British Telecommunications Company Vodafone Enters Esports with Sponsorship Deal
Today, Vodafone, the world’s second biggest mobile phone carrier, announced its entry into the esports industry. The telecommunications company has signed a sponsorship deal with G2 Esports and has also acquired a new Spanish national League of Legends team. The team will compete in local Spanish events under the name G2.Vodafone.
Elevating the Industry: Vodafone’s Expansion into Esports
Vodafone’s brand director expressed in a press release that esports is a natural avenue for the company to expand into, given that high-speed broadband is the industry’s “natural living space.”
Mobile Carriers Supporting Esports
Vodafone is the fourth mobile carrier to venture into esports. AT&T was the first, sponsoring a StarCraft 2 tournament in November 2011, followed by Verizon and T-Mobile who made investments in esports. Verizon ran an esports tournament with Epic Gaming Lounge in Dallas, Texas in August 2015, while T-Mobile sponsored ESPN’s new esports section prior to its launch in January.
G2.Vodafone: A New Challenger in the Spanish National League
The team that Vodafone will be sponsoring is a relatively new one, composed of five Spanish players who may not be familiar to most fans. They will be competing in Spanish national leagues, one tier below the Challenger Series of League of Legends. Giants Gaming, another Championship Series organization, also has a squad in the same league.
Photo via Riot Games (PD) | Remix by Jacob Wolf
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