Published on October 18th, 2022
Location: Korea
Leading Esports Organisation Gen.G Enters a New Strategic Alliance with SPORTFIVE
Global esports organisation, Gen.G Esports, and global sports marketing agency, SPORTFIVE, today announced the launch of a new multi-year strategic alliance to grow and strengthen the esports organisation’s commercial portfolio.
As its lead commercial representative, SPORTFIVE will work together with Gen.G to build a competitive internationalisation strategy and support the commercial development of its esports and gaming initiatives.
With over 30 years of proven performance in Asia, a vast network of brands globally, paired with decades of local expertise in the different markets, SPORTFIVE is well placed to help create and grow long term value for all of Gen.G’s stakeholders and deliver integrated sports marketing solutions for all parties.
As part of this mandate, SPORTFIVE will be responsible for marketing all of Gen.G’s commercial rights, including securing long-term partnerships and managing sponsorship engagements with like-minded brands in its key markets.
Ranked #8 in the 2022 Forbes list of the world’s most valuable esports companies, Gen.G owns and operates top, global championship-winning teams in titles such as League of Legends (LoL), NBA 2K, Fortnite, Valorant, Overwatch and PUBG. With seven teams spreading over three countries, Gen.G adopts an international, market-crossing strategy to grow their global reach and establish a strong presence in their major esports markets – South Korea, the United States, and China.
"With our cross-market focus, it is perfect to partner with an internationally-renowned agency like SPORTFIVE and leverage on its sales expertise and extensive global network to identify the right partnership opportunities for our esports teams and gaming portfolio."
Martin Kim, CRO of Gen.G
With the goal of building a global, inclusive, and cross-cultural community through esports and gaming, the partnership with SPORTFIVE signifies Gen.G’s continued commitment to serving fans and athletes at all levels, and maximising engagement opportunities in and beyond competitions.
Martin Kim, CRO of Gen.G said: “We are thrilled to team up with SPORTFIVE to boost our commercial efforts in the market. With our cross-market focus, it is perfect to partner with an internationally-renowned agency like SPORTFIVE and leverage on its sales expertise and extensive global network to identify the right partnership opportunities for our esports teams and gaming portfolio. We believe this partnership will allow us to explore new boundaries and develop unique concepts to connect with our audiences, and propel our Gen.G brand to the next level.”
Eike Gyllensvärd, President, Global Esports Partnerships at SPORTFIVE, said: “SPORTFIVE is proud to be selected as the lead commercial partner of Gen.G, a leading global esports organisation with one of the most exciting rosters of esports teams and gaming talents. The global esports market revenue is growing exponentially every year, with a major segment attributed to sponsorships. More and more non-endemic brands are also realising the attractiveness and popularity of esports as a marketing opportunity, especially when engaging with the younger demographic. As such, we are thrilled to be teaming up with Gen.G in these exciting times, to optimise their commercial potential and maximise value for their avid global gaming audience.”
Gen.G has won seven global championships to date. Most recently, Gen.G’s LoL team clinched their first-ever LoL Champions Korea (LCK) championship title, after defeating T1 in the grand finals of the 2022 LCK Summer Season. This has enabled Gen.G to claim Korea’s first seed for the LoL World Championship 2022 which kicked off on 29 September.
"More and more non-endemic brands are also realising the attractiveness and popularity of esports as a marketing opportunity, especially when engaging with the younger demographic."
Eike Gyllensvärd, President, Global Esports Partnerships, SPORTFIVE
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About SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.
While creating and growing long-term value for all, SPORTFIVE often leads the sports business into the future through innovative digital solutions and strives to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.
Being at the centre of professional sport SPORTFIVE will use its unique position, in order to make a positive contribution to sustainability and to live up to the social and economic duty and responsibility, which sport and consequently all parties involved, also have. SPORTFIVE operates with a global mindset and network of over 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries around the world, active in Football, Golf, Esports, Motorsport, Handball, Tennis, American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Rugby, Olympics and Multi-Sport Events and many more.
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About GEN.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the leading esports organization connecting the United States and Asia. Ranked no. 8 in the inaugural Forbes list of the “World's Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in the world's leading esports markets — China, South Korea and the United States. Its unique portfolio of teams, winners of seven global championships to date, includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League; 2014 and 2017 League of Legends world champion team in South Korea; a men’s and women’s VALORANT team, based in Los Angeles; and the NBA 2K League's historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.
United under #TigerNation, Gen.G's core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment. Gen.G's teams, content creators and corporate staff work out of their offices in Los Angeles, Seoul and Shanghai. More information about Gen.G Esports and its teams can be found here.
Press contacts
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Pearline Chan
Director Marketing Communications
pearline.chan@sportfive.com -
Alastair Pusinelli
Manager Marketing Communications
alastair.pusinelli@sportfive.com
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