Nerd Street Gamers CEO John Fazio commented on the deal in an article with Esports Insider: “Nerd Street being added to Founders Fund’s portfolio of industry-pioneering organisations is one of our greatest honours to date. Within minutes of meeting Brian, it was clear that he was profoundly aligned with our vision and mission. Backing us during the uncertainty of a global pandemic is a testament to Brian’s bold foresight and an incredible validation for our entire team.”

The pandemic has caused Nerd Street to close their Localhost facilities, but they quickly adapted to a digital platform through online tournaments, coaching, camps, and Nerd Street+, their subscription service. Nerd Street hosts events for a number of games, but have made the most noise with their involvement in Valorant tournaments, specifically being selected to operate the first stage of the Valorant Champions Tour, and their recently completed Valorant Winter Championship Tournament which saw Luminosity Gaming come out on top.

Thanks to its successful shift to a digital platform throughout the pandemic and facilities closures, Nerd Street was able to increase its membership by over 200% since 2019. And in the last year their Twitch channel, which live-broadcasts its tournaments, saw a 4,000% increase in minutes watched and their followers go from 13,000 to over 120,000.

Venture Beat caught up with Fazio regarding the closing of its Localhost facilities and their shift towards a digital platform: “One major way we’re addressing the current climate is through our new digital subscription service. Because we’ve had to shut down our physical venues during the pandemic, we are truly seeing now more than ever the severe access gap in technology for young people across the country to participate in remote learning, let alone play games, because of a lack of home internet access. To address this, Nerd Street Gamers recently announced a subscription service that ensures that students and gamers will have the affordable access to the technology necessary to participate in the awesome social opportunities that esports can provide despite the pandemic (and beyond it).”

With the overall digital shift of gaming and esports, Nerd Street Gamers is in a prime position to capitalize on the opportunity and Founders Fund clearly believes it. With this new funding, Nerd Street should be more than capable of continuing to grow their digital platform and consumer base, and once they can reopen their Localhost facilities they will have two primary sources of growth and revenue to build upon.

1. Mobile games is already accounting for almost 50% of the global games market, it was only a matter of time before that transferred over into esports. In an area of gaming that has historically been dominated by PC games such as CS:GO and Dota 2, mobile esports like PUBG Mobile and Garena Free Fire have entered the top five most overall hours watched esports titles, even exceeding the likes of the big name PC games mentioned in peak viewer counts.
2. Esports organizations are going to continue expanding their business operations and sources of revenue. At first, esports organizations and teams were following the model of traditional sports organizations, which is fine but the market and audience is different for the most part. Since, these organizations have focused more efforts towards building lifestyle brands based on apparel partnerships and content creators to bring their personalities closer to their audience to build a further connection to their fanbases. In adding content creators to their organizations, the teams can leverage the creators reach and audience to bring on new partnerships and sponsorships, while the creators get the back office and administrative capabilities of the organizations that they otherwise would not have access to.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped traditional sports from holding events, and at first from happening altogether. With this, sports organizations needed to look elsewhere to connect with their fans and continue to increase their audience base. A flurry of traditional sports teams have entered the esports world through partnerships, collaborations, investing opportunities, and several other experiments. Over the last few years we have already seen plenty of big name athletes enter esports through investing or their own streaming and content creation, as the world slowly tries to go back to normal, specifically in terms of sports, it will be interesting to see how the two industries continue to not only coexist, but benefit each other.
4. With travel restrictions expected to be in place for the majority of 2021 at the least, big international tournaments that were once dominating the esports industry will be transformed into regional league play following positive results so far. If continued to be successful, this shift can become permanent with a smaller focus on international travel, and a bigger focus on league-based play and regional competition instead.
5. The final trend which isn’t directly about esports is that streaming platforms that have been used primarily for gaming content will be used even more for non-gaming related content. That already began throughout the pandemic as lockdown measures prohibited people from being together, so they needed new ways to interact, and companies and brands needed to find new ways to connect with their consumers. Twitch and Youtube became the top spots to host concerts, political events, live shows, or even just a platform for like-minded people to group together and talk.

