Riot Games Announces Multi-Year Alienware Sponsorship At CES
Riot Games has signed a multi-year partnership with Alienware, which will provide Alienware exclusivity as the Official Competition PC and display partner of League of Legends esports. That includes exclusivity in conjunction with the North American League Championship Series (LCS), Legaue of Legends European Championship (LEC) and three annual global tournaments (World Championship, Mid-Season Invitational and All-Star Event).
Discussions surrounding a wide reaching agreement began between the two parties at 2018’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and the actual arrangement is fittingly being announced in conjunction with 2019’s CES.
Alienware and Riot Games promise that the partnership will have effects far beyond improving the performance and responsiveness of PC league hardware for the actual esports competitors. They claim that fans who watch online and attend League of Legends esports events will be hit with broadcast innovations that are focused on celebrating the elite skills of competitors and that they will make the esports experience more approachable and engaging. This will include a special VIP seating section for fans at the playoffs and finals of League of Legends tournaments and allowing select fans to play the game while they watch.
Sponsorship currently counts as the biggest bucket of revenue for the esports industry, making up roughly 38% of the monies generated according to Goldman Sachs. Revenue for the industry was estimated to be $655 million in 2017 and expected to grow to approximately $3 billion by 2022.
As of August 2018, Riot Games’ full list of sponsors was thirty-one companies long, including State Farm, Jersey Mikes and Mastercard. Riot Games is in the process of refreshing its sponsorship list.
Riot Games refused comment concerning the specific financial figures attached to the sponsorship agreement.
