# Nouns GG & Smash Bros - 2025

# TLDR

1. Focus on hosting unique, impactful events that showcase the Nouns community. 
2. Bridge the URL <-> IRL experiences through activations on Nouns.GG 
3. Boost engagement, revenue, and charitable impact by positioning Nouns GG as a positive force in esports. 

![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

# Our Mission: Bringing Nouns to the Heart of Gaming Culture

Our mission is two-fold: **make Nouns relevant in popular culture** and **onboard a new generation to blockchain**. In today's day and age many see gaming as more than just a hobby. It’s a cornerstone of their lives. To effectively reach these individuals and inspire them to explore new ideas, we need to be fully present in these spaces, with a compelling brand that speaks to them directly.

To engage, educate, and inspire this audience, we’ve built Nouns Esports as a platform with authentic storytelling and education at its core. Building this brand gives us the opportunity to control our messaging and reach, bringing Nouns and its values directly to a receptive audience.

## Nouns Esports 2024

Our journey has brought Nouns recognition in games like Counter-Strike, Dota, Pokémon Unite, Smash Bros, and others. In Counter-Strike, we narrowly missed qualifying for the Major and earning in-game Nounish stickers, but remained a top North American contender garnering significant attention. In Dota, we surpassed expectations by qualifying for The International three years in a row, cementing the Nouns name and in-game assets in one of the most competitive esports and largest games globally.

![image 250](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rJ-8Ghcf1l.png)

### Learnings

1. Hosting our own events ensures full control over programming and seamless partner integration, like Matcha. 
2. High-profile matches attract viewers, grow distribution channels, and provide short-form content for multi-platform engagement. 
3. Events offer clear timelines and structured engagement, making them easier to sponsor. 

## 2025 Refined Focus: Smash Bros Events

Smash is Nounish ⌐◨-◨ 

We’ve found a community that is not only open to engaging with Nouns but eager to learn and connect with our mission. This presents a unique opportunity to create significant impact and continue building our legacy as a positive force within the gaming world.

![moments GIF](https://ipfs.nouns.gg/ipfs/QmTX1Udm8DokcZAQPW95CChfFvri4bDKYvnaurng14hDWy)

#### Grassroots - Passionate and engaged community

- With no central governing authority, the scene thrives thanks to its passionate and dedicated operators. Tournaments are held weekly at every scale imaginable—whether in a local bar, a college campus, a friend’s basement, or a convention center. This grassroots ecosystem is powered by individuals and groups who love the game, creating a vibrant, self-sustaining community that perfectly aligns with the Nouns ethos of decentralization and collective creativity. 

#### Longevity - confidence in existing in 10+ years

- Released in 2001, Super Smash Bros. Melee remains a thriving and beloved game over two decades later. Its timing was impeccable, arriving during an era when gathering with friends after school to game for hours was a way of life. Smash became the perfect centerpiece for these meetups, creating a generation of lifelong fans whose favorite pastime is still coming together to play their favorite game. 
- What began as casual gatherings has evolved into events of all sizes, where groups of friends from around the globe unite to celebrate their shared passion. These connections fuel the community’s growth as players bring their friends into the fold. Despite the game’s age, new players continue to discover Melee, drawn by its rich history and the opportunity to carve their own place in its legacy. Melee’s enduring appeal ensures that it remains not just a game but a timeless tradition that bridges generations. 

#### Momentum as one of the brands in the space helping out the most.

- Top esports organizations like Cloud9, Team Liquid, and FlyQuest participate in the professional Super Smash Bros. scene, but they rarely engage beyond the surface. They don’t dive deeper into the grassroots ecosystem or connect meaningfully with the community that drives the game’s enduring success. By embedding ourselves as active contributors within Smash’s vibrant network of passionate operators, we have the unique opportunity to build lasting loyalty and genuine fandom. Our involvement goes beyond sponsorships—we’re participating alongside the very community that makes Smash special. 

This year, through [Proposal 534](https://www.nouns.camp/proposals/534), we hosted two successful Smash events—Tipped Off 15 and the Nounsfest Showcase—with the Nounsvitational coming soon. Next year, we aim to build on this momentum by creating open, inclusive events that the gaming community and Nouns can take pride in.

Our vision is to establish a scalable events circuit that not only showcases Nounish culture but also fosters collaboration with other Nounish groups, leveraging our platform to drive meaningful engagement and shared growth across our entire ecoystem.

