eSports

Tickets are available now for Red Bull Home Ground 2022: Talent and the first round of teams announced for the pro VALORANT invitational!

Published

3 years ago

October 12, 2022

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Red Bull Home Ground will see eight of the best VALORANT teams go head to head in December for the finals, broadcast from Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.
The first round of teams for the pro invitational has been announced including Team Liquid, Team Vitality, FOKUS Clan, the Turkish Qualifier winners FUT Esports & EMEA Qualifier winner Team BIG – with the full lineup set to be released via Red Bull Gaming socials.
Yinsu Collins returns to host the third iteration of Red Bull Home Ground, alongside Mitch “Mitchman” McBride, Tom “Tombizz” Bissmire, Ryan “RyanCentral” Horton, Beatriz “kaquka” Alonso and Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne.
Special appearances from G2 Gozen and “Legends Never Die” singer Chrissy Costanza.
AGON by AOC is the official Monitor Partner for the event, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. AMD joins Red Bull Home Ground as Technology Provider, ensuring the high-performance computing that will push the boundaries of the tournament. Supporting Red Bull Home Ground as a peripheral sponsor, HyperX ensures that players will be able to reach their full potential on the stage.

Tickets are now available for the one-of-a-kind pro-VALORANT competition, Red Bull Home Ground. As an official part of the VALORANT Champions Offseason Tournaments and returning to the vibrant city of Manchester for its third iteration, eight of the world’s elite teams will battle it out to be crowned champions in a unique ‘Home and Away’ format from December 9th-11th.

9th December: Best-of-three group stages begin; two teams will immediately pass to the semi finals, four will pass to the quarter-finals, and two will be eliminated.
10th December: Kicking off at 16:00 CET, the quarter-finals will switch to a best-of-five format, eliminating two more teams.
11th December: Fans can catch the four teams battling it out in the semi finals from 13:00 CET, with the losing teams from each match-up facing an immediate knockout. Leaving two teams to battle it out in the finals for the Red Bull Home Ground 2022 trophy.

For the first time, Red Bull Home Ground has opened its doors to teams outside of Europe who are set to make waves going up against the EMEA’s best teams, taking their best shot at the $100,000 prize pool. These invitations promise fierce competition as Red Bull Home Ground will witness rivalries reignite for the first time outside the VALORANT Champions Tournament. Before, we’ve seen EMEA battle it out on the Red Bull Home Ground Stage, but now it’s time for the Americas teams to prove their skills.

Fans will get the chance to see eight world-class international VALORANT teams, including last year’s Red Bull Home Ground champions Team Liquid go head-to-head as the first round of teams has been announced, with more set to be revealed soon:

Team Liquid
Team Vitality
FOKUS Clan
TO BE ANNOUNCED
TO BE ANNOUNCED
TO BE ANNOUNCED
FUT Esports – TR Qualifier
Team BIG – EMEA Qualifier

FUT Esports grabbed their spot during the closed Turkish Qualifiers in August. This year’s EMEA Open Qualifier took place on Sunday and saw German organisation Team BIG emerge victorious. In an incredibly close final, BIG went head to head with KOI, securing the win over the Spanish squad.

Providing insight into the team’s dynamics and expert opinions throughout the tournament, Yinsu Collins is set to return as the host of the invitational alongside commentators; Mitch “Mitchman” McBride, Tom “Tombizz” Bissmire, Ryan “RyanCentral” Horton, Beatriz “kaquka” Alonso and Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne.

An official part of the VALORANT Champions Offseason Tournaments, Red Bull Home Ground will also feature special guest appearances from from G2’s female VALORANT roster G2 Gozen and Against The Current front-woman and recent desk host of the VALORANT Champions Tour, Chrissy Costanza. Taking a break from inventing, VALORANT Agent “Killjoy” will also make her way to Red Bull Home Ground; stay updated on her journey via her TikTok closer to the event. Fans can also anticipate some exciting cosmetic content drops throughout the tournament’s gameplay.

