*By Michael Teich* One team is bringing crypto to the baseball diamond. The LA Dodgers will hold what is considered to be the first-ever crypto giveaway in sports when they take on the San Diego Padres Friday night. Fans will have a chance to receive digital bobbleheads that double as crypto tokens. After unlocking the Dodgers' coin within an Ethereum wallet, they’ll have the opportunity to download a digital caricature of one of three players: Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner, or Kenley Jansen. “Hopefully, what we're going to see is the start of a new market of collectibles within digital assets,” Ralph Esquibel, the team's VP of Information and Technology, said Friday in an interview on Cheddar. Esquibel said the adoption of blockchain will bring new life to the world of collecting. Collecting sports memorabilia isn't just a hobby, though. It's also a $5.4 billion industry in the U.S., according to research from [collectable.com](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2018/09/19/tech-entrepreneur-determines-first-true-estimate-of-sports-memorabilia-market-5-4-billion/#497ea8df52e8). For now, the Dodgers will not be introducing crypto as a currency to buy peanuts and crackerjacks ー or even tickets to games. But Esquibel sees those options as a possibility for the future. “I don’t believe we’re ready for it, as of yet," he said. The crypto integration is one example of how major league sports teams are trying to lure fans off the couch and into stadiums and improve the venue experience. Teams in other leagues ー like the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons ー are slashing concession prices. The Ravens’s director of guest experience told Cheddar that he hopes M&T Stadium’s 33 percent price reduction on certain foods and beverages will increase fan engagement and boost [ticket sales](https://cheddar.com/videos/strengthening-nfl-stadium-experience-with-cheaper-food). While the Dodgers are focused on the next big thing in sports memorabilia, Esquibel reassured fans of collectibles that the new crypto tokens won’t replace traditional bobbleheads. At least not for now. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/la-dodgers-bring-crypto-to-the-baseball-diamond).

Share:
More In Business
Walmart Beats Earnings Estimates and Inflation Amid Spike in Retail Sales
Walmart beat earnings estimates for the fourth quarter, and despite losses stemming from supply chain costs and COVID-19 employee sick leave, the big box chain was still able to fight inflation as costs rose across the board. What's next for Walmart and other retail giants as inflation continues to run hot? Arun Sundaram, Senior Equity Analyst at CFRA Research, joins Closing Bell to discuss.
Bamboo-Based Paper Products Startup on a Mission to End Deforestation Raises $5 Million
Bamboo-based toilet paper company Cloud Paper raised $5 million in a recent funding round. Its product is a bamboo-based alternative to traditional toilet paper made from trees, and its mission is to end the deforestation caused by traditional paper products. Cloud Paper says the raise will allow it to make significant investments in its supply chain, product development, and hiring. Ryan Fritsch, a co-founder of Cloud Paper, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
World View on Launching Space Tourist Flights With Tickets Starting at $50K
Space tourism company World View plans to launch its first commercial flights in early 2024, with voyages to take off from iconic locations around the world like the Grand Canyon — but seemingly at a flexible price point. Dale Hipsh, president of tourism and exploration at World View, joined Cheddar to discuss what a trip to the stratosphere would look like with his company and its much less expensive take on space travel. "Our technology allows us to be more democratic, to offer more opportunities for people to experience near space, and that overview effect," he said. "So we're really thrilled to be bringing it to market."
Load More