EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 21 BOWL: DRAFT EDITION TO AIR ON ESPN APP & ESPN.COM

EA SPORTS and the NFL have announced new details for the semifinals and finals of the first-ever EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 21 Bowl: Draft Edition (Madden Bowl: DE). 

Airing on the ESPN app and ESPN.com (as well as the Madden Twitch and YouTube channels), the event features the best 24 Madden players in a unique team-based setting, integrating aspects of its esports coverage within special aspects of its NFL Draft broadcasts. 

The eight, three-competitor teams are currently competing in both 3-vs-3 (synchronous) and 1-vs-1 (asynchronous) Madden competition. The team that best collaborates its way through the tournament will win the majority share of the $330,000 purse.

“These last five years we enhanced our ability to entertain a mainstream audience, and most specifically, Gen-Z, by evolving how we experience sports through interactive technology,” said Matt Marcou, Madden NFL Competitive Gaming Commissioner. “During the pandemic, we discovered new ways to create Madden competitions to increase fan affinity for the NFL through digital and shared experiences. Tentpole competition like the Pro Bowl game going virtual in Madden NFL 21 and the upcoming Madden Bowl: DE, are perfect ways esports grow the love of football through authenticity.”

On April 20, the top eight Madden Bowl: DE competitors selected teammates in a two-round snake draft format. Teams began competing in a single-elimination bracket onApril 25. Semifinalists will compete on May 2, with the eventual Madden Bowl: DE champion crowned on May 4. All competitive broadcasts air on the ESPN app and ESPN.com, Madden Twitch and YouTube channels and start at 7 pm ET with an approximate 10 pm ET ending.

“Madden Bowl: DE concludes an unbelievable Madden NFL 21 Championship Series (MCS) as we pivoted the format to meet the needs of players and participants in a Covid environment” said Rachel Hoagland, Vice President Gaming, Esports & Partnerships, NFL. “The MCS 21 season provided fans a unique avenue to connect with the NFL, and we look forward to bringing these fans unrivaled excitement with the NFL Draft and Madden Bowl: DE.” 

Exponential growth personified Madden competitive gaming the past year. This year’s MCS aired four times more competitive broadcasts year-over-year, with a 40 percent increase in broadcast hours. The diverse competitive structure enhanced the reach of the MCS giving players and viewers more ways to enjoy esports – celebrity events, pro-am environments, new competitive game modes and even the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl: Madden NFL 21 Edition Presented by Verizon was the most watched Madden event on digital platforms in history.

Madden Bowl: DE will feature 3-vs-3 simultaneous teamplay through Madden NFL 21 Ultimate Team (MUT) Squads and traditional 1-vs-1 gameplay across MUT Head-to-Head, MUT Salary Cap, and MUT Draft. MUT Head-to-Head is the classic format and most-played Ultimate Team mode. MUT Salary Cap requires players to build a team like a general manager while operating within constraints like NFL team executives experience. MUT Draft recreates the excitement of the NFL Draft as competitors select their rosters in advance through a live snake draft. Given the amount of strategy involved, the broadcast will also consistently share the competitor’s commentary providing unparalleled esports access.

Learn more about the Madden Bowl: DE here. Fans can also join the Madden NFL conversation on Twitter and Facebook.