The Libman Company, a manufacturer of household and high-power cleaning tools, inked deals for four upcoming NCAA men’s tournaments taking place next month: The Big Ten, Big East, Pac-12 and American Athletic Conferences. In addition to on-court signage, fan engagement and sampling opportunities, all of the sponsorships entail Libman supplying the court mopping crews with Libman branded mops and attire.
Garrett Popcorn Shops entered into a formal sponsorship with the Chicago Cubs, making Garrett “The Official Gourmet Popcorn of the Chicago Cubs” and “Proud Partner of the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field.” Throughout the season, fans will be able to experience Garrett’s recipes at all Cubs home games, general concession stands, suites and at special Garrett kiosks.
SHOWTIME Sports is launching the digital talk show, Below the Belt, hosted by Brendan Schaub. The twice-monthly, 30-minute series debuts on Feb. 28 with new shows on the show’s YouTune Channel and Facebook page, exploring the latest news in combat sports and pop culture, with Schaub delivering “candid thoughts in his unique and unfiltered style” in addition to interviews. The program also includes a weekly podcast and a composite program that airs once per month on SHOWTIME Extreme.
Sling TV is adding NBA League Pass to the mix, with the NBA’s out-of-market live game subscription now available for $29 per month with a subscription to Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Spanish-language and/or select Sling International services. Meanwhile, Team Pass will be available for $18 per month.
ESL made a pair of executive moves, naming Yvette Martinez-Rea as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ESL North America while Craig Levine, previously CEO of North America, gets boosted to a new global role as Global Chief Strategy Officer. “ESL is continually working to reshape and refine our organization, products, and solutions to best meet the needs of players, fans, teams and publishers,” said Ralf Reichert, Global CEO and President, ESL. “In our commitment to the U.S. market, we are excited for our executive team in North America to further the company’s creative development and innovate within the growing landscape of the esports industry.”
ELEAGUE is turning its attention to TEKKEN 7 for its next title. The 3D fighting franchise from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America will be the centerpiece for the first-ever ELEAGUE | TEKKEN Team Takedown with a live tournament on March 3 at 2p on Twitch. Coverage of the event will then transition to TBS for a four-part feature series set to premiere March 16, following the network’s NCAA March Madness coverage. ELEAGUE host Richard Lewis will call the live action as well as provide studio analysis and player interviews, joining talent that includes Reepal “Rip” Parbhoo, Steve “Tasty Steve” Scott, and Stephen “Sajam” Lyon. Meanwhile, TEKKEN ambassador and analyst Mark “MarkMan” Julio and reporter Michele Morrow will both make their ELEAGUE debuts.
Hi-Rez Studios is going all in with Mixer, announcing that the SMITE Pro League and SMITE Console Series will be broadcast exclusively on the platform. Season five of the SPL kicks off on March 20 at 1p, while the SCS begins on March 5. SMITE Pro League broadcasts will implement Mixer’s “unique co-streaming technology” to bring fans more camera angles, perspectives and views.
Vision Esports closed a $38 million capital raise led by Evolution Media, the investment firm backed by CAA and private equity fund TPG Growth, as well as a slew of sports organizations and athletes. Vision Esports is now the largest shareholder in Echo Fox, Twin Galaxies and Vision Entertainment. This new group of investors join the New York Yankees in committing to the Vision Esports platform. Additional investors in the round include Shamrock Holdings, the private investment arm of the Disney family; Seth Bernstein Capital Management; Simon Tikhman of First Access Entertainment and several other high-profile professional athletes and entertainers.
HyperX announced sponsorship and participation at IEM Katowice 2018 in Katowice. During the event, HyperX will exhibit and showcase a range of gaming product demos at the IEM EXPO, including its latest gaming peripherals. “We’re very happy to continue marching on with one of our best and most long-standing partners,” said Michal Blicharz, VP Pro Gaming at ESL. “By Katowice, IEM’s cooperation with HyperX will have spanned 27 events and almost five years. It’s safe to say that IEM and HyperX have almost become an inseparable duo and that speaks to the shared values that we have as well as similar ideas for esports.”
Discord, the largest chat platform for gamers with more than 90 million users, unveiled plans for esports, partnering with a slate of teams and brands spanning multiple games, including Team Liquid, DreamHack, and almost every Overwatch League team. The program launched yesterday with official Discord Verified Servers where teams and players can share news, chat with fans, discuss upcoming match-ups and more.
Electronic Arts confirmed the return of EA Play, with the three-day event taking place from June 9-11. The event will feature games and experiences, with “more hands-on stations and more entertainment than ever before.”
Raycom Sports/Fox Sports play-by-play commentator Tim Brando will be honored with the Richard M. Uray-Alpha Epsilon Rho Award for Lifetime Achievement by the National Broadcasting Society-Alpha Epsilon Rho. The annual convention will be held in Washington D.C. from February 28 – March 3.
Reebok announced the appointment of Todd Krinsky as General Manager, Reebok Performance Business Unit. Krinsky will lead this newly created business unit which consolidates Reebok’s Running and Training business units.
The Closing Ceremony for the Winter Games on Sunday at 8p on NBC.