![nounsfest Gif](https://i.ibb.co/mS1cLsF/nounsfest-Test5.gif)
![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

# 2025 Programming

## The Nouns Bowl ⌐◨-◨

![Gridiron Space](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/Hk0QeKK-1x.png)

Nouns GG is partnering with the Hall of Fame Village, home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, to host a Smash Bros. tournament with 300+ competitors. Leveraging the venue’s state-of-the-art facilities, this event will enhance its esports profile and lay the groundwork for future large-scale events as the campus grows with new attractions like a water park and hotel.

- **Venue**: Hall of Fame Village 
- **Location**: Canton, Ohio   
- **Date**: April 2025   
- **Key Features**: Pristine facilities, strong local infrastructure, potential for future expansion with upcoming developments at the venue. 

![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

## Tipped Off 16 ⌐◨-◨

![Crowd / Merch Temp](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SyIWaMvbye.png)

Continuing our successful partnership with the **Tipped Off Series**, Nouns GG is proud to collaborate on the 16th iteration of this prestigious event. Tipped Off, which began in 2007, is the oldest open-bracket Smash tournament in the world. In 2024, the event drew over 1,000 attendees and generated impressive online viewership, with VODs amassing over half a million views and a peak of 40,000 concurrent live viewers.

- **Venue**: Kennesaw State University 
- **Location**: Atlanta, Georgia   
- **Date**: June 2025   
- **Key Features**: Long-standing history of growth, large-scale attendance, and global recognition within the Smash community. 

![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

## The Staredown ⌐◨-◨

![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ryFPxtK-1g.png)

Nouns GG is launching its third open-bracket tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina, recognizing the city’s dynamic esports scene and its proximity to multiple college campuses. Our vision is to build a growing, annual event series that cements Raleigh as a key location in the esports landscape.

- **Venue**: TBD   
- **Location**: Raleigh, North Carolina   
- **Date**: Fall 2025   
- **Key Features**: Expansion into a growing esports market, focus on long-term sustainability and growth. 

![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

## Nounsvitational ⌐◨-◨

![nounsvitational Gif](https://i.ibb.co/H42R8hV/nounsvit.gif)

The Nounsvitational will bring together the 16 best Super Smash Bros. Melee players from around the world, serving as the ultimate "championship of championships" in an otherwise decentralized competitive scene. Winners from our previous open events throughout the year will qualify, helping establish a cohesive narrative that builds anticipation for this grand finale. True to our mission, a major focus will be on charity, with a portion of all event-related sales supporting a selected charitable cause.

- **Venue**: TBD 
- **Location**: TBD   
- **Date**: December 2025   
- **Key Features**: Establishes a year-long narrative with a climactic finale, serves as the season’s largest charity initiative, and showcases an abundance of exclusive content featuring the world’s top players. 

![Event Schedule](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BJ_1D_vZJx.png)
![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

## Nouns.GG

Nouns GG is our fan platform that taps into the natural connection esports fans have with competition making participation feel like playing a competitive game. This approach transforms the mundane routine of governance into an interactive experience where fans are excited to participate, fostering a stronger, more aligned community.

![Twitter GIF](https://ipfs.nouns.gg/ipfs/QmS4anXSz7ZbQHi5PYbcULVSpqZh6J6BdeyyPuqDUEv415)

To build a compelling narrative, Nouns GG will play a key role in driving engagement and excitement around our major events. Unlike a typical esports organization website, Nouns GG offers unique features—such as Rounds, Quests, and Achievements—transforming it into a cultural hub where Nouns fans and broader gaming communities can connect and engage.

Our website will operate in four seasonal phases, each spanning from the start of the season to the completion of a major event. During each season, users will unlock exclusive Rounds, Quests, and Achievements that help them climb the leaderboard. The leaderboard then allows us to quantify, recognize, and reward our most dedicated supporters, creating an immersive onchain experience that builds community loyalty year-round.

Since our launch in June, we’ve built several impactful features:

- **[Rounds](https://nouns.gg/rounds)**: Inspired by Prop House, Rounds provide a unique and powerful way to incentivize anyone to represent Nouns, rewarding participants for showcasing nounish behavior. Rounds are uniquely viral, leading proposers to bring in their audience to Nouns and support them. To date, over 6,000 people have participated in Rounds. With an increased budget, we can scale them up and run more viral experiments. 

![Rounds Gif](https://i.ibb.co/ssNxQ3Y/rounds6.gif)

- **[Quests](https://nouns.gg/quests)**: Guide users in supporting Nouns GG and our partners through targeted quests, allowing for deeper engagement with our events while providing key metrics from users for sponsored campaigns. 

