New revenue for a fast-growing sector
When it comes to partnership deals and sponsors there are always trends that come and go in the world of sports.
For decades it was apparel and beverage companies that dominated the space, then along came big tech. Now a new player is in town, one who is sidling up to seemingly every sports team and franchise on the planet.
That new player is Esports. Top professional sports teams and leagues are partnering with Esports outfits, as traditional sports teams try to get their slice of the online gaming pie.
Classic Esports Want to Partner with Other Esports
Before we start looking at which traditional sports outfits are already scrambling to partner with Esports organizations, we thought we would look at how some classic Esports are also in the market for a fresh Esports collaboration.
This can be seen with original Esports and mind sports such as chess, poker, and retro games doing everything they can to remain relevant in the modern online gaming space. This means that online chess providers are connecting up with Esports organizations like Rumble Gaming and that other purveyors of classic online games are following suit, joining forces with top Brazilian Esports organization Furia.
What this means is that even within the Esports ecosphere there is a realization that maintaining a presence at the forefront of the industry is of vital importance for those teams, companies, and individuals hoping to garner as much longevity as possible.
F1 Makes Esports Integral to Its Makeup
The F1 racing championship has always prided itself as being at the cutting edge of motor racing, with fans often being incredibly knowledgeable about the high-tech tools teams use to leverage an advantage over the competition.
It therefore comes as no surprise that the motor racing series was one of the first to embrace Esports and its burgeoning potential. This paid off handsomely in 2020 when the already established F1 Esports Series took off, with big name drivers duking it out with junior drivers as well as some celebrities.
What may have seemed like a passing fad for some is nothing of the kind for F1 teams, most of which now boast their very own branded Esports driving teams. What is so exciting about this development, though, is that increasingly many drivers of the future are being sourced from the F1 Esports Series, meaning that the sport is becoming more diverse and approachable for those online Esports players who know a thing or two about going fast.
F1 and Esports are now inextricably linked, with the latter providing more and more of the young driving talent that the former relies on.
Soccer Teams Follow F1’s Lead
F1 teams are not the only high value sports operations looking to glean gains from Esports, as teams from across Europe’s main domestic soccer leagues seek to do the same.
Many long-established sides such as Manchester City and Bayern Munich register their own Esports teams in huge online tournaments for games like EA FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer.
However, some soccer clubs are not stopping there, also turning out Esports teams that compete in tournaments for games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike. This is evidenced by Turkish giants Besiktas, who since their inception in 2019 have taken down multiple titles and accolades.
Players Also Getting in on the Action
Of course, it is not just teams wanting to jump on the Esports gravy train because there are athletes queuing up to sign as many endorsement deals as possible with Esports outfits.
Many of these are taking place in the US, with sports stars like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant even going so far as to invest in Esports companies for which they think the sky is the limit.