Source: https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/newzoos-esports-trends-to-watch-in-2021/

Three Pillars Strategy

Source: https://esportsentertainmentgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GMBL-Investor-Deck-11.14.pdf

EEG operates its business based on a three pillar strategy: Esports Entertainment & Infrastructure, Esports Wagering, and iGaming & Traditional Sports Betting. All three pillars work in synergy to provide the best products possible for both consumers and investors.

Jaycee Tenn of Benzinga outlines each of the pillars:

1. Esports Entertainment and Infrastructure – the first pillar consists of EGL (tournament platform), Helix eSports (entertainment center), ggCircuit (cloud-based software for gaming centers), and Genji (esports analytics provider)
2. Esports Wagering – the second pillar consists of both Vie.gg (esports wagering platform and LANduel (player-vs-player video game wagering platform)
3. iGaming & Traditional Sports Betting – the third pillar consists of Argyll Entertainment (traditional sportsbook & iGaming) which operates under the brands SportNation and Redzone.bet

Strategic Partnerships

2020 was a big year in terms of partnerships for EEG , mainly in the traditional sports arena:

• Philadelphia Eagles – NFL
• Philadelphia Union – MLS
• LA Galaxy – MLS & LA Kings – NHL

All the partnerships were formed in order for the teams to find new ways to connect with their fans in a unique way. EEG will host branded tournaments for the teams to interact and engage with their fanbases, in an effort to also show the appeal of how esports and traditional sports can coincide with the same group of people. Especially with the previous and upcoming seasons for these teams allowing limited or no fans at all, teams needed to find another way to engage with their audiences, and EEG is a perfect way to do so through the different assets and products they have acquired. As we see more big name brands use esports and gaming to connect with potential consumers, the same goes for professional sports organizations and leagues. They all want to keep growing their consumer base and global audiences, and right now this is the industry that can do that.

They also previously partnered with Allied Esports  to launch the VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series tournament, which was a great success overall. The tournament caused a 400% increase in registered new users and a 300% increase in customer deposits for VIE.gg during the two-week tournament period compared to the prior two weeks.

Key Acquisitions

It was not just those partnerships that caused EEG to have a big year, and some of those partnerships would not be possible without some of the key acquisitions they made in 2020:

Helix eSports & ggCircuit

• Helix eSports operates five gaming centres in the US, including one located in Massachusetts in partnership with the Kraft Group that is home to the Boston Uprising of the Overwatch League
• Helix also merged with Team Genji, an esports analytics company that already has an existing relationship with FIFA and the NBA 2K League
• ggCircuit offers a cloud-based management system, tournament platform, and integrated point-of-sale solutions for enterprise customers
• Their network contains more than 1,000 connected locations, with clients ranging from GameStop, Dell, Best Buy, and Lenovo among countless others

Argyll Entertainment

• Online sportsbook and casino operator with the UK and Irish markets
• Acquisition includes flagship gambling brand SportNation.bet

Esports Gaming League

• Provider of live and online esports events and tournaments
• Services include full turnkey esports events, live broadcast production, game launches, and online branded tournaments
• Will be used in the partnerships with the major professional sports teams to run their tournaments and events

Lucky Dino

• A Malta licensed online casino operator
• Bring in over 30,000 monthly active players

These acquisitions should help EEG leverage the esports betting and tournament growth. They are now able to meet their customers needs globally through esports tournaments, events, betting, and casino play. Together, it will lead to higher interest and engagement from consumers, possible investors, and partners which is evident through some of the new partnerships that were formed based on these acquisitions. Their moves have enabled them to hit each pillar of their business strategy, and it all seems to be coming together for EEG going forward.

Esports Entertainment Group has not reached its full potential. Still a small cap organization with their market cap currently sitting under US$100 million, there is substantial room for growth in this market, and with these new partnerships and acquisitions set to be a part of the organization for a full year for the first time, 2021 could be a big one for EEG. They have firmly committed to their three pillars business strategy going forward, and have made massive decisions under that guidance for the future. Now might be the right time to get involved as esports betting continues its rise globally, and EEG is set up to go along with it.

