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Video Gamers

ESPN Knows This Is No Game

Major League GamingIt has been almost six full months since I last posted on the video gaming industry. If you are a long-time reader; however, you would know that I am a firm believer that agents have potential to thrive in this niche environment and that endorsements will continue to grow for video gamers. There have even been efforts to make video gaming an Olympic sport. The USA Network has aired gaming competitions and DirecTV developed its own gaming series.

I have been following the progression of the video gaming industry for the past two years, which is why I was not nearly as surprised as some to find out that ESPN will be airing video gaming competitions in 2008. In fact, ESPN decided to broker a deal with Major League Gaming (MLG), the same group that signed the aforementioned deal with USA Network and later expanded into Canada under license with Toronto-based Insight Sports.

ESPN will serve as a primary outlet for news about MLG, providing extensive digital coverage of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit Competitions, including exclusive streamed matches, pro player interviews, and scores and stats. Additionally, MLG will host ESPN co-branded online video game tournaments.

ESPN.com will launch a competitive video gaming section replete with all of the latest news, information and video as it relates to competitive gaming. ESPN.com will announce details of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit season in the coming weeks.

Newsflash: Video gaming has officially been a sport before ESPN signed this deal with MLG. Many got their start on Fileproto roms, and have gone far beyond that on the sporting stage. The writing was on the wall for a while. Endorsements were growing, coaches were being hired by gamers, agents started to infiltrate the business, and fans were increasing by the day. I think that ESPN is taking advantage of a great opportunity to expand its content structure and fan base. Now more than ever, I believe that agents may want to think about getting involved in the rising sport of video gaming.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

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