The NC Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA) has partnered with recreational esports tournament platform Mission Control to launch the North Carolina Esports State Championship.
The competition sees players and teams across the state join forces with representing parks and recreation departments, towns, cities, and counties in an attempt to be crowned the inaugural North Carolina Esports State Champion.
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According to the press release, the tournament, set to take place over the month of April, will have qualifiers hosted by local departments to identify representatives for the regional and state championships.
Players selected to take part in the competition will compete in Rocket League, MarioKart, FIFA, and SmashBros.
Matt Carusona, Director of Programs and Marketing for NCRPA, commented: “Esports programmes allow parks and recreation agencies to break down barriers that may discourage residents from participating in recreation programmes. Esports, like traditional sports, are viable for local park and recreation agencies because they are accessible on one level, yet can also provide economic impact through large scale tournaments and events, driving awareness and sports tourism.”
The partnership between the two entities is expected to expand esports’ reach in North Carolina, whilst also providing parks and recreation departments with an opportunity to connect with gaming audiences.
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Mission Control’s latest collaboration follows on from what was a busy 2020 for the company. Last year, the tournament platform secured partnerships with WISE Ventures Esports and Stack Sports, whilst also securing $1.75m during its latest investment round.
Daniel Herz, Chief Revenue Officer at Mission Control GG, added: “At Mission Control, we believe in gathering and growing communities through recreational video games. We’re excited to be partnering with NCRPA, a leader in the parks and recreation industry, to create the first statewide esports championship in the nation.”
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Esports Insider says: Utilising esports to connect with local communities has become a common occurrence over the last 12 months, partially due to esports competitions being easily accessible during the pandemic. Hopefully, the North Carolina Esports State Championship helps strengthen the bonds between gamers and parks and recreation departments.