Enthusiast is excited to announce that it has signed an integrated sponsorship deal with @Samsung. The multi-platform sponsorship will utilize the breadth of #EGLX’s reach in the coveted Gen Z and Millennial demographics. #gaming #esports https://t.co/wAeu6yVwQE

— Enthusiast Gaming (@WeAreEnthusiast) January 18, 2021

They have announced a new multi platform sponsorship deal with Samsung. The partnership is to leverage media advertising, custom content, esports sponsorships, influencer marketing, and entertainment activations across Enthusiast’s diversified fan engagement platform. This will include:

• Product placement and promotional activity with team influencers and brand ambassadors, including during live streamed content,
• Luminosity Gaming team sponsorship, including logo placements on team jerseys and at various entertainment activations,
• Custom content integrations within certain Enthusiast media Web and You Tube properties,
• Logo placement on social media channels,
• Display media advertising across Enthusiast media channels,
• Sponsorship of 2021 EGLX event

Enthusiast  is the largest gaming media network in North America with its 300 million monthly users across all their platforms. Their users are spread out across three divisions: media, events, and esports, and Samsung has hit each of these aspects in their deal. Utilizing Enthusiast’s media capabilities with their 100+ different web platforms and 1,000+ Youtube channels for advertisements and content integrations, sponsoring EGLX 2021, the largest gaming expo in Canada, and lastly sponsoring their esports team; Luminosity Gaming, which features some of the top teams and creators in the world such as xQc, Muselk, Tori Pareno, and Fresh.

CEO Adrian Montgomery had this to say on the deal: “We are thrilled to announce Samsung as an Enthusiast gaming partner and to work with them across our suite of integrated media, esports and entertainment assets to create awareness and drive share for their leading PC offerings, exclusively designed for gamers. It is an honour to work with Samsung, a global leader in electronics, and to have their logo on our Luminosity jerseys.“

Recent Headlines

In November, they announced their plan to list on NASDAQ, a natural step forward for Enthusiast Gaming  as they have received immense interest from investors both in the United States and internationally.

Back in December, they were ranked 7th on Forbes’ list of most valuable esports companies for 2020. Going from unranked the year prior to 7th is a steep improvement in itself, but there is a case that they should be even higher. Given the fact they have the highest estimated revenue total on the list, as well as their various avenues they use to generate that revenue besides esports, it could be seen that Enthusiast Gaming is the most valuable esports company, instead they received the lowest multiple due to their lower percentage of revenue tied to esports, which was used to estimate the valuation of each company multiplied by their revenue.

This isn’t Enthusiast’s only major partnership over the last couple of months. During the US Presidential election, they were enlisted by the Biden-Harris campaign in an effort to target gamers to go out and vote. Leveraging their roster of talented and popular influencers and creators, they were able to drive voter engagement through Fortnite maps. With 65 million of their 300 million monthly users residing in the US, the goal of the partnership was to be able to reach Gen Z and Millennial demographics, which comprises 70% of Enthusiast’s audience, making this a great way for the Biden-Harris campaign to connect with potential voters.

Enthusiast Gaming  keeps growing their audience and their partnership portfolio, making them one of, if not the most intriguing gaming company for 2021 and beyond. It will be great to see how this new Samsung sponsorship unfolds, and what else they have in store together for the future.

The new G2 jersey will contain a number of unique features, such as AEROREADY technology which is designed to ‘keep the fabric dry and breathable’. Additionally, the jersey is set to include a ‘subtle hologram image’ of Carlos Rodriguez’s face, the founder and CEO of G2.

The deal does not stop there, on top of providing apparel for G2s esports players and the teams new jerseys, the two powerhouse European organizations will release a lifestyle apparel collaboration. This has been a trend over the last couple of years for several esports teams and organizations, as they have looked to expand their revenue avenues.

G2 continues to expand their partnership portfolio, as Adidas joins the impressive list that includes Domino’s, Pringles, Mastercard and BMW, among countless other big names brands.

