Esports Players Association: The Birth of a New Era
Last year, a group of professional esports players made a groundbreaking move that sent shockwaves through the industry. Seven North American teams, known as the Professional Esports Association (PEA), united for the first time to demand compromise from ESL regarding the Counter-Strike Pro League. Frustrated by the lack of representation, the players organized themselves under the guidance of Scott “SirScoots” Smith and successfully thwarted the PEA’s attempts to monopolize league competition in North America.
However, despite initial hopes for the formation of a formal association, six months later, there has been little progress. While the players may still be working together behind the scenes, a representative group has yet to materialize.
A New Era: The North American LCS Players Association
In light of the limited power that players currently hold, a players association has become a necessity. This association, though not a union, would provide a platform for players to collectively bargain and transform the power dynamics in esports.
Now, in mid-2017, as esports continues to expand rapidly and approach billion-dollar industry status, a major development is about to take place. Riot Games, the company behind the immensely popular League of Legends, is funding the creation of a players association for the North American LCS (League Championship Series).
However, there are concerns about Riot’s involvement and the potential implications. Some question whether Riot’s participation will doom the association to failure and firmly believe it to be a sinister move.
Changing the Game: The Riot Games Approach
Riot’s intention behind establishing the players association is to secure longer and more lucrative careers for players and make them feel more invested in the league. This initiative aligns with the newly-franchised North American LCS, where team owners will become permanent stakeholders and share decision-making power with Riot and the players.
With this new structure, players will have a more direct say in various aspects of league management, including scheduling and practice hours. However, they will not be involved in selecting the initial franchisees for the NA LCS, which will be solely decided by Riot and a neutral third party.
Although the players association was not initially deemed essential to this structure, Riot views it as a valuable opportunity to give players a voice in shaping the league.
Creating an Independent Association
The details of how the association will function are still being determined. Riot is providing the necessary funding and has offered a list of potential candidates to run the association. However, the players are not bound to choose from this initial slate and have the freedom to explore other options.
Riot emphasizes that it will not interfere with the association once the players are ready to take control. The company believes that this autonomy removes any potential conflicts or leverage concerns.
The Challenges Ahead
The absence of player-driven initiatives and the focus on competition within the LCS environment have contributed to the delay in forming a players association. However, unions have successfully emerged in traditional sports, albeit after many years of development.
The structure of the LCS players association is still being determined, but it is likely to include representatives from each team, potentially forming a smaller board for decision-making purposes.
It remains to be seen whether an association that relies on Riot’s financial support can truly be independent. Nevertheless, Riot has made it clear that it will step back if the players wish to take full control. The company is committed to ensuring the integrity of the association and believes in investing to benefit players.
While many challenges lie ahead, the birth of a players association marks an important milestone in esports and may pave the way for greater player empowerment and influence in the industry.
This article is about: esports, players association, Riot Games, North American LCS, League of Legends
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