North American lifestyle brand Oakley has announced the signing of professional Call of Duty player Seth ‘Scump’ Abner as its first esports athlete.
Scump joins the likes of NFL players Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson as a member of Oakley’s ever-expanding roster.
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The deal will see Oakley become the exclusive eyewear partner of Scump, who will wear the brand’s products during all competitive matches and on his live streams.
Scump commented on the collaboration in a release: “It is an honour to be the first esports athlete on Team Oakley. Oakley has quickly proven itself to be an authentic and committed partner, so I’m excited to introduce the brand’s offerings to my fans and engage with other athletes on their roster.
“We already have a lot in the works and I look forward to sharing more in the months to come.”
In February 2021, the lifestyle brand entered into a deal with gaming audio firm Turtle Beach to launch an exclusive collection of sunglasses.
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Caio Amato, Global Marketing Director at Oakley, also spoke on the deal: “This is another exciting day for Oakley as we level up our commitment to gaming. The addition of Scump to Team Oakley will help us form a deeper, more meaningful connection with the gaming community. The fierce loyalty of fans and followers of gaming is an attribute we strongly admire and aspire to strategically build through partnerships such as this.
“At the same time, we aim to shine a brighter light on the incredible amount of mental and physical prowess exhibited by professional gamers to members of the Oakley community who may be new to the sport.”
Esports Insider says: Oakley recruiting Scump, one of the most recognisable players in esports, to its roster of athletes is a real statement of intent as the brand looks to increase its involvement in the industry.