Carlos Rodriguez had this to say on the partnership: “You can argue that there’s been a bunch of ‘non-endemic’ brands that have been included or involved in esports, but this is one of the first moments that I truly see that involvement goes beyond just putting the logo on a jersey or just appearing in the website as a logo. I think that this is very clearly different than most of the stuff you have seen already. After dealing with adidas throughout all these months and discussing with them strategy, and discussing with them a lot of matters, I can tell you already that adidas thinks unlike most corporations. They’re actually very ambitious and cutting edge in the way they think about where the next move should be.”

This partnership continues to prove how big esports has really become and how big it can be going forward. The gaming culture is continuing to grow, and big name brands like Adidas and others want to be a part of it. The audiences for esports teams want to be a part of the team, the more the organizations create these lifestyle brands and collaborations, the more their fans can connect with the teams and their players.

Source: https://esportsinsider.com/2021/01/g2-esports-announces-major-adidas-partnership/

Source: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/lg-ultragear-expands-global-esports-presence-with-gen-g-853841679.html

Already one of the most recognizable esports brands in the world, Gen.G is hoping to do so even further with this new partnership. The collaboration has the goal of further developing the competitive esports scene internationally through LGs new market-leading UltraGear gaming monitors. Gen.G already had initiatives focused on community and industry development with the Gen.G Global Academy, which hosts innovative esports education programs and competitive training. Now with this new partnership with LG, Gen.G will be able to further develop and expand esports within their communities. CEO of Gen.G Chris Park commented on the partnership: “With a young and dynamic brand such as LG UltraGear as our partner, we look forward to providing the ultimate gaming experience to not just professional players but to gaming fans across the globe.”

Gen.Gs second partnership announced over the last couple of days is with McDonalds. The partnership is with a number of the fast food chains franchisee locations in Southern California, and features esports initiatives in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs.

There will be two main initiatives through the deal; first is a multi-week play-in tournament called ‘McDonalds Crew League’ for Southern California McDonalds employees only, where the staff will pick to compete in either NBA 2K21, FIFA, Smash, or Madden tournaments. The tournament will culminate in a live playoff broadcast on Twitch, with prizes awarded to the top-performing individual players. The second is a three day NBA 2K21 All-Star tournament: The McDonald’s SoCal All-Stars will begin on January 30th, where qualifying matches are held to help determine the top 12 competitors. Each team will be captained by a Gen.G pro player or coach during the finals, streamed live on Twitch.

The highest valued esports organization, TSM, has partnered with Cadillac, making them the exclusive automotive partner of TSM.

According to the release, the partnership is expected to include exclusive features for TSM and esports fans, such as social media content and videos, along with experiential events and activations at the TSM Performance Center.

The esports organization has also confirmed that Cadillac’s logo will be present on TSM’s new jersey. This is Cadillac’s first partnership with an esports team, as the automotive firm joins the likes of Honda, KIA, and BMW, among others, in supporting the esports space via sponsorship.

Cadillac’s sponsorship of TSM continues to strengthen the esports organizations commercial portfolio ahead of the 2021 LCS season. Along with the automotive firm, TSM also has partnerships with Logitech, Geiko, and Grubhub, to name a few.

Source: https://esportsinsider.com/2021/01/tsm-announces-cadillac-as-exclusive-automotive-partner/

Cathie Wood, doing what she does best, picking winners.#SKLZ #CathieWood #ArkInvest pic.twitter.com/95Cr21To6d

— Benzinga (@Benzinga) January 5, 2021

Cathie Wood; Founder, CEO, and CIO of ARK Invest  and one of their ETFs; ARK Next Generation Internet ETF purchased 215,000 shares of Skillz  this week.

Skillz is a mobile games platform that allows players to connect through competitions and tournaments. It gives franchises the opportunity to connect their players through a new form of gameplay. They are tailored for the smaller to midsized developer so those companies can generate revenue and build franchises without resorting to selling to a larger corporation or relying on selling advertising space. Consumers pay tournament fees, with the majority effectively going to the developers and Skillz retaining 14%.

