Ferrari
Credit: Insidefoto/SIPA USA/PA Images

From sponsorships to industry-wide announcements, Insider Sport has you covered when it comes to the world of esports.

This week’s edition takes a look at Ferrari’s new esports series, FaZe’s latest partner, Find Your Grind sponsoring London Royal Ravens and Rogue, and T1’s agreement with Hana Bank.

Ferrari launches new esports racing series

Ferrari is looking to pave its own way in the esports sector by launching its own sim racing series in which racers will have the chance to be a part of Ferrari Driver Academy Hublot Esports, the firm’s own competitive gaming team.

The car manufacturer has already announced that watch firm Hublot will be the title sponsor of the competition, with Thrustmaster also confirmed as a technical partner.

Nicola Boari, Chief Brand Diversification Officer at Ferrari, stated: “The launch of the Ferrari Hublot Esports Series is a natural progression for Ferrari after our debut in the F1 Esports Series. This series is aimed at a young audience and is the perfect opportunity for aspiring players to get their break in esports and sim racing.”

The Ferrari Hublot Esports Series will be initially split into two competitions and mature series and a pro series.  The amateur championship registration is open on August 7 with the opening round scheduled to take place some time in September, the tournament is also only exclusive to European citizens over the age of 18.

Ferrari’s pro series will feature competitive sim racers who will be selected by the manufacturer themselves. The top 12 drivers from each competition will then face off against each other in November for a chance to be included in the firm’s esports team. 

The new series highlights Ferrari’s intention to further develop its esports department following the manufacturers impressive debut season in the F1 Esports Series last year.

FaZe Clan finds 5G partner in Verizon

FaZe Clan has announced that Verizon will be the organisation’s exclusive 5G partner in a deal which provides the telecommunications company exclusivity for both professional players and content creators.

As a result of the deal, both entities will collaborate on a range of initiatives including original content and live events which are set to demonstrate Verizon’s network to fans, creators and other professional players.

John Nitti, Chief Media Officer of Verizon, stated: “We are excited to team up with a partner like FaZe Clan to demonstrate the power of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wide Band network to their massive gaming community. This partnership will enable opportunities to bring gaming content, entertainment and events to the next level for players, fans, and content creators around the globe.”

Jaci Hays, COO of FaZe Clan, added: “FaZe Clan is incredibly proud to be in business with Verizon. Their 5G network built for gamers is truly going to help our business by supporting our competitive players, our streamers and content creators by unlocking new capabilities in technology. We look forward to unveiling unbelievable custom content in the coming months, furthering our livestream programming and working together on experiential marketing for gaming consumers and our extremely passionate FaZe Clan fan base.”

The news follows on from Verizon’s three-year partnership with the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) last month as the 5G provider continues to expand its esports portfolio.

T1 secures premier partnership with Hana Bank

Korean esports organisation T1 Entertainment & Sports has signed a partnership with Hana Bank, with the esports organisation renaming the first floor of its esports facility in Seoul to the ‘Hana 1Q – T1 Hall of Fame.

Additionally 1Q, a Hana Bank owned application, will also have its logo prominent on the organisation’s shirts throughout the duration of the deal.

Yeom Jeong-ho, Head of Future Finance Projects at Hana Bank, said: “Through the T1 partnership, Hana Bank take a leap forward by expanding its customer base to the younger generation, expanding Hana One Q’s brand awareness around the world, and expanding the financial product field using e-sports.”

T1 League of Legends player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, added: “I am happy that I and other players have a good opportunity to prepare for the future through the Hana Bank partnership.”

The organisation’s players will reportedly receive personal financial services and athlete injury insurance from the bank through the deal. Whilst the public will also be rewarded with the South Korean developing financial products for T1 fans.

ReKTGlobal expands Find Your Grind deal to London Royal Ravens and Rogue 

ReKTGlobal has expanded its partnership with Find Your Grind (FYG), an esports educational foundation and platform, to include its Rogue and London Royal Ravens team brands.

The deal follows on from a successful partnership with ReKTGlobal that began in 2018 and will see Find Your grind become a sponsor of the two esport teams.

Dave Bialek, CEO of ReKTGlobal, commented in a release: “The Royal Ravens and Team Rogue have some of the most passionate fans and most celebrated pros in esports. The team sponsorships are a natural extension of the relationship between FYG and ReKTGlobal, and will increase the impact and exposure of FYG’s great work in the gaming community and beyond.”

Due to the partnership expansion, Find Your Grind’s branding will appear on the shirts of both the London Royal Ravens and all of Rogue’s competitive teams, which spans a wide range of titles including League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League. 

Additionally, the players for both brands will serve as mentors for Find Your Grind’s various programs and materials.

Nick Gross, Founder of Find Your Grind, added: “We’re looking forward to adding more esports athletes and business pros as FYG mentors in our program, who can help legitimise gaming as a career path in the eyes of students and their parents. We also plan to produce content with the teams to work better with students who want to be involved in gaming.”

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