Esports
Why Esports?
There is accelerating interest and investment in Esports and capitalizing on these shifts can create enormous potential for new and innovative methods of engagement.
IS IT FOR REAL?
Global Esports Revenue will surpass $1B in 2020 with North America generating over $400M.
21.2 MILLION
Canadian Gamers
495 Million
Projected Global Esports Audience in 2020
8TH LARGEST
Gaming Market in the World
What is MLSE Doing?
THE POWER OF NBA 2k
NBA 2K play and engagement has reached an all-time high. It continues to be regarded as the most realistic on-court NBA simulation product on the market.
10 MILLION
Units Sold
619 MILLION
Hours Played
2 BILLION
Games Played
Making Headlines
We worked with our partners in the media, as well as a variety of social media influencers, to amplify the story of our team, our players and our commitment to Esports in Canada.
1.07B
Potential reach of RUGC media coverage
868
Articles written in a 5 month period
LEADING THE WAY IN NBA 2K LEAGUE
Raptors Uprising was awarded the Digital Innovator of the Year award for our work in consistently delivering high-quality content and programs centered around digital fan engagement throughout 2019.
YEAR 3
EXPANSION
Year 3 welcomed two new teams into the NBA 2K League: an affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets – Hornets Venom GT – along with the Gen. G Tigers, based out of Shanghai. 23 teams now make up the NBA 2K League.
RUGC
YEAR 3
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was played remotely from home with games live streamed on Twitch and YouTube and broadcast on ESPN and Sportsnet.
The Raptors Uprising team had a historic season, going an undefeated 16-0 in the regular season and winning both in season tournaments, setting numerous records along the way.
2
Returning stars
4
New additions to the team
WATCH LIVE AT
TWITCH.TV/NBA2KLEAGUE
eMLS NORTH AMERICA’S OFFICIAL COMPETITION
Major League Soccer has partnered with EA to bring the excitement of professional FIFA competition to North America – following the lead of Bundesliga and being the 2nd major soccer league to announce an esports league, with eMLS viewership surpassing every other soccer league in FIFA esports.
25
Clubs Participating
Highest
League Viewership in FIFA Esports
THE IMPACT OF eMLS: INCREASED INTEREST IN MLS
66%
The Esports Audience Feels More Positive Towards MLS
69%
The Esports Audience Feels More
Interested in MLS in General
MLSE ESPORTS: eMLS
Our eMLS player Phil is actively competing in competitive FIFA events.
From just one event during the February/eMLS League Series Season 2, our owned channels earned 564K Impressions and 31.4K Interactions.
A STRONG FOUNDATION ENCOURAGING GROWTH
We are now currently executing esports/gaming strategies in all three major sports categories, with a growing and engaged fanbase in each pillar.
MLSE ESPORTS: LEAFS GAMING LEAGUE
In October 2018, we successfully launched the Inaugural Leafs Gaming League. As part of the league, we hosted a gaming day at Real Sports Bar & Grill and the league final during the next generation game in January.
#1
Trending Topic in Toronto
2,136
Social Mentions
93%
Positive Sentiment
30K
Likes on Faze’s Leafs Gaming Instagram
400K
Views of Faze Nikan’s Instagram Story
Outperformed
Toronto Marathon
Livestream Audience
#1
Most Watched
101K+
Unique Views
10K
Concurrent Viewers
9K
Hours Watched
22K
Page Views in Leafs App
LEAFS GAMING LEAGUE:
SEASON 2
837.6K
Impressions
8.09K
Interactions
1206
Mentions
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