Mid December, just prior the calendar turning over, Skillz went public via a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called Flying Eagle Acquisition Corporation. Operating on the NYSE under the symbol ‘SKLZ’, experienced a strong start to its public domain.

So, why is it so important that Cathie Wood and ARK Next Gen bought into Skillz for an amount equating to just 0.07% of ARK’s holdings? Well the proof is right in front of us: Skillz stock increased over 20% since it was made public, and whenever ARK and Cathie Wood purchase shares of a stock, investors tend to follow, continuing to contribute to the stocks gain.

Currently, Skillz runs about 1,700 tournaments per second, and features an audience of roughly 2.7 million users per month. With over 10 million developers and 2.7 billion gamers globally in the mobile games sector, Skillz is primed to continue growth. The mobile games market is the largest in the industry, reaching an estimated US$86 billion in revenue in 2020. It has a lower barrier to entry compared to the other markets, and Skillz perfectly caters to the ease of that for both the players and developers.

Revenue grew over 90% over the last year, and heading into 2021 Skillz has US$250 million in cash and no debt. They estimate by 2025 the mobile gaming market will reach a value of US$150 billion, roughly doubling where it is at now. With top investors like Cathie Wood buying in, Skillz seems like a strong company for the future.

Some of the most popular games to bet on have included:

• FIFA
• Fortnite
• NBA 2K
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• World of Warcraft

Among countless others. Just like betting on traditional sports, esports betting is extremely similar. For games such as FIFA and NBA 2k, it is the same as if you were betting on traditional soccer, basketball, or any team based sporting event, featuring winners, totals, props, and spreads. When you bet on games such as CS:GO and League of Legends, you are betting more on the number of kills in a game or maps collected, as the bets vary depending on the specifics needed for each game.

But not all betting sites or specific esports betting sites carry all the games or the best odds. Below is a list of different platforms in no particular order that provide esports betting, as the platforms have different offerings depending on which games and esports each individual has an interest in gambling on.

1xBet

Summary: Although 1xBet does not specialize in esports, it has built up a reputation as a strong betting platform across all categories, proven by its 6 nominations among the different SBC (Sports Betting Community) awards, and even winning the award for Esports Operator of the Year.

Website: https://1xbet.com/en/

Esports offered: CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, FIFA, Valorant, Rainbow Six

Partnerships: Natus Vincere & Cascade Esports

Bet365

Summary: One of the most known betting platforms worldwide, Bet365 has expanded from its UK beginning to now operating in over 200 countries. From their impressive coverage of globally popular sports such as football, tennis, and cricket, Bet365 has made its way into esports with a strong lineup of offerings to pick from.

Website: https://www.bet365.com/#/HO/

Esports offered: Dota 2, CS:GO, League of Legends, Overwatch, PUBG, StarCraft, Hearthstone, Rainbow Six, Super Smash Bros, FIFA, World of Warcraft, Rocket League, Call of Duty

Partnerships: Winners.net & Sports Information Services

Unikrn

Summary: What truly separates Unikrn is that they solely focus on esports, making them one of the market leaders in the industry. On top of the traditional esports betting, Unikrn offers UMode which allows players to bet on themselves in a game against a computer-controlled opponent. They also offer the opportunity to bet on streamers during a live match or event and the odds will adjust as the live game progresses.

Website: https://unikrn.com/

Esports offered: CS:GO, Fortnite, League of Legends, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, Overwatch, Call of Duty, FIFA, StarCraft, Madden, Rocket League, NBA 2K, Mortal Kombat, Hearthstone

Partnerships: MGM Resorts International, GRID, Unicorns of Love, Kings Guard Gaming

Luckbox

Summary: One of the premier platforms in the market, Luckbox recently went public on the TSX Venture Exchange, and are in prime position to continue growing after a successful 2020 with their exclusive betting opportunities and high odds.

Website: https://luckbox.com/

Esports offered: League of Legends, Fortnite, Dota 2, CS:GO, Overwatch, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty, StarCraft, Rocket League, Hearthstone

Partnerships: Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), Paul ‘Redeye’ Chaloner, Abios, OddsMatrix, MoneyMatrix

Betway

Summary: Betway has a strong combination of the traditional sportsbook with its easy use platform and access to a variety of betting options with its own section dedicated to esports. Betway is one of the few platforms that displays such a strong esports presence in line with its more traditional sport betting options.

