The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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OverActive Media Signs New Deals With AMD and LG UltraGear, Renews With SCUF and Nielsen Sports
OverActive Media, the parent company of Toronto Ultra, Toronto Defiant, and MAD Lions, has expanded its commercial portfolio through new sponsorship agreements with AMD and LG UltraGear.
- OverActive Media has secured new sponsorship agreements with AMD and LG UltraGear while renewing existing partnerships with SCUF Gaming and Nielsen Sports.
- AMD will collaborate with the Toronto Ultra and Toronto Defiant franchises on content and activations, including serving as the presenting sponsor for the Toronto Ultra Challengers Tournament in May 2023.
- LG UltraGear has been named the presenting partner for the Call of Duty League Major IV tournament and will engage in broader marketing activations with the company.
Unity to Layoff 600 Employees
Unity Software announced a significant workforce reduction in May 2023, confirming the layoff of 600 employees. This figure represents approximately 8% of the company’s total staff.
- Unity Software is laying off 600 employees, representing 8% of its total workforce.
- The company expects to incur $26 million in costs related to the restructuring, covering severance, benefits, and employee transition expenses.
- These charges are expected to have a material financial impact on the company's second quarter of 2023.
DreamHack Dallas Will Feature Seven Esports Competitions With a Total Prize Pool of $933K USD
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) announced that the 2023 DreamHack Dallas festival, held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from June 2–4, would feature seven distinct esports competitions with a combined prize pool of $933,000 USD.
- DreamHack Dallas will host seven esports competitions from June 2–4, 2023, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center with a combined prize pool of $933,000 USD.
- The IEM Dallas 2023 CS:GO tournament features a $250,000 prize pool, with the winner qualifying for the $1 million IEM Cologne 2023 event.
- A $250,000 Fortnite tournament will be open to BYOC ticket-holders, with top performers qualifying for the $2 million Gamers8 event in Riyadh.
Confirmed: Chinese Overwatch League Team Chengdu Hunters Disbands
The Chengdu Hunters, a professional Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, have officially disbanded.
- The Chengdu Hunters, an Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, has officially disbanded.
- The dissolution follows the January 2023 collapse of the distribution partnership between NetEase and Activision Blizzard, which rendered games like Overwatch 2 legally unavailable in mainland China.
- Core players from the organization have either transitioned to the Hangzhou Spark or have become free agents.
Delane Parnell Steps Down as PlayVS CEO
Delane Parnell, the founder and CEO of the U.S.-based scholastic esports company PlayVS, has stepped down from his leadership position.
- Delane Parnell has stepped down as CEO of scholastic esports company PlayVS, with VP of Finance Joe Gibson appointed as interim CEO.
- Parnell will remain on the PlayVS board of directors and serve as a senior advisor during and after the search for his permanent successor.
- Negotiations for Parnell’s exit began in December 2022, reportedly driven by his desire to pursue a new project.
AMD, Windows 11 Named ‘Powered By’ Sponsors of Skyesports Masters
The Indian esports tournament operator Skyesports has secured AMD and Microsoft’s Windows 11 as official "powered by" sponsors for the Skyesports Masters.
- AMD and Microsoft’s Windows 11 have been named 'powered by' sponsors for the Skyesports Masters, India's first franchised Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournament.
- The Skyesports Masters features a total prize pool of Rs. 2 Crores (approximately $245,000 USD) and will culminate in a live event in Mumbai.
- The tournament structure includes eight franchised teams competing in CS:GO.
Former OneFootball Marketing Exec Joins ESL FACEIT Group
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has appointed Fabio Tambosi as its new senior vice president of marketing.
- Fabio Tambosi has been appointed as the new senior vice president of marketing at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), where he will lead global marketing efforts as part of the commercial leadership team.
- Prior to joining EFG, Tambosi served as the senior VP of global marketing at the Berlin-based sports media company OneFootball for over one year.
- Tambosi brings over two decades of experience to EFG, having held previous marketing and PR roles at major global brands including Adidas, Nike, Nokia, and IBM since 2003.
Sean Kiely Joins The Esports Awards as Chief Revenue Officer
The Esports Awards has appointed Sean Kiely as its new Chief Revenue Officer, a strategic move aimed at accelerating the organization’s commercial growth and expanding its footprint within the North American and international markets.
- The Esports Awards has appointed Sean Kiely as its new Chief Revenue Officer, effective May 2, 2023.
- Kiely joins the organization from Fandom, where he served as the global head of gaming and esports sales for over four years.
- In his new role, Kiely is tasked with expanding the company’s international team and strengthening its presence in North America.
100 Thieves Renews Partnerships With Heineken USA
The Los Angeles-based esports and gaming lifestyle organization 100 Thieves has extended its partnership with Heineken USA for an additional year.
- 100 Thieves has extended its partnership with Heineken USA for an additional year, continuing the relationship that began in August 2022.
- The renewed deal includes the construction of a Heineken-branded bar at the 100 Thieves compound in Los Angeles for use in gaming and future activations.
- Heineken USA will continue to support 100 Thieves' production efforts, including content for 'The Courage and Nadeshot Show' and various original social media shorts.
Cavs Legion Gaming Club Partners With SteelSeries, KontrolFreek
Cavs Legion Gaming Club, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has entered into a strategic partnership with gaming peripherals manufacturer SteelSeries and its subsidiary brand, KontrolFreek.
- Cavs Legion Gaming Club, the NBA 2K League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has entered into a partnership with gaming peripherals company SteelSeries and its brand, KontrolFreek.
- Under the agreement, SteelSeries and KontrolFreek will supply their headsets and performance gaming gear to the Cavs Legion Lair training facility in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
- Financial terms of the partnership deal were not disclosed by either party.
Rob Proctor Joins Glytch as Chief Revenue Officer
Glytch, an Irvine-based esports and entertainment venue company, has appointed Rob Proctor as its new Chief Revenue Officer.
- Rob Proctor, the former CEO of Allied Esports International, has been appointed as the Chief Revenue Officer of Glytch.
- Glytch aims to construct 32 esports stadiums and entertainment venues across the U.S. and Canada over the next seven years.
- The planned venues are designed to serve as official homes for professional esports teams while hosting non-gaming events like concerts and comedy shows.
Team Liquid and Alienware Officially Open Alienware Training Facility: Brazil
Team Liquid and Alienware have officially launched a major esports training facility in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Team Liquid and Alienware have opened a 33,281-square-foot training facility in São Paulo, Brazil, which is twice the size of the organization's existing locations in the U.S. and Europe.
- The 13-story facility is designed to support over 80 employees and athletes, featuring residential suites, production studios, and dedicated areas for mental and physical fitness.
- The building includes 19 bedroom suites for athletes, a performance laboratory, a gym, a pilates studio, two kitchens, and Team Liquid's first physical retail store.