ESL, DreamHack sign revenue-sharing deal with 13 esports teams
Agreement will ensure Team Liquid, Evil Geniuses, Fnatic, and more continue to compete in MTG-owned circuits, grants partner teams a portion of ESL Pro Tour proceeds
Some of the top teams in esports have committed to appearing in ESL and DreamHack competitions, and they'll get a share of ESL Pro Tour revenues for their troubles.
Modern Times Group today announced that its esports brands ESL and DreamHack reached an agreement with 13 leading esports teams that will ensure their continued participation in the company's various esports circuits. The agreement grants partner teams a share of revenue from ESL Pro Tour events, prevents them from getting relegated out of the league, and gives them a say in how the league is governed.
The esports teams have combined for 28 victories at top ESL and DreamHack events in the last four years, as well as two Intel Grand Slams. They include Astralis, Complexity, Evil Geniuses, ENCE, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, G2 Esports, Mousesports, Natus Vincere, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Team Liquid, Team Vitality, and 100 Thieves.
"We are pleased to see this agreement which further establishes the ESL Pro Tour as the leading esports circuit format globally," MTG president and CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann said. "This serves as yet another example of ESL's and DreamHack's shared ambition to build and commercially professionalize the global business of esports."
This is the second significant deal for ESL and DreamHack in as many months. Last month, the esports organizations also signed a deal with Blizzard to run ESL Pro Tours for StarCraft II and Warcraft III: Reforged.