Tag: Entertainment

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Sports & Gaming

Allied Esports’ VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series researches 1.7 million unique viewers

Most-Watched Legend Series Event in Allied Esports History Drives 400% Increase in New Users and 300% Increase in Deposits on VIE.gg Platform

VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series and Allied Esports Odyssey Tournaments Combine to Drive Record Viewership and Follower Growth Over Five-Week Period

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Allied Esports, a global esports entertainment company and a subsidiary of Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AESE), drew 1.7 million unique viewers for the VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series tournament, which ended Sunday, September 13. The two-week competition, which also generated over 1 million hours watched and reached 98,000 peak viewers, is the company’s most-watched Legend Series event since the tournament series was created in 2017.

The professional Counter-Strike tournament, which was produced from Allied Esports’ HyperX Esports Studio in Hamburg, Germany, was a global event reaching esports audiences across multiple continents and languages. Allied Esports worked with various partners to broadcast the tournament on Twitch in six languages – English, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, French and German – and on Chinese streaming platform HUYA, which carried both English and Chinese streams.

The tournament capped a historic five-week period for Allied Esports’ online tournament streams. The VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series and the Allied Esports Odyssey, an official tournament in Riot Games’ VALORANT Ignition Series that ran August 11-16, combined for 4 million unique viewers and 2 million hours watched. The two tournaments also generated a total of 37,000 new followers across Allied Esports’ Twitch channels, an increase of 68% since August 10, to raise the combined total of followers to 91,044. Allied Esports’ social platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, generated a net audience increase of 4,900% and engagement increase of 486% compared to the previous five-week period.

“The VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series is a great example of the ability of our tournaments to deliver dedicated content to an enthusiastic, engaged audience, and we will continue to develop these brands to meet the needs of partners as the esports industry continues to evolve,” said Frank Ng, CEO of Allied Esports Entertainment. “This tournament was an excellent start to our partnership with Esports Entertainment Group, as we introduced their wagering platform to millions of people around the world, and we look forward to creating more valuable content with them in the near future.”

The VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series tournament was Allied Esports’ first Legend Series event to include a licensing partner and title sponsor through its partnership with Esports Entertainment Group. As a result, Esports Entertainment Group saw a 400% increase in new users and a 300% increase in deposits on the VIE.gg platform compared to the same period in the prior month.

Each broadcast during the VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series tournament prominently featured a wagering component, including dynamic live odds that were on display for the entirety of each match.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the viewership numbers for the VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series, a new benchmark for Allied Esports and a great introduction of our VIE.gg brand to fans around the world,” commented Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “Working with the team at Allied Esports on this tournament has been a great experience, and we’re already in discussions for the next event.”

The online event was also the first esports tournament registered for legal betting in the state of New Jersey, an announcement that was made by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) on September 2.

The VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series featured 16 Counter-Strike teams from multiple European countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region and South America, including seven teams ranked in the top 50 globally. Kazakhstan’s Winstrike, which jumped from No. 60 in the world at the start of the tournament to No. 34, defeated 32nd-ranked Heretics from France 3-0 in the best-of-five Grand Final to secure the first VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series title and €17,000 of the €50,000 total prize pool. Every game from the two-week tournament can be watched in full at youtube.com/alliedesports.

Allied Esports’ original Legend Series tournament brand was designed to expand the competitive ecosystem and total prize pool for teams ranked outside of the first tier. The VIE.gg CS:GO Legend Series was Allied Esports’ seventh edition of the CS:GO Legend Series and the 13th Legend Series event overall, with previous versions of the series featuring VALORANT, League of Legends, Call of Duty, Overwatch and FIFA.

About Allied Esports

Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, Allied Esports International, Inc. is at the forefront of esports entertainment with a global network of properties designed to serve as competition battlegrounds, community experience hubs and content production centers.

Through direct operation or membership in the Allied Esports Property Network, the world’s first esports affiliate program, Allied Esports’ facilities span North America, Europe, China and Australia, and include the world-renowned HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas, a fleet of mobile arenas, the HyperX Esports Trucks, and the HyperX Esports Studio in Hamburg, Germany.

