Infront becomes new marketing partner of VfL Osnabrück from the 2016/17 season onwards
Infront signs long-term partnership with Epulze to host Masters of Gaming series
InstaForex becomes Online FX Trading Partner of US Città di Palermo
Infront takes B2RUN to Romania with two events in Bucharest and Cluj Napoca already planned for 2016
AFFLELOU Group sets sights on esports with new Team Vitality partnership
New FIFA eSports Team FOKUS CLAN to be first major project in new exclusive partnership
Frankfurt, Germany, 23 January 2018 – STARK eSports, one of Europe's top eSports agencies, and Infront have signed an exclusive partnership that sees the leading sports marketing company take a new step into the world of competitive gaming. This emphasizes the strategic realignment of the company in terms of emerging sports and digital topics.
A new FIFA eSports team – FOKUS CLAN – will be the first of many joint projects going forward, with STARK responsible for the strategy, operations and athletes and Infront managing all sports marketing aspects.
Key move for new strategy
For Infront it is the first exclusive, strategic partnership in eSports and underlines the company's ambition in adapting its strategy to reflect the current sports market. STARK has been one of Europe's leading agencies in the field of eSports for several years and brings a wealth of experience in player and team management. Infront, in turn, boasts high expertise in sports marketing, specifically concerning brand management. The partnership is the perfect match for entering the rapidly growing and broadening eSports market.
FOKUS CLAN is the inaugural joint project with its FIFA eSports team. Specializing exclusively in FIFA, the partnership aims to bring real sports values to life, combining real and digital football while combining the themes of lifestyle and gaming. In close cooperation, STARK and Infront want to lead the team to success in terms of sport, economy and brand positioning.
A perfect synergy
Dennis Nirtl, Managing Director STARK eSports: "The cooperation with Infront is a significant milestone in the history of our company. Both partners combine common values, goals and visions. Since founding, our mission is to connect the digital and the real world through innovative content, concepts and events. The strategic partnership with Infront is therefore the next logical step for us. With the brand FOKUS CLAN, we are excited to have a very special and major project to work on, together."
Reinhardt Weinberger, Managing Director Infront Germany: "Today’s announcement is the culmination of the commitment we have made to eSports. The partnership with STARK and our joint project, FOKUS CLAN, are a very positive outcome. We wanted to be perfectly prepared and knowledgeable of the whole eSports ecosystem before entering this exciting market and we feel we have made the right move. Through our partnership with STARK we have a top player from the world of eSports by our side. With the combination of our expertise we can find great success with FOKUS CLAN – both competitively and in a business sense. We are very excited to accompany FOKUS CLAN together with STARK eSports and contribute our know-how taking a big step in the direction of our new strategy.“
Yanik Gereon, Managing Director FOKUS CLAN: "We are thrilled to announce that we have, with STARK eSports and Infront, two of the leading companies in their respective fields as partners. This unique combination will provide exciting opportunities across multiple levels. FOKUS CLAN is the new benchmark of German FIFA eSports and with these two strong partners we look forward to the upcoming challenges."
About STARK eSports
The company with offices in Zurich, Bochum and Nagold in Baden-Wuerttemberg is the absolute number one in the global FIFA eSports market. As an innovative pioneer, in 2015 the Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg, the first traditional football club, was brought into eSports, triggering a worldwide movement that has since been joined by more than 70 clubs. As a lead agency, STARK eSports has been responsible for the eSports engagements of numerous national and international top clubs, while in Germany the clubs VfL Wolfsburg, VfB Stuttgart, Hertha BSC and VfL Bochum 1848 are guided by the company. The management consists of eSports pioneers and enthusiasts who have been managing successful teams for many years and paving the way for company’s entries in the eSports scene. (http://www.starkesports.com)
About FOKUS CLAN
The first professional eSports club 100% focused on the topic of digital football. An eSports brand that embodies the values of real sports. A destination for young gamers and the next generation of FIFA eSports athletes. An attractive content platform with a huge digital reach. In short - the most ambitious project in FIFA eSports - that's FOKUS CLAN. Founded in 2017 by FIFA professionals and influencers, it is an honour for any gamer to be part of this special team. The FOKUS CLAN is exclusive and combines the best of the worlds of entertainment, gaming, FIFA eSports and influencer marketing. (#followfokus)
About Infront
Infront, a Wanda Sports company, is a leading sports marketing company managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production, event operation and digital solutions – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer sports and corporate and personal fitness, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with over 180 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Group, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.
