On July 28, 2021, Wolves announced its partnership with the North American esports giant Evil Geniuses in a deal that will see both teams increase their reach into new geographic markets and expand their expertise in player performance. 

The ground-breaking partnership comes off the back of investment from Fosun Sports Group into the Seattle-based esports organization.

Founded in 1999, Evil Geniuses boast one of the most decorated histories in esports, winning 86 national and 102 international championship titles. 

The organization currently competes in four of the world’s biggest esports titles – League of Legends, Dota 2, CSGO and Valorant – and have rosters containing some of the world’s most talented and followed players.

These rosters, which boast players from the Americas, Asia and Europe, helped Evil Geniuses content team reach more than 42 million people during last year’s competitive season.

The initial partnership will see Wolves branding feature on EG uniform, and the original EG logo feature a splash of gold.  

In return, Wolves’ Chinese team will help power Evil Geniuses expansion into the Asian market, where the popularity of esports has exploded in recent years, with a market size of approximately 150billion yuan in 2021.

In addition to supporting the creation of local mandarin content, Wolves will also provide Evil Geniuses with local training facilities in China, including a training base for the League of Legends World Championship, should the team qualify for the showcase event in Shenzhen later this year.  

Both teams will also work together to create English language content, sponsorship opportunities and joint branded merchandise which will be shared with fans in the coming months. 

Wolves’ general manager of marketing & commercial growth, Russell Jones, said: “This is an incredibly exciting partnership for Wolves and Wolves Esports. We have very lofty ambitions in esports, and this partnership allows us to learn from the very best. 

“We’ll be pooling resources across analysis and performance as well as marketing and commercial to service and grow both organizations. We are looking forward to working together on a number of fan engagement initiatives over the next few months and when travel routes allow, we will be encouraging our teams to visit and learn from their respective colleagues.” 

Evil Geniuses’ chief executive officer, Nicole LaPointe Jameson, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Wolves, a storied football club and strong sports and entertainment brand that aligns with our values and mission. This deal will help power Evil Geniuses’ expansion into the Asian markets while also providing new capital to sign more world-class players and grow into new esport titles.”

About Evil Geniuses

Founded in 1999, Evil Geniuses is one of the original and most recognisable professional esports organizations, boasting over 86 national and 102 international championship titles, capturing over $24 million in tournament winnings, and cultivating some of the longest-tenured partnerships and talent relationships in the industry.

Evil Geniuses was built on the belief that passion, commitment, and innovation could transform a beloved interest into a global phenomenon. Today, that same drive and dedication serve as the foundation of their legendary organization. From their top-tier esports teams to industry-changing technology, Evil Geniuses’ goal has always been – and will continue to be – building champions.

 
About Wolverhampton Wanderers

Founded in 1877, Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) is one of the oldest and most respected football teams in England and currently compete in the Premier League, which is the world’s most watched – available in 188 countries with a cumulative annual audience of 3.2 billion people.

In 1888, Wolves were one of the original 12 founders of the first ever professional football league, and just under 70 years later, in 1954, became pioneers of European football, introducing fans to floodlit matches against giants such as Spartak Moscow and Budapest Honvéd FC.

A 140-year rollercoaster ride across all four divisions of the English football pyramid has seen Wolves amass 17 major trophies in their history, including 11 league titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups. In 2016, Wolves were acquired by Chinese consumer technology company Fosun International, and a return to the Premier League followed in 2018, followed by a top-16 finish in the Europa League and back-to-back seventh placed finishes at the top of English football.