Allied Esports’ properties serve as the home to a number of online and offline proprietary productions and events, including Friday Frags and Saturday Night Speedway, as well as original partner programs like the Simon Cup.

For more information about Allied Esports, visit AlliedEsports.gg and follow @AlliedEsports. Allied Esports International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc.

About Allied Esports Entertainment

Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AESE) is a global leader in esports entertainment, providing innovative infrastructure, transformative live experiences, multiplatform content and interactive services to audiences worldwide through its strategic fusion of two powerful brands: Allied Esports and the World Poker Tour (WPT). For more information, visit AlliedEsportsEnt.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the control of us, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include: our ability to execute on our business plan; our ability to retain key personnel; general economic and market conditions impacting demand for our products and services; adequacy of our funds for future operations; our future expenses, revenue and profitability; our ability to develop new products; our dependence on key suppliers, manufacturers and strategic partners; and industry trends and the competitive environment in which we operate. These and other risk factors are discussed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Media Contacts:
Brian Fisher

Allied Esports

brian@alliedesports.com

Investor Contact:
Lasse Glassen

Addo Investor Relations

lglassen@addoir.com
424-238-6249

Categories
Business

Audible launches Global Center for Urban Development

Veteran economic impact executive Aisha Glover to join the Center’s mission – to launch and prove out equitable community and economic development initiatives in Newark, N.J., and other cities around the world

NEWARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Audible, the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, today announced the creation of the Global Center for Urban Development, which will expand the company’s community and economic initiatives while launching new and measurable models focused on advancing equality, racial justice and economic empowerment. While based in and focused on Audible’s corporate hometown of Newark, N.J. the Center’s mission will encompass Audible locations in 14 cities around the world and include programs and policy initiatives that can be adopted in cities globally.

Audible also announced Aisha Glover will join the company as Vice President of Urban Innovation on October 5, reporting to SVP, Center for Urban Development, Abhinav Mathur. In her role, Glover will help establish the strategic direction of the Global Center for Urban Development and will lead a team dedicated to advancing equitable economic development solutions in cities worldwide. Glover joins Audible from the Newark Alliance, where she served as President & CEO for the past two years.

Audible relocated to Newark in 2007 to pursue one of its core corporate principles: We work to improve the lives of those in the cities and countries in which we operate, because Audible seeks to exemplify what a company can mean beyond what it does. We believe in giving people a chance, and we work to make this so, particularly in the urban core. Our focus on education innovation and urban economic and social renaissance is about advancing equality, and this mission should inform and inspire our days.

In pursuit of this defining principle, the company launched the social impact early-stage investment fund Newark Venture Partners; introduced the “Live Local” program that incentivizes Audible employees to live in Newark with after-tax subsidies; created the Audible Interns and Scholars programs alongside the Cornerstone program focused on creative Newark resident employee development; and offered corporate support for local small restaurant businesses, which during the crises of 2020 has become Newark Working Kitchens. In just 23 weeks since launch, Newark Working Kitchens has reopened 25 local restaurants and delivered more than 440,000 meals to underserved Newarkers.

The new Center for Urban Development will report into Audible Founder and Executive Chairman, Don Katz. “At a time of unprecedented crisis, Newark’s historic comeback is dependent on continued support from companies, philanthropies and governments working together. We believe all members of society — with strong companies like Audible and other scaled corporations leading the way — must commit to meaningful support for innovation and investment, focused on civic and social change that addresses the underlying causes of structural inequality,” said Katz. “With the Global Center for Urban Development, Audible aims to draw upon global best practices, cutting-edge analysis and elite talent to amplify its impact in Newark and beyond by establishing new paradigms that advance equitable development in cities everywhere. The Center has been specifically designed to partner more deeply with government, community organizations and corporate partners to coalesce around new and legacy programs that work at scale.”

A seasoned economic impact executive, Aisha Glover has a proven track record of spearheading equitable economic development programs throughout the region. Glover has more than 15 years of experience as an agent for economic empowerment and social justice. At the Newark Alliance, she worked closely with Mayor Ras Baraka to push for inclusive economic growth, helping to align dozens of corporations and private institutions with Newark’s needs, attracting billions of dollars in real estate development, and advancing citywide economic empowerment initiatives, including workforce training and women entrepreneurship programs.

