Tag: kemperlesnik

Audent Global Asset Management Selects KemperLesnik as Agency of Record

Posted on by KemperLesnik

CHICAGO, February 28, 2024 – Audent Global Asset Management, an advisory and investment management firm primarily serving high-net-worth individuals and family offices, has partnered with KemperLesnik for public relations, content creation, social media and event support.

KemperLesnik will work with Audent Global Asset Management (“Audent GAM”) to help grow awareness of Audent GAM’s brand and distinctive investment services among consumer and B2B audiences, primarily through a complementary mix of media relations and social media efforts ranging from executive positioning to content development to ad campaigns. The agency will also provide event support by coordinating speaking and sponsorship opportunities at regional and national events.

“We wanted a communications team with a demonstrated track record of understanding and explaining the nuances of complex industries and delivering impactful results, which is why we chose the KemperLesnik team,” said Gregg Kaplan, senior vice president at Audent GAM. “The agency’s proven expertise and thoughtful approach aligns perfectly with our objectives.”

Led by its CEO and CIO Paul Feinstein, an award-winning wealth management advisor with 25 years of experience, Audent GAM delivers holistic financial planning through custom portfolios, and three investment funds that combine traditional and alternative investments, such as options, venture capital and real estate. The firm utilizes state-of-the-art technology to construct portfolios and provides daily, active stewardship of client investments. Audent GAM also offers its technology and services as a resource to RIAs.

“Telling our clients stories, no matter the industry or the medium, is at the heart of what KemperLesnik does best,” said David Prosperi, executive vice president and managing director at KemperLesnik. “We are excited to collaborate with Audent GAM and deliver on a strategic communications plan that can help the team achieve their business goals.”

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About KemperLesnik
KemperLesnik is a Chicago-based public relations, content creation, social media management and event support agency. Founded in 1976, it serves clients nationally and specializes in the insurance and financial services, professional services, and sports, recreation and hospitality sectors. Ranked by Crain’s Chicago Business among Chicago’s top PR agencies and recognized by PRSA for creative campaigns that deliver powerful results, KemperLesnik produces strategic business- and consumer-targeted communications programs that integrate earned, shared, owned and paid media tactics. Along with sister company KemperSportsLIVE, KemperLesnik manages media for local, regional and national events, such as the Maui Invitational. Learn more at www.kemperlesnik.com.

 About Audent

Based in Los Angeles, Audent Global Asset Management is a full-service investment boutique focused on tailoring portfolios to align with clients’ individual goals for capital preservation, income, and growth. Founded in 2020, the firm’s clients range from successful individuals at the beginning of their wealth accumulation cycle to established family offices charged with pursuing multiple investment objectives. Audent uses its three flagship funds in conjunction with customized strategies to achieve their clients’ goals and objectives. Audent also helps registered investment advisors (RIAs) grow their business through access to the firm’s online platform. Visit the website and follow the team on LinkedIn to learn more.

Five Brands Making Major Investments into Esports in 2021

Posted on by KemperLesnik

With the popularity of esports growing across the globe, brands are not sitting idly by on the sidelines. While some mainstays have been around the scene for years, others are using 2021 as a springboard for diving into the industry. The promise of a captive, youthful, and massive audience is even enough to make a 148-year-old blue jean company roll the dice on competitive gaming. However they arrived here, these five brands have already found innovative ways to make a splash within esports over the first few months of the new year.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

Cash App 

Cash App, the money transferring service, has recently announced a partnership with self-described “premium lifestyle brand and gaming organization” 100 Thieves. The two have joined forces to launch the “100 Thieves Cash Card”, which will cost $5, with a dollar from each purchase going to the charity organization Gamers Outreach. The card will also come with ‘exclusive boost incentives’ that have yet to be announced. At the time of this writing, the new cash card is entirely sold out and won’t become available again until later this summer. 

Cash App has worked with 100 Thieves since 2019 and is the title sponsor of the Cash App Compound, a 15,000 square foot esports team facility in downtown Los Angeles. 

Red Bull

A mainstay on the esports branding lineup, the drink that grants wings has continued to make its presence known within gaming. The company currently hosts over a dozen annual events around the world, sponsors a variety of teams and individual athletes, and has a dedicated full-time esports content production team.

Just last week, Red Bull Racing Esports announced a partnership with gaming equipment manufacturer HyperX for “gaming mice, keyboards and the HyperX Cloud Gaming Headsets.” 

Commenting on the partnership, Red Bull Racing Honda’s Chief Marketing Officer, Oliver Hughes, said: “We are incredibly proud of the growth and success of our Esports Team, which is, in turn, enabling us to partner with other market leaders in this space.”

