MLS will hold its second marquee esports event, the eMLS Cup, in Boston this weekend in an effort to further expand and refine its league-wide competitive gaming platform. The event, which will feature competitors from the 22 MLS clubs participating in eMLS, will be held alongside gaming convention PAX East on Saturday. MLS will move the competition from outside the PAX East footprint, where last year it was held on the convention floor, to a nearby location at The Castle at Park Plaza in Boston. MLS Senior Dir of Properties & Events James Ruth, who oversees eMLS, said that this will give the league a chance to “extend the programming through the night, and provide a unique experience that is dedicated to eMLS.” “It allows us to control an experience a little bit better, and really create the vibe and asthetic that we’re going for,” Ruth said. “For us, eMLS is living on the intersection of gaming and soccer culture, and we’re going to create a space that is somewhat halfway between a soccer nightclub and a esports event.”
SATURDAY NIGHT'S MAIN EVENT: The space, which will allow for roughly 500 spectators, will host open tournaments, have exclusive merchandise and other activations alongside the competitive event on Saturday night. The competition will be streamed live on Twitch as well as on MLS’s Twitter account, while other content will also appear on the digital and social accounts of MLS and its clubs. Ruth said the league has enhanced the level of analysis around the event, as well as the sheer amount of content compared to last year. Playstation, the presenting partner of the tournament, and Kellogg’s, which sponsors the player’s lounge, will be the two most visible sponsors during eMLS Cup. Ruth said that the league is viewing this year’s event as “a good case study for all the brands in the space -- I expect to see a lot more aligned with eMLS next year.”
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