Blockchain network Polkadot will now feature its logo on football icon Lionel Messi’s training kit as part of a partnership with United States-based football club Inter Miami.
The logo will be on the front and back of training tops for players and technical staff, worn during training sessions and pre-match warmups. Fans will see the new kits for the first time on Aug. 31 before an away match with Chicago Fire FC.
As a main partner, Polkadot’s branding will also be featured in signage across the Chase Stadium, Inter Miami’s home ground. Polkadot will engage the fanbase via interactive fan zone activities as a part of the deal.
Chrissy Hill, CLO and interim COO of Parity Technologies, the blockchain firm behind Polkadot, said the sponsorship aligns with Polkadot’s commitment to the future of entertainment.
Introduced in 2020, Polkadot is a sharded multi-chain network co-founded by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood. It connects multiple blockchains via its central Relay Chain, ensuring shared security and consensus.
This design allows independent blockchain networks, known as parachains—customizable blockchains with specific features and functionalities—to operate in parallel and communicate with each other, enhancing interoperability and scalability across the network.
The partnership follows Polkadot’s sponsorship deals with Indy 500 driver Conor Daly and gaming company Mythical. Polkadot uses a decentralized governance model where the community votes on fund allocation, including marketing and sponsorship deals.
While the sponsorship amount remains undisclosed, the arrangement aligns with Polkadot’s past marketing initiatives. Earlier this year, Polkadot’s H1 2024 report disclosed spending roughly $37 million in the first half of 2024 on marketing, drawing criticism from the crypto community for not focusing on ecosystem-building initiatives.
