Collegiate Cup Will Stop at Four Markets Across the U.S.
Washington, DC (October 7, 2019) – As part of their ongoing strategic partnership, Events DC and NRG Esports will kick off the first-ever Smash Collegiate Cup, “Get Schooled” this fall, headlined by Nairo, professional Smash player. The collegiate cup will stop at four markets across the U.S. including, Berkley, CA, NYC, Austin, TX and Washington, DC as the tour’s final stop. The first tournament will be hosted by the University of California Berkley and will take place on Saturday, October 19. The tour beginning in late 2019, will continue into the spring of 2020 with exciting programming updates at each market.
Each market will convene all of the regional colleges and universities to actively participate.
“We’re excited to enhance our partnership with NRG by igniting a collegiate college cup with Nairo. This initiative is a prime example of how the ecosystem of esports will help propel cities forward, by driving local esports communities through engagement and innovation. As the official convention and sports authority for DC, we remain on the forefront of this fast growing sport by serving and supporting the localized gaming community and attracting future tournaments to the city,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC. “We look forward to future engagement with even more youth-based organizations, local colleges and universities to further promote and grow the exploding esports community.”
“It’s always been important to me to keep doing things that help grow the smash scene, and I’m excited to work with Events DC to create more opportunities for smash players across the country to grow and improve.” Nairo
This first-ever Smash collegiate tournament with NRG will help bolster Events DC’s esports presence both regionally and nationally by connecting with local esports communities and driving future collegiate engagement. This tournament also represents an important component of Events DC’s esports initiative to drive an ecosystem of future opportunities that include a focus on youth development and education, as well as new events and tourism opportunities for Washington, DC.
“Nairo has been a household name in Smash for several years and we're excited to tour the nation alongside our partners Events DC and host some amazing events!” Brett Launtenbach, President of NRG
The first stop for the “Get Schooled” Tour will stop at UC Berkley on October 19, 2019 at 3:00p (PST), featuring Nairo and Mega Ran, notable gaming DJ. The event link to register, can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/517284035735688/. Additional tour stop information will be announced separately with unique programming details and tournament details for each market.
As the official convention and sports authority for Washington, DC, Events DC continues to make strategic commitments within the esports space on both a local and global platform, including team sponsorships and infrastructure with the ultimate goal of attracting innovative leaders, brands and events to DC while enhancing the city’s economy. Since Events DC’s 2017 NRG Esports sponsorship announcement at SXSW, DC has added an official Overwatch league team, the Washington Justice and an NBA2K team, Wizards District Gaming with Monumental Sports & Entertainment. More recently, Events DC has opened a 4,200-seat Entertainment and Sports Arena that was built with the intent of hosting esports events and global tournaments.
Ultimately, this tour represents a prominent milestone in Events DC’s strategic approach to building an esports capital in Washington, DC as an opportunity to attract future visitors, residents, tournaments and economic prosperity to the city.
For more information on the Smash College Cup “Get Schooled” Tour, visit http://www.nrg.gg/get-schooled.
##
About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and generates more than $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Stay current on the 190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project at www.RFKCampus.com. Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and the Entertainment and Sports Arena (www.ESAontheRise.com), all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Events DC), and Twitter (@TheEventsDC).
About NRG Esports
NRG is a San Francisco-based esports organization that competes at the highest level across nine video game titles. Known for its super passionate fan base, NRG was founded in 2015 by Andy Miller and Mark Mastrov, co-owners of the Sacramento Kings. NRG investors include Shaquille O’Neal, Tiësto, and Marshawn Lynch, alongside Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
