Andrew McNeill: How to run an esports franchise
The NBA 2K League may be the best example of the way traditional sports is trying to enter the esports market.
Andrew McNeill has been at the forefront of this sector for years. After running the esports track at the SXSW conference, he moved to Monumental Sports to take charge of the 2K franchise for the Washington Wizards NBA team and the Capital’s nascent virtual hockey offering.
This podcast explores the growth of the 2K league, how real and virtual sports can complement one another, sponsorship, building a roster, the new franchise in Shanghai and much much more
Presenting Partner: PTI are an integrated digital and technology agency, helping over 75 global sports clubs and entertainment venues activate digital engagement through consultancy, deployment and commercialisation offerings. Find out more at www.ptidigitalgroup.com
TOPICS
Andrew’s background - the SXSW conference (sports and gaming)
His role as GM and Sporting Director
The financials of the 2k League and the player contracts
The great validity of 2K in esports as every on-court player is controlled by a human.
Sponsorship - is it easier to be attached to a traditional sport because of the existing franchise infrastructure and the familiarity of the sport?
The relationship between the traditional sports franchises and the esports ones
Sharing resources with a traditional sports team - psychologists, analytics teams
The environment created for esports players to excel - nutrition and physical training
The rule preventing cross-over and collaboration
The importance of storytelling around esports players
The journalistic challenge of getting engaging narratives from young people
The ESPN deal taking the 2K League on linear TV for the first time
Leveraging traditional Wizards fans into their club’s 2K franchise
Michael Jordan’s ownership of the new 2K franchise in Charlotte
The new Shanghai franchise and the opportunities it creates
The importance of having a geographical home and tournaments
The venue question. Will esports regularly fill up stadiums?
Barriers of entry for a generation that ‘won’t pay for content” - or will they?
The hockey franchise - the response to launching their own tournament
Do they make money?
The importance of the Gretzky v Ovechkin charity esports game
How the draft works
The allocation of positions in the esports draft
The mechanics of trading a player in esports
