ESL Faceit Group CEO: 'Hold the course' with CS inventory

SBJ Live: AI and Computer Vision: How these technologies power automation across sports

Secrecy about Valve's plans for the release of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 2 has ESL Faceit Group, which organizes many of the marquis CS:GO esports majors, in a holding pattern in terms of preparation for future events around the globe.

Valve has only announced that Romania-based event organizer PGL will stage the first CSGO2 event in March 2024, but beyond that, no plans have come from the game publisher beyond a vague promise of something "over the summer." ESL CEO Craig Levine talked to SBJ at the Complexity 20th Anniversary Party over the weekend and said, "It’s hold the course. I don’t think much changes. ...From an ecosystem perspective, our plans stay the same.”

ESL-hosted majors include IEM Katowice (Poland) and IEM Cologne (Germany), two highly-popular events. “Whether or not we get those [Majors], we’re staying the course,” Levine said. While majors are more high-profile and likely more lucrative, Levine also pointed to the ESL Pro Tour circuit as an area of excellence the company is leaning on in terms of inventory."

The Pegula Family restructures it's sports holdings, PWHL announces home markets, facility renovation boom continues, and leaders to discuss potential changes to the College Football Playoff format.

SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports — Michael Goldstein SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports features an interview with Michael Goldstein, founder of SES Insights and a member of Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 class of 2019. Goldstein talks with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about how he transitioned from ESPN to Mastercard to now starting up his own marketing and sponsorship company. Goldstein also shares how testing out new waters has benefited him throughout his career and personal life. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards, such as Forty Under 40, Game Changers and others.

Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Friday night will play host to the return of SlamBall, and league co-founder Mike Tollin credits an organic groundswell among fans as a key impetus in bringing the sport back to life in the U.S. Tollin, who also serves as Mandalay Sports Media co-chair, spoke with SBJ’s Austin Karp about the relationship with broadcast partner ESPN, how the funding efforts exceeded expectations, as well as the potential roles both sports wagering and social media could play.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/06/05/Esports/esl-faceit-group-craig-levine.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/06/05/Esports/esl-faceit-group-craig-levine.aspx