“Aisha Glover’s commitment to and success in improving the lives of the people of Newark makes her uniquely suited to help carry out the vision of our Global Center for Urban Development,” continued Katz. “Aisha’s experience bringing together public, private and community-based organizations to create and sustain equitable economic development will be critical as we double down on our efforts on behalf of the city we call home, and other communities in which Audible operates. Aisha’s leadership of this new Global Center, along with Abhinav Mathur – a truly visionary executive who has led some of our most important efforts to be an inventive company that pursues meaning and purpose – is very exciting indeed.”

“I commend Audible for embracing its role in Newark, advancing its economic and social impact and investing in and launching initiatives that are aligned with my vision for an inclusive and equitable city,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “Aisha is the perfect leader to continue this work from within Audible on behalf of the City’s residents and small businesses. We need all corporations to take an active role in helping to accelerate our recovery.”

“We are at a critical juncture in Newark and in many cities around the world. We’ve seen how corporations are beginning to step in to fill the gaps to help drive equity, and with Audible’s leadership and backing, the Global Center for Urban Development will be at the forefront to create a new type of urbanism,” said Glover. “My commitment to developing deep community, corporate and government partnerships have generated strong results for Newark, and I am energized to bring similar innovative and inclusive solutions to bear in Newark that not only help the city recover, but ensure that it thrives.”

Under Glover’s leadership, the Alliance and its corporate and institutional membership base has advanced a Hire Buy Live initiative, helping over 2,020 Newarkers secure employment within these institutions, increased local procurement spend with small businesses, and expanded opportunities for homeownership and relocation into the city. Prior to leading the Newark Alliance, Glover served as the President & CEO of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, where she oversaw efforts to attract real estate development, businesses and more than $3B in development funds to Newark, leading the city to be shortlisted for Amazon’s second headquarters. Glover also served as the Vice President of External Affairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, where she led strategic partnership development, community engagement, public affairs and fundraising to help establish Navy Yard as a global model for urban industrial development.

The Global Center for Urban Development will bring together all equitable community aspirations at Audible under a single organization, from existing community projects in Newark to new efforts around urban innovation, to work to improve the lives of those in the cities and countries in which Audible operates.

ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.

Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible content includes more than 550,000 audio programs from leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers.

Contacts

Kay Sarlin Wright

Public Affairs Director

prteam@audible.com

Categories
Business

Eldorado Resorts secures approval from New Jersey Casino Control Commission in connection with its pending acquisition of Caesars Entertainment

RENO, Nev.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI) (“Eldorado” or the “Company”) announced that at a meeting today, the Company received approval from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in connection with its pending acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) (“Caesars”), subject to applicable conditions. Eldorado and Caesars have received all required regulatory approvals necessary to close the merger.

About Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

Eldorado is a leading casino entertainment company that owns and operates twenty-one properties in eleven states, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, and Ohio. In aggregate, Eldorado’s properties feature approximately 22,400 slot machines, VLTs and e-tables and approximately 640 table games, and over 11,200 hotel rooms. For more information, please visit www.eldoradoresorts.com.

About Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment is one of the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment providers and the most geographically diverse U.S. casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment’s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah’s® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars Entertainment’s portfolio also includes the Caesars Entertainment UK family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars Entertainment is committed to its employees, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com/corporate.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of Eldorado and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the timing and completion of the merger with Caesars Entertainment Corporation. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” “should,” “will” or similar words intended to identify information that is not historical in nature. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that the forward-looking events discussed in this document will occur or be achieved. There is no assurance that the merger with Caesars Entertainment Corporation will be consummated, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. Information on risks and uncertainties is available in Eldorado’s recent filings with the SEC, including its reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this document speak only as of date of this document. These factors are difficult to anticipate and are generally beyond the control of Eldorado. Eldorado undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless required to do so by law.

Contacts

Brian Agnew

Eldorado Resorts Inc.

775/328-0112

investorrelations@eldoradoresorts.com

Joseph N. Jaffoni, Richard Land, James Leahy

JCIR

212-835-8500

eri@jcir.com