T-Mobile and SOUR PATCH KIDS candy join HP®, Intel®,
and Toyota for brand-marketing efforts during the Overwatch League
inaugural season
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The first few weeks of regular-season Overwatch League play have been
defined by budding rivalries and down-to-the-wire matches between the 12
teams of the first global professional city-based esports league. More
than 10 million viewers worldwide tuned in during opening week, and the
league announced its debut automotive partner, Toyota. Now, two new
partners have signed on to support the Overwatch League in its inaugural
season: the wireless provider T-Mobile and SOUR PATCH KIDS candy.
T-Mobile has signed a multi-year agreement to become the official
wireless provider of the Overwatch League in the United States. As a
part of the agreement, the Un-carrier will be the exclusive title
sponsor of the Overwatch League Regular Season MVP and Finals MVP
awards. Throughout the season, T-Mobile will give its customers and
esports fans alike more of the sport they love, with exclusive perks, an
insider's look at the top MVP candidates, and more.
"The same way T-Mobile re-wrote the rules of wireless, the Overwatch
League is doing for esports, so this partnership is a natural fit for
us," said Meredith Starkey, VP of events and sponsorships at T-Mobile.
"We're excited to bring the Un-carrier customer-first experience to
esports fans by giving them a voice in voting to select the T-Mobile MVP
award winners throughout the season."
As a part of its sponsorship with the Overwatch League, SOUR PATCH KIDS
brand—the country's #1-selling sour candy—will bring fans content that
will air during the Overwatch League season-one livestream. Fans on-site
at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles also will be able to enjoy a branded
experience, digital-board messaging, branded thundersticks to cheer on
their favorite teams, and of course free SOUR PATCH KIDS candy at select
matches.
"The SOUR PATCH KIDS brand is always connecting with our fans where they
live and play, which is why we've been a part of gaming since 2011,"
said Katie Williams, senior director of marketing, North America
Confections. "Our sponsorship with the Overwatch League gives us an
immersive opportunity to support this exciting evolution in esports and
highlight gameplay moments for spectators in the arena and those
streaming from home."
"We couldn't be happier to add iconic consumer brands like T-Mobile and
SOUR PATCH KIDS candy to our growing roster of Overwatch League
partners," said Pete Vlastelica, president and CEO of Blizzard
Entertainment's MLG division. "The exclusive experiences, content, and
access that both brands have committed to providing will make the
Overwatch League fan and viewer experience that much more rewarding for
our global audience."
The Overwatch League is further supported by Toyota, HP®, and Intel®,
with players competing on cutting-edge gaming hardware including HP's
OMEN gaming PCs, powered by the latest Intel® Core™ i7 processors.
About the Overwatch League™
The Overwatch League™ is the first major global professional
esports league with city-based teams across Asia, Europe, and North
America. Overwatch® was created by globally acclaimed publisher Blizzard
Entertainment (a division of Activision Blizzard—Nasdaq: ATVI), whose
iconic franchises have helped lay the foundations and push the
boundaries of professional esports over the last 15 years. The latest
addition to Blizzard's stable of twenty-one #1 games,[1]
Overwatch was built from the ground up for online competition, with
memorable characters and fast-paced action designed for the most
engaging gameplay and spectator experiences. To learn more about the
Overwatch League, visit www.overwatchleague.com.
About Mondelēz International, Maker of SOUR PATCH KIDS Candy
Mondelēz International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is building the best
snacking company in the world, with 2016 net revenues of approximately
$26 billion. Creating more moments of joy in approximately 165
countries, Mondelēz International is a world leader in biscuits,
chocolate, gum, candy and powdered beverages, featuring global Power
Brands such as OREO cookies and belVita breakfast biscuits; Cadbury
Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate; and Trident gum. Mondelēz International
is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, NASDAQ 100 and Dow
Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com
or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.
SOUR PATCH KIDS candy launched in 1985 and has long been a
favorite among teens and young adults. SOUR PATCH KIDS candy is known
for its "SOUR THEN SWEET" taste. Today, SOUR PATCH KIDS candy is the #1
selling sour candy brand in the U.S. To learn more about SOUR PATCH KIDS
candy, visit @SourPatchKids on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and
@SourPatchSnaps on Snapchat.
© 2018 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. OVERWATCH, OVERWATCH LEAGUE,
BLIZZARD and BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT are trademarks of Blizzard
Entertainment, Inc. MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING is a trademark of Major League
Gaming Corp.
[1] Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and
reports from key distribution partners
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in
this press release that involves Blizzard Entertainment's expectations,
plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including
statements about the sponsorship arrangements for Overwatch esports, are
forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of
risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Blizzard
Entertainment's actual future results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release
include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the
risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report
on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The
forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information
available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the
date of this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision
Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may
ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of
the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard
and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which
are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially
from current expectations.
Source: Overwatch League
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180126005147/en/
Overwatch League
Mark Van Lommel, 949-955-1380 x61147
MVanLommel@overwatchleague.com
or
Hunter
PR for SOUR PATCH KIDS brand
Anna Ditchev, 212-679-6600
anna.ditchev@hunterpr.com
Source: Overwatch League
News Provided by Acquire Media