German football club Werder Bremen has entered the esports industry in partnership with STARK eSports Agency.
Werden esports will officially kick things off when FIFA 19 is released later this year in September.
Dominik Kupilas, Head of Content & Digital at Werder Bremen explained why the club chose to enter FIFA: “We deliberately chose to join FIFA because it combines real and digital football. It is a very authentic step from our point of view. By joining FIFA, we want to add a complementary, digital chapter to our long tradition.”
STARK eSports Agency helped Werder Bremen with its approach towards esports, and will continue to provide support for the foreseeable future – including social media and team management. Kupilas will handle project management for the new department.
Klaus Filbry, CEO of Werder Bremen said the following in a statement: “The eSPORTS has become increasingly important in recent months. We have dealt extensively with the topic for some time and are convinced that now is the right time to occupy a relevant future field with the eSPORTS commitment and to offer the younger generation further access to our community and our value system. For us, this commitment is a great opportunity to show that tradition is a trademark, but it does not have to go along with it.”
Werder Bremen has brought in a non-endemic partner for its esports venture, too. Wiesenhof, a major player in the German poultry market, will be a jersey sponsor for the football club’s esports jerseys.
Ingo Stryck, Managing Director of Marketing at Wiesenhof commented on the partnership: “We consider the entry of SV Werder with FIFA in esports consistent and meaningful. SV Werder has always been offensive and innovative in the digital world. We did not have to think twice about taking this step. In addition, gamers also need high-quality proteins, and we have a number of alternatives on offer. Without mental and physical fitness, even athletes can not achieve lasting success.”
Esports Insider says: More and more football teams are entering the world of esports, and yet again, the first step includes FIFA – it’s a sensible expansion initially but we hope Werder Bremen finds the industry fruitful enough to enter other titles in the future, too.