Esports Entertainment to be exclusive esports provider at Pro Football Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio

Esports Entertainment Group Inc (NASDAQ:GMBL) is bringing its esports technology to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio.   The company is teaming with Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment Company (NASDAQ:HOFV), the only resort, entertainment, and media company centered around the power of professional football and the owner of the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls.  Per terms of the partnership, Esports Entertainment said it will be the Hall of Fame Village’s official esports provider and will operate a 7,000-square-foot Helix eSports entertainment center that will be located in the retail promenade at the destination, joining Topgolf Swing Suites and Don Shula's, among others.  READ: Esports Entertainment partners with iGEA and Spectrum Gaming to bring esports to tribal nations and casinos The company said the esports center, which is slated to open in mid-2022, will serve as an entertainment hub where gamers can socialize, practice, compete, and learn through a variety of esports activities and events.  Esports Entertainment noted that the facility enables Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment to benefit from the strong demand for esports worldwide. In addition to the location, the new partnership allows for the consideration of additional growth in several other business lines, including the potential for esports betting and fantasy sports betting as legislators ponder the opportunity to legalize sports betting within Ohio over the next few months. "We are excited to work with HOFV to bring esports to the Hall of Fame Village," said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment, in a statement. "This partnership places our brand in front of professional football fans globally and will place a Helix eSports center right in Canton. It also aligns extremely well with our recent strategic push into Ohio, which gained momentum in recent months through our partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers as well as last month's testimony in front of the Ohio State Senate Select Committee on Gaming by our CFO Dan Marks and VP of Strategy Jeff Cohen as advocates for the esports industry." Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment CEO Michael Crawford added: "With the popularity of esports and its continued upwards trajectory, we are thrilled to partner with the highly respected EEG to offer fans a new state-of-the-art facility at the Village.  "Having an EEG-powered esports complex as part of our development on campus adds another compelling opportunity for gaming enthusiasts and guests to engage in virtual environments as well as offering us the ability to draw in fans from all over the world - both in person and virtually - providing us with strategic growth opportunities within our company's gaming vertical." Helix eSports center Esports Entertainment said the Helix eSports center will feature 80 high-end PCs, both next-generation console systems (Xbox Series X and Playstation5), and other leading gaming and computing equipment, including virtual reality.  It will be open for casual gameplay, allowing the destination's guests to socialize with friends while gaming in addition to future planned competitive tournaments and leagues. Additionally, there will be capacity for community and educational events meant to empower the next generation of gamers with equitable access to technology and STEM education. Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham