2017 Esports Predictions Review: Pro Teams

TNL Take: We now move to the second part in our year end esports predictions review, pro sports teams.

Here are the 5 predictions made for 2017:

 

/01 An NFL team will make a move before next season starts

Pats.jpg

Not one but two NFL teams made big moves prior to the 2017 season starting. The New England Patriots became the first NFL team to make a big splash by taking the Boston spot for Activision-Blizzard's Overwatch League. Next came the Kroenke's, owners of several sports franchises including the LA Rams.

In addition, the Dallas Cowboys acquired a majority stake in Complexity Gaming last month.

✔️

 

/02 Europe will continue to dominate overall investment

Last year, investments in esports startups or teams coupled with pro teams entering the space was primarily led by Europe.

This prediction was made prior to news of Overwatch teams estimated buy in nor NA League of Legends franchising, which put the US front and center for esports investment.

 

/03 Another country will announce a similar e-league like France's

Ed.png

Earlier this year, the Netherlands premier football division, Eredivisie, announced the E-Divisie esports league including all 18 current clubs. 

The E-Divisie is a partnership between the Eredivisie, Endemol Shine Netherlands and EA Sports and the games will be broadcast on Twitch, YouTube and TV via Fox Sports. 

✔️

 

/04 A publisher will work with a league to create a more formal structure

NBA.jpg

Can't get clearer than publisher Take Two Interactive's partnership with the NBA for the upcoming NBA 2K League. 2K Sports is working hand-in-hand with the 17 teams for the launch next year with qualifications beginning as soon as Jan 1st. 

We covered the NBA 2K League many times this year and are looking forward to it getting underway.

✔️

 

/05 Esports teams will start wearing Pro Team merchandise

Big miss on this one however we did start seeing some crossover between esports and pro sports teams with marketing; such as the Alienware/Miami Misfits night during a Miami Heat game.

 

2017 esports and pro sports predictions score: 3 out of 5

FIFA's eSports Future Is Via Pro Teams

FIFA'S ESPORTS FUTURE IS VIA PRO TEAMS

FIFA 17 Regional Final (Photo: EA Sports)

FIFA 17 Regional Final (Photo: EA Sports)

TNL Take: This past year, EA Sports made serious strides with their first real full season of FIFA eSports under their Competitive Gaming Division by announcing $1.3M in prize pools (including travel/expenses).

The FIFA 17 Regionals from Paris became the 1st ever eSports program shown on ESPN's flagship channel garnering 110,000 viewers - considering it was tape delayed and shown at 6PM on Super Bowl Sunday.

TNL Infographic 040: 2017 eSports TV Ratings (Infographic: The Next Level)

TNL Infographic 040: 2017 eSports TV Ratings (Infographic: The Next Level)

At EA Play last week - EA's coming out party the weekend prior to the start of E3 - EA Sports announced some pretty big changes for FIFA 18 with the last 2 being the most crucial:

 

  • A partnership between EA and FIFA launching in Fall of this year for a year long competitive infrastructure
  • Real teams sponsoring athletes via official tournaments
  • An All-Star tournament featuring athletes signed to teams

 

FIFA 18's Grand New Plans (Photo: EA Sports)

FIFA 18's Grand New Plans (Photo: EA Sports)

This shouldn't be surprising based on EA's previous moves in the space:

 

AUGUST 2016: PSV EINDHOVEN

PSV Players Playing FIFA (Photo: PSV Eindhoven)

PSV Players Playing FIFA (Photo: PSV Eindhoven)

Eredivisie team PSV Eindhoven became the first Dutch team to become involved with eSports bypassing the "normal" route of sponsoring an athlete directly, PSV held an EA Sports FIFA 17 tournament to determine their player.

 

Further, at the time I mentioned this could be a hint of things to come:

The Next Level YYY (Photo: The Next Level)

The Next Level YYY (Photo: The Next Level)

 

JANUARY 2017: DUTCH E-DIVISIE LEAGUE

Dutch FIFA eSports League (Photo: Eredivisie)

Dutch FIFA eSports League (Photo: Eredivisie)

The E-Divisie is a partnership between Dutch football league Eredivisie, Endemol Shine Netherlands and EA Sports. The games are broadcast on Twitch, YouTube and TV via Fox Sports.

