eSports
Guinevere Capital Partners with Spark and Logitech G to Open Esports High Performance Centre in Eden Park
Guinevere Capital has partnered with Logitech G and Spark to launch an esports facility named Spark Esports Hub in New Zealand’s largest stadium Eden Park.
The Spark Esports Hub is fully equipped with dedicated training rooms, broadcast capabilities, a 5G mobile gaming area powered by Spark and a venue to host major esports events. Logitech G is providing all of the precision audio and streaming accessories, a full suite of its Pro gaming peripherals and G923 racing simulators for a truly multi-disciplinary esports space. The facility will give the best teams in ANZ, including the iconic Dire Wolves, professional practice spaces, equipped with top of the line gear for a world leading experience.
Alongside providing the ultimate environment for the development of professional players, the Eden Park Esports High Performance Centre will act as a community hub for gaming, hosting weekly leagues for developing players. The Spark Esports Hub is not only going to provide gamers with a place to develop their PC gaming skills, but also the chance to immerse themselves in the future of mobile gaming, providing access to 5G compatible phones with clip-on mobile controllers.
“Following a challenging year globally, we’re delighted to finally be able to open the doors to the Spark Esports Hub, as well as reopen our facility in the Sydney Cricket Ground. Our performance centres are grounded in furthering our esports science and training philosophies, whilst strengthening local communities. Seeing two industry leaders in Spark and Logitech G committing to the project in such a big way speaks to the value of esports in the region, and it’s incredibly bright future,” David Harris, Managing Director of Guinevere Capital, said.
General Manager of Logitech New Zealand, Fabien Degueldre says that Logitech is committed to the development of esports and gaming across the globe.
“To be part of a space right here in New Zealand that will power some of the nation’s best esports athletes, as well as find emerging talent is really exciting.
“We’ve kitted out the hub with the Logitech G Pro range, peripherals that are designed with and for the world’s leading esports players, to give Kiwi teams the edge as they train to compete on the world stage,” Fabien said.
“The Spark Esports Hub is going to play a pivotal role in the development of ANZ esports, acting as a training facility for teams like Dire Wolves, whilst offering a central hub for esports and gaming fans to exchange ideas and compete. The iconic Eden Park venue also attracts the attention of new audiences, and puts New Zealand on the map as a global esports destination,” Jason Spiller, Owner of Dire Wolves and architect of the Spark Esports Hub, said.
“We already provide Kiwis with some of the best experiences New Zealand has to offer through our exclusive partnerships with Spark Arena, Netflix and Spotify to name a few. The launch of Spark’s esport Hub is a natural extension to our strategy, with two thirds of New Zealanders engaging in some form of interactive digital entertainment such as mobile and PC gaming,” Matt Bain, Marketing Director of Spark, said.
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1000 Dreams Fund
Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program
1000 Dreams Fund (1DF), a nonprofit that empowers talented women and students in need with scholarships, mentorship and other critical resources to help them reach their dream careers, has announced that two new cadets have been selected to its 2026 Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship at Riot Games’ Remote Broadcast Center (RBC) powered by AWS in Seattle.
The cadets selected for the three-month, paid cadetship position are:
• Marissa M. – Indiana University Bloomington
• Kevin D. – University of North Florida
The cadetship program runs in partnership with Riot Games—a leading video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organizer—and their global partner, AWS. Together with 1DF, the partners are committed to expanding access and creating pathways for individuals aspiring toward a career in esports broadcasting and production.
“We’re excited to host the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship in our Seattle Remote Broadcast Center for the first time. This facility has revolutionized how we produce esports at scale, and the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship brings that innovation to life by connecting emerging talent directly to the future of the industry. Through our partnership with 1000 Dreams Fund, we’re not only investing in today’s talent but also building a pipeline of leaders equipped to shape what comes next in global esports production,” said Allyson Gormley, Global Operations Director, Esports Broadcast & Production for Riot Games.
As Gen Z and early-career professionals increasingly rethink traditional career tracks, demand continues to grow for hands-on, skills-driven roles that offer clear pathways into competitive industries. In response, innovative workforce programs are materializing to bridge the gap between aspiration and opportunity, prioritizing real-world experience over linear career models.
