Debut IEM event in Oz “an unqualified success”
The inaugural Australian edition of esports competition Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) was viewed by eight million people worldwide, event co-promoter TEG Live has revealed.
Electronic Sports League (ESL), the company behind IEM, signed a strategic partnership with Ticketek parent TEG in March, promising to launch “a new era in esports in Australia”. ESL, the world’s leading esports promoter, also has similar agreements with music-industry giants AEG and Vivendi.
IEM Sydney, which saw eight teams do battle on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, took place at the TEG-owned, AEG-operated Qudos Bank Arena (21,000-cap.) on 6–7 May, attracting a live audience of 15,000 and 8m unique viewers online. Brazilian organisation SK Gaming were the victors, taking home the lion’s share of the US$200,000 prize money.
“IEM Sydney was an amazing event with a highly engaged audience, a great live atmosphere and a huge global viewership online,” comments TEG CEO Geoff Jones.
“”In time we will see the star players of Counter-Strike build profiles like the top athletes in other sports”
“In time we will see the star players of CS:GO build profiles like the top athletes in other sports. It is a really exciting time for esports in Australia and TEG is delighted to be a part of the developments with ESL Australia.”
ESL Australian MD Nick Vanzetti adds: “Fifteen years ago I dreamed along with my peers of massive crowds filling an arena to watch esports and this year we made that a reality. […]
“This is a new beginning for esports in Australia. We have set the standard and need to keep raising the bar.”
Global esports revenues are expected to reach US$1.1 billion by 2019.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
ESL continues musical expansion with TEG tie-up
Electronic Sports League (ESL), the world’s leading promoter of competitive videogaming events, has signed a strategic partnership with TEG Live, in a deal the latter calls a “launchpad for a new era in esports in Australia”.
It is the third such music-industry partnership signed by ESL in the past five months, following tie-ups with AEG (AEG Live/Presents, AXS, The O2 and other venues) and Vivendi (Universal Music Group, See Tickets, Digitick).
The first event co-promoted by ESL and TEG Live will be the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) – the world’s longest-running esports competition – which will visit Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena (21,000-cap.) on 6 and 7 May.
The winning team at IEM Sydney, which pits “the world’s best pro-gaming teams up against Australia’s finest” in a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament, will take home close to A$260,000 in prize money.
“TEG Live has been watching the phenomenal global growth of pro gaming and waiting for the right opportunity in the Australian market,” says TEG Live managing director, Tim McGregor. “We are thrilled to have the world’s leading esports company, ESL, as a partner.
“TEG Live has been watching the phenomenal global growth of pro gaming and waiting for the right opportunity in the Australian market”
“The Intel Extreme Masters is an exceptional event that will set the benchmark in this entertainment genre in Australia. We expect there will be huge interest from both fans and brands that have been waiting for an event of this scale to finally be staged in Australia.”
ESL’s vice-president of pro gaming, Michal Blicharz, adds: “Australia has been an attractive market for us as part of our global expansion of the IEM brand. We look forward to bringing IEM to new global audiences and making history for esports in Australia.”
TEG Live is the promotion division of Australian live entertainment group TEG, which also owns ticket agency Ticketek and data firm TEG Analytics. It also bought Paul Dainty’s Dainty Group business last July.
Global esports revenues are expected to reach US$1.1 billion by 2019.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.