David Beckham-backed esports firm signs big sponsorship deal with Sky Esports David Beckham-backed Guild Esports has signed a huge sponsorship deal with Sky UK, in its larges agreement to date. The online gaming group signed a three-year agreement with the multi-media giant in the eighth revenue-generating deal signed by the firm since it floated on the London Stock Exchange. It is understood to be one of [...]
The Commonwealths are the ‘Local Global Games’ column The Commonwealth Games begin in Birmingham this week. It’s the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, so where better than England’s second city? They should, however, be taking place in Durban, which would have become the first African city to host the Games. The opening day would have been last week – on 18 July, Nelson Mandela’s birthday [...]
‘Sport and technology an inevitable crossover of present and future’ Opinion If you will insist on selling sport tickets that have to be scanned at the turnstile via your app, at least make sure that there’s enough 4G coverage for me to access mine. And don’t make the fallback an email proof of purchase when my mates – including the one who sorted our tickets – [...]
The big bucks world for esports March 28, 2022 Leah Montebello on one London site’s bid for a part of the lucrative global esports pie...
Ed Warner: Commonwealth Games has earned extra life by embracing esports February 17, 2022 If you want to win a full bore rifle shooting medal at the Commonwealth Games you’ll need a keen eye, steady hand, ability to lower and control your heart rate, thousands of hours of practice – and a host city willing to include the event. However good you might be, then, Birmingham 2022 isn’t your [...]
Sports law year in review 2021: Were our predictions right? December 26, 2021 In December 2020, while others may have been preparing for muted New Year’s Eve celebrations in light of the new coronavirus variant, we were busy making sports law predictions for the year ahead for City A.M. In summary, we predicted a rise in data-related disputes on the back of Project Red Card, the further growth [...]
No Pac-Man in Paris, but does esports really need the Olympics? October 7, 2021 Only four years ago, esports looked destined to be included as exhibition events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, en route to full medal inclusion at Los Angeles 2028. But the pandemic took the momentum out of their advocates’ lobbying and the success of the new sports showcased at Tokyo appears to have put paid to [...]
Screenshot: Will the digital advertising boom ever end? July 30, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: You are what you tweet **Will the digital advertising boom ever end? **Esports: Britain’s next big thing? Media Moment of the Week: You are what you tweet You know the scenario: someone says something you don’t like on Twitter and you have an overwhelming urge to rise to [...]
Exclusive: UK esports funding hits record high amid lockdown gaming boom July 28, 2021 British esports startups enjoyed record levels of investment last year as surging interest in the sector during Covid lockdowns helped fuel a major cash injection. Esports firms raised £42m in 2020, which was a record year for both value and number of deals. The momentum has continued into 2021, with eight deals worth £15m already [...]
Dele Alli-backed esports firm Excel raises £17m from City investors July 2, 2021 Excel, a British esports franchise endorsed by Tottenham Hotspur footballer Dele Alli, has secured millions of pounds in funding from some of the City’s biggest investors. The rapidly growing gaming organisation, which competes in the League of Legends and Fortnite divisions, today announced a £17m funding round. JRJ Group, which bought a minority stake in [...]