In addition to showing the latest blockbusters, this summer Cineplex will also be airing a live eSports tournament from Cologne, Germany.
The entertainment company has officially announced plans to enter the eSports space, starting with the broadcast of All Work All Play: The Pursuit of eSports Glory Live, a documentary about the global expansion of the industry. The doc begins showing on Sunday July 21 and on July 29 a panel discussion and gaming demo will follow the screening, live from Burbank, California.
In addition, Cineplex will be airing a live screening of the ESL One Cologne 2015: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Finals. The three-hour event will be broadcast from Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, the second-largest stadium in Europe, on Sunday Aug. 23. YouTuber and eSports commentator Soe Gschwind-Penksi (Soembie), will host the event for cinema audiences.
Last fall 27 million people tuned in to the League of Legends Riot World Championships, the most-watched eSports event of 2014.
Mike Langdon, director of communications, Cineplex Entertainment, says the expansion into eSports is all part of the company’s aim to provide programming that draws people into theatres.
There aren’t any announcements planned around Cineplex hosting an eSports tournament of its own as of yet, says Langdon, even though the company did host an event in the fall of 2013 for the launch of EA SPORTS NHL 14 at its Yonge-Dundas theatre. That event drew 100 gamers, with Langdon remarking that people stayed on to watch even once they were knocked out of contention.
Tickets for All Work All Play: The Pursuit of eSports Glory Live and the live screening of the ESL One Cologne 2015: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Finals go on sale tomorrow.