The "Sumgayit" basketball club has taken an innovative and exciting step towards the development and digitalization of basketball in Azerbaijan.

The representative of the "City of Youth" has launched the first-ever NFT (non-fungible token) project in Azerbaijani basketball, aiming to leverage technology and establish a more interactive connection with fans. The NFT collection, titled "Basketball Legends of Sumgayit," has been created on the Ethereum blockchain using the ERC-1155 standard and is listed for sale on one of the world's most popular NFT platforms, opensea.io, at a price of 0.35 Ethereum (approximately 1,175 USD).
In an interview with Offsideplus.az, the director of "Sumgayit," Elnur Guliyev, provided more details about the project.

- How did the NFT idea come about? What inspired this initiative?

In recent years, digitalization has been rapidly advancing in the sports world, and I thought we should move in line with these trends. We particularly wanted to create a closer, more interactive, and modern connection with our fans.
The initiative to create NFTs emerged from our desire to both utilize technological opportunities and share the "Sumgayit" club's story in a different and innovative way.

- As the first basketball club in Azerbaijan to launch such an initiative, could this set an example for others?

Our main goal is to popularize, promote, and develop basketball in our country. One of our objectives in creating NFTs was to pave the way for innovative approaches in the sports sector and encourage other clubs to explore this area as well. NFTs are not just about technological innovation; they also represent a new era in marketing and fan engagement. We hope this step will serve as an example and contribute to the digital development of sports in Azerbaijan.

- What level of interest have you seen in the NFTs? And what plans do you have to boost engagement?

In the initial phase, our NFTs attracted interest mainly from basketball enthusiasts, students, and young people with a passion for technology.
However, to reach a broader audience, we plan to organize special campaigns, social media projects, and live fan events in the upcoming season. We also aim to offer exclusive privileges to NFT holders to increase interest.
Additionally, we plan to conduct educational programs on digital technologies at educational institutions in Sumgayit city.

- How could NFTs contribute to the club's financial sustainability in the future?

At the initial stage, it’s too early to view NFTs purely as a source of revenue.
However, experience shows that NFT sales can generate additional income. Typically, revenues from NFT projects are directed toward youth programs, academies, and marketing activities. This can serve as a useful alternative income source for the club.

- If the project proves successful, do you plan to offer exclusive benefits to NFT holders?

Yes, we have plans in this direction.
In the future, NFT holders may be granted benefits such as free access to games, invitations to club events, discounts on special fan merchandise, and access to exclusive digital content prepared only for them.
This will not only increase fan loyalty to the Sumgayit club but also enhance the real value of the NFTs.

- Apart from this project, do you have any plans for other digital innovations?

NFTs are just the beginning for us.
In the future, we plan to work on projects like interactive mobile applications, virtual reality (VR) experiences for fans, and digital fan zones.
Our goal is to position the "Sumgayit" basketball club as a team recognized not only for sporting achievements but also for technological innovation.

- Do you intend to carry out educational work related to NFTs?

Yes, we plan to conduct seminars in schools and universities, and create easy-to-understand videos on social media to introduce this field.
NFTs are not just a technology — they represent a new form of creativity and intellectual property ownership.

- How do you assess the future of NFTs and other new technologies in Azerbaijan?

Technologies such as NFTs, Web3, and blockchain are still in their early stages of development here.
In the near future, the establishment of legal frameworks will help these sectors expand further.
We want to be at the forefront of this process. We highly appreciate the trust and support shown to us by the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation in this direction.