Website: https://betway.com/

Esports offered: CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch, Hearthstone, World of Tanks, StarCraft

Partnerships: Ninjas in Pygamas (NiP), BIG, Invictus Gaming, PSG.LGD, beastcoast

GG.bet

Summary: Only offering esports betting since 2016, GG.bet has made a name for itself in the esports gambling community. Led by its competitive CS:GO and League of Legends odds, along with over 10 other esports to bet on across different categories of gaming, GG.bet has fully established itself as a strong platform for gamblers.

Website: https://gg.bet/en

Esports offered: CS:GO, League of Legends, Overwatch, Dota 2, StarCraft 2, Smite, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Halo, NBA2K, Heroes of the Storm, Vainglory, World of Tanks

Partnerships: Heroic, ESL, StarLadder

Pinnacle

Summary: Operating out of over 100 different countries and 19 different languages, Pinnacle made the jump into esports in 2010, becoming one of the first global platforms to offer esports betting odds. Reaching 5 million in esports bets back in 2017, Pinnacle has a proven track record for customers to bet on esports.

Website: https://www.pinnacle.com/en/

Esports offered: CS:GO, Dota 2, King of Glory, League of Legends, Rainbow Six, Rocket League, StarCraft

Partnerships: Abios, GRID, GameScorekeeper, FLASHPOINT‘s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team, North, FACEIT, RFRSH

Vulkanbet

Summary: Vulkanbet has everything you need as a customer. With odds on the most popular games such as CS:GO, League of Legends, and Dota 2, and the more niche ones such as Heroes of the Storm and Vainglory. Vulkanbet also features a strong live streaming area thanks to Twitch, which allows for more accuracy and entertainment for your live in-play bets.

Website: https://vulkanbet.com/en

Esports offered: Dota 2, CS:GO, League of Legends, StarCraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Call of Duty, Smite, PUBG, Fortnite, FIFA, Rainbow Six, Arena of Valor, NBA 2K, Rocket League, Halo, Heroes of the Storm, Vainglory

Partnerships: Gambit Esports

Winners.bet

Summary: While Winners.bet is still relatively fresh in the esports betting scene, they operate under the WIN Group which already features several esports related sites, including Win.gg. They offer a seemingly endless list of esports to bet on through their extremely easy to use platform that includes pre-match and in-play live betting. A nice feature that Winners.bet also has is that you can sort through the different types of bets through different tabs for each, such as a Matches tab, Tournaments tab, and an Outrights section.

Website: https://winners.bet/

Esports offered: Rocket League, Rainbow Six, StarCraft, CS:GO, League of Legends, King of Glory, Dota 2, Overwatch, Call of Duty, Fortnite, PUBG, Valorant, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Smite, World of Warcraft, World of Tanks, Halo, FIFA, Street Fighter

Partnerships: BetConstruct

Midnite

Summary: Having only been operating since November 2019, Midnite had a tough road ahead in an already established but growing market. They have done everything right to become a real competitor in the marketplace, with a strong lineup of games offered and odds that meet industry standards. While they definitely still have some ground to cover, Midnite is still an intriguing option for any esports gambler.

Website: https://midnite.com/

Esports offered: Overwatch, Rainbow Six, CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, Call of Duty, Valorant, Overwatch, FIFA, NBA 2K, StarCraft, Rocket League, King of Glory

Partnerships: Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), Relog Media

Rivalry

Summary: As a beginner, Rivalry might be the best bet to get into the esports betting market. It offers a low barrier to entry through a lower minimum bet, and includes a Rivalry Academy section to help the consumer get a stronger understanding of the basic concepts of esports betting. They also offer extensive coverage of the top games and tournaments for more experienced gamblers.

