Just like most of the sports and entertainment world, esports leagues have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. While competitive teams are adapting to games without their teammates sitting beside them, more people are joining in from home, meaning they can play with even more spectators.
Ben Spoont, CEO of Misfits Gaming Group, told Cheddar Wednesday while many esports events were canceled due to the pandemic, they were able to work with their partners and the different leagues to get back to playing online within a couple of weeks.
“Esports has the ability to adapt really quickly. We’re now back online playing games in front of a lot more people because there are a lot more people at home, so we're excited about that,” Spoont said. “We’re fortunate for more people and to provide a form of entertainment for them.”
Spoont is also the co-founder of Florida Mayhem, a professional esports organization competing in Blizzard’s Overwatch League, and owns teams in all three major esport leagues. Despite being able to get back to playing online within a few weeks, Spoont said that they still had to make some changes.
“We’ve taken our nonessential players and nonessential personnel and removed them from the equation of the teams,” he explained. “When they talk about social distancing and stay in your home, most of our teams live together, so they’ve been continuing to act as a family unit. But instead of playing in the office they’re playing from their apartments.”
Spoont is also trying to help combat this global health crisis by joining in on the Gamers vs. COVID-19 pledge to help spread awareness about “flattening the curve.”
“Esports and gaming could actually do a lot right now to encourage people to stay at home, which is why we think that joining this challenge made a lot of sense. We think it’s important for us to give back to the community and make a meaningful and positive impact through esport’s strengths, which is to play video games and stay at home,” Spoont said.
In this week's episode of The Crypto Craze Cheddar Anchors Brad Smith and Baker Machado explain the biggest trends in the market. Cable and satellite entertainment company Starz filed a petition, asking the FCC to step in to resolve a fight with Altice. Facebook announces an update to its news policy. Amazon is increasing its prices.
To get you in the Super Bowl spirit PepsiCo is rolling out advertisements to gear up for the game. Greg Lyons, CMO of Pepsi Beverage, and Jen Saenz, CMO of Frito-Lay explain the messages behind the company's iconic ads this season.
On VF Hive: We’re joined by the crew from Vanity Fair's Hive to discuss Bannon's Mueller investigation subpoena. On Between Bells: Winter Olympics diplomacy, and Ellen Pompeo's payday. With New York Magazine, Latina Magazine, and FHM.
North Korea and South Korea shocked the world by announcing plans to march under a unified flag at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. FHM's Nick Dimengo joins Cheddar to discuss whether the news will increase interest in the games.
The former Yankees star founded "The Players' Tribune" in 2014 as a way for athletes to tell their stories the way they want them to be told. The CEO says Facebook's changes only help get their story out there.
What's better than reading in-depth news about your favorite athletes, perhaps getting that news straight from the players' pen or mouth? "The Players' Tribune" is a sports media company started by Derek Jeter back in 2014. Since then, TPT has grown into video, continued to break news, and builds recognition in the sports space.
VICIS CEO Dave Marver discusses the Zero1 helmet, rated by the NFL as the safest ever made. Marver explains what makes the helmet different and what's next for the company.
People have compared trading on the stock market to playing a sport. You need to know the players, when to make your move, and how to win. So why not follow the sports industry and sports business like how you follow the stock market news? Corey Leff thinks you should. That is why he started "John Wall Street," a newsletter that covers the ins and outs of the sports industry.
Najee Goode is both a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and a design engineer for the app VEEPIO. The Super Bowl hopeful joins Cheddar to explain what the Eagles need to do to win on Sunday and why VEEPIO is helping fans be more engaged.
On VF Hive, we're joined by the crew at Vanity Fair's Hive to discuss Oprah's White House ambitions and Steve Bannon's next moves. Then on Between Bells, we break down the new allegations against James Franco and the Lavar Ball drama sweeping the NBA.
