TL;DR
- AT&T selects Cloud9 for its inaugural esports team sponsorship based on passionate fanbase
- Deal includes presenting rights to ‘The Nines’ weekly digital series covering all 12 Cloud9 teams
- Partnership extends to communications hub development supporting content creation goals
- Cloud9 maintains diverse partnership portfolio including Red Bull, Twitch, and Puma
- AT&T leverages previous esports experience with plans for 5G integration
Telecommunications giant AT&T has selected Cloud9 as its premier esports organization sponsorship, marking a significant milestone in corporate investment within competitive gaming.
Shiz Suzuki, AT&T’s sponsorship and marketing executive, emphasized that Cloud9’s exceptionally dedicated community played the decisive role in this strategic alliance.
“We specifically sought an organization with an intensely loyal following—genuine supporters who demonstrate unwavering commitment to their team,” Suzuki explained.
This landmark agreement grants AT&T exclusive presenting sponsorship for Cloud9’s innovative weekly digital programming titled “The Nines,” which comprehensively covers the organization’s twelve competitive squads. The recurring program delivers comprehensive team updates, detailed competitor profiles, plus insider perspectives sourced directly from tournament organizers and league officials.
“Previously, we lacked a centralized platform where enthusiasts could access all Cloud9-related developments simultaneously, and this unified approach represents the distinctive innovation we’re implementing,” stated Cloud9 Chief Executive Officer Jack Etienne.
AT&T will additionally sponsor Cloud9’s advanced “communications hub” facility. Currently undergoing construction in Los Angeles, this represents a substantial expansion of the organization’s existing headquarters designed specifically to support ambitious content production objectives.
Additional contractual specifics remained confidential at publication deadline.
Cloud9 maintains established collaborations with Red Bull, Twitch, OMEN by HP, and surprisingly the United States Air Force. The organization’s League Championship Series division recently revealed a comprehensive apparel partnership with global sportswear brand Puma for the 2019 Spring competitive season.
Despite representing AT&T’s initial direct team sponsorship, the telecommunications corporation possesses substantial experience within the competitive gaming sector. The company previously sponsored Electronic Sports League tournaments during the 2018 Electronic Entertainment Expo, facilitating subsequent collaboration with gaming peripheral manufacturer RAZER on specialized mobile gaming hardware. AT&T has additionally established formal involvement with the NBA 2K League, the National Basketball Association’s officially licensed competitive gaming enterprise.
“As we advance our fiber optic network and 5G capabilities, we anticipate increasingly innovative developments and enhanced justification for enthusiasm regarding our strategic positioning within this rapidly evolving industry,” Suzuki concluded.
Action Checklist
- Evaluate team fan engagement metrics and community loyalty before sponsorship consideration
- Analyze existing partnership portfolios for sponsorship compatibility
- Review previous esports industry experience and technology integration potential
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Cloud9 becomes first esports team sponsored by AT&T AT&T's landmark Cloud9 sponsorship signals major telecom investment in esports content and infrastructure