EBBW Vale RFC has secured a new commercial sponsor in US blockchain firm SIMBA Chain.
The shirt sponsor deal with the semi-professional Premiership club comes after the company announced it is setting up a new European headquarters in Ebbw Vale as part of the Welsh Government’s Tech Valley initiative.
The new HQ, which is backed with financial support from the Welsh Government, will created 26 high-paid jobs. Last month the firm’s scale-up plans were boosted after a successful £18m fundraising ground.
SIMBA Chain’s UK director of operations Matthew Shields says the sponsorship reflects the company’s goals for Ebbw Vale.
He added: “When this opportunity was presented, we were drawn to the 125-year history of the Steelmen. Rugby is a demanding sport, but with discipline and true fighting spirit, this club always prevails which is exactly what SIMBA has set out to do. We are pleased to support the club and eager to attract people with a passion for blockchain to our team.”
Ebbw Vale’s commercial and marketing manager Gareth Howells said: “This is big news for the club and will raise awareness of the blockchain company across the UK and the Premier dvision.
“We play teams from across Wales and the UK, so having SIMBA Chain’s logo on our kit will be great publicity and certainly a win for both. We would like to thank SIMBA Chain’s chief executive Joel Neidig for supporting our club and investing in Ebbw Vale.”
The value of the shirt sponsorship deal has not been disclosed
SIMBA Chain recently developed a white-label non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace for iconic brands. NFTs are digital assets whose authenticity is certified by blockchain.
The company plans to create a new UK marketplace for its NFTS. Sports leagues. professional and collegiate teams in the US are using NFT to make digital collectibles – largely videos and photos of popular athletes or big sporting events – available to fans to enhance engagement and create new revenue streams for teams and leagues.
