Team Vitality have announced a collaboration with HKS Sports and Entertainment to create their first esports facility in Paris.
The goal of the collaboration is to transform the organisation from digital to physical in central Paris. The new multi-use space will act as a flagship for Team Vitality’s internal and external operations. The intention is to showcase its brand and create a foundation for future growth – for not just Team Vitality but the global esports community.
This announcement follows the news that Vitality had secured €20 million (£17m) investment from investment group Rewired.GG, which is backed by Tej Kohli. That investment was intended to help the organisation achieve its aim of becoming a global leader in esports. Alongside winning titles across games, this also means ‘redefining the standard of esports facilities’. Working with HKS, Vitality are creating a central facility with ‘state of the art facilities’ such as training and performance centres, as well as a store and office.
Given that Team Vitality recently secured a place in the newly franchised League of Legends European Championship, and having entered Counter-Strike too in 2018, having a home facility will be another huge forward step for the team.
There is a growing trend right now in esports with organisations moving into their own multi-purpose facilities. We’ve seen the likes of Excel opening their new HQ at England’s home of rugby Twickenham to the Philadelphia Fusion’s announcement of a $50 million dedicated esports arena intended to be ready for their 2022 Overwatch League season.
HKS is one of the leading sports architecture firms in the world with current projects, including the spectacular new $2.6 billion Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment District (LASED) for the LA Rams and Chargers. HKS’ expertise in revenue-based design will be utilised to expand Team Vitality’s goals and objectives by developing multiple revenue streams. The firm has become known for borrowing and innovating from the traditional sports and entertainment ecosystem into esports, so it seems Vitality will be in good hands.
No doubt we will find out more about the facility and the plans for the design when both Nico Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality and Dustin Sweeney, Senior Designer, Esports, HKS Inc take to the stage at #ESINYC. Dustin will be joining us for ‘There’s No Place Like Home: Creating The Perfect Esports Venue’ and may give some more information following today’s announcement. As for Nico, he will be taking part in the ‘Publishers and Teams: Creating the Perfect Ecosystem‘panel along with the likes of Chris Hopper, Head of Esports at Riot (NA), Ed Chang at EA, and Steve Arhancet, Co-CEO at Team Liquid.
HKS’ London office will also be the home for the second day of ESI London 2019 on the 17th September 2019 and the pitch and investment-oriented Clutch, while day one will take place at Twickenham Stadium. Click here to find out more about ESI London, and secure your Early Bird tickets now.
Esports Insider says: This is impressive from Team Vitality, and we’ve high expectations as HKS has a proven track record of creating incredible sporting and entertainment spaces. It will be very exciting to see how the new facility is used and how partners and sponsors utilise the space to reach Vitality’s growing audience. We’re sure we’ll here more about the collaboration when Nico and Dustin speak at #ESINYC.