Levi’s 

The longrunning (founded in 1873) American blue jeans company made its first serious foray into the esports space this year by announcing a partnership with NRG Esports, a competitive gaming organization. The deal grants Levi’s a physical presence inside NRG’s headquarters, Hot Pockets Castle, where visitors will be able to personalize their apparel. On the digital side, Levi’s will be incorporated within the upcoming “A Day in the Life of an NRG Influencer” social content series along with the NRG Twitch and YouTube channels. 

Levi’s VP/Marketing Stacy Doren stated that esports “have become such an important part of today’s youth culture, and with NRG being one of the biggest players in that space, they were an ideal partner to help bring Levi’s into the world of gaming.”

Mercedes-Benz 

Unlike Levi’s, the famous German car company has been invested in the esports space for quite some time now. Mercedes-Benz joined forces with ESL in 2017, a partnership still going to this day. The brand also signed an agreement with the Chinese League of Legends organization Royal Never Give Up and fielded a team in the F1 Esports Series.

In 2019, Mercedes’ parent company purchased 67 percent of ESforce’s stake in German esports organization SK Gaming. The deal included high visibility branding opportunities for the luxury car manufacturer. 

This year, The Polish branch of Mercedes-Benz became the title sponsor of esports and gaming venue “ESPOT Powered By Mercedes-Benz” in Warsaw, Poland.

DHL 

In a newly announced multi-year partnership, DHL will continue to serve as the official logistics partner for ESL events. The company is in charge of moving equipment, such as monitors and gaming chairs, and will be coordinating on the ESL Pro Tour, ESL Mobile, and all Dota 2 events.

“With this partnership, we are very successfully addressing a young target group that can hardly be reached through traditional marketing channels,” said Arjan Sissing, Head of Brand Marketing at Deutsche Post DHL Group. “As digital natives, esports fans naturally have a strong affinity for e-commerce, and for us as a logistics operator, e-commerce is a mainstay of our business.” 

DHL first partnered with ESL in 2018 and previously used some creative marketing tactics to blend the brand within Dota 2.

For additional information on KemperLesnik and recommendations for your brand, please email info@kemperlesnik.com

Esports Explained: Twitch

Posted on by KemperLesnik

In this series by KemperLesnik, we will be exploring and defining popular esports terms and games. This article covers Twitch, a popular live streaming service for gamers.

In the world of esports, content distribution is just as important as the content itself. Without distribution, creators would spend their time making content just to have it seen by no one. That’s where a platform like Twitch comes in to play.

Launched in 2011, Twitch is a live streaming service designed primarily for gamers. Twitch users can watch other people playing video games or live stream their own gameplay to an audience made up of other users. Twitch users can also follow and DM (Direct Message) each other, and each stream has its own unique chatroom where users can connect and discuss what’s happening on the stream.

Many different games are streamed on the Twitch platform. The most-watched games on the platform include Grand Theft Auto, League of Legends, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Minecraft, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2. It has also been used to host interviews and conversations, and to play non-traditional video games such as chess.

In 2014, Amazon acquired the streaming service for $970 million. At the time, it was the biggest acquisition in Amazon’s history. As part of the agreement, Amazon created a service called Twitch Prime, which was eventually rebranded to Prime Gaming. Prime Gaming is included with all Amazon Prime subscriptions and provides users with free games, free Twitch channel subscriptions, and exclusive in-game loot.

Similar to YouTube, Twitch makes money from advertisements that are integrated into live streams; it also makes money from paid subscriptions to popular channels. Twitch streamers have the potential to earn money through these subscriptions and through brand partnerships. Currently, the most popular streamer on Twitch is Ludwig Ahgren, who has more than 225,000 active subscribers. Another popular streamer, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, allegedly made more than $75,000 per month on Twitch when his channel was at its peak.

Twitch can be watched on the official website and through the Twitch app on most mobile devices. Users also have the ability to stream Twitch on any major gaming platform. To stream on Twitch, creators can get started with nothing more than a webcam and a microphone.

As of this year, Twitch has more than 9.7 million unique creators on the platform. During peak hours, Twitch accounts for nearly 2% of all internet traffic and more than 40% of all video streaming. In March alone, users watched more than 2.1 billion hours of content on Twitch. The platform has more than 140 monthly active users (MAUs) and continues to grow at a strong pace.

