We are all witnessing a shift in the tastes and habits of new generations when it comes to socializing, as well as their work, social, or cultural preferences… One of these major changes is happening in leisure activities. For example, whereas before we might have gone to a circus or theater show, now young people attend digital events or, taking it a step further, in-person events featuring professionals from the digital world.
For some people, this may be hard to understand, but here we will explain how a specific type of event that blends in-person and digital experiences has flourished: the "veladas," whose pioneer (of course!) is the Basque YouTuber Ibai Llanos. The success of Ibai’s veladas is so great that the third edition will take place next July. And this year it’s going big: La Velada del Año 3 will be held on July 1 at the Civitas Metropolitano, Atlético de Madrid’s stadium, although it can also be watched live via the influencer’s Twitch channel.
So, what is a velada? In short, it’s a boxing match featuring well-known streamers and YouTubers, accompanied by performances from various singers. Is it similar to the Kings League? Yes and no. The concept is alike—connecting two very different worlds, digital and real—but the format is completely different. While the Kings League is a soccer match, La Velada, as we said, is a boxing match. With the growing popularity of these types of events and their success, it seems this new entertainment concept is key to attracting millennials and younger generations.
The first edition of La Velada, held in 2021, became one of the most-watched streams of the year, with 1.5 million viewers connected to the Basque creator’s Twitch channel. The second edition in 2022, which already allowed in-person attendance, sold out tickets within half an hour of going on sale. This year, with a capacity of over 60,000 spectators, tickets also sold out shortly after becoming available.
Keys to Success
From the grandeur of the idea, let’s highlight some key points that may have become the most attractive aspects for the audience. On one hand, we have the fighters, who this time are:
- Ampeter Vs. Papi Gavi
- Rivers Vs. La Rivers
- Luzu Vs. Fernanfloo
- Shelao Vs. Viruzz
- Amouranth Vs. Mayichi
- Germán Garmendia Vs. Coscu
These internet personalities, well known among young people, won’t be alone, as Ibai has invited the following artists from the Spanish music scene to liven up the show:
- Quevedo
- Rosario Flores
- María Becerra
- Estopa
- Feid
- Ozuna
Additionally, the third edition of La Velada will feature presenter and comedian David Broncano.
There is another artist who, due to contractual reasons, has not yet been announced and is currently using the pseudonym Enigma 70. This announcement will be made in the coming days. But the surprises don’t end here, as there is an eighth artist who won’t be revealed until June (if everything goes as planned).
New Veladas, but Not by Ibai
When something succeeds, imitators naturally appear. This is exactly what has happened with Ibai’s project. On June 2, we will see the FaMMA League, a new boxing and MMA (mixed martial arts) event featuring several TikTokers and other popular figures from the entertainment world in general. Here is the full list of fights and their participants:
As you can see, this new event is not without surprises. The main attraction will be the headline fight between Omar Montes, a Spanish singer and former boxer, and Christian Vidal, an amateur boxer known as Torete.
It is also known that among the hosts are Laura Hernández, a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) expert, and Hamza Zaidi; but little more information is available about this event, which expects to gather nearly 9,000 people next June at La Cubierta de Leganés. We just have to see how this event unfolds and how successful it is to determine if it can be repeated next year and achieve the success that Ibai’s veladas have behind them.
