Did you see people playing video games on TV last night?
Back in September of 2015, Turner Broadcasting announced that it would be partnering with WME/IMG talent agency to bring competitive gaming to the masses. A new venture called ELEAGUE, a professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league, made up 24 esports teams from around the world. Two 10 week seasons where each team is competing for prize money equaling 1.4 million dollars.
Unlike previous esports leagues that have tried to bring professional gaming to television, ELEAGUE has no plans to lock teams into exclusive contracts. Here are the teams competing in the 2016 season
- Cloud9
- Renegades
- Counter Logic Gaming
- Astralis
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Mousesports
- Luminosity Gaming
- CompLexity Gaming
- Team Dignitas
- SK Gaming
- OpTic Gaming
- EnVyUs
- Virtus.pro
- Echo Fox
- Fnatic
- FaZe Clan
- NRG eSports
- Team SoloMid
- Natus Vincere
- G2 Esports
- Team Liquid
- Flipsid3 Tactics
- Gambit Gaming
- Selfless
The very first broadcasted match between two world famous esports teams, Cloud9 and Luminosity aired last night on TBS. The match was played in front of a live audience in the the brand new, 10,000 square foot, state of the art gaming facility in Atlanta, GA. Complete with 26 cameras, 25,000 feet of LED lighting, and office space/training facilities for each competing team.
In a effort to revamp their programing, TBS will continue to air ELEAGUE matches on Friday nights. The matches will also be simultaneously streamed to online streaming service, Twitch. The broadcast last night included everything from player backstories, exclusive interviews and introductions, and coverage of the players throughout their days leading up to the match. It even included a segment with tattoo artist, Chris Garver who gave one of the players from luminosity a tattoo before the matches.
Last nights match ended in a 2:1 victory for team Luminosity over Cloud9, and although I had no idea what was going on, it sure was exciting to watch. Right now, whether you like it or not, we are living through what should be considered the beginning of the future of sports.
For more info on teams, upcoming matches, or schedules you can go here. You should follow me on Twitter as well. You can be sure that I will be keeping a close eye on the progression of this sport.
