The Marketplace’s First Drop Features 4 Legendary Quarterbacks: Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Jim McMahon, and Dan Marino.
The second Costacos Collection NFT drop features Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Jim McMahon, and Dan Marino in the QB Legends Collection. These digitally re-imagined, vintage posters of the four quarterbacks’ iconic ‘80s/‘90s Costacos posters are now in new digital form. The Costacos Collection is launching the “HANDS OF THE GODS” series where the unique images capture each quarterback’s natural football grips. This follows the company’s inaugural drop with a baseball GOAT, Willie Mays. John Costacos and each QB Legend created a personalized digital series reflecting on their cherished achievements. The Collection has entered into a strategic technology partnership with GigLabs to build on the Flow blockchain. NFTs of an official Tour Poster celebrating the QB Legends drop, created by the Ames Bros known for their intricately designed concert posters for rock legends like Pearl Jam and Metallica, are for sale to the Sports Techie community blog followers and readers, and fans at-large. A portion of NFT drop proceeds will be donated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Assistance Foundation, an organization that assists HOF members and their families. Collectors can access the drop on the newly-launched CostacosCollection.com marketplace.
HOTG – Hands Of The Gods
The quarterbacks worked closely with John Costacos and acclaimed digital artist Mike Campau to create all-new 3D art pieces capturing the defining moments and themes from the players’ legendary careers. John needed to visit each quarterback then paint their hand in ink before gripping the football as if it was an extension of their American persona. New career-defining plaques, drew inspiration from the Costacos Collection’s first drop with Willie Mays.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a more exciting group of legacy athletes with whom to partner for the launch of the Costacos Collection marketplace,” said CEO Justin Moorad. “Troy, Warren, Jim, and Dan, all with their own unique personalities and career paths, represent a generation of NFL culture that was captured in their original Costacos posters. It’s an honor to help bring those iconic images back to life, and a privilege to watch John and the players work together to create all-new digital art that we believe their legions of fans will be passionate about collecting.”
The players each had special memories to memorialize. For Moon, a celebration of his unprecedented five consecutive CFL Grey Cup Championships before going on to a prolific NFL career that would see him become the first Black quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame; for Aikman, a celebration of the three Super Bowl Championships he helped bring home to the city of Dallas; for Marino, an ode to his everlasting significance to the city of Miami; and for McMahon, a representation of his iconic visuals that defined the ‘85 Bears and beyond.
Quotes:
“It’s a rare treat to be brought back to such an amazing time from the past,” Aikman said. “Working with John to create my original poster was a fun and unique experience, and ended up with one of my all-time favorite images. It’s great to have John’s creativity back at it, and to spend time with him bringing new work to life in innovative ways.”
“As an entrepreneur and fan of pop culture, I’ve always loved John’s vision and innovative enthusiasm,” added Moon. “The Moonlighting poster is a favorite – I’m thrilled to see it come to life as digital art, and just as excited about the brand new digital art forms we’ve created. With today’s tools, John’s creativity is almost limitless, and I’m really proud to be involved in this unique launch.”
“We’ve all seen the explosion of digital art and collectibles,” Marino said. “Sometimes it’s hard to see what all the buzz is about. However, this is different…it is sports and pop culture at its best, a blend of ‘80’s and ‘90’s creativity with the digital mastery of today, all pulled together by one of the guys who got this all started, John Costacos. I can’t wait to see the reaction, especially as a new generation sees the Zubaz pants.”
Blockchain Tech / Drop Auction
John selected to use Flow blockchain, joining NBA Top Shot, NFL ALL DAY, and UFC Strike, created by Dapper Labs. As part of the business arrangement, the Costacos Collection can build then scale a proprietary NFT marketplace on the environmentally-friendly Flow blockchain. They join other GigLabs partners such as CNN, Turner Sports, Athletes Unlimited, Speedway Motorsports, the University of Miami, and a variety of more.
The Costacos Collection marketplace includes full credit card support and simple wallet signup requiring only an email address.
The company will auction off never-before-seen outtakes from the original poster shoots – in addition to the digital collectible, the auction winner will also receive the original film transparency to add a physically tangible element to the collection.
Jim McMahon
“We loved working with all the athletes, the pitchers, home-run hitters, point guards, linebackers, all of them,” said Costacos. “But there was nothing quite like creating an image with an NFL quarterback because the great ones are the guys with all the firepower that make the offense go. Jim McMahon was the first poster we printed back in 1986. There we were in Chicago, 2,000 miles from home, a couple of kids with an idea but no experience, who somehow convinced the NFL’s biggest superstar to dress up like Mad Max and take pictures next to a live bear cub in the middle of a thunderstorm. Jim was larger than life, he’d just led the Chicago Bears to their one and only Super Bowl victory and was at the forefront of sports pop culture. We may not have known how we were going to pull it off but somehow we did and had a ton of fun shooting it, and Jim did too. We got lucky with a break in the weather, the shots ended up working, and we ended up with one of the great posters of all time – and a lifelong friend in Jimmy Mac.”
“Being part of the Costacos Collection was what every athlete from our era dreamed about, it was like being on a Wheaties box but better, because you hung on the wall of every bedroom of fans across the country,” McMahon said. “It’s pretty cool that Mad Mac was the first one and the start of it all. I still have it on my wall. And it’s just as cool to be a part of this new era, I’m having tons of fun working creatively with John again. He’s the most creative guy I know, and when we’re done we always make sure to sit down for a beer or six.”
Sports Techie, this story dropped Friday, visit the CostacosCollection.com marketplace to get in the NFT mix.
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