![Quests Gif](https://i.ibb.co/X7gMHw0/quests3.gif)

- **[Nexus](https://warpcast.com/sams/0xcecf78f5)**: An experience based ranking system where users level up their accounts by participating in Rounds, attending events, and completing quests/achievements. 

![Leaderboard Warpcast Posts](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HyLe7jFWJg.png)

- **Rewards:** In our proposal we are requesting 3 Nouns (selected for, in our opinion, low aesthetic appeal) to be turned into 3,000,000 $NOUNS that we will distribute to our community as rewards for placements on the leaderboard. Users will be able to exchange their $NOUNS token for things such as merchandise, event tickets, or swap them into USDC using our partner [Matcha.xyz](http://matcha.xyz/) 

![Nouns](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkYvN8AGkx.png)
![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

# Championing the Nouns Brand

Aklo and Junebug will champion our programming, acting as ambassadors who embody the values and aspirations of Nouns GG. Their role will not only increase the visibility of the opportunities we create but also set a high standard for community members aspiring to represent Nouns. Nouns GG will collaborate with them to produce content that will share updates on our events, Rounds, and activities within Nouns DAO to further enhance engagement.

- **[Aklo](https://warpcast.com/notaklo)**: A long-standing member of Nouns Esports, Aklo has steadily climbed the competitive ranks, recently securing a top-three finish at a major event and breaking into the top 10. His genuine interest in NounsDAO led to his recent Noun delegation through our Delegate program, making him a natural choice to amplify Nouns GG’s brand and vision within the community. 

![Aklo Asset](https://i.ibb.co/n7wtMYY/aklomed.png)

- **[Junebug](https://x.com/arJunebug)**: Recently onboarded via Lil Nouns’ [Proposal 241](https://lilnouns.camp/proposals/241), Junebug is one of the most popular Smash players today, known for his engaging personality, strong camera presence, and deep ties within the community. His enthusiasm and curiosity about NounsDAO’s potential make him an excellent ambassador to connect with fans and introduce Nouns’ initiatives. 

![Junebug Asset](https://i.ibb.co/DCs47Yz/junemed.png)
![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

# 2025 Budget Breakdown

**Full-Time Staff** - $366,000

- Sasquatch, Peter, Sam, Pat, and Ohan who will be responsible for Event Operations, Program Management, and Nouns.GG Development. 

**Part-Time Staff** - $108,000

- Partnerships, Video Production, and Graphic Design. 

**Nouns GG (Prop House)** - $120,000

- Community governed grants, sponsorships, and rewards. 

**Nouns Competitors** -  $72,000

- Pro players and content creators who champion our programming. 

**Events** -  $162,000

- Travel, Accommodation, Branding, Venue Fees, Equipment, Production, and Hospitality. 

**Legal & Accounting** -  $23,000

#### Overall Total: $851,000

![Core Areas](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BkejD_PZJe.png)
![Splitter](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1f86aLbJe.png)

# Revenue Opportunities

**Partnerships**    

- 2024 Partnership with Matcha.xyz: Secured for $250,000. 
- Future Sponsorship Opportunities:
  - **Title Sponsorships:** Exclusive branding rights for major events. 
  - **Secondary Sponsorships:** Supporting sponsor roles for events. 
  - **Nouns GG Quests/Rounds:** Custom quests and rounds for sponsors, creating unique engagement opportunities. 
  - **Event Booths:** On-site sponsor presence to engage attendees. 
  - **Activations with Nouns Talent:** Partner-driven interactions featuring Nouns players and influencers.  

![GZDevlUWMAAdM_r (2)](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/H1fQtTXz1l.jpg)

**Ticketing**    

- Recent Ticket Sales Examples:
  - **Tipped Off 15:** Sold 581 competitor passes and 200 spectator passes at $50-$75 each. 
  - **Nounsvitational 2024:** Sold out 100 VIP spectator tickets priced at $40-$50.  

**Merchandise**    

- **Seasonal Collections:** Released before and during events, increasing revenue and creating co-branding opportunities with partners. 

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# GGWP

[![](https://ipfs.nouns.gg/ipfs/QmeaTNPWBg4Nvupw8pSXXVbGkSwqW8CW47SuJtfNSk2unb "https://zora.co/collect/base:0xcae37b741bc6be25990dcaf8efc7f7bee1ea7a4d/1")](https://zora.co/collect/base:0xcae37b741bc6be25990dcaf8efc7f7bee1ea7a4d/1)

*collectible artwork from [Bonky](https://x.com/BonkerBonky)*

Outcome: EXECUTED