Riot Games has announced that they have their first global sponsor in the form of Mastercard, who they've just signed a multi-year partnership with to get them on board for League of Legends Global Events like the Mid-Season Invitational and Worlds.
The support will start at the World Championship this year, and will be present onsite, in the broadcast, and through a number of promotions. Mastercard will also be offering several fans a chance to see behind the scenes of Worlds, watch a game with a pro player from VIP seats, and have an on-stage playtest of gaming PCs the pros will use.
"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 at 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."
Worlds will start on October 1 with 24 teams fighting it out for the championship. Is Mastercard a good fit for these kinds of events?