Each of the club athletes competed in 17 rounds of games of FIFA 17 Ultimate Team which determined the E-Divisie Champion, but also which club would represent Netherlands at the European level and a chance to move onto a World Championships.

Again at this time I mentioned a potential future with EA Sports driving the selection process:

The Next Level YYY (Photo: The Next Level)

The Next Level YYY (Photo: The Next Level)

This is a no brainer for EA Sports but 2 large questions remain.

 

/01 WHICH CLUBS WILL BE INVOLVED?

EA Sports did not mention which clubs would be participating at launch and did not respond when reached out for comment.  

I'd venture that it will be primarily European teams and if I had to bet on 1 club being involved: Bayern Munich. 

 

/02 IS THIS THE BEST ROUTE FOR CLUBS?

From EA's perspective, it makes absolute business sense to grab as much control over the eSports infrastructure as you can, especially when pro teams are still so very uneducated about the space. 

 

But does it make the most sense for the pro teams?

 

Here's the reason: Follow any FIFA athlete on Twitter and you will see constant gripes about the lagging, the buggy nature of the game or disconnecting before a loss - to be fair, it's common across many eSports titles. 

As the game changes every year, the previous year's "best" player may not be the current years  top rated player, which means a relative unknown could win and become a clubs official player.

Sticking with the Bayern Munich example, would the club rather find a FIFA athlete via this process with 24 Twitter followers or find someone that is both a top player, produces content and has a large social following across a variety of media?

Time will tell which soccer clubs will be most successful but you can definitely be assured of this:

 

EA NFL Madden is next.


ICYMI, here's TNL eSports Guest Podcast 005 with Paris St-Germain Head of eSports, Bora "Yellowstar" Kim.

Pro Hockey Slides Into eSports

PRO HOCKEY SLIDES INTO ESPORTS

EA Sports NHL 94 aka The Best Hockey Game Ever Made™ (Photo: Racketboy)

EA Sports NHL 94 aka The Best Hockey Game Ever Made™ (Photo: Racketboy)

TNL Take: We've seen a majority of European soccer clubs invest in eSports, the NBA taking the lead in the US and the MLS finally making its first move.

Now Pro Hockey is starting to slowly enter eSports - I so badly wanted to use "skate" but that's just awful. Ok, slide isn't that much better.

Either directly or through a consortium of sports investment, here's the history so far:

 

SEPTEMBER 2016: NEW JERSEY DEVILS

New Jersey Devils (Photo: New Jersey Devils)

New Jersey Devils (Photo: New Jersey Devils)

Washington Capitals (Photo: Wallpaper Cave)

Washington Capitals (Photo: Wallpaper Cave)

aXiomatic, became a new eSports joint venture between a massive amount of sports investors and athletes including Peter Guber (Warriors, Dodgers, LAFC)  and Ted Leonsis (Wizards, Capitals, Mystics, Valor, Verizon Center ) who bought a controlling stake in Team Liquid.

 

NOVEMBER 2016: IFK HELSINKI

Finland's Helsinki Reds eSports Team (Photo: IFK)

Finland's Helsinki Reds eSports Team (Photo: IFK)

Finland was the first country to make a direct investment when Helsinki based Hockey club IFK Helsinki launched an Overwatch team under the name Helsinki REDS.

I spoke with IFK's Sales Manager Jussi Patjas about why they got involved.

 

FEBRUARY 2017: BOSTON BRUINS

Boston Bruins (Photo: Wallpaper Cave)

Boston Bruins (Photo: Wallpaper Cave)

Delaware North, parent company of Boston's TD Garden and home of the Boston Bruins - which is also owned by Delaware North chairman Jeremy Jacobs - announced a strategic investment with eSports team Splyce.

I spoke with Splyce Co-Founder Marty Strenczewilk on the investment and what it means for both Delaware North and the team going forward.

 

JUNE 2017: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo: Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo: Tampa Bay Lightning

The latest hockey investment is Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik who becomes an investor and co-chair of eSports super group aXiomatic.