Red Bull Home Ground pioneers a pulse-racing Home and Away structure that puts an exciting curveball on the traditional VALORANT format. The two competing teams will select a “home ground” to play on for the open two maps. This structure rewards tactical awareness, map knowledge and wider map usage; if a team wins both opening “home” and “away” matches, they automatically win the tie, while a stalemate will default the tie to the traditional best of format.

Embracing the pulsing atmosphere of Manchester, the Red Bull Home Ground cyberpunk aesthetic sets a futuristic mood for this year’s event. The combination of eight world-class teams, global rivalries, and famous hosts offers the live audience a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Victoria Warehouse. The event will be brought to life for digital audiences across the globe, made available in several languages on Twitch and YouTube.

VALORANT analyst, commentator and content creator Beatriz “Kaquka” Alonso said: “Red Bull Home Ground brings together some of the world’s top teams, giving us the opportunity to see completely new match-ups and teams partnerships ahead of next year. The unique format means we’ll see teams perform and strategise in totally new ways, bringing unpredictability to one of the most anticipated tournaments for some time. I look forward to catching up with the UK VALORANT community and fans in the vibrant city of Manchester- see you there!”

Going into its third edition, Red Bull Home Ground is the premier Red Bull event for VALORANT and, alongside Red Bull Campus Clutch – an open global VALORANT tournament for students – encapsulates the brand´s continued commitment to support the VALORANT community and uplift its competitive ecosystem, from a grassroots level with an array of local initiatives to the very highest echelons of esports. National Qualifiers are taking place across the world right now, head over to redbull .com/campusclutch for more information

To level up last year’s tournament and create a truly unforgettable experience for teams and fans alike, Red Bull Home Ground has teamed up with gaming and esports industry leaders. AGON by AOC, a global leader in gaming monitors, is the Official Monitor Partner for the event, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. AMD joins as Technology Provider, ensuring the high-performance computing that will push the boundaries of the tournament. Also supporting Red Bull Home Ground as a peripheral sponsor, HyperX ensures that players will be able to reach their full potential on the stage.

Agganis Arena

RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History

Published

2 days ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

rlcs-boston-major-becomes-most-watched-event-in-rocket-league-history

The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Boston Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched event in Rocket League esports history, setting a new benchmark for global engagement and competitive excellence.

Held at Agganis Arena in Boston, the Major concluded with a thrilling all-French Grand Final, where Gentlemates defeated tournament favourites Team Vitality 4:2 to claim the first Major title of the 2026 season.

Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone

The RLCS Boston Major 2026 delivered unprecedented audience numbers:

Peak Viewers: 624,316 concurrent viewers
Average Viewership: Over 270,000 viewers
First RLCS event ever to surpass 600,000 concurrent viewers

This milestone represents a 33.3% increase over the previous all-time peak recorded at the 2022–23 RLCS World Championship, highlighting sustained year-over-year growth and expanding global interest in Rocket League esports.

The event’s performance reinforces RLCS as one of the fastest-growing competitive circuits in modern esports.

A Grand Final Worthy of the Record

The Boston Major culminated in a high-stakes French showdown between Gentlemates and Team Vitality. The 4:2 victory secured Gentlemates’ first Major trophy of the season and signaled a shift in competitive power dynamics heading deeper into 2026.

The all-French final further amplified international audience engagement, particularly across European broadcast markets, contributing significantly to the event’s record-breaking concurrent viewership.

Global Broadcast Reach and Multi-Language Coverage

Beyond peak numbers, the Boston Major showcased:

Multi-language broadcast streams
Cross-platform digital distribution
Strong in-arena attendance
Expanded regional fan engagement

Hosted in front of thousands of live fans at Agganis Arena, the event combined traditional arena esports spectacle with robust online streaming performance — a formula that continues to fuel RLCS’s accelerating global momentum.

