Sports and esports agency SPORTFIVE has announced a partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF).
As part of the deal, SPORTFIVE will offer strategic sales support and project management for a variety of the Federation’s initiatives.
The main focus of the collaboration will be for SPORTFIVE to provide essential support as the primary partnership agency for the upcoming Gamers8: The Land of Heroes esports festival. The event is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, spanning eight weeks from July 6th.
SPORTFIVE also partnered with SEF in 2022, providing marketing support, strategic sales support and project management, among other services. It will now further assist SEF in developing partnership packages and updating marketing materials for attracting sponsors and investors. Additionally, the agency will optimise the strategic sales process to secure partnerships for SEF’s rights and leverage its network to bring new strategic partners for the Gamers8 event.
Earlier this year, SEF announced Aramco, an energy and chemicals company, as a sponsor for the upcoming Gamers8: The Land of Heroes, which boasts a staggering prize pool of $45m (~£36m). Other former and current partners of the festival include the International Esports Federation (IEF), Razer and Asus ROG. The festival will host tournaments for popular games such as Rocket League, CS:GO, Rainbow Six Siege, and Fortnite.
Alexis Barrassin, Senior Director of Esports & Gaming MENA at SPORTFIVE, said: “We are committed to building a long-lasting partnership with SEF and leveraging our collective expertise to deliver exceptional service to the biggest stakeholders in Saudi Arabia. This partnership continues to strengthen our position in the region, and we are excited to explore new opportunities and innovative ideas that will benefit both organisations.”
Despite its popularity, Gamers8 has also faced controversy, particularly during last year’s edition when Moist Esports declined an invitation due to the Saudi Arabian government’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance.
