North American esports organisation NRG and online auto retailer Carvana have partnered to launch a Rocket League esports event.
Created in collaboration with the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF), the Carvana | NRG Combine sees students compete for $10,000 (~£8,100) and a one-year content creator contract.
According to a release, the event aims to equip students with valuable career and gaming skills in search of the world’s next Rocket League pro athlete. Throughout November 11th and 12th, esports enthusiasts can attend the event at the NRG Castle in Los Angeles.
Student esports athletes of at least 18 years of age are invited to compete, with the one-year NRG sponsorship courtesy of Carvana.
In addition to the competition, the event is also set to feature esports business skill development opportunities. This includes industry experts sharing their knowledge with up-and-coming esports professionals. Participants can also meet Rocket League athlete Musty and other NRG team members.
Carvana is a US online marketplace for buying and selling cars online. The company has previously engaged with esports in the past. In July 2019, it was announced as one of the event sponsors for North American organisation Pittsburgh Knights.
North American gaming and entertainment company NRG was founded in 2016 and has since gone on to hold rosters in the VALORANT Champions Tour, the LCS, the Overwatch League and Rocket League. In 2020, NRG opened the NRG Castle, a content space for gaming and entertainment.
The collaboration with Carvana is not the only partnership NRG has secured this year. The organisation announced a large-scale partnership with talent management and marketing agency AFK in June. In March, NRG produced a line of co-branded gaming chairs together with DXRacer. The same month, NRG signed a peripherals partnership with ASUS Republic of Gamers, the gaming-focused sub-brand of hardware manufacturer ASUS. The organisation’s other sponsors include the likes of Levi’s and Rockstar Energy.
Brandon Tortora, Head of Sales and Brand Partnerships at NRG, commented on the partnership: “NRG is beyond excited to collaborate with Carvana on what has been a long-time passion project for our organisation. United by our mutual dedication to technology and crafting outstanding interactive experiences, we are eager to give aspiring talents this stage so they can shine.
“This event is not merely a skills challenge, but a platform where we hope to discover and nurture the next generation of Rocket League talent, fostering an environment where dreams can become a reality and possibly unveiling the next big pro in the scene.”
