Entertainment and technology company ESE Entertainment has partnered with football team Rio Ave FC to manage and create esports-related content for the Portuguese Premier League side.
Through ESE’s esports team, K1CK, the company will partner with Rio Ave to develop an esports and gaming infrastructure.
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K1CK will deal with organising and managing esports events at Rio Ave FC’s stadium, whilst also managing the football clubs esports and gaming operations. Moreover, the partnership will see K1CK’s players represent Rio Ave FC in FIFA competitions.
Nuno Santos, Rio Ave’s Director of Marketing, commented, “This partnership between Rio Ave FC and K1CK is indeed a great opportunity for both of these ambitious organisations to work together and achieve excellent results.
“K1CK brings us the experience in the esports world that we have been struggling for years to reach, so it’s with the utmost pleasure that we will work together with an esports brand such as K1CK, that has attained so much international prestige.”
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Rio Ave FC joins the likes of AC Milan, Leeds United and Olympique de Marseille in partnering with esports organisations to boost its activations in competitive gaming.
Konrad Wasiela, CEO of ESE commented, “It is with great pleasure that we announce a partnership between K1CK and Rio Ave FC, a Premier League football club in Portugal. Premier League soccer in Europe is one of the most prestigious levels of sport globally.
“We are absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to build out the gaming and esports business with Rio Ave FC. We look forward to many fruitful collaborations throughout 2021 and beyond with Rio Ave FC.”
Financial details of the partnership and the duration of the deal were not disclosed.
Esports Insider says: Rio Ave FC have clearly identified esports as a possible avenue and so partnering with K1CK can only be seen as a wise choice. K1CK has the expertise in managing and creating esports related content and organising events, meanwhile Rio Ave has passionate supportive fanbase coming from football. Starting their partnership trough FIFA’s competitive ecosystem is also a logical move.