For additional information on KemperLesnik and recommendations for your brand, please email info@kemperlesnik.com

Five Schools Leading the Way for Collegiate Esports

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With each passing year, esports becomes a larger part of the college sports landscape. In 2018, there were only 70 full-time collegiate esports programs in the country. By 2020, that number had ballooned to 170, with more schools joining in every month.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

Similarly, in the 2015-16 academic year, esports scholarships totaled $2.5 million nationally. By 2019, national scholarship dollars were up to $15 million, a 600% increase. As schools across the country focus on expanding their programs and enticing top recruits, a battle is playing out for who can offer, and deliver, the most to potential players. 

Here are five schools that are leading the way for collegiate esports when it comes to competition, facilities, and educational opportunities for student-athletes.

 

  • Maryville University- For fans of college esports, it should come as no surprise that Maryville University in Saint Louis is at the top of this list. After starting their program in 2015, Maryville made a name for themselves after going 40-0 and winning the 2016 League of Legends Championship. They won the same championship again in 2017 and 2020. The school has a state-of-the-art practice facility for their team that includes high-speed computers, high-end gaming headsets, and gaming chairs, creating an environment where the team can practice without any distractions. The school offers gaming scholarships up to $2,000 per year and hopes to continue to improve its offerings moving forward.

 

  • The University of California at Irvine- UC Irvine was the first public school to create a varsity esports team. Their campus features one of the most extravagant esports facilities in the country, housing over 70 high-speed computers and a large arena to host games and tournaments. Also included in the facility is a “Console and Community Corner” that features several gaming consoles where players can compete with or against each other, making the facility appealing to more than just PC gamers. The school focuses primarily on League of Legends and Overwatch, offering scholarships of up to $5,610 per year for varsity players in each game.

 

  • Miami University (Ohio)- Miami University in Oxford, Ohio is known for becoming the nation’s first Division 1 varsity esports program after creating their varsity program in 2015. In 2016, the school started offering varsity esports scholarships for student-athletes, competing primarily in Overwatch, Rocket League, and Hearthstone. The school developed an arena for the esports program on the first floor of the campus library, which features 16 gaming stations that each include a gaming computer that possesses a high-end graphics card and monitor. The university also offers summer esports camps where students can visit campus to compete in tournaments and train like varsity esports athletes.

 

  • Boise State University- Boise State created its esports program in 2017. Originally focusing on Rocket League, Overwatch, and League of Legends, the program has since expanded to include Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone. The tryout process for the BSU varsity team is extensive, taking up a full week at the start of the school year. Players on the team are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, well above the standard requirement for student-athletes. The Broncos’ home arena includes several impressive amenities such as a broadcasting section, a graphics and technical mixing area, and a two-tiered stage with a large spectating area.

 

  • University of Utah- The University of Utah is new to the competitive gaming scene, starting its program in 2017. However, the school has some of the most expansive gaming offerings outside of the competitive scene, including a game development program that has been offered since 2007 and an undergraduate degree in gaming that was started in 2017. The university has a gaming facility that is stocked with 20 gaming computers and top-notch keyboards, headsets, and gaming mice. Utah brands itself as “Gamer U,” with more than 200 students trying out for 30 spots on the school’s varsity Overwatch, League of Legends, and Hearthstone teams.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

Four Technologies That Will Define the Future of Gaming

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Speed is the name of the game. As technology evolves so does the esports industry. Here are four technologies influencing the future of gaming.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

Augmented Reality – Augmented reality (AR) is defined as “a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.” AR has already hit mainstream gaming culture, most notably in the summer of 2016 when Pokémon GO had endless waves of gamers wandering the streets in search of their elusive prey. Now, Nintendo is looking to double down on its investment in AR technology.

The gaming giant has etched a new deal with Niantic, the creators of Pokémon GO, to develop AR games based on Nintendo franchises. The first of which will “encourage walking in a way that will combine elements from the Pikmin games and Niantic’s real-world AR technology.” Nintendo is known for pushing the technological envelope and this new deal ensures that AR won’t simply be a forgotten fad, but a legitimate player in the future of gaming.

Virtual Reality – Virtual Reality (VR) refers to a computer-generated simulation where a person can interact with an artificial environment. VR has been involved in gaming since the late 1960s in some capacity, but recent hardware innovations have made advanced VR systems available to consumers at an affordable price point. As the technology continues to improve, VR will allow developers to create gaming experiences unlike anything the industry has ever seen, dropping players directly into fictional universes that are essentially indistinguishable from reality.

Widespread adoption of VR will also enable developers to create their own “metaverses,” which are shared virtual spaces hosted within a game. These metaverses will allow users to connect and interact with each other virtually while remaining in the comfort of their own homes (or wherever they may be connected), ultimately making gaming a more social experience.

