*By Carlo Versano*
There are three legs on the esports stool, and each one is crucial to the sector's development and maturation, according to ESL CEO Ralf Reichert: athletes, fans, and partnerships.
"It's most important that the athletes, after all, are happy," Reichert said in an interview with Cheddar from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the ESL One tournament took place over the weekend.
Then come the fans, who now view tournaments more as "mini-festivals." That is perhaps why organizers like ESL are pouring resources into the fan experience. There are "massively upgraded activations" around ESL One, Reichert said.
Finally, there are corporate sponsorships, in combination with the media.
Partnerships, such as Mastercard's ($MA) recent deal with League of Legends and ESL's streaming partnership with Facebook ($FB), are key to taking esports to the next level. This also includes deals with venues like the Barclays Center ー what Reichert called the "most beautiful" tournament setting ー which add a layer of professionalism.
As esports mature and take on new cultural relevance, ESL is settling into a role as an elder of the industry. In business since 2000, ESL has been a pioneer in the field, though Reichert says there's still plenty of pioneering left to be done.
"It's still an educational journey we're on," he said. "We don't have the answers yet, but we're going to continue to try."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-future-of-esports).
U.S. sports betting is booming as NFL and college football fuel massive activity. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt breaks down trends, growth, and what’s next.
President Donald Trump says a deal struck by Netflix last week to buy Warner Bros. Discovery “could be a problem” because of the size of the combined market share. The Republican president says he will be involved in the decision about whether federal regulators should approve the deal. Trump commented Sunday when he was asked about the deal as he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors. The $72 billion deal would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry.
Disney's changes to a program for disabled visitors are facing challenges in federal court and through a shareholder proposal. The Disability Access Service program, which allows disabled visitors to skip long lines, was overhauled last year. Disney now mostly limits the program to those with developmental disabilities like autism who have difficulty waiting in lines. The changes have sparked criticism from some disability advocates. A shareholder proposal submitted by disability advocates calls for an independent review of Disney's disability policies. Disney plans to block this proposal, claiming it's misleading. It's the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while stopping past abuses by some theme park guests.
With a merger this big, creators, studios, and theaters all face uncertain futures. Here’s what experts are worried about and what good could come from it.
With disengagement rising and hybrid work shifting, 'Everybody Matters' author Bob Chapman explains why treating people well could define the future of work.
We sat down with Ali Furman, U.S. Consumer Markets Industry Leader at consulting firm PwC to ask what trends she garnered from the initial data this year.
Seth Schachner breaks down Zootopia 2’s record-smashing debut, holiday box office trends, early 2026 Oscar contenders, and what’s next for Netflix and WBD.
