Excel Sports Management has reached an agreement with Activision Bizzard that will allow the two companies to partner in finding sponsorship opportunities for both the Call of Duty and Overwatch leagues. The agreement for Excel represents the company’s first foray into esports after years of providing MLB, NBA, and PGA athletes with representation, which may be of particular interest to gamers in Indiana.
A press release revealed the two companies will work together in an attempt to identify opportunities that do not currently exist for the esports leagues. Business law experts explain the agreement signed by the two companies provides the framework for collaboration between Excel and the esports partnership division already maintained by Activision Blizzard.
Excel provides employment for respected sports agents like Mark Steinberg, Jeff Schwartz, and Casey Close. The notable athletes that perform under the Excel umbrella include major league pitcher Clayton Kershaw, PGA golfer Tiger Woods, and both Kevin Love and Blake Griffin from the NBA.
There is already a connection to traditional sports for the Overwatch League as well as the Call of Duty League. Traditional sports owners involved with the esports leagues include the Wilf and Wilpon families who own the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL and New York Mets respectively. Other NFL owners who own esports teams include Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots and Stan Kroenke of the Los Angeles Rams. Comcast Spectator, the parent company for the NHL’s Philadelphia Fliers has also stepped into the esports ownership ring.
Companies negotiating business deals can sometimes find it complicated to ensure that all parties involved receive exactly what they need when ironing out the details of a business partnership. One or more parties to a proposed business partnership may benefit from the services of an attorney who is skilled in business law before signing a final partnership agreement.
