Two teams have also changed ownership. The Chicago Huntsmen were purchased by OpTic Gaming and are now known as the Chicago OpTic. The former OpTic Gaming Los Angeles was purchased by 100 Thieves and is now the Los Angeles Thieves.
Meanwhile, G2 Esports has named Adidas as its official apparel provider for the 2021 League of Legends season. The multi-year partnership will see Adidas manufacture the official G2 jersey, as well as a collaboration on a lifestyle apparel line. “Today is a landmark day in G2 history,” Carlos ‘ocelote’ Rodriguez, CEO of G2 Esports, said in the official release. “To announce a partnership with a global sports brand like adidas is a truly special moment for all of us.” Adidas joins G2’s growing portfolio of sponsors, including BMW, Domino’s and MasterCard.
Elsewhere in the world of competitive gaming:
HyperX, Allied Esports Renew Las Vegas Arena Deal
HyperX and Allied Esports have reached a deal to renew the naming rights for the HyperX Las Vegas Esports Arena, located in the Luxor Hotel and Casino. The multi-year extension focuses on branding and marketing for events and promotions held at the arena, including co-branded events focused on community growth.
The HyperX Las Vegas Esports Arena first opened in March 2018 and has hosted multiple esports events, including the 2018 Capcom Cup and the League of Legends All-Star 2019 event. The press release states that over 300,000 people visited the venue in 2019 alone.
EUnited Signs VALORANT Roster
North American esports organization eUnited has announced plans to enter the competitive VALORANT scene, naming its roster ahead of the 2021 season. The team’s roster includes Joseph Rivera, Ryan "Eazy" Matthews, Tanner "Scourge" Klages, Antonio "Showtime" Angotti and Joseph "TurnUp" Sicre. eUnited will begin VALORANT play in the first Challenger event, which has been scheduled for February 3-7 in North America. Riot Games recently announced that the 2021 VALORANT esports season will be regionally locked due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so eUnited will be exclusive to North American events.
Ubisoft Sets Dates for Rainbow Six Siege North American Finals
Ubisoft has set a date for the Rainbow Six Siege North American Finals, kicking off January 22-23 from the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas. The four teams that have qualified for the event and a chance at the $75,000 first place prize are DarkZero Esports, Oxygen Esports, Spacestation Gaming and Team SoloMid.
While the event is being held in a live venue, no fans will be allowed to attend due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All four teams participating in the event will also be required to undergo multiple safety precautions before being allowed to complete, including a mandatory two-week quarantine, tests before and after the quarantine, face masks and daily temperature checks. Violations will result in removal from the arena and/or disqualification from the event.
Gen.G Expands Global Content Creation Roster
Shanghai-based esports organization Gen.G has expanded its reach in the content creation scene, signing multiple content creators to exclusive contracts. The org announced the signings of League of Legends streamers Lee "CuVee" Seong-jin, Juš "Crownshot" Marušič, Tim "Nemesis" Lipovšek and Jehong "ryujehong" Ryu, as well as fashion streamers Emily “Emily Ghoul” Mei and Eleanor “Snitchery” Barnes. The new additions add more than 4.3 million followers to the Gen.G brand across Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and more.
Photo courtesy of Activision