Northstar Meetings Group has announced that the 2020 EsportsTravel Summit—the only event of its kind for esports tournament and event organizers—will be an all-digital “Virtual from Arlington” experience and has been rescheduled to December 2–3. The Summit had previously been scheduled for November 18–20.
The EsportsTravel Summit is being hosted by the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Arlington Sports Commission. Existing registrations for the Summit will automatically be transferred to the virtual event. Summit attendees will gather virtually at the 100,000-square-foot Esports Stadium Arlington, which is the largest stadium for live competitive videogaming in North America.
“The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, Arlington Sports Commission and Esports Stadium Arlington have been tremendous partners as we’ve worked to reschedule this year’s Summit as a virtual event in December,” said Timothy Schneider, founder of the EsportsTravel Summit and chairman of the Sports Division of Northstar Travel Group, which publishes SportsTravel magazine and also organizes the annual TEAMS Conference & Expo. “Arlington’s commitment to the growth of the events industry during these difficult times puts them in the first tier of host cities,” said Schneider.
“In addition to Arlington hosting this year’s virtual EsportsTravel Summit, our new Globe Life Field will be the first-ever neutral-city venue for Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series and the World Series,” said Ron Price, president and CEO of the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Arlington will also be hosting the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field and the PBR World Finals,” said Price. “In this year of unprecedented challenges, Arlington has proven our adaptability as a great sports destination.”
In addition to the continued support of the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, Arlington Sports Commission and Esports Stadium Arlington, other major sponsors and partners have also recommitted their support to this year’s EsportsTravel Summit. In mid-July, the EsportsTravel Summit announced a new five-year partnership agreement with venue-design firm Populous, which will continue sponsoring the Summit in its virtual format.
“We are very pleased to support this innovative approach to this year’s EsportsTravel Summit,” said Brian Mirakian, senior principal at Populous, which designed Esports Stadium Arlington. “Esports Stadium Arlington is the perfect venue from which to host a virtual conference. We’re excited to be sponsoring the EsportsTravel Summit since both Populous and the Summit share a commitment to help reshape the future for destinations, venues and events,” said Mirakian.
The United States eSports Federation, which is recognized as the national governing body of esports by the International Esports Federation, will also be featured on the program and has recommitted to its partnership with the EsportsTravel Summit.
“We have been working closely with the EsportsTravel Summit as they’ve responded to the challenges that every event organizer has faced this year,” said Vlad Marinescu, president of the International Esports Federation. “The December dates and the all-digital format will allow for maximum participation of our members in this year’s Summit as we gather virtually with the goal of uniting the key stakeholders in the world of esports.”
“The EsportsTravel Summit will allow both esports- and travel-industry professionals to conclude the year in a way that will set the stage for the recovery of the esports events industry,” said Schneider. “We are excited that our new virtual format will allow everyone to gather, network and form business relationships while still experiencing much of what makes Arlington, Texas, such a compelling destination for both traditional sports and esports.”
The EsportsTravel Summit is the only business conference that focuses exclusively on esports and video-game competitions and their positive impact on the travel and events industries. For further information, please visit www.EsportsTravelSummit.com. To register, click here.