Mastercard Joins LoL Esports as First Global Sponsor
Today we are excited to announce our first global sponsor - Mastercard!
Today we are excited to announce our first global sponsor – Mastercard! With this multi-year partnership, Mastercard will be the exclusive payment services partner for League of Legends Global Events, which include the Mid-Season Invitational, the All-Star Event, and the World Championship.
Mastercard has a storied history of sponsoring some of the world’s most prestigious sports and entertainment properties like the PGA TOUR, Major League Baseball, The Open, The Australian Open, Rugby World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and The Grammy’s. We are honored to have our biggest events join the ranks of these iconic properties and have Mastercard bring their best-in-class activations to League of Legends fans worldwide.
“Esports is a phenomenon that continues to grow in popularity, with fans that can rival those at any major sporting event in their enthusiasm and energy,” said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer, Mastercard. “Our Priceless platform is built around connecting with people through their passions. We are excited about the experiences and benefits we can bring to the world’s largest esport – both in-game and to the millions of League of Legends fans that watch and attend the tournaments each year.”
Mastercard’s support for League of Legends esports will kick off with the 2018 World Championship and continue over the next few years. You’ll see the partnership come to life at Worlds onsite, in broadcast, and through various promotions worldwide. Mastercard will also be curating unforgettable Priceless experiences. During the 2018 World Championship Final, Mastercard will offer several lucky fans once-in-a-lifetime experiences which will include:
- A behind the scenes tour and a rehearsal viewing of the Opening Ceremony
- An opportunity to watch a game with a League of Legends pro player from VIP seats
- An on-stage playtest of the gaming PCs the pros will compete on during the World Championship Finals
“We’re thrilled to team up with Mastercard on this groundbreaking partnership that will provide meaningful and long-term value to our fans,” said Naz Aletaha, head of esports partnerships at Riot Games. “Mastercard is among the first of world-class brands to take such a big step into esports at the global level, and we’re proud to have them support League of Legends esports events alongside their other premier sports and entertainment sponsorships.”
The 2018 League of Legends World Championship will begin on October 1st and will feature the top 24 teams in the world competing for the Summoner’s Cup.
