Tradable Bits and MLSE Digital Labs to launch sports arcade games

The collaboration will offer a new fan engagement platform to teams in the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, and AFL.

Photo credit: MLSE.

Tradable Bits, the Vancouver-based fan engagement platform, is launching a series of customizable arcade-style games as a way for sports diehards to interact with their favourite teams. The company is working with Toronto-based sports juggernaut Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) to bring the games to life. MLSE, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors amongst other professional outfits, linked up with Tradable Bits through its innovation arm: MLSE Digital Labs.

The pair’s platform, known as Arcade, is a culmination. It has been in the works for the last five years leading up to this week’s release. The launch is seen as the first “season” of Arcade content and is catered to teams in Major League Soccer, the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, National Football League, and Australian Football League. In addition to games, users can equip sport-specific skins while team staff can tap into Arcade’s built-in CMS to handle backend tasks. 

“Arcade was born from a ‘fun-first’ philosophy to partnership fulfillment,” director of digital experiences at MLSE Jim O’Mara said. “Through the use of gaming, we’ve seen fan interaction go up 5x, and incredible numbers when it comes to dwell time and number of plays per fan. We believe that gamification is an important tool in bringing fans closer to the game they love. We’re excited to partner with Tradable Bits to bring Arcade to the wider sports market.”

“Sports marketing creates community,” CEO of Tradable Bits Darshan Kaler said. “That’s where Arcade comes in. Fans get to engage with their team’s community through delightful games, while commercial partners benefit from hyper-focused attention. In a world full of noise, connecting with a fan outside of a game is invaluable, but capturing and reporting on the impact of those interactions is where the big opportunity lies.”

The launch also builds on what has proven to be a fruitful 2023 for Tradable Bits. Earlier this year, the company was one recipient of PacifiCan’s $25 million total investment into local businesses. Tradable Bits received $1.02 million in federal funding through the Business Scale-Up and Productivity program.