Major League Gaming Announces World Finals in New Orleans
New Orleans, La. — Major League Gaming, the longest running eSports league in the world, today announced that it will be partnering with the City of New Orleans to host the MLG World Finals at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on October 16-18th. The 3-Day event will feature the world’s best Dota 2 and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare teams competing for over $500,000. Greater New Orleans, Inc. worked with its partners at the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and New Orleans Business Alliance for the past eight months to help bring the MLG World Finals to Greater New Orleans.
“Greater New Orleans, Inc. is thrilled that Major League Gaming has selected New Orleans for its championship in October,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “At the same time that GNO, Inc. and our partners at the Conventions and Visitors Bureau and New Orleans Convention Center ensure this is the signature championship event of video gaming, Major League Gaming will help solidify Greater New Orleans’ reputation as the fastest growing software market in America.”
“We are happy to announce that New Orleans will host the 2015 Major League Gaming World Finals. New Orleans continues to host some of the world’s best events and this will be another unbelievable experience for New Orleans residents and visitors alike,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “With a booming entrepreneurial community, great sports traditions and a vibrant, diverse-culture, New Orleans is the perfect city for world-class sports and gaming entertainment.”
“New Orleans’ tech industry is booming like never before and is now a critical asset to the city’s entrepreneurial economy,” said Stephen Perry, CEO New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The timing could not be better for the city to host Major League Gaming, leveraging a natural synergy with our burgeoning digital media and entertainment industries in the best business climate we have ever seen. From the world-class hotels to award-winning restaurants, the city is ready to welcome the MLG Pro Circuit for the first time. We look forward to building this partnership as the economic and cultural renaissance in New Orleans continues to flourish.”
The 2015 World Finals will serve as a milestone in MLG history as the 100th live event. Celebrating a rich tradition of MLG eSports that to date has seen over 50,000 live event competitors, 45 million online matches played by over 10 million registered users and $13.5 million awarded in prize money.
“For the better part of a decade we’ve been hosting incredible tournaments and given out an insane amount of prize money, and we wanted to honor that tradition with our 100th event by making it bigger and better than ever before” said Mike Sepso, President and Cofounder of MLG, “Fans will get multiple competitions, the best teams in the world, and all the excitement of New Orleans over the course of 3 days, in what we hope will be an event to remember for years to come.”
“We are excited that MLG chose New Orleans as host of the 2015 World Championship,” said Melissa Ehlinger, interim CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance. “This decision affirms the strength of the New Orleans digital media landscape and signals the growing reputation the city enjoys as a gaming hub.”
eSports fans from all over the globe will have the opportunity to connect with fellow eSports fans in a vibrant and exciting city, celebrate a historic occasion in MLG history and witness the best players compete over 3 days for $500,000 in cash prizes, including a championship Sunday hosted in the convention center’s state of the art theater.
For more information and to purchase tickets: majorleaguegaming.com/finals
About Greater New Orleans, Inc.
GNO, Inc. is the regional economic development organization for Southeast Louisiana. The GNO, Inc. Mission is to create jobs and wealth in the Greater New Orleans community. The GNO, Inc. Vision is for the Greater New Orleans region to fulfill its potential as one of the best places in the country to grow a company, and raise a family.
More information can be found at www.gnoinc.org.
About MLG
Founded in 2002, MLG is a fully integrated eSports operator incorporating online tournaments, streaming and live events to promote the growth and awareness of eSports worldwide. MLG.tv provides a platform for high-quality competition that reaches 27 million highly engaged fans each month via web, mobile and OTT devices.
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