Like other aXiomatic investors, Vinik is also involved in multiple sports properties including a minority owner of Fenway Sports Group (Boston Red Sox, LFC) and owns Arena Football team Tampa Bay Storm.

 

WHY HOCKEY?

 

Just like the NBA has driven US Sports league investment in eSports, if a team doesn't have a standalone arena, they usually play in an NBA Arena (Ex: New York Knicks and New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden).

Why do Pro Sports teams invest in eSports?

 

This.

3 Pro Sports Teams Investing In eSports In Last 4 Days

3 PRO SPORTS TEAMS INVEST IN ESPORTS IN LAST 4 DAYS

Delaware North/Boston Bruins Investment In eSports Team Splyce (Photo: Splyce)

Delaware North/Boston Bruins Investment In eSports Team Splyce (Photo: Splyce)

TNL Take: As we all move toward the singularity and live more of our lives in a digital world, we increase the pixelated ephemera we leave across Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitch and whatever pops up next.

For better or for worse, we at least have a recorded timeline of our history and yesterday and I got a digital reminder of the following I wrote 1 year ago to the day:

Traditional Sports Invade eSports (Photo: Arena Online)

Traditional Sports Invade eSports (Photo: Arena Online)

If you're a regular reader you'll know how involved Pro Teams have been in the last year but here's a quick recap:

TNL Infographic: Pro Sports Team eSports Investment (Infographic: The Next Level)

TNL Infographic: Pro Sports Team eSports Investment (Infographic: The Next Level)

In just 9 months in 2016 since I wrote that, 20+ Pro Sports teams invested in eSports.

In the last 4 days we've seen 3 pro teams look to invest in eSports.

Here's a recap of the teams and leagues looking to make the leap since the last update:

 

MLS FINALLY MAKES A MOVE

MLS's 1st eSports Signing: NYC FC's Chris Holly (Photo: NYC FC)

MLS's 1st eSports Signing: NYC FC's Chris Holly (Photo: NYC FC)

After watching European soccer teams and leagues dominate eSports involvement, the MLS finally made a move with New York FC signing FIFA athlete Chris Holly

It's not a surprise that NYC FC was the first to make the move as they're partially owned by Manchester City, which was the 2nd English Premier League team to sign a FIFA athlete last July.

 

MEXICO'S CLUB AMERICA TEASES ESPORTS ANNOUNCEMENT

Not much was revealed outside of a Tweet however Liga MX team Club America would be Mexico's first pro team eSports investment.

 

FRANCE CONTINUES TO ROLL

French Soccer Club Lille Olympique Sporting Club (Photo: Pinterest)

French Soccer Club Lille Olympique Sporting Club (Photo: Pinterest)

France has been one of the most active participants at the intersection of pro sports, eSports and media starting last year with several teams getting involved and Webedia purchasing the ESWC (Electronic Sports World Cup) and eSports platform; in addition to their national league, Orange e-Ligue 1.

2017 is no different with Olympique Lyonnais increasing their investment by signing 4 Chinese FIFA players.

OL's 4 Chinese FIFA Athletes (Photo: Olympique Lyonnais)

OL's 4 Chinese FIFA Athletes (Photo: Olympique Lyonnais)

This week saw the 4th Ligue 1 team looking to make the move with LOSC not only looking at FIFA but League of Legends as well.

 

AUSTRALIA'S ADELAIDE CROWS BUY ESPORTS TEAM LEGACY ESPORTS

Australian Football League's Adelaide Crows (Photo: Getty Images)

Australian Football League's Adelaide Crows (Photo: Getty Images)

Earlier this month, the Australian Football League announced their intent to enter eSports and potentially hold a tournament at Etihad Stadium.

Note to the AFL: Please don't attempt your 1st involvement in a 50,000+ seat capacity stadium

A day after the LOSC announcement, the AFL's Adelaide Crows announced the purchase of Legacy eSports, a local team fielding teams in several games.

 

The Houston Rockets hired a Director of eSports Development and the Warriors have an open position. Expect even more investment and job opportunities as these two industries collide.