Fansided

NYCFC FIFA player becomes latest to get contract with traditional sports team

By Derek Helling

Apr 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo (21) kicks the ball during the first half at Yankee Stadium against the Chicago Fire. NYCFC and Chicago played to a 0-0 tie. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo (21) kicks the ball during the first half at Yankee Stadium against the Chicago Fire. NYCFC and Chicago played to a 0-0 tie. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York City FC has signed Christopher Holly to represent its side in domestic and international FIFA eSports tournaments, further cementing the fact that sports-game-centric eSports leagues will mimic traditional sports formats.

MLS has its first professional eSports competitor, and NYCFC FIFA player Christopher Holly will wear the team kit in all of his future competitions according to Mark J. Burns of SportTechie. This strengthens the ties between traditional sports franchises and emerging eSports brands.

This announcement comes just weeks after Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck revealed that the upcoming NBA 2K eLeague will resemble the physical NBA in many ways. Over the past few months, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has laid out his vision for an eNHL, and eight NFL teams have taken part in a Madden tournament with players representing the individual franchises.

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Last year, Ligue 1 sponsored an eLeague for FIFA 17 with players representing individual French clubs. The common thread in all these situations is that traditional sports franchises are capitalizing on opportunities to reach new audiences by associating their brands with eSports players/teams.

What’s unique about Holly and the NYCFC partnership, however, is that Holly will participate in international competitions. That’s in addition to helping grow the FIFA 17 eSports brand in the United States.

This could be read as momentum toward MLS starting a domestic eLeague. That may be a ways off, however. MLS seems focused on expansion efforts, and the stadium initiatives that go along with it right now. The advancement of MLS eSports competition may fall onto officials at individual clubs.

In that endeavor, NYCFC has become the first. It may not be long before other clubs join it, however. eSports are not only popular worldwide, but on average appeal to a younger demographic more effectively than many other forms of entertainment.

It may only be a matter of time before fans can purchase Holly kits from the NYCFC team store.