Tournament software and management company Mainline has entered a partnership with four universities to host collegiate esports competitions.
Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, Louisiana State University, and University of St. Thomas will all utilise Mainline’s software platform to host tournaments through 2020.
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Chris Buckner, COO of Mainline discussed the development in a release: “These are top universities seeing the value of esports on-campus and making a choice to support their students’ desires to play and compete -much like in traditional sports. Adoption of Mainline is validation of the opportunity to engage students and the broader community with a compelling esports platform, as well as strengthen a school’s brand, provide additional partnership opportunities and market their initiatives.”
Each of the four universities will host its own esports tournaments using the licensed platform for both staff and students. Texas A&M, for example, is running tournaments for Rocket League and League of Legends on Mainline at the time of writing.
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Mike Wright, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at Texas A&M Athletics added: “Texas A&M recognizes the significant esports presence on campus and the importance of supporting this thriving student community. Mainline allows us to maintain the brand continuity of the university, and to drive incremental inventory and value for sponsors.”
Mainline expects to sign partnerships with 10 more universities before the end of 2019, and 50 more through 2020.
Esports Insider says: College esports tournaments are booming in the United States, but schools can lack the resources to run the competitions. Mainline offers the solution to that issue and is contributing to the college esports scene’s growth in the United-States, which offer great opportunities to foster young talents.