eSports

SimWin Sports Signs Multi-Year Deal with Bidstack

Published

1 year 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.

Craig Levine

Zenni Optical Announces Partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG)

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

zenni-optical-announces-partnership-with-esl-faceit-group-(efg)

Zenni Optical, the world’s leading online eyewear retailer, announced a partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company. Designed to integrate eye health education with innovative eyewear solutions for the esports community, the partnership will officially launch at DreamHack festival in Dallas, taking place from May 31 to June 2.

This collaboration will showcase a co-branded collection of lifestyle and competitive eyewear and accessories, highlighting Zenni Optical’s commitment to promoting overall eye health, particularly in addressing issues like eye fatigue and strain. Additionally, the initiative will incorporate essential eye health education across various DreamHack Festivals, in alignment with EFG’s broader mission to foster inclusive gaming worlds and engaged, supported communities.

“DreamHack and ESL represent some of the most community-centric and prestigious competitive events in the world. In their own unique ways, they embody esports for everyone. By partnering with these incredible brands across the gaming and esports spaces, we aim to create engaging experiences that combine eye-health education with innovative eyewear solutions for players and fans at all levels,” said Robb Chiarini, Head of Gaming, Sports, & Events at Zenni Optical.

“We are thrilled to partner with Zenni Optical as the Official Eyewear Partner of DreamHack and ESL. The genuine passion that Zenni has for the esports industry is a refreshing sight to see, and a major driving factor for the decision behind our partnership. Zenni’s ongoing commitment to provide eyewear for everyone mirrors our own drive to create worlds beyond gameplay for gamers everywhere,” Craig Levine, Co-CEO at EFG, said.

Bucks Gaming

CREAM CITY CONVERGENCE ESPORTS TOURNAMENT SELECTED AS CAPCOM PRO TOUR EVENT

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

cream-city-convergence-esports-tournament-selected-as-capcom-pro-tour-event

Bucks Gaming’s Cream City Convergence Esports Tournament has been selected as a Capcom Pro Tour event, becoming one of just three tournaments in North America chosen to be a qualifier for the prestigious Capcom Cup.

The Capcom Cup is an annual Street Fighter 6 competition, hosted by video game developer and esports organizer Capcom, with a $1 million first place prize. Each year, Capcom selects a small number of tournaments worldwide to serve as Capcom Pro Tour events, with the winning players from each event qualifying for the Capcom Cup. As one of the tournaments selected by Capcom for the honor this year, Cream City Convergence will become the first esports event run by an NBA team to work with a major esports organizer.

Top-ranked Street Fighter 6 players will compete at Cream City Convergence when it returns for its second year on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Baird Center. In addition to Street Fighter 6, this year’s tournament will also have brackets for Tekken 8; Super Smash Bros Ultimate; Super Smash Bros Melee; and Guilty Gear: Strive.

eSports

Kambi and Abios Join ESIC as Anti-Corruption Supporters

Published

3 days ago

May 15, 2024

Niji Narayan

kambi-and-abios-join-esic-as-anti-corruption-supporters

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced Kambi and Abios, its esports data subsidiary, as new ESIC Anti-Corruption Supporters. This partnership signals the alignment of Kambi’s longstanding commitment to corporate probity and sports integrity with ESIC’s ongoing battle against match-fixing and corruption in esports.

Kambi and Abios join a distinguished class of other Anti-Corruption Supporter stakeholders who have historically worked with ESIC to ensure that attacks against the competitive integrity of esports competition are appropriately reported and dealt with. Anti-Corruption Supporters assist ESIC in investigating suspicious betting activity, supporting ESIC’s broader mission to combat cheating and betting fraud in the esports industry. Kambi and Abios’ entrance into the Anti-Corruption Supporter class will see the entities actively work with ESIC to assist in ESIC’s mission to disrupt, prevent, investigate and prosecute all attempts to compromise competitive integrity in esport competition.

Abios’ Managing Director and Founder, Anton Janér, commented: “Our mission at Abios has always been to enable the sustainable growth of esports. As such, we’re incredibly excited to join ESIC in their mission to future-proof esports through combatting match-fixing and other integrity-related malpractices. Fair play is a crucial component in ensuring the viability of esports as a long-term community and investment and we hope to be able to support the industry together with ESIC going forward.”

Stephen Hanna, ESIC’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Kambi and Abios as Anti-Corruption Supporters. Kambi and Abios are well trusted and recognised operators in their respective industries, and their entrance into the Anti-Corruption Supporter class of ESIC membership emphasises their shared commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and fair play within the esports industry.”

The post Kambi and Abios Join ESIC as Anti-Corruption Supporters appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.