing application, or app-less ordering and payments.

​Once a property has opted in, guests attending concerts, sporting events and other live entertainment will be able to utilize the Spectra Mobile Application to search for and select the specific property and use the venue's integrated ticketing, mobile payments, parking, and mapping capabilities.

The OC Fair in Costa Mesa, Calif. will be the first venue to test-drive the Spectra Mobile Application. Guests will be able to mobile order and pay with ease by QR Code scan and web deployment for their food and beverage. In addition, the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo. will be the first property to utilize the Spectra native app, which will go live in August 2021.
"Our relationship with Spectra provides a tremendous growth opportunity for our company," said Perry Teague, VP of Business Development. "Under the guidance of Spectra leadership, we will work together to identify properties that can leverage our mobile solution to provide a premier experience for their guests." 
"As we continue to reopen venues in a post-COVID world, our clients and our guests are expecting a seamless, touchless experience. Spectra's partnership with Venuetize is about providing the best options available for mobile-first technology and contactless payments," Jim Pekala, Spectra's CFO and EVP of Strategy Planning, said. "We were looking for a partner that could handle the complexity that comes with integrating different technology ecosystems across hundreds of venues. Venuetize has risen to the challenge, and we are excited to launch our mobile app this summer."

​Sportradar, a leading global provider of sports betting and sports entertainment products and services, and the National Hockey League today announced a landmark 10-year global partnership, naming Sportradar the Official Betting Data Rights, Official Betting Streaming Rights and Official Media Data Rights Partner of the NHL, as well as an Official Integrity Partner of the NHL.
 
With a strong emphasis on fan engagement, Sportradar and the NHL will work together to expand the reach of the League by leveraging Sportradar’s diverse and versatile technology solutions, providing fans with deeper access and enhanced insights into the game. As part of the robust partnership, Sportradar – the NHL’s Official Global Data Distributor since 2015 - will distribute the NHL’s official data and statistics to media, technology and sports betting companies worldwide, including real-time data from the NHL’s new Puck and Player Tracking technology. The deal also awards Sportradar rights to provide sports betting operators with live streams of NHL games via the operators’ digital betting platforms available in legalized markets. 
 
“As the global leading provider of sports data for the media and betting industry, Sportradar has the unique expertise to help us deliver stats, insights and video content to our fans, who are extremely tech-savvy and constantly crave new and compelling ways to engage with our sport,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.  “The capabilities, versatility and global scale of Sportradar’s platforms and products will assist us in providing fans, media and sports betting companies around the world with a greater depth of data and more immersive experience with the game. We’re thrilled to continue and deepen our important partnership with Sportradar and look forward to delivering a best-in-class fan experience through our collaborations over the next decade.”
 
“The NHL has been a terrific partner for Sportradar for nearly seven years and we look forward to collaborating with them in an expanded manner to continue increasing the global reach of the league, while delivering ground-breaking products and services to our customers,” said Carsten Koerl, Global CEO, Sportradar. “This agreement truly highlights the global, multi-vertical, wide-ranging capabilities of Sportradar’s technology solutions and reflects how we use data to create engaging, personalized experiences for our partners and customers.”
 
As part of the strategic alliance, the NHL and Sportradar are teaming up to develop sports betting partnerships outside of North America utilizing ad:s, Sportradar’s data-driven marketing solution, as seen in the NHL’s recent international sports betting partnerships with Olybet and Tipsport. Sportradar will also continue as an Official Integrity Services Provider of the NHL, utilizing the company’s Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) to proactively help safeguard and ensure the integrity of its competition by monitoring global gaming activity and trends worldwide.