Ben Fischer
The Esports Observer
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Ben:
Gen.G Raises $46M From Silicon Valley Investors, Actor Will Smith
Esports organization Gen.G has raised $46M USD from a diverse syndicate of investors that includes several prominent Silicon Valley funds and high-profile individuals such as LA Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong and actor Will Smith. Also providing capital is Dreamers Fund, a fund created by Smith and Japanese soccer star Keisuke Honda, Alibaba Group’s former... → Read More
Infinite Esports Cuts Staff, Including President Chris Chaney
Infinite Esports & Entertainment President Chris Chaney is out of a job and 19 employees have been laid off, new president Ryan Musselman confirmed Tuesday. → Read More
Dallas-Based Ngage Esports Inks Ticketing Deal With SquadUP
Mobile ticketing software provider SquadUP has signed a deal to become the exclusive ticketing contractor to Ngage Esports. → Read More
Riot Games Preparing for "Biggest" Sponsorship Deal With Mastercard
Riot Games and Mastercard are preparing to announce a major global sponsorship centered around League of Legends esports. → Read More
Sources: Top Canadian Olympic Exec Joins Toronto OWL Team
Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Overholt will become team president of the Overwatch League(OWL) expansion franchise in Toronto, sources said. → Read More
Lakers, Timberwolves, Hawks, and Nets Join the NBA 2K League
Four more NBA franchises are joining the NBA 2K esports league in 2019, the league will announce today. → Read More
Activision Blizzard Finalizing Deal for Toronto OWL Franchise
Activision Blizzard is finalizing a deal to sell a Toronto franchise in the OWL to a group that includes Penguins investor Michael Kimel and Splyce/ → Read More
Overwatch League Finals Deliver TAD of 289,000 Viewers in U.S.
The Overwatch League Grand Finals averaged a total audience delivery of 289,000 viewers on U.S. linear and digital properties from July 27-28. That includes live coverage on ESPN, Disney XD, WatchESPN, Twitch, and MLG, as well as replays on ESPN2, ABC and the aforementioned digital services. Among those 289,000 viewers, an estimated 45% (130,000 viewers)... → Read More
Blizzard Going All Out for Overwatch League Finale Weekend
Overwatch League will crown a champion Saturday at Barclays Center, but league owner Blizzard Entertainment has structured its first Grand Finals as an all-encompassing esports festival and business conference to leverage what is likely to be its biggest audience yet. Activision Blizzard Esports CEO Pete Vlastelica said, “It’s been an all-hands-on-deck effort, similar to the... → Read More
NBC To Distribute Rocket League On YouTube In Addition To Twitch
Rocket League, published by San Diego-based Psyonix, features teams of two players operating cars that play soccer. PepsiCo’s Brisk Iced Tea has already been announced as presenting sponsor. Ben Fischer is a staff writer for SportsBusiness Daily, where this article appeared first. You can read the original version here. → Read More
AT&T Dipping Toes Into Esports, Plans More
AT&T took a modest step into esports at this month’s E3 video game conference in Los Angeles, putting its logo on the ESL Arena. → Read More
MSG's Counter Logic Gaming Signs Deal With Watch Brand MVMT
Counter Logic Gaming, the esports organization owned by MSG, has signed watch brand MVMT as a sponsor. → Read More
Veteran Gaming Executives Join Damage Esports Agency
Engine Shop co-founder Ed Kiernan and former Blizzard Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Paul Sams have joined Damage. → Read More
NBA 2K League Sets June 29 Deadline For '19 Expansion Bids
The NBA 2K League has set a June 29 deadline for possible expansion franchises to decide if they want to participate in the '19 season. → Read More
NBA 2K Focused On Building Star Power
As its season begins, the NBA 2K League faces the hard work of growing a fan base without the NBA’s biggest marketing asset, its superstars. → Read More
NBC Sports Bringing Back Universal Open Rocket League
NBC Sports will bring back its signature esports property for a second year. NBC, U.K.-based tournament organizer FaceIt and game developer Psyonix will again put on the Universal Open Rocket League , a $100,000 prize pool tournament with open qualifying in North America and Europe. Brisk Iced Tea has signed on as the first presenting... → Read More
Supercell Launches Global Clash Royale Mobile Esports League
Supercell declined to explain the terms of the teams’ participation in the league, but sources said teams were given financial incentives. → Read More
Gillette Close To Sponsorship With Boston Uprising
In addition to category exclusivity, the deal would likely include a brand presence in the team’s training facility or practice gear. → Read More
State Farm Names ReKTGlobal As Esports Agency Of Record
State Farm has named ReKTGlobal as its agency of record for esports, a sign the insurer’s sponsorship of the NA LCS is only the beginning of a broader play. → Read More
Toyota Sponsoring Overwatch League
Toyota Motor North America has signed on as the newest sponsor of OWL, agreeing to become a "North American launch partner" for the first season. → Read More