NBC Sports is getting on the esports train as it announces a new partnership with online competitive gaming platform FACEIT and developer Psyonix to host its first Rocket League tournament.
The tournament will feature a 2v2 format, a $100,000 prize pool, and will begin with online regional qualifiers through FACEIT that will be organized by NBC Sports Regional Networks, Telemundo Deportes and NBCU International, in the U.S. and Europe.
The regional finals will then be held at select NBC Sports Regional Network studios before the final 16 teams converge in a two-day Grand Finals which will be covered on NBC Sports Network in the U.S. and on Syfy in other territories. It will also be streamed live on several other unspecified platforms.
NBC Sports Ventures Senior Vice President Rob Simmelkjaer said:
NBCUniversal’s and Comcast’s unparalleled multi-platform portfolio has allowed us to create a first-of-its-kind tournament that will be authentic to the emerging world of esports. It all begins with NBC Sports Regional Networks, allowing us to super-serve esports fans the same way we serve traditional sports fans.
Psyonix Head of Esports Josh Watson said about working with NBC Sports:
Our Rocket League esports ecosystem is thriving and we are excited to expand to the NBC Sports audience. Rocket League is an easy-to-understand game, which makes it the perfect introduction to esports for fans of all backgrounds and ages.
The online regional qualifiers will begin on July 22 while the regional finals will be held on August 5-6 and August 12-13. The grand finals will be on August 26-27.
[Source: NBC Sports Group via Mashable]