What This Means for Rocket League Esports

The 2026 Boston Major marks a defining moment for the RLCS ecosystem:

Sustained Global Growth – The consistent upward trend in viewership confirms Rocket League’s staying power within the esports landscape.
Mainstream Momentum – Breaking the 600K peak threshold positions RLCS among elite-tier esports events globally.
Competitive Depth – The diversity and intensity of international competition continue to elevate the broadcast product.
Commercial Validation – Record audience metrics strengthen sponsorship, media rights, and long-term circuit investment potential.

As the 2026 season progresses, the Boston Major sets a new performance benchmark that future Majors and the World Championship will aim to surpass.

The post RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brazilian Carnival

Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience

Published

1 week ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

esportes-da-sorte-transforms-carnival-2026-into-a-nationwide-immersive-experience

Leading Brazilian iGaming company Esportes da Sorte has transformed Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience, activating urban art installations, hydration stations and large‑scale attractions across nine cities in Brazil. As part of its expanded cultural engagement strategy, the brand is serving as an official sponsor in key Carnival locations and delivering experiential initiatives designed for revelers in the streets and major public spaces.

Esportes da Sorte’s nationwide platform builds on its history of investing in popular culture and public events, moving beyond traditional branding to create meaningful on‑site activations that enhance the urban environment and respond to the unique character of each city’s Carnival celebrations.

In Rio de Janeiro, the company’s efforts focus on the street Carnival experience with hydration points, cool zones and shaded areas in high‑traffic celebration routes. São Paulo’s megabloc circuits feature water trucks, hydration stations and on‑site urban support.

In Recife Antigo, one of Carnival’s cultural centers, Esportes da Sorte installed a standout Ferris wheel at Marco Zero, offering panoramic views of the festivities and historic landscape. Urban transformations like video mapping on iconic buildings and aerial installations along Rua Marquês de Olinda further blend public space with the Carnival experience.

Other cities such as Olinda and Salvador also feature tailored activations, including sensory design, refreshment tunnels and themed artistic displays that align with local traditions and festival dynamics.

In addition to physical structures, the initiative includes a robust communications strategy, sensory activations, public well‑being supports and content campaigns that amplify the carnival‑street experience across digital and traditional media.

According to Germana Casal, Production Coordinator at the Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, the goal is to “be present in a meaningful way at the country’s biggest popular celebration,” respecting each city’s identity and delivering initiatives that improve the Carnival experience for participants.

Esportes da Sorte’s Carnival 2026 project builds on the brand’s presence at more than 100 Carnival parties and street blocos in 2025, reinforcing its leadership role in Brazil’s largest cultural event and deepening its connection with urban celebration culture nationwide.

The post Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

chess esports

Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner

Published

1 week ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-announces-e.leclerc-as-new-main-partner

Team Vitality, one of France’s leading esports organizations, has announced a strategic new partnership with French retail giant E.Leclerc, naming the supermarket chain as the club’s Main Partner for 2026.

Under the agreement, E.Leclerc’s logo will feature prominently on Team Vitality’s international team jerseys, including rosters for League of Legends (LEC and LFL), Valorant (VCT EMEA), Rocket League, Rising Bees and Chess.

Shared Values and Fan Initiatives

The partnership aims to promote accessibility, wellness, and nutrition within the esports community, while bringing gaming culture into E.Leclerc retail spaces through immersive experiences, tournaments and activations designed to engage fans across France.

Team Vitality’s holistic wellbeing program, KARE, which supports performance, nutrition and mental health, aligns closely with E.Leclerc’s focus on responsible lifestyle initiatives. Together, they plan to champion inclusivity, provide unique gaming opportunities, and celebrate esports culture in both digital and physical environments.

With a global audience exceeding 10 million followers, Team Vitality’s influence in competitive gaming makes this partnership a landmark moment for both brands. E.Leclerc’s commitment to youth engagement and cultural connection positions the retailer as a significant non‑endemic supporter of the growing esports ecosystem.

Nicolas Maurer, CEO and Co‑Founder of Team Vitality, described the alliance as a historic milestone that will broaden esports’ reach across everyday life in France and reinforce its cultural legitimacy.

The post Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.