From sponsorships to industry-wide announcements, Insider Sport has you covered when it comes to the world of esports.
This week’s edition highlights the latest developments in the esports sector, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois entering into a partnership with Hull-based esports and sports hub Federation of Sport.
Marking his first UK-based venture, Courtois will aim to inspire young people to engage with gaming, promote the hub and use his popularity and name to attract people to the hub.
Courtois told the Hull Daily Mail: “As someone who’s passionate about sim sports and esports, I see this as an opportunity to inspire young people to connect, compete, and collaborate in a positive environment.
“It’s about getting them out of their rooms and into a space where they can share their love for gaming with others.”
Federation of Sport, located in Hull’s Old Town, has gaming booths equipped with Xbox and PlayStation consoles, along with high-tech sim racing rigs. The venue also features an indoor golf simulator and interactive darts zones.
This collaboration adds to Courtois’ expanding esports portfolio. In November 2024, he launched TC Esports, an organisation currently active in the sim racing world.
BLAST partners with Underdog for three 2025 events
Global esports entertainment company BLAST has partnered with sports gaming platform Underdog for three major events in 2025.
As part of the deal, Underdog will serve as the official partner for the BLAST Premier Lisbon Open, BLAST Premier Monterrey Rivals and the BLAST.tv Austin Major.
Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST, said: “We’re really excited about this collaboration with Underdog. They are a brand who’ve been a key player in the innovative and growing sports gaming space for some years. Underdog has chosen a blockbuster time to partner with BLAST ahead of our sold-out BLAST.tv Austin Major in June.”
“Beyond adding to our live broadcasts and events, we are thrilled that our dedicated and committed BLAST.tv fantasy fans will have the opportunity to engage with Underdog over the next few months.”
Underdog will be prominently featured onin BLAST’s English-language broadcasts with custom content segments, while also gaining exposure across both digital and physical platforms. The brand will further enhance its presence by integrating into the BLAST.tv Fantasy mini-game, targeting audiences in the US and Canada.
In addition, attending fans at the BLAST.tv Austin Major later this year will have the chance to engage with Underdog through exclusive in-person activations at the brand’s booth.
Zach Powell, Director of Partnerships at Underdog, added: “We’re always looking for innovative partnerships like this one with BLAST Premier. We are excited to be a part of the upcoming events and to engage with a new audience through our first-ever in-person esports tournament.”
Palmeiras builds fan world on Roblox with Rogue Unit
Brazil’s Palmeiras has become the first South American football club to enter the Roblox gaming universe.
Through the launch of Palmeiras Bloxverse, the club aims to engage with a younger demographic of fans. Players will gain access to a virtual city, participate in interactive activities, such as themed mini-games, and have access to the Palmeiras Trophy Room.
Everaldo Coelho, VP of Marketing and Communication at Palmeiras, said that this project allows fans to interact with Palmeiras “in a whole new way”, adding that “Palmeiras Bloxverse represents more than a digital extension: it is a direct contact between the club and a new generation of fans.”
The Brazilian club partnered with Rogue Unit, a game studio specialising in the development of initiatives for brands on Roblox, to bring this vision to life.
Vítor Haueisen, Partner and Chief Technology Officer at Rogue Unit, explained that Roblox allows the club to provide experiences to fans around the world and also diversify its communication and engagement channels.
“The presence of teams is already a demand from the gamer community on Roblox, so we took advantage of the high growth of the platform’s user base and its potential to connect the Palmeiras brand with generations Z and Millennials,” Haueisen added.
