UPDATE 09/04/2024: Additional comment has been added from Hector ‘H3CZ’ Rodriguez.
North American esports organisation OpTic Gaming has announced a partnership with Serie A football club Juventus.
According to a release, both entities will be looking to ‘bridge the gap between traditional sports and esports’ through a series of collaborations and activations.
The activations will include social media content, limited-edition co-branded merchandise, as well as video content featuring competitors and influencers from Juventus and OpTic Gaming throughout the year. It was also noted that both entities will launch unique on-site activations to support one another in their respective competitions.
This weekend, former Call of Duty players Seth ‘Scump‘ Abner and Anthony ‘Methodz‘ Zinni, OpTic talent Davis ‘Hitch‘ Edwards, and OpTic CEO Hector ‘H3CZ‘ Rodriguez will be travelling to Turin, Italy to access the Allianz Stadium, Juventus Training Center, Juventus Creator Lab, as well as attend a Juventus match.
“As our generation that supports gaming becomes a larger piece of the population, it will only prove that gaming and esports are here to stay,” said Hector ‘H3CZ’ Rodriguez in a comment sent to Esports Insider. “Being able to shake hands with a legacy brand like Juventus is something we don’t take for granted and hope to have the same historical legacy that they offer their fans.”
Rodriguez also revealed that the conversation started when OpTic attended the Juventus match at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California* in late 2023 which led to the materialisation of those ideas.
In recent years, an increasing number of football clubs have been exploring opportunities in the esports space. Last year, Manchester City announced a partnership with South Korean esports organisation Gen.G and has previously worked with FaZe Clan in the past. Similarly, French football club Paris-Saint Germain is the name sponsor for teams in Dota 2, League of Legends and Rainbow Six.
Mike Armstrong, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Juventus Football Club, commented: “We see football and gaming continue to be a natural cultural intersection point.
“OpTic are pioneers in their industry, have a winning spirit, and have world-renowned players and influencers connected to some of the most popular game titles on the planet. This is a unique opportunity for us to innovate together to bring something more to both fan groups.”
Armstrong might be a name that is already familiar to those in the esports space. Prior to joining the club in 2021 as its Chief Marketing Officer, he previously worked as the Global Head of Marketing for Canadian esports company OverActive Media Group.
In esports, Juventus currently competes in the eSerieA and has a co-branded roster with Italian organisation DSYRE for EA FC and Rocket League. With yet another major partnership under its belt, Juventus is seemingly looking to further establish itself in the esports realm.
*UPDATE 29/05/2024: This article originally said the Rose Bowl Stadium was in Dallas, Texas rather than Pasadena, California.