March 2 – Polish league Ekstraklasa has teamed up with Lagardère Sports Poland to explore the next steps for the league in establishing a stronger esports presence.
Last February 2017 the league played its first esports Ekstraklasa Cup on the EA Sports FIFA platform and preparations for the FIFA 18 tournament are already underway. The 2018 tournament is seen as being a stepping stone to establishing a virtual league.
Ekstraklasa chairman Marcin Animucki said: “We see a huge potential in esports, that’s why we want to approach this topic professionally, and maximize the promotion of the league through virtual competitions. That’s why we chose to partner with one of the key global players in terms of sports marketing and esports, and one with extensive experience. Together we want to create an attractive product for clubs, fans, but also for sponsors, advertisers, and broadcasters.”
Lagardère will lead talks with potential sponsors and partners in establishing the commercial model for the league. Video games are well established in Poland with Ekstraklasa clubs featured on both Football Manager and EA Sports FIFA games. EA Sports has a license agreement with the Ekstraklasa that runs until the end of the 2020/21 season.
Andrzej Placzyński, chairman of Lagardère Sports Poland said: “Ekstraklasa launching its own esports league is an answer to the newest trends in sports marketing, and to the changes in the way people consume media.
“While working on a final format of the esports Ekstraklasa we have not only analysed similar esports projects already launched in France, Netherlands, and Australia as a benchmark, but we’re also taking into consideration the specification of the local market, and the needs and preferences of all kind of stakeholders of Ekstraklasa. I think it’s safe to say that this project is the missing element of Polish esports.”
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