Team Envy revealed as 7th founding member of Flashpoint, 3 more remain

Team Envy has officially confirmed its participation as a founding organization in Flashpoint, the newly established North American Counter-Strike: Global Offensive franchised league. This strategic partnership represents a significant commitment to the evolving esports ecosystem.

The organization now joins six other prominent teams—Cloud9, MiBR, Gen.G, MAD Lions, Dignitas, and c0ntact Gaming—as core stakeholders in the league’s foundation. Each founding member maintains partial ownership rights and participates in comprehensive revenue-sharing arrangements designed to ensure long-term financial stability. The inaugural competitive season is scheduled to commence operations in May 2020.

“Our enthusiasm for competitive Counter-Strike’s future direction is immense. Having established our presence in the competitive scene for half a decade, Team Envy views this transition as pivotal. With our refreshed player lineup and new competitive home within FLASHPOINT launching in 2020, we anticipate crafting the next significant chapter in our organization’s competitive history for supporters globally,” explained Mike Rufail, Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Team Envy.

Founding member status within Flashpoint requires a substantial $2 million investment commitment, accompanied by extensive operational guidelines and participation restrictions that mirror those implemented by its primary competitor, ESL Pro League. Notably, ESL previously announced in February that its participating squads had secured ownership positions within ESL’s primary league structure.

ESL and Flashpoint square off as May start dates near

The competing tournament organizers have escalated their public discourse following extensive positioning maneuvers aimed at capturing fan allegiance. Despite Valve Corporation’s official stance against exclusivity arrangements within the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competitive circuit, both league entities have implemented strategic countermeasures designed to weaken their rival’s position, primarily through scheduling conflicts that prevent member organizations and broadcast talent from simultaneous participation in both competitive structures.

Currently, ESL Pro League maintains a distinct competitive advantage regarding participating team quantity and established infrastructure. Conversely, Flashpoint emphasizes its commitment to delivering production quality and viewer experiences previously unseen within the esports broadcasting landscape.

Earlier this week, Flashpoint representative Christopher “MonteCristo” Kjell Mykles made a guest appearance on veteran esports journalist Richard Lewis’ podcast to discuss Flashpoint’s distinctive value proposition for viewers.

“Our production approach must incorporate unconventional and surprising elements that position Flashpoint as essential viewing… we’re creating an atmospheric experience specifically appealing to dedicated esports enthusiasts,” MonteCristo stated during the broadcast interview.

Both Flashpoint and ESL Pro League have confirmed May launch timelines, presenting challenging viewing decisions for dedicated Counter-Strike followers. MonteCristo demonstrated clear determination when addressing this competitive dynamic during his discussion with Lewis.

“I’m not explicitly recommending against watching EPL—they’ll undoubtedly feature exceptional matches. However, approach BLAST and Flashpoint with receptive perspectives,” he emphasized.

Only three franchise positions remain available for prospective organizations seeking Flashpoint membership. The league’s strategic positioning represents a fundamental shift in how competitive CS:GO ecosystems structure their business models and team relationships.

Strategic Insight: Organizations considering Flashpoint participation should evaluate the long-term revenue potential against the substantial initial investment. Teams with established fan bases and consistent competitive performance stand to benefit most from the revenue-sharing structure.

For fans navigating the May viewing decisions, consider prioritizing leagues based on your preferred viewing experience—established competitive structure versus innovative production approaches.

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