Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians announced that it has entered right into a strategic partnership with the Canadian League of Gamers’ “Northern Arena,” the most important professional eSports League in Canada.

The partnership will lead to the creation of Southern Arena and build upon the success of Northern Arena to create a North American professional eSports league.

Northern Arena’s events in 2016 are expected to draw an astounding four million eSports fans through streaming video and 10,000 fans onsite. Southern Arena’s two events within the fall and next spring are expected to draw 5,000 fans onsite and over half 1,000,000 viewers online.

Darrell Mike, tribal chairman for the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians says, “Building Southern Arena as a world-class professional eSports League is the primary of its kind for the 486 Indian gaming operations within the US. Being at the leading edge of the eSports movement will benefit not just the tribe and its members, but more importantly build at the Coachella Valley brand because the capital of entertainment and hospitality within the United States.”

“eSports is exploding with interest and becoming one of the most fastest growing sports within the world,” says Greg Spievak, co-founder of the Canadian League of Gamers. “The eSports market in 2016 is estimated to generate $1.3 billion in gross revenues, that is with regards to the $1.5 billion the NFL generates. In keeping with Fortune Magazine (October 2015), eSports revenue will surpass $1.9 billion in 2018.”

The visionary behind Northern and Southern Arena and co-founder of the Canadian League of Gamers, Carl-Edwin Michel said he's “enthusiastic to supervise Southern Arena events and absolutely thrilled in regards to the partnership between the Canadian League of Gamers and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.”

Read More... [Source: Gaming Industry News]