5G – 5G is the fifth generation of technology for broadband cellular networks, which began deploying worldwide in 2019. 5G offers up to 10 times the speed currently offered by 4G LTE, allowing players to stream and download games like never before. This will enable more people to play games directly from the cloud, eliminating the need to download games to a device. The biggest impact of this technology will likely come from the improved latency that 5G enables. With response times as low as five milliseconds, gamers can expect to play on the network without suffering any lag between user input and the game’s response.

The technology is already being used to hold esports competitions, with the finals of Asphalt 9: Legends and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds during this year’s Milan Games week both being hosted on Vodaphone Italy’s 5G network. As the technology continues to roll out across the globe, we can expect this trend to become more widespread, allowing gaming competitions to take place from wherever there’s a mobile network available.

Next Gen Consoles – While getting your hands on a PS5 or Xbox Series X may seem impossible, the next gen consoles are set to have a significant impact on esports in the coming year. Most obviously, the increased computing power from these consoles allows for games to stably run at a minimum of 60 FPS, something current iterations often cannot run. This eliminates some of the advantages PCs long held over consoles and makes the PS5 and Xbox Series X more viable options for a competitive gaming scene that relies on split second accuracy and smooth uninterrupted frame rates. In addition, Microsoft and 343 Industries have promised an expansive esports ecosystem in the upcoming Xbox title Halo: Infinite and Playstation just purchased the Evo Fighting Game Championship Series, indicating both console creators are committed to fostering competitive gaming on their platforms.

While it’s extremely unlikely these consoles will take over the esports realm, the lineup of next gen consoles are closer to PCs than ever before. This means more people will have access to esports capable machines, which could create a rise in demand and interest for the growing industry across all platforms.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

Esports Tournaments and the Fight Card System

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To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

 

Esports tournament organizers and brands are scrambling to find the best way to monetize and broadcast esports competition. Some tournaments, such as the League of Legends LCS and Overwatch’s Overwatch League (OWL) used a franchised system of competition. This creates consistent, predictable matches every week, culminating in playoffs that will see an uptick in viewership.

Other games, most notably Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), and DOTA 2, use a circuit point system similar to that seen in tennis, where smaller tournaments give teams a chance to accrue enough points to get invited to large, global events. Since these competitions happen less often, this provides an opportunity for brands to hit a larger audience over a few specific events, as opposed to smaller, albeit more consistent, viewership in franchised leagues.

A more unique system of competition popularized by professional wrestling is known as the fight card system, where tournaments revolve around the winner of the previous tournament returning to defend their title against a new set of challengers. Not typically seen in esports tournaments, this fight card competition is being used by WSOE, otherwise known as the World Showdown of Esports.

Benefits of the Fight Card System

A returning esports tournament champion defending their title provides an inherent storyline to a competition. As an example, at WSOE 5, Hearthstone player Jia returned to Las Vegas at a chance to earn $15,000 and preserve her reputation as one of the best Hearthstone players in the world.

As many of the players competing at WSOE 5 also competed in WSOE 2, the previous Hearthstone tournament organized by WSOE, this also offers the opportunity for redemption arcs for players. Fight card competition in esports tournaments creates inherent storylines as strong as those in professional wrestling and is an opportunity for brands to get involved with engaging esports storylines.

WSOE’s fight card system also provides them with competitive flexibility. Not only can WSOE decide which game will be the focus of each tournament (they’ve hosted tournaments in Fortnite, Rocket League, DOTA 2, and Hearthstone), but the competitors of each tournament can be selected based on availability and popularity. Thanks to the transient nature of esports, certain games, players, and esports teams may be popular one month, but be old news the next. Flexibility in esports tournaments allows WSOE to stay on the cutting edge of esports, and provide partners with the most current esports experiences.

Esports Tournaments in the Years Ahead

As money pours into esports, some companies and brands are doubling down on certain esports, such as League of Legends and Overwatch. These franchised leagues surely bring great value to their partners, but come at a great cost – buying into the latest season of the Overwatch League was rumored to cost as high as $60 million. Such a high cost would suggest it’s also quite expensive to partner with a team.

Considering how transient esports viewership is, with many spectators quickly jumping to different flavor of the month titles, makes it hard for brands to take the plunge into esports partnerships, despite viewership for some events reaching as high as 200 million viewers.

 

There is an opportunity for brands that want more flexibility in their partnerships, and the fight card format allows for this flexibility, along with an opportunity for more storylines. WSOE 6, which was held this past April, focused on DOTA 2, and hit over 50,000 viewers during key matches.

(Source: SullyGnome.com)

In the future, we will likely see more esports tournaments adopt the fight card system, as it allows the flexibility and storylines that viewers, brands, and tournament organizers all want, without the steep investment of other esports events.