eSports

SimWin Sports Signs Multi-Year Deal with Bidstack

Published

3 years ago

January 25, 2023

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Bidstack, the technology company pioneering native in-game advertising, today announces the launch of Bidstack Sports – a dedicated division formed to expand the scope of access and depth of activation for sponsorship and fan engagement models in virtual sports environments. A multi-year technology partnership with SimWin Sports coincides with the launch and will see the world’s first virtual fantasy sports league integrate Bidstack’s enterprise technology across its growing universe of sports franchises and properties.

The foundational product launch for Bidstack Sports is a first-of-its-kind tech solution that enables both league and club rights holders to instantaneously deliver dynamic content and messaging within their virtual stadiums and environments, supporting the versatile control of highly-valuable digital spaces. This marks a step change for traditional sports sponsorship by establishing a technological gateway that enables real and virtual world activations to operate in parallel, unlocking new complementary revenue models, whilst simultaneously supporting next-gen fan engagement and continued industry growth.

Bidstack Sports is led by EA SPORTS veteran and former head of commercial partnerships for Madden NFL,Alex Nunez, who partnered with Pizza Hut to create the world’s first virtual stadium rights deal, inside Madden NFL 20.

Alex Nunez, SVP & Head of Bidstack Sports, commented:

“Each year, the advancements in sports simulation gaming are bringing fans closer to the real-world experience – from gameplay animation and athlete likenesses to the environmental and atmospheric detail of the most iconic venues in sport. Our mission is to help amplify that evolving realism, while introducing innovative commercial growth and fan-engagement opportunities in the virtual space made possible through Bidstack’s tech. The new product we’ve created addresses the largely untapped media values available for the sports industry in gaming by enabling publishers and rights holders to natively monetize and dynamically communicate inside virtual stadiums through a controlled content management dashboard. This tech solution represents a remarkable opportunity to drive net-new sponsorship revenues and increase communication with the next generation of fans.

“We’re incredibly proud to launch Bidstack Sports with SimWin Sports, a first-of-its-kind platform that resembles a traditional sports architecture of individual leagues and franchises portrayed in the virtual space; this partnership showcases the power, sophistication and control of Bidstack tech and shines the light on our potential to expand to every corner of the sports industry.”

SimWin Sports, the world’s first virtual sports league that provides daily fantasy players and esports fans with the ability to watch, predict, collect, play, and earn, will launch with a league of 32 American football teams before spanning out to basketball, soccer and other sports with teams and franchises under the stewardship of celebrity owners and sports stars, including Magic Johnson and Jerry Rice. Bidstack’s technology and new rights holder product will underpin SimWin’s stadium sponsorship and marketing ecosystem by allowing franchise owners to manage and monetise virtual environments through advanced audience targeting, native rendering and data processing capabilities.

SimWin Sports is led by fellow EA SPORTS veterans David Ortiz and Tom Goedde, with over 30 years of gaming experience each. In his video game career, Goedde excelled at product, brand and athlete marketing, and parlayed that into an impressive Real Money Gaming career launching the first U.S. online sportsbooks with DraftKings and taking them public prior to spearheading SimWin with Ortiz. Ortiz has been involved in the gaming industry since college and, through his innovation, has earned several prominent gaming awards, including a spot on the 100 Most Influential People in Gaming list.

SimWin Sports CEO, David J. Ortiz, said:

“Bidstack’s technology is a natural fit to power sponsorships in our sports metaverse. Advertising is critical to success in real-world and digital sports leagues, and Bidstack brings superior technology and capabilities to the games. Their ability to segment, target, and serve integrated, immersive ads authentically within the SimWin universe enables our franchise owners to curate unique stadium atmospheres for sponsors and fans. These uniquely designed game developer tools are unlocking new levels of growth potential for SimWin Sports.”

NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl Champion Marshall Faulk joins an all-star roster of SimWin franchise owners, having acquired the San Diego Battleships team. Kicking off the digital season, Faulk aims to draft the ultimate roster, driving his team to a historic inaugural championship.

San Diego Battleships Owner, Marshall Faulk, commented:

“Bidstack takes SimWin’s in-game advertising capabilities to the next level. My San Diego Battleships team utilizes this tech to mirror every aspect of a traditional pro sports sponsorship inventory, from ad space across jumbotrons and ribbon boards to stadium naming rights and jersey patch sponsors. With Bidstack, SimWin franchises maintain full creative control, supported by a range of data-targeting and advanced reporting capabilities that help demonstrate clear value to our sponsors. This tech is delivering the next generation of sports advertising within the next generation of sports gaming, and I’m excited to be a part of it all.”

Bidstack Sports will build on existing ties to the sports industry, which began with the iconic Football Manager franchise in 2017. James Draper, Founder and CEO of Bidstack, initially formed the lasting bonds between the company and both Football Manager’s Sports Interactive and Norwich City FC, which recently renewed its longstanding relationship with Bidstack to serve as its esports sponsor and fan engagement partner.