The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship exemplifies this new model of workforce development in emerging fields. Launched in 2023 as part of 1000 Dreams Fund’s broader commitment to workforce access and equity, the program was built to meet this moment — long before non-traditional career pathways became a mainstream conversation. By placing early-career students inside a global esports operation, the Cadetship provides a proven pathway, offering the training, mentorship and live production experience needed to launch careers in esports broadcasting.
“This year marks 10 years of 1000 Dreams Fund building programs that create real access to opportunity for students and early-career talent. The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship reflects the kind of long-term, impact-driven work we’ve been committed to since day one, and in a time of deep transition in the workforce, these programs are more important than ever. We’re proud to continue expanding pathways, especially within emerging industries, that help students turn ambition into lasting careers,” said Christie Garton, founder and CEO of 1000 Dreams Fund.
For the selected cadets, this investment creates immediate momentum and removes common barriers to entry while positioning participants for long-term growth in a highly competitive field.
The post Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
FACTORY-C, the Berlin-based communications powerhouse specializing in gaming and esports, has announced the appointment of Tom Achsel as Event Communications Manager. Achsel will join the “Home of Indies” team alongside project initiator Christiane Gehrke, focusing on the platform’s global expansion and upcoming presence at Gamescom 2026.
With over a decade of experience in the tech and gaming sectors, Achsel brings a massive professional network and deep operational expertise to the agency.
A Veteran of the Berlin Gaming Scene
Tom Achsel is a well-known figure in the German development community. His career highlights include:
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Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
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Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
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IGDA Berlin: Serves as Vice-Chairman, strengthening ties between local developers and the global gaming ecosystem.
Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at Factory-C
“Tom knows the indie scene from multiple perspectives and has a sharp understanding of the needs of indie developers,” said Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at FACTORY-C. “He brings everything needed to support the continued development of Home of Indies.”
Scaling the “Home of Indies” Platform
Since its debut in 2022, Home of Indies has grown into a central pillar of the Gamescom Indie Area. The platform provides a shared booth for independent developers, lowering the barrier to entry for international studios.
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2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
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New Features: The project recently added a dedicated Spotlight Stage, streaming booths, and professional networking areas via MeetToMatch.
As Event Communications Manager, Achsel will lead the outreach strategy for Gamescom 2026, ensuring that the creative diversity of the global indie scene receives maximum visibility among press, influencers, and players.
The post Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BlueBottle, the Munich-based esports technology innovator, has officially launched League Broadcast, its professional-grade production software, via a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model.
Announced on January 7, 2026, this B2C release moves the platform from selective partner deployments and its long-standing beta phase into a publicly accessible tool for leagues, tournament organizers, and individual content creators worldwide.
Professional Broadcast Tools for All Tiers
League Broadcast is designed to automate and elevate the visual storytelling of competitive gaming, specifically targeting the League of Legends ecosystem. The software bypasses traditional API limitations by using low-level game data collection to provide real-time, high-fidelity visualizations.
At launch, BlueBottle has introduced a tiered pricing structure to suit different operational scales:
| Tier | Status | Key Features | Target Audience |
| Free | Available | Core overlays, essential team/player data, basic game stats. | Grassroots creators & amateur streamers. |
| Basic | Available | Commercial usage rights, customizable pre-game elements, professional draft tools. | Semi-pro leagues & small event organizers. |
| Pro | Coming Soon | Advanced analytics, event-driven automation, premium production tools. | Professional leagues & high-scale live operations. |
Supported by Creative Europe Media
The transition to a scalable SaaS model was significantly bolstered by funding from Creative Europe Media, the European Union’s flagship program for the audiovisual and creative sectors. This backing allowed BlueBottle to invest in:
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Enhanced Stability: Hardening the software for 24/7 live environments.
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Improved Infrastructure: Faster development cycles and dedicated customer support.
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Accessibility: Lowering the barrier for European creators to produce “broadcast-quality” content that competes with high-budget international productions.
“This launch represents more than a new pricing model — it’s the moment League Broadcast becomes accessible to the wider esports community,” said Lars Eble, CTO at BlueBottle. “We were able to invest in long-term product quality… ensuring that our B2C customers receive the same level of reliability previously reserved for large partners.”
Strengthening the European Esports Ecosystem
By providing affordable, automated tools for real-time data visualization—such as dynamic gold graphs, inhibitor timers, and 3D in-world branding—BlueBottle is positioning itself as a core infrastructure provider for the digital media age. The platform allows smaller organizations to monetize their formats more effectively through professional-looking sponsor placements and deeper viewer engagement.
The post BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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