Maneki, a meme coin themed around cats on the Solana blockchain, has recently announced a sponsorship deal with the English Football club Sheffield United. This partnership marks the first time a meme coin will be featured on a football shirt, with MANEKI’s cat emblem set to be displayed prominently on the Blades’ jerseys starting October 18th.
The announcement was made public by both MANEKI and Sheffield United, revealing that the cat-themed meme coin will be the Principal Partner and official shirt sponsor for the 2024/25 season. This move will not only bring visibility to MANEKI but also expose the Solana meme coin to over 32,000 fans at Bramall Lane, a historic stadium, as well as hundreds of thousands of sports enthusiasts across England.
Despite the exciting news of the partnership, the price of MANEKI experienced a slight dip following the announcement. However, leading up to the reveal, the meme coin had seen a significant surge in value, with a 67% increase in the past seven days, as reported by DEX Screener and crypto.news. The 24-hour price chart for MANEKI on October 17th showcased this volatility.
This collaboration between Sheffield United and the SOL meme coin comes at a time when the English Football Association has prohibited betting companies from sponsoring teams. As a result, crypto projects like MANEKI have stepped in to seize marketing opportunities within the sports industry. In fact, various web3 firms and startups have collectively invested $170 million in deals with Premier League and British clubs.
The trend of crypto-PL sponsorships is expected to continue growing as meme coins gain popularity and user adoption increases rapidly. With meme coins like Maneki quickly reaching significant market capitalizations and user bases within months, it’s no surprise that more Solana-based meme coins may seek similar promotional agreements with sports organizations. Wintermute’s data revealed that meme coins accounted for over 40% of Solana’s trading volume, indicating a strong presence within the blockchain ecosystem.
Overall, the partnership between MANEKI and Sheffield United represents a unique fusion of cryptocurrency and sports marketing, highlighting the evolving landscape of digital assets in traditional industries. As meme coins and blockchain technology continue to intertwine with mainstream sectors, the potential for further collaborations and innovations in the crypto space remains promising.