Berlin, October 21st 2021 – Top esport organization BIG has been unveiled today as one of the newest Partner Teams in ESL Pro League’s historic ‘Louvre Agreement’ – joining some of the biggest names in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
Three successful teams each individually applied for a spot in the Louvre Agreement; with their individual bids totalling almost $20M (USD), marking a significant boost to the longevity of the ESL Pro League and the sustainability of competitive CS:GO. As Partner Teams in the Louvre Agreement, they will be joining ESL and the existing 12 Partner Teams to participate in the ESL Pro League on an ongoing basis. They will now be equal stakeholders in the ESL Pro League and jointly shape the governance and share the revenues alongside ESL and the existing teams.
Furia and BIG will join ESL and Astralis, Complexity, ENCE, Evil Geniuses, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, G2 Esports, Mousesports, Natus Vincere, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Team Liquid and Team Vitality with immediate effect. Due to the disruption caused by the events, and the timing of the subsequent ESIC inquiry, the Members and Heroic both agreed to delay the team’s official start date until the second half of 2022. This enables the new leadership to adequately address the outcome of the investigation and will give them ample time to implement their new strategies and standards.
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Statement Alex Inglot, ESL Pro League Commissioner
When we started this process back in March, we were inundated with expressions of interest from over 40 ventures in CS:GO, esports more generally and even those currently not operating in the space. This marked an encouraging start and we have now come to the end of our journey; with the 13 existing Members overwhelmingly appreciating the rigour and objectivity of the process, as well as the calibre of the three teams that have been approved: BIG, Furia and Heroic. These teams and their investors have recognised the value of what we are building with the ESL Pro League project. The fact that they have put down such significant bids (with financial and non-financial components to each) shows they see real stable governance and growing value, that puts us on a par with other top-tier investment opportunities in esports or sports. We are in no doubt that each of these three teams will meaningfully contribute to our momentum, in the spirit of collaboration, global growth and strategic creativity.
Statement Daniel Finkler, BIG CEO
The last couple of weeks have been enormously intense and challenging, but today I’m very happy to finally announce that BIG has acquired an ESL Pro League Partner slot in a very competitive bidding process.
The acceptance of BIG as an official ESL Pro League Partner Team is a great milestone in our corporate history. Joining the Louvre Agreement so early in its inception is a one-time opportunity from a business standpoint, we’re extremely confident in the Pro League as an investment. The high level of competition in the bidding process and the significant investment amounts, are a testament to the enormous relevance of the ESL Pro League and the entire ESL Pro Tour ecosystem. With the successful acquisition, we have now laid the foundation for further growth and consolidated our position as a top club at the forefront of esports worldwide. At this point, I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to our investors Marc Staperfeld (MSS Holding) and RBP Luxembourg S.A, who supported us significantly throughout the bidding process and keep believing in BIG’s vision. From a personal perspective, I hold a strong belief that the foundation of any successful endeavour always begins with the right people and the right plans. We believe the Louvre Agreement has both, and we’re excited to now be a part of it.
