Esports Arena recently launched Esports Arena Series E, a semi-professional league that will debut in May.
Featuring Fortnite and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the league will be located in 18 Walmart Supercenters around the United States. This includes 11 new in-store arenas that will be opening in April with the support of Microsoft Xbox.
According to Esports Arena CEO Tyler Endres, Series E is the “next step” in their goal of helping gamers recognize their potential. 40 competitors will even have the chance to become contracted within the Esports Arena ecosystem.
“Our national expansion provides accessibility to gamers throughout the United States who may otherwise not have competitive gaming opportunities,” Endres said.
Before the Series E competition officially begins, Esports Arena will be running qualifiers at the Pro Shop locations within the Walmart stores from February 6 to March 27. From there, they will select 40 players to participate in a draft on April 17. The competitors will be matched up with a number of popular brand sponsors, including Pringles, Pop Tarts, Nerf, Rice Krispies Treats, Intel, G Fuel, and Cheez-It.
The matches from the 20-week series will be broadcast live on Twitch, Mixer, and Walmart’s official website. Super Smash Bros. will be streamed on Saturdays and Fortnite will have Sundays.
The Fortnite tournaments will be held online and Super Smash Bros. will have in-person matches. Competitors will travel to Esports Arena locations twice a month for home-and-away games. All of the players are compensated with $1,000 per month and there will be a cash prize for the winner of the championship game.
At the end of the season, the four highest-ranked players will compete to keep their spot in the league. The remaining competitors will be duking it out against qualifying amateurs for a spot on the league.
“For us to provide this farm league, semi-pro league, little league, for the everyday gamer to have that chance to take their first step in esports is really what Esports Arena has been focused on,” Endres said.
Esports Arena partnered with Walmart in 2018 when they opened a handful of Pro Shops in the Supercenters for customers to shop for gaming gear. Walmart has been involved in the esports scene ever since, becoming an official LCS merchandise vendor in June of last year.
You can find out how you can compete in the Series E tournament on Walmart’s official website.
