Microsoft And Metro Sports Partner To Tour Esports And Live Music
Photo by Florian Olivo on Unsplash
The Metro Sports and Entertainment Group (Metro-Sports) announced a new partnership with Microsoft Store to create a Esports & Live-Music college tour nationwide (the U.S).
The partnership featuring The 2019 Metro-Fest college tour, a multi-city digital sports and music festival that will include live-music performances, a technology product expo, and custom amateur video-game competition for prizes.
The partnership will also include plans to reach a digital audience led by distribution partner with media guru, Keith Clinkscales’ cultural sports platform, The Shadow League.
Targeting university goers and under-privileged youth from 12-18 years of age, the tour is produced for live-stream viewing, along with Pro Gamer & Professional Game Developer workshop.
Students will also stand a chance at winning a full semester of paid tuition.
Shaon Berry, CEO of Metro Sports: “We are entering a new era of live-stream entertainment, and Esports is leading the pack as the fastest growing sport in the world. As content and cultural experience creators, The Metro-Sports Group is incredibly excited to partner with Microsoft Store; to attract, engage, and influence a largely undeserved multicultural community of gaming, music and technology enthusiasts.”
Metro Sports also highlighted that studies have shown little to no diversity among streamers, professional players, scholarship recipients, game developers, and business owner — the minority communities make up most of video-game consumers (54 percent), and 42 percent of video-game console purchases.
The study published by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) in 2018 — those who work in game development consist of Caucasion (68 percent), Asian (18 percent), Hispanic (5 percent), and African American (1 percent).
“Microsoft Store is the destination for all gamers regardless of background or ability,” said Director of Gaming at Microsoft, Bryan Schmit.
“This partnership continues that commitment that all communities should have access to gaming and Esports opportunities that enable leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills to develop and empower our communities to flourish.”
