English football club Reading FC has entered into a partnership with gaming solutions company Rival.
The deal will see Reading FC launch Royals Esports, a dedicated esports platform for the club’s supporters.
RELATED: Ajax launches dedicated FIFA mobile ‘gaming academy’
Rival will create the platform that will be used to host a number of FIFA 21 tournaments, the first of which will take place on June 17th. The launch of the platform also coincides with the 150th anniversary of Reading FC, which was founded in 1871.
Tim Kilpatrick, Head of Commercial at Reading FC, commented on the collaboration: “As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of our club this season and celebrate our rich history, we are really pleased to also be looking to the future and announcing the launch of our gaming community on the Rival platform. We’ll be offering fresh content, experiences, and activities that will engage and build on the popularity and connection of esports and football with the gaming community.”
RELATED: Abios expands FIFA data services
Reading FC isn’t the first football club to join forces with Rival. The company has previously worked with Watford, Aston Villa, and Wycombe Wanderers to launch gaming and esports platforms.
Dan Parise, Chief Marketing Officer at Rival, also spoke on the deal: “Rival is thrilled to partner with Reading to launch Royals Esports in its milestone season to connect with the global gaming audience. We look forward to working with the club to innovate with new programming and revenue opportunities, and to provide ways to integrate Reading’s sponsors into the platform.”
Esports Insider says: Football clubs are no strangers to esports, having fielded FIFA players for a number of years. In recent months, more clubs are beginning to utilise esports and gaming to their advantage by creating a dedicated platform. For Rival, joining forces with another football club is another great addition to an already impressive portfolio.