North American organisation Renegades has established a partnership with Oakland University in Michigan.
The university is said to be the first in the state to launch a varsity esports team as part of its athletics program.
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While Oakland University already runs an esports club that ran tournaments on League of Legends, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros. and other titles, this partnership with Renegades will help the growth of this club by sharing its experience and connections in the industry.
Jonas Jerebko, Owner of Renegades discussed the partnership in a release: “Esports is growing at such an impressive pace and I’m thrilled to see Oakland become a part of this innovative and cutting-edge field. Many people, including myself, already know Oakland for its competitiveness with its current sports. This is a prime opportunity to push the boundaries and bring that energy and enthusiasm to new audiences with a new sport.”
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The team will compete in autumn 2020, initially comprising of up to 12 athletes. Announcements for the hiring of a varsity coach and the creation of a dedicated location on-campus for the team are expected at a later date.
Steve Waterfield, Director of Athletics at Oakland University added: “We are very fortunate to have the support and mentorship of Team Renegades. Based at GameTime, the partnership with a professional esports team will provide support and expertise as the University launches its esports initiatives. Plus, the fact that GameTime is so close to our university is an added benefit.”
Esports Insider says: It’s mostly a logical move for Renegades to meddle in the market of North American collegiate esports. While a lot of information is yet to come, we’re intrigued to see the trend of organisations and collegiate esports intertwining continue to emerge.
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