Website: http://rivalry.com

Esports offered: CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, Hearthstone, StarCraft, Brood War, FIFA, Rocket League, Halo, Heroes of the Storm, King of Glory, NBA 2K, Street Fighter, Smite, World of Warcraft, World of Tanks, Valorant

Partnerships: FURIA, Thunder Predator, Richard Lewis

We are happy to announce we have teamed up with @FATEesports in a data partnership. With brands of the likes of @HyperX and @orangeJo supporting FATE, our solution will help the organization demonstrate their brand value towards existing and potential sponsors.#AI #eSports pic.twitter.com/yDe4XgQQsz

— Shikenso Analytics (@ShikensoMedia) December 22, 2020

The intention of the partnership is for Shikenso to provide insights and analysis of FATEs current sponsorship assets, as well as their performance on social media and streaming channels, allowing the esports organization to make strategic decisions towards existing and potential sponsors. The main focus of the deal is for Shikenso to highlight the potential for sponsors to work with FATE.

This is the third strategic partnership this year for FATE, following their first two with Orange and HyperX.

Source: Esports Insider

FATEs partnership with Orange features an initiative to develop esports talent throughout Jordan and the Middle East, the deal also includes an esports training facility for FATE esports at the Orange Digital Village. While the deal with HyperX will see them provide FATEs players with their products such as headsets and mice.

Arwin Fallah, CEO of Shikenso GmbH commented: “As one of our missions is to further professionalize the esports and gaming industry, we are excited to see that the need of our solution is not only applied top down but even more so necessary for striving and growing organisations. With FATE as our very first partner from the MENA region, we are happy to be applying our solution for their specific needs and helping them manage and analyse their sponsorship assets.”

Mohammed Majali, Founding Partner of FATE Esports added: “Shikenso’s AI technology enables us to gain deep insights into our online live audience and maximise visibility for our sponsors. Today with Shikenso, we are able to delve deep into metrics and maximize visibility during live-broadcast matches. We’re looking forward to this partnership.”

With competitive teams in games such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive, PUBG Mobile, and Tekken, FATE is looking to strengthen its position going into 2021, both from a competitive standpoint and as a business entity.

Source: https://esportsinsider.com/2020/12/fate-esports-and-shikenso-analytics-enter-strategic-data-partnership/

EEG is a licensed next generation online gambling organization with the sole focus on esports. They offer wagering on events and tournaments for real money in real time. With the partnership, they will operate two Madden NFL esports tournaments per year for the Eagles with the Esports Gaming League (EGL) platform they set to acquire back in August.

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced a multi-year partnership with Esports Entertainment Group — making them the first NFL team with an esports tournament provider. pic.twitter.com/eisraRFqXW

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 15, 2020

With this, EEG also becomes the first esports tournament provider for an NFL organization. They will work with Eagles players to create custom videos that will promote the tournaments across multiple digital channels.

This is not the first entry into esports for the Eagles though, as cornerback Darius Slay is an ambassador for Luminosity Gaming, the esports organization that operates under the parent group Enthusiast Gaming .

Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group commented on the partnership in a release, saying: “We are thrilled to partner with the Philadelphia Eagles as they introduce their fans to the world of competitive esports gaming. The Eagles join a growing list of high-profile organisations that have chosen Esports Entertainment Group as their esports tournament provider, affording us an incredible opportunity to expand our brand reach within multiple large, dedicated fan bases and setting the stage for significant growth ahead. We intend to build on this momentum.”

“This innovative partnership with Esports Entertainment Group presents a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our reach in a growing market and create new experiences for Eagles fans,” said Catherine Carlson, Senior Vice President, Revenue and Strategy, Philadelphia Eagles. “Esports Entertainment Group has always been a progressive leader in the esports space and has been ahead of the curve in terms of how its interactive platform brings together gaming enthusiasts from all around the world. We look forward to debuting a number of exciting projects through this partnership, including the launch of the highly anticipated Madden tournament series on the Esports Gaming League platform.”

Let’s hope this trend continues, as esports and traditional sports together is a powerful combination in todays entertainment landscape. It will be interesting to see if this was the first step for the NFL to get more involved, and if it is, how will other teams and the league overall do so in this growing industry.

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