Learfield IMG College has announced its key operation partners behind Level Next, The College Esports League. 

Level Next officially started this month with the Fall Champions Series, featuring EA SPORTS Madden NFL 21. It is the largest intercollegiate esports league, open to all students attending a four-year accredited university, and is also the first esports league to be supported by official school branding and athletics marketing assets. 

In addition to its cornerstone relationship with Electronic Arts (EA), Level Next is working with Esports Engine (a Vindex company), Mainline, and Endeavor, as the principal partners for overall operation and supporting elements of the esports tournaments to be housed within the platform. 

Chris Buckner, CEO of Mainline – which has been Learfield IMG College’s esports tournament operator since the company entered the esports space – called Level Next, “the culmination of every partner’s strength.” 

Learfield IMG, in coordination with EA and Endeavor, selected Esports Engine as its initial broadcast and production partner to develop new and engaging content for the college community. The company will deliver over 70 hours of broadcast content throughout the Fall Champions Series, featuring red zone coverage, matches of the week, and other shoulder content. 

Discussing developments Learfield IMG College EVP/Managing Director – Media and Partnerships Group, Rick Barakat, said:

“Level Next provides the esports player and overall student community the best of college fandom in an easy-to-follow, centralized format.

“We’re bullish on esports and the tremendous value we know it can deliver to sponsors and to schools. With EA and alongside Mainline, Esports Engine and Endeavor, we’re confident we’re delivering an exceptional experience for these students, while further authenticating and legitimizing the college esports community.”

While Esports Engine CEO, Adam Apicella, added:

“We are extremely excited to work with Learfield IMG College and bring the Level Next esports experience to life.

“Collegiate esports leagues are vital to driving the industry forward and continues our mission of facilitating a more accessible, open, and inclusive esports ecosystem. We’re proud to be part of this endeavor through the Fall Champions Series.”

Monday, 23 Nov., marked the start of Round 2: Conference/Regional Play, through 18 Dec. with winning players from each school competing as a team against other schools in the conference or region. 

This round follows the initial Fall Champions Series’ qualifying tournaments held 9-20 Nov. Round 3: Conference/Regional Championships will be held 4-9 Jan, 2021, followed by Round 4: Championship play, 13-17 Jan. 

The Fall Champions Series will have the largest-ever collegiate esports cash prize pool of $150,000; $50,000 of which will be awarded directly to campus esports programs through a social marketing competition.

AYO.NEWS says:

For those outside of North America, it can be hard to grasp just how big collegiate sports are – being a commercial powerhouse in their own right, in addition to a vital stepping stone into the world of professional sports. Unsurprisingly, we’re seeing the same happen with esports, which can only be a good thing. 

Maybe esports leagues like Level Next will help inspire collegiate sports and esports elsewhere in the world to graduate to the next level?

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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