James Draper, Founder and CEO of Bidstack, said:

“Bidstack has been inseparable from the sports industry since we signed Football Manager more than five years ago. Even back then, as a small startup, we had the conviction to sponsor Norwich, knowing that sports would play a huge role in our future. I’m thrilled that Bidstack Sports will intensify our company’s bond to the sports industry.”

Bidstack’s in-game advertising technology has already been integrated into dozens of sporting titles, with the latest product iteration set to further develop Bidstack’s existing partnerships and introduce new growth strategies that accelerate an era of innovation within the sports industry.

BLAST

Team Vitality sweeps NAVI 3-0 to win BLAST Rivals Spring 2026

Published

18 hours ago

May 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-sweeps-navi-3-0-to-win-blast-rivals-spring-2026

Team Vitality won BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas, defeating Natus Vincere 3-0 in the Counter-Strike 2 grand final, according to the organisation’s announcement.

BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 featured eight teams and a $350,000 prize pool. Vitality opened with a 2-1 win over FUT Esports, then beat G2 2-1 in the group winner’s match to book a semifinal spot.

In the semifinals, Vitality moved past GamerLegion 2-0 to reach the final, where it completed a clean sweep of NAVI.

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut was named tournament MVP. Vitality also positioned the result as its fifth title of the season and noted it followed its IEM Rio victory and a record of two ESL Grand Slam titles.

The post Team Vitality sweeps NAVI 3-0 to win BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

blacklyte

Team Vitality names Blacklyte as new gaming chair partner

Published

5 days ago

April 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-names-blacklyte-as-new-gaming-chair-partner

Team Vitality has partnered with Blacklyte as its new gaming chair partner, with a rollout planned across the organisation’s teams and physical locations.

Under the agreement, Blacklyte chairs and desks will be deployed across Team Vitality rosters including CS2, Rocket League, VALORANT, LEC, LFL, Rising Bees, Tekken 8, Teamfight Tactics, and Age of Empires II. The equipment will also be installed at facilities including the club’s Paris headquarters (V.Hive), its locations at the Stade de France, and in Berlin.

The companies said the partnership will include co-design work on a “new generation of chairs and desks” aimed at improving playing environments. A co-branded Blacklyte x Team Vitality product line is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2026.

“We are very happy to collaborate with Blacklyte and welcome them to Team Vitality’s partner family. This partnership comes at a historic time for the club on Counter-Strike, alongside the arrival of new flagship rosters, and more broadly reflects our ambition to keep raising our standards in both performance and innovation. Together, we are building environments that enable our players to fully express their potential at the highest level,” explains Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.

“Team Vitality is one of the most respected names in global esports, and we are excited to collaborate to create this new era of gaming furniture. We will develop a new gaming ecosystem that empowers Team Vitality athletes to train in setups that enhance their playstyles while being supported and stylish,” says Blacklyte CEO Alex Liu. “Blacklyte products have always been at the forefront of redefining performance equipment in esports, and this partnership is a natural step to continue that mission.”

The post Team Vitality names Blacklyte as new gaming chair partner appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

Team Vitality partners with Team Havok to expand in Fortnite

Published

1 week ago

April 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-partners-with-team-havok-to-expand-in-fortnite

Team Vitality has signed a strategic partnership with French Fortnite esports club Team Havok, expanding its footprint in the title as part of its broader diversification strategy. The announcement was made this weekend.

Under the deal, Team Havok will compete as “Team Havok by Vitality” and wear a co-branded jersey featuring Team Vitality’s logo. Team Vitality said the partnership is designed to combine its performance and organisational support with Team Havok’s Fortnite competitive presence.

Team Havok’s recent results cited by the organisations include winning European Major 2 in 2025, finishing runner-up at the World Championship, and ranking as the second-best European team. The duo Tjino and PabloWingu have qualified for this summer’s Esports World Cup and will compete in Team Vitality’s black and yellow colours.

Team Vitality also positioned the partnership as a fan development play in France via co-streaming, content creation, and influencer-led activations. Team Havok co-founders and streamers ZetFar and WaZz were highlighted for their reach with younger audiences.

The organisation said the tie-up follows prior structural collaborations including PSG Esports and Bigetron Esports, and could expand into Fortnite map development, exclusive merchandising, and influencer marketing. “This partnership with Team Havok reflects our ambition to work with the best in order to continue growing Team Vitality. Their performance, creativity, and ability to engage the French community make them an ideal partner,” said Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-founder of Team Vitality. “We are incredibly proud to join Team Vitality. This collaboration with such a prestigious organisation marks a new milestone in the story we are building with our community,” said Grimz, caster at Team Havok.

The post Team Vitality partners with Team Havok to expand in Fortnite appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.