Populous ‘Pioneer’ on ‘The Arena’ NFT

Article posted by Coliseum, May 2^nd, 2022

Image: Populous

Global design firm Populous and multidiscipline esports organization Kansas City Pioneers have partnered to introduce ‘The Arena’, a five-part non-fungible tokens (NFT) collection with world-class digital art that allows the viewer to join a fan community on a journey through a prototypical future esports experience.

The ‘Populous’ stated that ‘The Arena’ is the first NFT collection created through an esports team and design firm partnership. The collection is designed by Populous and follows a character along the path to a Pioneers-influenced virtual esports arena. This journey provides fans access into a theoretical futuristic “road to the venue”, the arena competition seating bowl and a behind-the-scenes Pioneers elite team training area.

Kansas City (Missouri, US)-based Populous is a global architectural and design practice specializing in sports facilities, arenas and convention centers, as well as the planning and design of major special events.

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Christopher Lee, Managing Director, EMEA, Populous, UK, is a Member of Coliseum – Global Sports Venue Alliance.

The Kansas City Pioneers is a premier esports organization based in Kansas City (US) that comprises individuals, teams and content creators who compete internationally in multigame disciplines. Its vision is to use the power of esports to champion diversity, inclusion and opportunity to players and fans across the world.

An NFT is a blockchain-based tokenization of a collectible item or an art piece. It is transparent which makes it easy for everyone to see the ‘owner of the token’. It is worth noting that these pieces of digital art can be modified without losing any information, with full transparency about its transactions.

Designed for a global audience, the collection also provides a glimpse into the future of gaming in Kansas City. Authentic Kansas City imagery coupled with the Pioneers’ brand gives fans a connection to the Midwest spirit and fandom around the world.

Noted Brian Mirakian, Populous Senior Principal and Esports Director for the Americas, “Throughout our history at Populous, the mission behind the places we design has always been to bring people together for unforgettable experiences. ‘The Arena’ NFT collection moves beyond the boundaries of physical space and experiments with the possibilities of how new digital mediums unlock access to powerful shared social experiences capable of building communities in a virtual world. ‘The Arena’ is just a glimpse into the future innovation to come, and ultimately, another valuable fan platform to connect people to their favorite teams.”

Maintained Mark Josey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder of the Kansas City Pioneers, “We couldn’t be more excited to launch our first-ever NFT collection, ‘The Arena’. Partnering with Populous, a global design firm who connects people to places in powerful, transformative ways, was instrumental in helping bring that exact vision in esports and gaming to life. As leaders of the next generation of consumers, we know that we must meet our fans and communities where they are today and in the future. This incredible collection will do just that in providing access to authentic, personalized experiences, and build connections to a community here and beyond.”

The ‘Populous’ further stated that ‘The Arena’ tokens will be released on a rolling basis, beginning with the first three tokens released on April 27^th. The two remaining tokens will be released in the following weeks. ‘The Arena’ will be available on Opensea for purchase.

OpenSea is an American online non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace headquartered in New York City, US. The company was founded by Devin Finzer and Alex Atallah in 2017.

Populous, with its Americas headquarters in Kansas City, and the Pioneers formed a partnership over a year ago with a shared commitment to strengthening and sustaining the esports industry, in their home communities and throughout the world. Populous and the Pioneers have since collaborated on initiatives such as hosting the Kansas City Esports Symposium in December 2021, in addition to ongoing information-sharing and brainstorming on the future of gaming and fan experience.

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