State Farm Partners with DrLupo for First Esports Athlete Sponsorship
The popularity of Fortnite continues to soar as viewership for Fortnite streams remains strong. In light of this success, State Farm has announced its first esports athlete sponsorship, with Fortnite streamer Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo.
State Farm is no stranger to esports, having sponsored the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) and the State Farm Analyst Desk. The company is also involved in the NBA 2K League and is a major sponsor of the Rocket League Championship Series.
According to Ed Gold, Marketing Director at State Farm, DrLupo is one of the most popular Fortnite streamers in the world and an ideal partner for the company’s esports efforts. His philanthropic work and large fanbase align perfectly with State Farm’s goals to connect with the gaming community.
DrLupo’s credibility within the community is evident by his 2.9 million Twitch followers and 7 million followers across his social media platforms. He is also renowned for his charity streams, which raised an impressive $1.3 million for St. Jude’s Research Hospital in 2018.
Expressing his excitement, DrLupo shared his gratitude for the opportunity to work with State Farm and his enthusiasm for the future partnership. He believes that State Farm is the perfect company to collaborate with in the esports industry.
In the realm of traditional sports, it is common for companies like State Farm to sponsor athletes, often featuring them in commercials. This new sponsorship marks a significant step for esports, where team and league sponsorships have been prevalent. It could potentially pave the way for individual players to pursue their own lucrative deals.