Scandinavian esports organisation HEROIC has exited the Louvre Agreement, the deal that allows it to compete in ESL’s events as a partner team.
ESL shared the statement via X, noting that the change comes into effect immediately. However, HEROIC will still be able to compete in IEM Chengdu and this year’s ESL Pro League seasons.
The Louvre Agreement is the name given to a deal between esports organisations and ESL which enables them to become partner teams of the ESL Pro League. The partner teams receive several benefits, such as direct qualification into ESL events and revenue-sharing possibilities. The initial agreement was created in 2020 and consisted of 13 teams, with several others, including HEROIC, joining at a later date.
Interestingly, the decision to leave the agreement seems to leave HEROIC with not that many repercussions. ESL stated in its initial social media post that HEROIC will keep its spots at the ESL Pro League seasons 19 and 20, as well as IEM Chengdu later this year. Due to the fact that Valve, Counter-Strike’s creator, announced that franchised leagues will no longer be allowed from 2025, HEROIC will only lose associated revenue share opportunities and its partner slot at IEM Fall this October.
ESL has not shared any plans regarding the Louvre Agreement past 2025.
ESL shared the following via X.com: “The Commissioner of the ESL Pro League announces today that Heroic is leaving the Louvre Agreement, effective immediately, in exchange for being released from any future membership payments or instalments, as well as rights to revenue share.
“However, they will still participate in and retain their pre-existing partner slots for IEM Chengdu 2024 and Seasons 19 & 20 of ESL Pro League.”
It is unclear how lucrative the agreement has been for partner teams, but ESL did share that the price of being a part of it is steep. When HEROIC, BIG and FURIA entered the agreement in 2021, the collective bids amounted to almost $20m (~£15.8m).
2023 was a tumultuous year for the HEROIC Group with the organisation undergoing financial difficulties. These have been somewhat alleviated through raising funds and securing new owners last year. So far this year the organisation has entered into Dota 2 and appointed Robin “Bumblebee” Nymann as its Director of Esports.
