- Polish esports organization Illuminar Gaming has partnered with the Polish branch of Mercedes-Benz
- In honor of their sponsors, the organization’s venue will be renamed ESPOT powered by Mercedes-Benz
- Collaboration interpreted as a sign of the Polish industry’s maturity, according to Illuminar Head of esports
Mercedes-Benz partners with Illuminar Gaming, reinforcing the big companies’ increasing interest in funding esports.
The Monumental Partnership Gets the ESPOT Gaming Concept Renamed
The Polish branch of Mercedes-Benz partnered with Illuminar Gaming and became the title sponsor of the esports organization’s gaming venue in Warsaw. The ESPOT Gaming Concept was promptly renamed to ESPOT powered by Mercedes-Benz.
The ESPOT Gaming Concept, now ESPOT powered by Mercedes-Benz, was opened in the fall last year but has seen limited use because of the pandemic.
In an interview with Esports Insider, the CEO and founder of ESPOT Gaming Concept Jarosław Śmietana elaborated that other than the change of name, the collaboration will feature a series of events focused on League of Legends and digital motorsport content. Śmietana said that these events might be held live if the COVID-19 pandemic lets up, but it’s too early to say that. The collaborations will be held in the ESPOT powered by Mercedes-Benz.
The CEO also promised a documentary series and entertainment. He also teased that Illuminar will be having its own custom car project coming up this year.
Other than the aforementioned collaborated events, Illuminar Gaming’s professional League of Legends players will support the automobile company by wearing its logo on their jerseys. This will cover not only the Ultraliga team but the academy players and the streamers.
The Implications of the Deal for the Polish Industry and Esports
Illuminar Gaming has been around for six years. It competes in League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rocket League, and Hearthstone and is one of the oldest and most reputable esports organizations in Poland. Therefore it is no surprise the popular automobile company chose to support them.
For Fryderyk ‘Veggie’ Kozioł, the esports organization’s Head of esports, the current deal between Mercedes-Benz Poland and Illuminar Gaming is a good sign for the Polish industry. Kozioł is assured that this signifies the industry’s maturity and “readiness for premium brands.”
Mercedes-Benz is known to support Polish sports but is just now venturing out in the esports world. This continues the tendency of the blurring of the lines between the two. Recently U.S. Soccer and Esports Engine partnered for the production of the eNational Team Closed Finals. Moreover, several esports will be played as medal sports in the SEA Games event.