Online esports entertainment and gambling company Esports Entertainment Group is expanding its presence by inking a partnership deal with the Indianapolis Colts – a team from the National Football League.
Indianapolis Colts Shake Hands With Esports Entertainment
The agreement has been signed for the next few years. As per the deal, Esports Entertainment Group will now become Indianapolis Colts’ official esports tournament provider. The two involved parties will get co-branded esports events that Esports Entertainment will host on its own Esports Gaming League platform each year. The online gambling company will also work to boost the Colts’ reputation by promoting their brand and players across various online platforms, such as social media and emails.
Indianapolis Colts’ chief sales and marketing officer, Roger VanDerSnick, spoke on the deal and his readiness to work with the team’s new partner:
“The popularity of esports has soared since the start of the pandemic, and we are excited to work with Esports Entertainment to operate exciting, action-packed tournaments that we believe will be very popular with Colts fans and a fun way to compete in an entertaining and social environment with gamers throughout our fan base,” VanDerSnick said.
Adding to a Long List of Partners
Esports Entertainment’s chief executive officer, Grant Johnson, declared his intentions to maintain his company’s momentum in expanding with professional sports partners.
“We are excited to add the Colts as our latest top-tier partner,” Johnson welcomed the team. The CEO emphasized that esports provide a fresh opportunity for sports teams to connect with their fans and to find new ones.
“The Colts recognize how our robust tournament platform can help them achieve their fan engagement goals,” Johnson stated.
Esports Entertainment Group is no stranger to deals with sports teams. The online gambling company has other partners from various professional sports leagues. This spring signed a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers from the National Basketball Association. It also has partners in the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer.
Deals between professionals from the worlds of sports and esports have been becoming more common as the two competitive industries have realized that their fan bases often overlap.
However, Esports Entertainment’s growth is not only marked by deals with sports clubs and franchises. The gambling company has been ramping up its positions on the market through partnerships and acquisition deals within its own industry as well. In May, it struck an acquisition deal with the Swedish sportsbook leader Bethard. Later in June, Esports Entertainment also acquired Helix eSports and ggCircuit.