Whether it's open circuit events such as DreamHack and ESL or franchise leagues across the world - esports is a truly global industry. Big tournaments are hitting different cities almost every week and the desire to host esports events has never been higher. What are the benefits of hosting esports events on local tourism? With the recent burst in popularity of esports dedicated venues - what's the need for them? Will this trend continue to grow? How does the long-term monetization of these venues work? 

Speakers

Tomaso Portunato - CEO - Platform

Seth Schorr - Co-Founder - KonekTV

With the esports industry still maturing, revenue streams such as media and data rights are yet to catch up to anything like that of traditional sports counterparts. Currently, sponsorship is a strong revenue driver for teams and tournament organisers alike and there's ample opportunity to get involved. How should companies go about creating a sponsorship strategy? Which areas of esports represent the greatest return on investment? Does the extreme digital nature of esports pose challenges or mean the industry is treated any differently? How do esports sponsorship strategies compare and contrast to traditional sports? 

Speakers

Nicole LaPointe Jameson - CEO - Evil Geniuses

The ESI Brand Showcase will invite a brand and its commercial partner to the stage to present on a recent esports activation. The partners will shed light on how the deal came about, how they've activated successfully in the esports marketplace as well as how it has compared to similar marketing spend in more "traditional" markets.

Launching in 2019 as the first functional beverage designed for Gamers, MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL is a true endemic product in the esports industry. As a part of the brand’s long term esports strategy, Game Fuel and Activision have partnered to make Game Fuel the official beverage across the entire Call of Duty League ecosystem. This will be the second of the ESI Brand Showcases, as PepsiCo and Activision Blizzard talk through the partnership, and take audience questions.

Speakers

Paul Mascali - Head of Esports and Gaming - PepsiCo

Josh Cella - Head of Global Partnerships - Activision Blizzard

In recent years the emergence of franchise leagues in certain esports has started to see the American esports market move to replicate the traditional North American sports market. A key part of any American sport is the breeding grounds for young talent and the next big superstar. This comes from colleges and universities, played and enjoyed competitively at a level higher than most youth sport across the world. With colleges and universities across America rapidly adopting and embracing esports - what needs to be done to ensure a consistent pipeline of esports superstars? Is the American market learning any lessons off other countries in the world? What's the ultimate aim and goal for the collegiate scene in the medium to long term?

Speakers

Tyler Schrodt - Founder and President - Electronic Gaming Federation

Moderator

Ramon Ramos - VP Global Head of Esports - VIZRT

Make no mistake - the plethora of data in esports is a blessing.

The digital nature of esports means data is often readily available, without delay and in abundance. In a game like League of Legends or Dota 2 there are near endless data points, starting as early as the draft phase. Utilising the swathes of data to tell stories is becoming increasingly important, and can be a strong commercial driver too.

How should tournament organisers be looking to utilise the data at their disposal? How can teams use a data-driven approach to deliver better on sponsorship requirements? What does the future look like for esports data, and how will data visualisation change in coming years?

Speakers

Moritz Maurer - CEO & Founder - GRID

Oskar Fröberg - CEO - Abios

Bobby Baird - Director of Strategic Partnerships -  Stream Hatchet

As esports grows, matures and looks to diversify revenue streams, tapping into lifestyle is becoming increasingly important. With the majority of the audience being young, impressionable consumers, there’s a huge opportunity as lifestyle brands and esports to converge and create bespoke products that appeal widely. How are leading companies in the space leading the charge? What will the industry look like in a year’s time? Do esports teams need to have jerseys akin to sports teams or can casualwear work? Does the new franchised approach lead to opportunity or does it put a limit on creativity and individual flair?

Speakers

Patrick Mahoney- CEO - We Are Nations

Colette Gangemi - VP Consumer Products - Andbox

Nate Eckman - CCO - ULT

Darren Traub - Partner - DWT 

Moderator

Saira Mueller - Director of Marketing - Evil Geniuses

Esports is no longer in a state where we can complain about a lack of support from ancillary industries. We've seen large brands enter the space consistently over the last few years, and this trend is undeniably set to continue as everyone looks to market to a younger audience. As a result, it's become increasingly important for endemic and non-endemic brands to stand out in what's becoming a crowded space. How important is creative branding currently in the space? Will it become increasingly vital in the future? How can a company define a creative branding strategy and what's the best way to go about implementing it?

Speakers:

Markel Lee - CCO - AoE Creative

Paige Funk - Managing Director - Nerd Street Gamers

There's barely a week that goes by without seeing sensationalist headlines about the size of the esports industry. Whether it's claiming that esports is bigger than the Super Bowl, outlandish revenue projections or obscene team valuations there's always someone making extremely bold claims with little justfiication. What are the actual key trends in the industry currently? How can the industry improve as a whole? How close is esports getting to traditional sports?

Speakers:

Rod Breslau - Self Proclaimed #1 Esports Consultant and Insider

Ian Smith - Commissioner - ESIC